Nations! Times Of Gentiles

by R.K. Phillips

Update of Times of the Gentiles, 1978: January 1995; Reformatted: January, 2002 Table of Contents

PREFACE ...... 1

1. TIMES OF NATIONS...... 2

1.1. THE ERA OF THE IMAGE EMPIRES...... 5 1.2. THE ERA OF THE FOUR BEASTS...... 8 1.3. JERUSALEM...... 11 1.4. THE END OF THE SEVEN TIMES OF NATIONS ...... 12 1.5. DISCUSSION – DECEMBER 1994 ...... 15

i Preface

Grattan Guinness and David Davidson are just two people who we know have studied prophecy in detail. While Guinness accurately predicted the deliverance of Jerusalem, he has made errors in other parts of his work. But we do not reject the research done by these men because of such errors. Rather, we go over their work again and again with a view to trying to understand where they went wrong and why, so that hopefully we can advance our collective knowledge of what is happening around us. Thus the effort to understand prophecy is an excellent mechanism for keeping our attention focused on the world around us. We have another great role model in this quest – Daniel himself searched the Word of God to understand his times. He knew when the captivity was to end but there was much that was subsequently revealed to him that he readily admitted he did not understand.

This paper was first published in 1978 and now it is time to review it in the light of current events. The original work has been re-arranged to make it easier to follow and expanded with background material that fills some of the gaps in the original presentation. Very little new research material has been added to the body of the original work. The Discussion section at the end draws on some of the new research material arising from a new paper on Daniel and Revelation to be published in 1995.

1 1. Times of Nations

It has long been evident that the statement in the footnotes on page 1106 of Scofield’s Reference Bible, The Times of the Gentiles began with the captivity of Judah under Nebuchadnezzar is not correct. Therefore, the assumption that those Times came to an end in 1917, when Jerusalem was delivered from Turkish domination is also wrong.

The fact is God warned both Israel and Judah, that if they continued to disobey The Law, they would be punished for Seven Times. We know that Israel’s punishment began when Israel fell in 721 BC, and Israel came out of that punishment in 1800 AD. We also know that Judah’s punishment began when Judah fell in 604 BC and it was her punishment which ended in 1917 – 2520 Solar years later 1.

There is no statement in Scripture which says that “The Times of the Gentiles” (Greek text reads Times of Nations) were to be coincident with the Times of Judah’s punishment. That is a logical assumption perhaps, but a mistaken one. For although Jerusalem was delivered in 1917 from being trodden down by the Turks, nevertheless neither Israel nor Judah came into possession of The Holy Land at that time. Great Britain was simply appointed as the guardian or policeman to administer the country on behalf of that “gentile” Organisation, The League of Nations. That task ended in May 1948.

Therefore, as Jerusalem is still not possessed by true Israel or Judah, it continues to be trodden down at the present time (1978) and we must look for other start and finish dates for the Seven Times of Nations. Scripture shows that Israel’s punishment began when Israel fell, and Judah’s began when it fell, therefore it is reasonable to expect that the Seven Times of Nations or the Madness of the Nations would not begin until one of those nations which became prominent after Judah also fell.

Daniel described those nations which were to dominate the civilised world after Judah had fallen, when he explained to Nebuchadnezzar the meaning of the Great Image the King had seen in a dream 2. Babylon was the head of gold, hence it was the first of the empires represented by the Image.

Daniel 2:28 states the dream of the Great Image was to reveal what was to be in the Latter Days. He says that the gold, silver, brass and iron represented four kingdoms that would follow one another in historical sequence. But Dan 2:35 states that the four different metals and the clay, (indicating the residual strength but diminishing quality of those kingdoms), would all be destroyed together, at the END of the Latter Days. Furthermore, in verse 35, when the whole system is to be destroyed, the iron is listed first and the gold is last. This signifies that every feature or element of the kingdoms that survived to the end of the Age (such as the Roman system of law) will be completely and utterly obliterated and replaced by the administrative system of the Stone Kingdom.

Later in his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had another dream in which he saw a tree that grew and reached up to the sky. Then he saw a Watcher descend from Heaven with orders to cut the tree down but to leave the stump with its roots in the ground, with a band of iron and brass around the stump. And the Holy Watcher said that he (who represented the tree) was to live as an animal in the field until seven times had passed over him. Daniel explained that the tree represented the king himself. Cutting it down signified that he would be stricken with madness and be driven from his palace, to think and to live like an animal until seven years had passed over him and he learned that The Most High ruled in the kingdoms of men. But because the stump was left in the ground with its roots, he would recover to find his kingdom intact, and thereafter he would give honour and praise to God.

1 The interval of 2520 years is seven Times or 7 prophetic years of 360 days, each day of which represents a year of Solar or Lunar time. The number, 1260, is the half of 2520 and is referred to in Scripture as A Time, Times and half a Time (3.5 times) in Rev 12:14, and as forty-two months (of 30 days each) in Rev 11:2. 2 Bullinger states that it was the secret – the meaning – of the Image that was revealed to Daniel in a vision (Dan 2:19) not the Image itself.

2 The dream was a preview of what was to happen to Nebuchadnezzar himself, but it had much deeper implications. Since he was also the ruler of that kingdom which represented the head of gold of the Image of Dan 2, the dream of the felled tree was also a prefiguration of what would afflict all the kingdoms representing the other parts of the Image. Each of them would be stricken with a madness that came from within them. This madness would prevail in all the world until the seven times had passed over all of them and they also were forced to acknowledge that The Most High ruled in the kingdoms of men. For we are told in Isa 2 and Micah 4:5 that when the Seven Times of Nations are over and The Kingdom of God established again, that is precisely what the other nations of the World will do.

The stump of the tree, with its roots in the ground, signified to Nebuchadnezzar that after his period of madness his kingdom would be restored to him for a short time. It also signifies, to us, that the Babylonic Image system will also recover its power for a short time near the end of the Age – but not in what was formerly the land of Babylon. The band of iron and brass around the stump shows that when the stump begins to grow again, it will be in the lands of the iron and brass sections of the Great Image – Europe, the Mediterranean and the Middle East.

About 28 years after Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the Great Image, Daniel himself had a vision – recorded in Dan 7 – in which he saw four carnivorous wild beasts rising out of the sea. Daniel was told these beasts also represented four Powers which were to arise on the Earth (Dan 7:17). Unfortunately for our understanding of prophecy, Bible commentators almost invariably dismiss this vision as simply being a different view of the same four kingdoms of Dan 2. This shallow interpretation is wrong because, by the time Daniel had his vision, Babylon (the first of those Image kingdoms) was about to pass into history and Medo-Persia was already in existence and ready to replace Babylon. Therefore the first two of those beast powers could have no direct association with the first two kingdoms of the Great Image. For Daniel was shown (Dan 7:17) that the four beasts represented a new order of four kingdoms or powers which would arise, one after the other, over a long period of time that was still future at the time of his vision.

A further distinction is made in Dan 8 between the kingdoms of the Great Image and the beast powers. The second and third Great Image kingdoms are presented as two male domestic animals, the Ram and the He-goat, but the four beasts of Dan 7 are savage, carnivorous female animals. (The Hebrew pronouns and most of the verb forms referring to the beasts are also feminine.) In Scripture, this indicates activities affecting the spirit, spirit powers or temple worship. Therefore the four beasts represent spiritual or religious powers and systems which would come into existence to afflict Daniel’s people. This is confirmed in Dan 7:3 which states that all four beasts arise out of the sea – not out of the Great Image. In Prophecy the sea usually represents peoples. Consequently, the four beasts are the monotheistic religious systems which would arise out of the mass of peoples comprising the civilised world governed by the Kingdoms of the Great Image 3. While Daniel showed no concern about the kingdoms of the Image, the four beasts filled him with the greatest horror and dismay. The Image kingdoms could only cause physical death to Israelites, but false religious beliefs could bring eternal death to them – and to us. This makes them infinitely more fearful and vicious enemies.

The four kingdoms/empires of the Great Image were Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. History shows that only two of the first three Organised Religions or powers – came into existence during the time of those four empires. In the order of their appearance on the Earth, these are:

3The Four Winds of Dan 7:2 are God’s Judgements on those peoples, kingdoms and powers. For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast? Ezek 14:21.

3 1. Judaism, which had its origin in the Babylonian Talmud, in the 6th Century BC. It followed the returning captives and was strong in Judea at the time of Jesus. Its power was severely weakened with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. It ceased to exist in a national context after 135 AD when the Romans drove all who practised the Jewish religion out of Jerusalem. They burnt the city to the ground, and promised death to any such person found in the area again. From that time Judaism went underground. By working themselves into positions of power as advisers to rulers and as the brokers of early trade between countries, the Jews attained significant influence and were quick to encourage the destruction of all things Christian whenever they could. In recent times, since 1917, they have become overtly public once again.

2. Christianity, (which has NO roots in Judaism whatsoever), arose in the 1st Century AD. We have to recognise that Jesus did not establish a “church” 4. Christianity is a man made religion that grew out of perverting the proclamations of the Apostles (they did not preach anything) to the Dispersion of Israel and Judah. When Constantine made Christianity the official religion of Rome it became politically correct and indeed a necessity, to be a Christian to get ahead in life. 3. Islam, which is largely based on the Mosaic Law, arose in 622 AD. Its military history, culminating in 1917, is well known and we will return to it in a moment. 4. Constantine’s proclamation of Christianity as the religion of Rome marks the metamorphosis of what had hitherto been a somewhat benign religion into a malignant form – Roman Catholicism. In 610 AD the Bishop of Rome, Boniface III, assumed the title of Pontifex Maximus. In 663 AD, (666 years after the birth of Jesus), Latin was declared the official language for Roman Catholicism and in 800 AD it gained its temporal power. As the religion underlying the politics of Europe, Roman Catholicism has been responsible for the death of tens of millions of God’s people. In the early 1800s the fourth beast was wounded to death when the temporal power of the Papacy was destroyed. Towards the end of that century the beast was revived in its purely religious form (that is, the church only and no temporal power). Its revival was marked by three events: the minting of a coin showing the church as a woman sitting on the whole world, the Decree of the Immaculate Conception and the Decree of Infallibility. Up until this time, relatively speaking, the Pope had been little more than a powerful Archbishop in the Roman Catholic Church, but now he laid claim to a much higher position and authority. This is the revival presented by John’s description of the leopardess in Rev 13:25. These days, with Ecumenism and the uniting churches syndrome, the so-called worship of Jesus is but a clumsy facade. In all forms of the Western religions we see a significant percentage of priests openly admitting to no belief in:

4 If anyone does not believe this, look at Acts 7:38 and identify what church was in the wilderness in 1486 BC, fifteen centuries before any Christian church ever came into existence. That so-called “church” in the wilderness was the Assembly of the Called-Out Ones of Israel whom God called out at Sinai to serve Him (Ex 19:3-6). The same word is wrongly translated as “church” in the AV and other Bibles in Matt 16:18. Jesus did not set up any new church, only another Assembly of those Called-Out Ones of Israel that Jehovah had already instituted at Sinai. 5The leopard of Dan 7:6 is also a leopardess and is so translated in the Septuagint. The lioness of verse 4 cannot refer to Judah because Judah’s emblem is a male lion. Therefore it can only refer to Judaism which became the ruling power in Judea after the captivity. It could not refer to Babylon itself for Babylon had fallen long before Judaism became a religious power. In the AV of Rev 13:2 the composite beast like a leopard is referred to as he. But the Greek word pardalis is feminine and means a leopardess. Hence the pronoun he should have been translated as it because the pronoun refers to the beast which is neuter gender. The Greek text then reads And the beast which I saw was like to a leopardess and the feet of it were as of a she-bear and the mouth of it as (the) mouth of a lioness. And the Dragon gave to it his power. (This vision is discussed in detail in a new paper soon to be published.)

4 i. The Virgin birth ii. That Jesus is the Son of God iii. That the Resurrection of the dead is a real event iv. The Resurrection of Jesus Himself.

The distinction between the Christianity of the Second Beast and the Roman Catholicism cum Popery of the Fourth Beast is only a matter of degree. On the Spirit or Temple level, one leads God’s people astray by stealth – encouraging disobedience to the Law, casting doubt on the validity of Moses and the prophets, promoting disbelief in the birth and ascension of our Lord and promoting disbelief in the coming day of His wrath. The other follows a deliberate policy of substitution of man for God. It promotes worship of visible idols, relics and priestly power in place of the Words and Works of God. On the Dominion or Social level, the followers of the Christianity of the Second Beast generally refuse to cede absolute power to the state. The followers of the Roman Catholicism of the Fourth Beast were quick to dispense with their monarchs and centralise power in presidents and dictators when the opportunity arose. We can see these differences at the bottom of modern day issues such as the unification of Ireland, the Australian Republic and the Australia Card cum enhanced Tax Number system.

1.1. The Era of the Image Empires

We noted earlier that the Times of Madness of the Nations did not begin with the fall of Judah, because Nebuchadnezzar had not yet had his dream of the Great Image and been told what was to come. It could not have begun during his reign for we are told he recovered from his own period of madness and he gave honour and praise to God after that. Hence it was not until the time of Belshazzar’s feast that God gave the signal for the Seven Times of Nations to begin. At Belshazzar’s feast the disembodied fingers of a man’s hand wrote the words Mene Mene Tekel Upharsin on the plaster of the palace wall. When Daniel was called to interpret the words, he recognised them as the Chaldee version of the Hebrew weights a mina, a mina, a shekel, and half a mina which, in Hebrew measures, were, 1000 gerahs, 1000 gerahs, 20 gerahs and 500 gerahs – total 2520 gerahs. This number, we now know, is seven Times. Hence 2520 years was also to be the Seven Times of Nations, but they began with the fall of Babylon, when Belshazzar was slain that very night.

At this point we have three distinct periods of 2520 Solar years which are summarised in Figure 1.

721 BC – 1800 AD 2520 years Times of Punishment for the House of Israel 604 BC – 1917 AD 2520 years Times of Punishment for the House of Judah 539-536 BC 6 – 1982-1985 AD 2520 years for the Times of Nations

Figure 1 – The Three Prominent Periods of 2520 Years

It is at this point that students of the Seven Times prophecies go astray. They ignore the key fact underlying all prophecy – the need to differentiate between those prophecies concerning only the Dominion or political aspect of Israel and those which apply directly to the Temple or Sanctuary aspect. The historical period for both Dominion and Sanctuary is the same but the two sets of events must be distinguished. Daniel was allowed to reveal what was to happen on the Earth for the next 2520 Solar years and beyond. But if we are to have any hope of understanding his revelations, we must take careful note of the distinctions he makes and compare each one with the fulfilment dates in history as it unfolds.

6 It is accepted by some scholars that Babylon fell in Belshazzar’s reign in 539 BC. But David Davidson says there are doubts about this and the date could have been as late as 537 BC. Others quote 536 BC as the correct date. Thus 2520 years to the end of the Seven Times of Nations brings us to 1982, 1984, or 1985.

5 Daniel told us, that Israel’s punishment would come from two sources: a. The four non-Israelite Empires that rose to world power following the fall of Judah would inflict political punishment on both Israel and Judah over Seven Times. b. The four religious powers that rose up in that Seven Times period would inflict spiritual affliction upon them.

History records the fact that those four Empires and four religions did arise as foretold. But world history also reveals that the lives of those Empires and religions were distinguished by two different astronomical time scales, Lunar time and Solar time. For God has highlighted those nations and religions which are – in His eyes – of paramount importance by dating events in their history according to the following rules: a. Events of great significance are on the Solar scale b. Events of lesser significance are on the Lunar scale.

Some of the events concerning the Empires and the beasts are summarised in the remainder of this paper.

The accession of Nabonassar, the first king of the Babylonian Empire, is an event that is recorded in the history of the civilised world with more accuracy than almost anything else until the invention of modern clocks and calendars. It was at noon, 26th February, 747 BC (A). The accuracy with which it was recorded by astronomers of three different nations makes it stand out in history and directs our attention to it. Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar thou art this head of gold and that gives us the starting date for the Empires of the Great Image.

Another date of importance in terms of the Empires is 476 AD. The rise and fall of the four Great Image Empires occurred between 26th February 747 BC, and 20th August 476 AD 7. This period, covering 1222.4825 Solar years, is exactly 1260 Lunar years. The four empires of the Great Image thus ruled the civilised world for 1260 Lunar years and this period is precisely half of 2520 Lunar years. Do not confuse this period of 2520 Lunar years with any of the three Solar periods of the same interval summarised in Figure 1. In terms of the rule for designating events, the Seven Times periods as applied to the Houses of Israel and Judah and to the Nations are of great significance. On the other hand, the era of the Image Empires, as a Lunar interval, is of lesser significance.

By the time the Roman Empire fell in 476 AD, the first two religious beast powers predicted by Daniel had appeared on the world scene.

The 1260 Lunar interval in Figure 2 represents the political rise and fall of the four Empires which was characterised by their military dominance. Therefore, it is appropriate to extend the full 2520 years on the same Lunar time scale by adding 1260 Lunar to 476 AD (see Figure 3). This is the Era of the Toes of the Image (Dan 2:42-45) and brings us to 1699 AD. During this time, Europe consisted of a varying number of kingdoms 8 loosely confederated as the Holy Roman Empire. In 1699 Russia

7 Guinness states the fall occurred on 22nd August 476 AD but it is not clear how he derived this value. He states that 1260 Lunar years contain 446503 days, which is the correct number of days, however, he also states that 1260 Lunar years corresponds to 1222.5 Solar years. But, he has rounded the Solar year for simplicity of discussion. Even with the more precise number, 1222.4825 years, we cannot duplicate his calculation and arrive at the same date. In the final analysis, this is not very important because there is no doubt from general reference texts that Rome did fall in the period 20-28th August 476 AD. In our work we base our calculations on Davidson’s measurement of the length of the Solar year (365.242465 days) as built into the base of the Great Pyramid. 8 The number of toes is not mentioned because it is obvious, but even if we do choose to say “ten toes”, we have to appreciate how the number ten is used in Scripture. The figure, 10, in Hebrew is like the English words couple, several and constantly when used idiomatically. That is, it represents an indefinite quantity that points to the certainty of the event or thing without quantifying it. Hence 10 is the number of sufficiency – 10 commandments are sufficient to embody the Law; the Israelites tempted God “ten times”; see also Footnote continues overleaf ...

6 forced Turkey to sign the Peace of Carlowitz which marked the beginning of the end of Islam’s militant religious power – the first major defeat inflicted on Islam’s all-conquering armies. The 1700s were characterised by rebellion against monarchial systems (Jacobite Rebellion, French and American Revolutions) and the appearance of Republicanism (which, in God’s sight, is an inferior form of government).

BC 747, Feb 26 <--- 1260 Lunar years ---> 21 Aug, 476 AD

Figure 2 – Era of the Four Image Empires

AD 476 <--- 1260 Lunar years ---> 1699 AD

Figure 3 – Era of the Toes of The Image

Having looked at the Lunar time interval from 747 BC, it is also relevant to look at 2520 years on the Solar time interval. The parallels in the events at either end of this interval are most significant (see Table 1). Here again we see that 2520 years on the solar scale (and involving Israel) is more significant than the 2520 years on the Lunar scale (involving other nations and the monotheistic religions).

With the emergence of the House of Israel, the Stone Kingdom fell on the toes of the Great Image (fulfilling Dan 2:34,35)): April 1801 – the battle of Copenhagen which subdued the Northern European Kingdoms; October 1805 – the spectacular victory of Trafalgar, which gave Britain command of the world’s oceans; June 1815 – the equally decisive victory of Waterloo and supremacy for the British forces on land. From that time the Stone Kingdom has continued to grow, but it does not yet fill the whole Earth.

Table 1 – Nabonassar to Emergence of the House of Israel 747 A new king is crowned in 2520 Solar years later, in 1774, a new king is crowned in France, Louis XVI, BC: Babylon that marks the who is the last king of what was the most powerful member of the Holy commencement of an Roman Empire (which represented the toes of the Great Image) empire and he is the first king of a new era in world history – the time of the four Great Image Empires. 723 (24 years later) Tiglath- 2520 Solar years later, in 1798, after rejecting a generous English offer of BC: Pileser lays siege to peace, France resumed war with England by attacking the foundations of Samaria, the capital of the English wealth, starting with Egypt. The grand plan was to draw away House of Israel, which English sea power with the view of leaving England open to invasion in the marks the start of its Autumn of 1798. That plan was shattered by Nelson (Battle of the Nile) in collapse as an independent August, destroying the French naval force without the loss of a single British power. ship. These actions culminated in England being established as the leading power in the world (B). 721 (2 years later) the House 2520 Solar years later, in 1800, the House of Israel emerges from 2520 years BC: of Israel falls and of punishment. The Toes of the Image were now disintegrating. Napoleon commences its 2520 years captured the Pope but lost command of the sea. No remnant of the Great of punishment. Image Empires was powerful enough to prevent the rise of the House of Israel.

Jacob’s comment that his wages were changed “ten times”. Thus the toes of the Great Image simply indicate there were a number or collection of smaller kingdoms extending out of the Roman Empire; the precise number of which is irrelevant. It is, therefore, an error to go seeking for precisely 10 kingdoms over the whole period of time when Scripture is being doubly careful to avoid being precise.

7 1.2. The Era of the Four Beasts

Let us now turn our attention to the four female beasts. Daniel said the first three religious Beast powers would be trampled on (but not fully destroyed) by a fourth religious Beast power. He said the lives of those first three would be preserved, but in subdued form, until the fourth Beast power was destroyed. The first three religions would be destroyed later. We have already identified the four religions corresponding to the four beasts, so let us take a moment to review the circumstances that let those religions gain their power. The common characteristic is that they all had a geo-political centre from which they built their power.

Judaism had its geo-political centre in Judea where, under the umbrella of the Greek and Roman Empires, it was firmly established until 135 AD when it was banished from the land.

Christianity spread through the Roman Empire like a wildfire, but with Constantine’s rule, Christianity became paganised and with the fall of Rome in 476 AD, Christianity in Europe disappeared into the Dark Ages. Meanwhile, however, the Eastern Empire, in the form of the Byzantine Empire continued for another 1000 years and during this time it was the geo-political centre of Christendom (C). By the end of the 5th Century Europe had fallen to the barbarians, but the Byzantine Empire was very much intact and it controlled the Mediterranean Sea from Italy around North Africa to the South of Spain. It contained all the wisdom of the Greeks and literature repositories of Judaism. It contained all the painting, music and literary skill of the Western World. When it controlled Rome itself, missionaries from Rome travelled far and wide over Europe and the reputation of its armies was sufficient to ensure their safe passage. The government of the Empire was so efficient that not even the assassination of an emperor disturbed it. It was resplendent with churches to rival the huge St. Sophia built by Justinian during the 6th Century. On at least two occasions, Eastern European nations attacked it and failed, but nevertheless converted to Christianity.

When Justinian died in 565, Greek was the official language of the Empire, church services were held in Greek and the Greek creed was used. However, the Pope’s authority was already established in the West and this started a long conflict that finally led to the schism of 1054. It is interesting to realise in the light of the current conflicts that the Serbs conquered almost all of the Balkan peninsula in 1340 which dramatically reduced the Western end of the Empire. Subsequently, the Turks conquered Bulgaria, Serbia and Bosnia which left Constantinople as an island in a sea of Turks. From this point on, a general exodus of people from that region brought the Greek language and Greek Biblical manuscripts into Europe (D).

If it had not been for the Byzantine Empire, Europe would have been a hugely different place from what it is today. When the empire reached its peak, Islam started its rise. The geo-political centre of Islam is well known and the ferocity of the Arabs in the firm conviction that they alone held the knowledge of the true God was awesome. From the late 600s onwards, they conquered vast areas of the world in unprecedented time frames, but they did not conquer Constantinople until 1453.

Back in the 800s, Islam was well on the road to attacking the southern end of Europe. The Byzantine Empire was at the opposite extreme of sophistication and development from Europe. It held almost all the gold in the known world, for example, but Europe was primitive and impoverished. Real leaders and unified fighting forces were just beginning to emerge in Europe. The kingdom of the Franks covered what is now Germany and France and it became the bulwark of Roman Catholicism against Islam. The Franks were also the ally of the Pope against the Lombards. Charlemagne was the greatest of the Frankish kings and he was crowned emperor of the Romans by Pope Leo. This was the commencement of the fourth beast – now it had territory and the power to enforce its will. Behind the new emperor’s title was the idea that the emperor would be the overlord of the worldly affairs of “Christendom” and the Pope would be the spiritual ruler (C). However, often they could not agree as to who had power over whom and the dispute raged throughout Medieval times.

8 In the course of the next 1000 years, Roman Catholicism trampled on all of the other beast religions (Dan 7:7). It trampled on Jewry via expulsion from one country or another and via the Spanish Inquisition in particular. It trampled on the Christian communities of Europe (that is, the non-Roman Catholic communities) via destruction of the Albigensians, Waldenses and Huguenots, for example, and the persecutions in England (such as Mary’s burning of 300 Christians). It hammered Islam for 100 years with varying degrees of success via the Crusades and its support of the European wars against the Western borders of the Ottoman Empire. Roman Catholicism ultimately lost the gains of the first Crusade but had its revenge when Europe pushed the Ottomans back and dictated the conditions of peace.

Throughout all of this we must never lose sight of Rome’s dedicated pursuit, persecution and destruction of all things Christian and British.

The Holy Roman Empire continued until 1806. Until the 13th Century it consisted mainly of Italy, Germany and Austria with Hungary, Poland, and Denmark being in and out of it from time to time. The king of Germany was usually the Emperor – he was elected by a committee of ten representing each duchy, but later this was reduced to seven and then later again, built up to nine. This form of the fourth beast came to its end when Napolean defeated Austria and Southern Germany and Francis II resigned the imperial crown. The task was completed when Napoleon subsequently captured the Pope himself. But we know from Revelation that this beast revives and continues on to the end of the age.

It is appropriate to try to confirm the era of the four beasts and the period during which the first three beast powers co-exist under the dominance of the fourth beast system. We do not know the date when Judaism rose as the first beast but we can approximate it as follows: a. Judah fell in 604 BC b. Judah’s captivity lasted 70 years which comes to 534 BC c. The Temple took 46 years to build (John 2:20) which is to 488 BC.

Thus 488 BC is the earliest time Judaism could have become the major influence in the administration of the Judean people. It could not have happened earlier in Judea because Ezra, Nehemiah and Zorobabel were vigilant in making sure the people knew the Law and kept it. Extending 488 BC by 2520 Lunar years brings us to 1957 AD (see Figure 4) the year the first six European nations (Italy, Belgium, France, Luxemburg, West Germany and Netherlands) signed the Treaty of Rome (the charter for the EEC). It is interesting, by way of confirmation of the importance of this event, that 1335 Solar years from commencement of Islam (the Hegira) in 622 AD also brings us to 1957 AD. In 1958 the EEC commenced operation. We should also note that 2520 Prophetic years from 488 BC brings us to 1996 AD.

BC 604 – 70 – 46 = 488 <--- 2520 Lunar years ---> 1957 AD 488 <--- 2520 Prophetic years ------> 1996 AD AD 622 <--- 1335 Solar years ---> 1957 AD

Figure 4 – The Era of the First Four Beasts

The era of the four beasts is no earlier than the interval 488 BC to 1957 AD. Judaism could have arisen at anytime after 488 BC but that only extends the era past 1957 accordingly. A delay of one generation, 40 years, makes the interval 448 BC to 1997 AD, for example. Bullinger states that the succession of the Empires is reckoned only as they obtained possession of Jerusalem (which is why Assyria is not included in the Image). Similarly, we can see imprints of all four Beasts on Jerusalem:

9 a. The Jewish wailing wall at the remnants of the Temple b. The original Christian Church of the Holy Sepulchre (destroyed by Islam in 1010 AD) c. The Islamic Dome of the Rock mosque d. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, taken over during the Roman Catholics’ First Crusade 9.

When the House of Israel came out of its Seven Times punishment, it struck the militant kingdoms representing the toes of the image. We have also seen that Judaism, Christianity and Islam each had their own significant setbacks to the point where, by 1917, none of them were capable of being the militant or dominant monotheistic religion at an international level.

From 1800 to 1809, the Papacy suffered one knockdown after another but from 1825 we see the commencement of the revival of the Fourth Beast. In 1825, Leo XII struck a medal for a jubilee event which had his likeness on one side and the Church of Rome symbolised as a woman holding a cross and a cup on the other. The woman sits on a globe of the world and the legend proclaims The whole world is her seat (E). In 1854 the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception was promulgated and in 1867/70 (the 1st Vatican Council) the Doctrine of Infallibility was promulgated. On 25th July 1929, following the Lateran Treaty and Concordat, Pius XI emerged from the Vatican with full authority over Vatican City as a State in its own right and in receipt of huge compensation for confiscation of the Vatican States in 1848. This signalled the return of the Pope’s temporal powers.

The 1957 terminal in Figure 4 is interesting for another reason. The first three beasts and the Roman Catholicism component of the fourth beast all had a geo-political power base. However, from the 1800s, the Popes had no territorial base for their power until 1929 when the Vatican was designated as a state in its own right (and therefore responsible for its own taxation and upkeep?), complete with Ambassadors and similar diplomatic trimmings. In 1957 we see former members of the Holy Roman Empire signing the Treaty of Rome. If nothing else, this suggests a new political power base for the revived fourth beast, but without the naked military aggression of its Roman Catholicism period.

Over the whole EEC structure, including the Vatican Bank, is the financial system of the Babylonian world with its central and national banks in the hands of the great Jewish families and their confidants. So here we have the image of the woman, Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth and the great city that ruleth (RSV: which has dominion) over the kings of the earth riding on the revived fourth beast. All we need now is the rebellion of the EEC states against the Dominion power represented by the financial system and the Temple power represented by the Pope and we will have the rending of the woman given in Rev 17:16 10.

9 We can assume the new Church of the Holy Sepulchre was largely unadorned and unattended during the Turkish occupation of Jerusalem, but since 1917 it has been smothered in the candles and regalia of the Roman Catholic and East European religions. Will the revived beast also have an imprint on Jerusalem? Interestingly, just as the Roman Catholics rebuilt the Christian Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Constantine built the original Christian St. Peter’s in Rome in 327 AD, but Julius II (1503-1513) tore it down and commenced the present basilica. 10 Will this occur before the Pope John Paul’s planned summit for all monotheistic religions at Mount Sinai in 2000?

10 1.3. Jerusalem

Jesus said Jerusalem would be the key to the end of the Times of Nations punishment (Luke 21:24). We noted earlier that Judah and Jerusalem’s Seven Times punishment came to an end in 1917, on the Solar Time scale. However, history shows that 1917 also marked another fall in Islam’s powers as a spiritual force and as a military force in Israel’s and the world’s affairs. Islam came into being with the Hegira in 622 AD. Israel (Britain) drove the Turks out of Jerusalem on 9th December 1917 – exactly 1335 years (the number of blessing, Dan 12:12) on the Lunar scale from the Hegira (see Figure 5).

Although December 1917 marks the end of Judah’s and Jerusalem’s 2520 Solar years of punishment (see Figure 1), Judah was never to be restored as a Kingdom again (Ezek 21:26,27). Therefore, although the time of punishment of its people ended in 1917 and the yoke of Islamic oppression was removed, both Jerusalem, without a King ruling from it, and the surrounding area of Judea, continue to be a political hot potato to whoever possesses it. This state of affairs fulfils the prophecy of Zech 12:3 but does not explain why Jerusalem and Judea would become such a problem after they were delivered – or for how long.

AD 622 <--- 1335 Lunar years ------> 1917 AD AD 622 <--- 1335 Solar years ------> 1957 AD Signing of Treaty of Rome

AD 622 <--- 1260 Lunar years ---> 1844 AD The Great Step in the Pyramid + 75L ------> 1917 AD

AD 622 <--- 1260 Solar years ---> 1882 AD Britain drives the Turks out of Egypt and occupies Egypt + 75S ------> 1957 AD Signing of Treaty of Rome

Figure 5 – Hegira to Islam’s Fall

The timing was perfect because the Solar year 1917 AD and the Lunar calendar year 1335 were only co-incident with each other for the last three months of 1917 AD. This is driven home by the minting of an Egyptian coin in that year that carried the Gregorian date, 1917, and the Islamic year, 1335, stamped on the same side of the coin. As if to confirm that the expulsion of Turkish control over Jerusalem was such a disaster to Islam, Turkey adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1919.

What then is so different about The Holy Land? Why was it not fully free in 1917 as Israel (Britain) was in 1800 AD? The answer lies in what happened in Judah – after Judah fell in 604 BC. Obadiah 12-14 tells us it was Edom – the descendants of Esau (the cousins of Judah) – who rejoiced when Judah fell. It was Edom who plundered Judah’s possessions and seized their land. It was Edom who ambushed Judahite fugitives and turned them over to the Babylonians and Mal 1:4 states that Edom is a land of lawlessness with whom Jehovah has a quarrel until the end of the Age. Hence when Jerusalem was delivered in 1917, from alien control, it was Edom who once again stridently claimed the land was theirs alone and forced their way back. But this is to be for God’s vengeance – at the Third Advent (descent to the Mt of Olives) – when Jerusalem is finally cleansed from all her enemies, both the alien and the ones who are kin.

11 Malachi 1:4 states that Edom would return to the Holy Land and rebuild the desolate places, but Jehovah said, in this same verse, He would throw them down again. God used the Turkish occupation as one of the ways to keep the Holy Land a barren wilderness – they put a tax on every tree. This prompted the poverty stricken population to destroy every tree that did not produce a cash crop. That, in its turn, sharply reduced the rainfall. Therefore Edom could not do any planting and rebuilding until the Turkish yoke had been removed and this stupid tax abolished.

Both these things were done by the British in 1917 and from that date onward Edom, not Judah, began returning to the Holy Land in ever increasing numbers. Very few of the true descendants of Judah returned to Palestine because the Hebrew text of Jer 3:18 states:

In those days the House of Judah will walk to the House of Israel, and from the North Land they will enter together (at the same time) into the Land which I promised to their fathers.

Thus since true Israel has not yet returned to the land which God promised their fathers, then neither has Judah returned there. Hence those who are there now can only be Edom and they have come there in fulfilment of the prophecies of Malachi 1:4 and Luke 19:27. After World War 1 the flood of Edomic migration to Palestine eventually led to the withdrawal of the British (Israel) forces of occupation, and the end of the League of Nations Mandate. This fulfilled the prophecy of Ezek 11:15 where (speaking of the latter days) God says to Israel:

… as for thy brethren (Judah) even thy brethren, the men of thy redemption and all the House of Israel, all of them, (are they) to whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem (Edom) have said “Get you far from The Lord; unto us is this land given in possession”.

It also fulfilled the latter-day aspect of Isaac’s prophecy to Esau (Edom) in Gen 27:40 which reads, in the Hebrew text,

… and it shall be that when thou seek to accomplish it, thou shalt break his (Jacob’s) yoke from off thy neck 11.

When telling the Disciples of the signs of His second coming in Luke 21:24, Jesus said,

… and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of nations until Times of Nations be fulfilled.

1.4. The End of the Seven Times of Nations

Following the fall of Jerusalem to British forces in 1917, the League of Nations was formed at the Peace Conference of 1919 and met for the first time on 15 Nov 1920. Its purpose was to delegate control over the former Dependencies of Germany and Turkey. Under direction of the League, administration of Palestine was given to Israel-Britain and the Mandate was formally signed in 1923. By May 1948 even Britain found Zechariah’s words (Zech 12:3) to be too true and was glad to relinquish its Mandate and the new Jewish national state, the Israeli State, came into being. It was formally accepted into the United Nations in 1949.

We noted in Figure 1 that the Seven Times of Nations could terminate in 1982, 1984 or 1985. Because the Seven Times of Nations do not come to an end until 1982-85, Britain could only become the administrative authority for Palestine after 1917 – not the possessor of it. Therefore, neither her control of the Holy Land, nor her withdrawal from it, in any way affected Jesus’ prophecy concerning either the treading down of Jerusalem or the fulfilment of the Seven Times of Nations.

11 There is no word dominion in this verse, the meaning of the word is obscure and can mean to become restive. Gesenius’ definition, seek to accomplish, seems more appropriate.

12 On the basis of the current date-time measures of World events (in 1978), the 1982 termination appears to be the most accurate.

We noted that Edom began returning to the Holy Land in 1917, and they achieved nationhood on 16 May 1948. The history of this nation bears a marked resemblance to the prophetic Parable of the Fig- tree putting forth leaves which Jesus told us to learn (Matt 24:32-34) as a sign of His return and the close of the Age (verse 3). The Fig-tree symbol, in Israel, implies the National status or fruits which are the rewards of administering the true justice and perfection of God’s Law within the Kingdom (Jer 24:1-10). But the fruit of a good fig-tree usually appears 4-6 weeks before any leaves appear. Therefore the Parable points directly to a barren fig-tree, because the first signs of life in it are only the leaves. Thus Jesus is telling those of true Israel who would be alive at the Time of the End that, at the Time-of-the-End, a single nation would come into being having the outward appearance of being Israel, but without exhibiting the National fruits which would identify it as being true Israel. Therefore that barren fig-tree nation eventually would be cut down and destroyed by fire as indicated in Matt 3:10. Looking at the World scene in retrospect, 1930-1994, we can see that nation surrounded by hostile nations who are trying to contain their own differences long enough to reduce it to impotence if not destroy it completely.

However, Jacob is to have his own troubles in this period. The Time of Jacob’s Trouble of Dan 12:1 and Jer 30:7, is also The Great Tribulation of Matt 24:21 and of Rev 7:14, for there can only be one tribulation that is greater than any other since Creation. Rev 7:14 refers to it as the tribulation, the great (one). In Dan 12:1 the angelic messenger said it will be a time of trouble (for Israel) such as there never was before.

In Matt 24:21,22, Jesus refers to this Great Tribulation, to tell us that its duration would be shortened for The Elect’s sake, or else no flesh (of Israel) would be saved. This is an interesting statement because the 2520 years punishment periods given to Israel, Judah, and the Nations can not be shortened. Each must continue until their own Seven Times are fulfilled. Therefore, it follows that the days of Jacob’s Tribulation refer to a period after all the Seven Times’ punishment periods have been completed. Furthermore, it is evident that this tribulation time includes world-wide tribulation because the Israel nations could not suffer such a great tribulation without their troubles affecting the rest of the world. Hence Jesus was simply confirming to the Disciples what Daniel said (Dan 10:14) would befall the descendants of thy people (the people of Israel) in the latter days.

Thus it is apparent that while the tribulation for The Elect will be shortened, the days of tribulation for the rest of the World will not be shortened. Their troubles will continue until Jesus returns to set up the Kingdom of God on the Earth. Hence one way for the Elect’s days to be shortened is for the Resurrection to take place before those days of World tribulation are terminated by the Third Advent. For Jesus says in Matt 24:31 that the Elect will be gathered up out of the Four Winds. These Winds are the Judgements of God now sweeping over the Earth in the form of the great natural and other disasters that we hear about almost daily in the World’s news.

If, now, we turn to Rev 16 we find that the effect of the Four Winds is precisely what is happening at the present time. This chapter records the pouring out of the Seven Vials of the Wrath of God, which constitute the vengeance of God on the Earth. This vengeance is distributed by the Four Winds of Rev 7. These are the same Four Winds out of which, Jesus said, the Elect would be taken up to meet The Son of Man in the air. And the time Jesus gives for this event is signified by putting the statement of Rev 16:15 near the end of the Sixth Vial, just before the results of the Seventh Vial bring the World tribulation period to its close. Hence the prophecy of Matt 24:30-31 harmonises with Rev 16 in every detail.

As the judgements of the Sixth Vial draw to a close we hear the World’s leaders all crying “Peace!”. But in the troubled lands of Egypt, Ethiopia, the Middle East and Libya, we can see the war clouds gathering for Armageddon as stated in Rev 16:16. For these are the nations which Dan 11 states, will be taken over by the King of the North. That king is Russia which is Amalek of the Old Covenant.

13 But this take-over is not Armageddon itself for Dan 11:41 says that Edom (the present Israeli State) will not be under the control of Russia. In this first onslaught Russia will gain control of Egypt and of the strongholds (steps 12) of Libya and of Ethiopia (verse 43) 13. And she will rule by the credits of money and will maintain this position until the tribulation (of Israel), (the indignation of verse 36) is brought to an end by the Third Advent 14.

It is not until the last stage of the Time of the End that Russia, under the pressures of the Seventh Vial, moves in force into the Holy Land but is herself destroyed by God. The prophecies of Ex 17:14-16 and Num 24:20 indicate that destruction will be so complete that all memory of Russia/Amalek will be wiped off the face of the Earth. (For Amalek was the first of the nations – to war against Israel – but his latter end will be that he perish forever). The Seventh Vial, therefore, brings to an end the Judgements of God on modern Babylon and upon Edom and includes the destruction of Amalek- Russia. However the onset of this destruction could not begin until after 1982-85 which marked the end of the Seven Times of Nations 15.

History tells us there has been 27 sieges of Jerusalem; prophecy tells us there will be one more, giving a total of 28 sieges. The 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th are the subject of Bible prophecies and history has recorded the fact that the first three were fulfilled exactly as predicted. These four sieges form a literary structure in which the first item (the 7th siege) resembles the last item (the 28th siege) and the second item (the 14th siege) is like the second last item (the 21st siege). History has shown that:

a. The 14th siege was one of the most awful. b. The 21st siege (by Hadrian) one of the most complete and destructive. c. The 7th siege was begun by Sennacherib (2 Chron 22) and was raised by Divine Intervention after King Hezekiah and the people of Judah prayed to God (Isa 37). The Assyrian army of 185,000 was slain that same night by an angel of Jehovah and Sennacherib himself, was assassinated by two of his sons shortly after his return to Assyria.

12 In Hebrew, the words for steps and strongholds are almost identical in pronunciation and spelling: mtzud and mtzad, which could be easily mistaken in copying. The Septuagint has ochuromasin (fastnesses). As the LXX was copied from a Hebrew manuscript 1000 years older that anything we have today, and there is less likelihood of error in a long word like this, it would seem that strongholds is most likely to be the correct translation and it certainly makes more sense of the context than steps. 13 The Hebrew text reads He will have mastery by (not over) hidden (or concealed) treasures of gold and silver..” The implication is that he will control or threaten the wealth of others. And in the present World conditions this suggests control of the sale or flow of oil (hidden treasure) and of all sea land and air movements by reason of his strategic command of these vital trade routes. 14 The very fact that the Russia of today is not the same as the Russia of 1978 shows how hard it is to understand prophecy in advance. In the current world of massive international loans to Russia, the expression credits of money could have a whole new meaning. Prior to the collapse of Communism, none would have thought it probable that the West would actually try to bail out the Russian economy in this manner. 15 The 1978 paper discussed the time measures that terminated from 14 April through to 10 May 1982 and expected war at that time. This did occur – the British Government committed the country to the Falklands War on 17 April 1982. The 1978 paper also discussed the failed referendum of 5th June 1975 to rescind the decision to join the EEC in terms of the Death of the Two Witnesses. This event remains a significant and dramatic point in Israel’s history. Despite all that God has done to isolate Israel in the Isles of the Sea, the State and Throne voted to co-habit with the gods of Europe. On 23 July 1978, the Archbishop of Canterbury said at the Lambeth Conference our spirit life has died on us, for we are no longer listening to God. This is clearly another significant date – it occurred 1260 + 120 (Warning) years after Roman Catholicism was first embraced by a King of Israel. Since 1978 we have learned through the work of others that the Two Witnesses are the Israelite nation (both Houses) and the written Word of God (both Covenants). In more recent times, events such as the Queen’s address to the EEC Parliament and the fire at Windsor are more pointers of a similar kind. The difficulty is in gaining enough skill to piece them together.

14 Zech 14 states that the last siege (28th siege) of Jerusalem – which is now about to happen – will also be raised by Divine intervention but this time by the Risen Lord, in person. For Ezek 38:4 uses similar terms against the Russian leaders of this army (Meshec, Rosh and Tubal) as the angel of the Lord proclaimed against Sennacherib, the leader of the 7th siege of Jerusalem (2 Ki 19:28): I will turn thee back and put hooks in thy jaws. But of this last siege Ezekiel says the carnage and destruction will exceed anything ever seen before. The story of the final destruction of Edom, the defenders of Jerusalem at the time those armies attack Jerusalem in the last days, is told in Isaiah 34. Verse 4 gives details (quoted by Jesus in Matt 24:29) concerning events in the heavens. Then verse 5 states, in the Hebrew text,

My sword hath drunk its fill (of God’s wrath) in The Heavens. Behold! Upon Edom (not Idumea) it shall descend, and on the people I doom for judgment.

Verse 6 says there will be a great slaughter of lambs and goats and rams (the ordinary people), and verse 7 says that the wild aurochs and bullocks and bulls (representing the leaders of the military, political and commercial upper classes) will also be drawn into this great slaughter of the Edomite population. Verse 8 states it is a day of the Lord’s Vengeance, and a year of retribution in Zion’s quarrel. Verse 9 states that Edom’s destruction will be like a conflagration of burning pitch which leaves nothing but desolation in its wake. This description ties in with the prophecy of Joel 2:5-7 depicting the tank attacks against Edom: Verse 5: on the tops of mountains shall they jolt along; Verse 7: … they shall each move in its own tracks …

Zech 13:8 says two thirds of the people will perish, Zech 14:4-5 says when Jehovah’s feet touch the Mount of Olives, the great earthquake that follows will complete the destruction.

This fulfils the fate Jesus decreed in Luke 19:27, for these people will be slain in His presence as He ordered. Their coming slaughter is in retribution for the murder of the Prophets (Luke 11:49-51), their treachery against Judah (Obadiah), their Age-long hatred of Israel (of Jehovah in the Old Covenant and of Jesus in The New). These prophecies mark the end of Latter Day restored Babylon, of its successors, and of that seed of Satan who have been the vindictive enemies of the seed of the Woman since her Order was overthrown by Satan at the beginning of time.

After the Third Advent has taken place, the nations that are left outside Israel will come once a year to the Kingdom of the Heavens on the Earth and acknowledge, like Nebuchadnezzar before them, that the Most High still rules in the kingdoms of men.

1.5. Discussion – December 1994

Figure 6 puts most of the dates mentioned in the expanded body of the 1978 paper onto a single chart. The chart is divided into two parts: the top half covers the period 1000 BC to 2000 AD and the bottom half is an expansion of the period 1800 AD to 2001 AD (the left side of the lower chart identifies the long period lines from the top chart that terminate in on or after 1800 AD). The chart also contains additional dates from the following discussion which reviews and extends the Time Measures we have covered so far.

It is evident from the studies of Mrs. D.F. Price and Mr. J.B. Nicklin and others that intervals based on 286, 153 and 1040 (a perfect Lunar cycle) for example, are also informative and important. There are also the numbers of 1290 and 2300 that have been mentioned briefly in passing in this study. However, it is hard to know how to assimilate all the different numbers into a coherent whole – this is a complete discipline in itself. Therefore, this paper cannot hope to cover all the ground or to give all the answers; it can only draw attention to the obvious patterns and dates and hence to remind us to keep our eyes open.

15 40S 65S Solar lines 30 70 135 Lunar lines Prophetic lines 539 + 2520S 1982 Count backwards 1858 + 120S 662 + 1260S 598 + 1260S 1858 1978 Legend 622 + 1335S 1957 70S 46S 1882 + 75S 488 622 + 1260S 1882

604 + 2520S 1917

721 + 2520S 1800

723 + 2520S 1798

747 + 2520S 1774

1000 BC 1 AD 1000 AD 2000 AD

747 + 1260L 476 +1260L 1699

622 + 1260L 1844 1844 + 75L

622 + 1335L 1917

488 + 2520L 1957

1936 2001 - 65S

1986 2001 - 15S

1994 2001 - 7S

AD 622+1260S 1882 + 75S 1957 + 40S 1997

1931 + 65S 1996

BC 488+2520P 1996

1844 + 153P 1994

1917 + 30S 1947 + 45S 1992

BC 539+2520S 1982

AD 598+1260S 1858 + 120S 1978

BC 604+2520S 1917 + 40S 1957

AD 622+1335S 1957

BC 721+2520S 1800 1900 2001

AD 622+1260L 1844 + 75L 1917

BC 488+2520L 1957

AD 622+1335L 1917 + 75L 1990 Times.pre (Lotus) Figure 6 – Summary of Major Date Time Measures

16 We can now review the foregoing predictions and Time Measures for nearly all have been fulfilled according to known beginnings: 1. The Times of the Nations were completed in April 1982 with the final attempt by an alien nation to take Israel land (the Falkland Islands) by force of arms, which resulted in war and ended in complete failure for the enemy. 2. The date given for the end of the Great Pyramid Dead End passage is 23 June 1992 (F) which, according to Davidson, marks the end of the progress of evil. Davidson characterised this as “remnant of world evil destroyed”. Symbolically, it is the Second Death. The Descending Passage, leading to the Dead End Passage, represents the path of the disbelievers in Israel. For these people there is the certainty of the Second Death in the Lake of Fire at the Second Resurrection. 1992 is nine years before 2001 and nine is the number of completion (nine of the patriarchs completed the human Order of the Shepherd Kings). Do these things indicate we are in the time of completion for this Age? 3. The last measured date of the King’s Chamber is 20 Aug 1953. A forty year probation period ends on 20 Aug 1993. Just 23 days later the world was acclaiming the peace initiatives between Israel and the PLO. The Declaration of Principles signed by Israel’s Rabin and the PLO’s Arafat on 13 September 1993 has, in fact, set in motion the forces of destruction while everybody concerned is loudly crying Peace and Safety when there can be no peace (1 Thes 5:3). In association with the euphoria of the signing activities, it is interesting to compare the following pledges that were made (all for the 13th day of their particular months) with what has transpired (mostly on days that are a multiple of 5):

13 October 1993 Immediate establishment of a Palestinian Police Force 10 May 1994 First Palestinian Police Force deployed in Gaza.

13 December 1993 Israelis to begin withdrawal from Gaza and Jericho area of West Bank. 5 April 1994 Israel begins withdrawal from Gaza.

13 April 1993 Israelis to complete withdrawal from Gaza and Jericho. 15 May 1994 Israel hands over to Palestinian authority in Gaza and Jericho.

13 July 1994 Election date for Palestinian Council. Israeli forces still in the West Bank to be deployed away from populated areas. 1 July 1994 Arafat returns from 27 (3 x 9) years exile. No elections held yet. If these do occur, will they be held on a day that is also a multiple of 5?

17 4. The date of the Great Step in the Pyramid (25 January 1844 AD) plus 153 Prophetic Years comes to 13/14 November 1994, and this is interesting because: i. 19 March 1994 is the start date for Davidson’s final Index Pyramid. Add 120 days and we come to 17 July 1994 AD. ii. On 17 July 1994, at 0530 hours (Australian time), (when New Zealand, Australia, Palestine and England were all in the same 24 hour period of the Biblical Sabbath), the first of 21 (3x7) pieces of a comet hit the 5th (number of the Spirit) planet in our system of 9 (number of Completion) planets. iii. From 17 July 1994 to 14 November 1994 is 120 days.

This looks remarkably like two periods of 120 days warning. Although 13/14 November 1994 has just passed, it is not yet obvious what has occurred that is relevant to this study. However, as in the case of the British Government’s decision to fight in the Falklands, the event that makes the date significant is not always known until after the date has passed. 5. True Israel – at the Time-of-the-End – is a Company of Nations. The 1931 Statute of Westminster made the British Colonies of Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Eire self-governing Dominions. For the first time in history, Ephraim became a full hand of independent nations, under one throne, fulfilling the prophecy of Gen 48:19. If it took 65 years to break Ephraim down from being a nation under God’s Laws until it be no longer a united People (Isa 7:8), then it is reasonable to expect it will also take 65 years to restore Ephraim to being a united People under God’s Laws again. Hence, 1931 plus 65 years brings us to 1996 AD. 6. We know from Scripture that God often allows a 40 year interval following a new development before the expected event may occur (such as the destruction of Jerusalem 40 years after the Crucifixion). Figure 1 showed us that 2 x 1260 Solar years from Jerusalem’s fall ended in 1917. If we add 40 years, we come to 1957. Figure 5 also shows links between the Hegira and 1957. Hence the history of Jerusalem, Daniel’s third beast and the Treaty of Rome are linked together by two separate lines that terminate in 1957. Should we add another 40 years and come to 1997? 7. The following dates from the Great Pyramid are of interest. If Davidson’s date for the Millennium, 17 September 2001, is correct then: i. There is only time for Israel to have 70 Jubilees since it entered the Holy Land in 1446 BC. The 70th Jubilee period of 49 years started on 16 September 1936 and ended on that date in 1985. This fact supports the 1986 starting point for the final hour. ii. 16 September 1936 marks the entry into the King’s Chamber, (also known as The Chamber of The Open Tomb; The Hall of The Judgement of The Nations) and 65 years later is 16 September 2001. Does this 65 years point to the building up of the nation that forms the Kingdom? Since 1936 Britain has shed all of the non-Anglo-Saxon countries of the Empire who sheltered under the Union Jack (she has no more responsibilities for people outside of her own nation); the handful of nations named in the Statute of Westminster (see Point 5, above) have developed fully into self-sustaining entities (no more dependence on the trade preferences within the British Commonwealth); the future of the Earthly occupants of Israel’s throne is being seriously questioned (if people are tired of the Zarah line and want something else, when better to replace it with the line of David in the form of Jesus Himself?); we are cleaning up our environment and the individuals who oppose the Words and Works of God are standing up so they can be counted 16.

16 For example, it is not possible to favour, support or vote for a Republic and stand by the words Thy Kingdom come.

18 In the same vein, Note 5 (above) and Figure 1 show an interesting gap after 1996. Note 5 deals with an event affecting the Dominion of Israel and Figure 6 shows a Temple line ending in 1996 (2520 Prophetic years after the rebuilding of the Temple in 488 BC). Does this point to the Two Witnesses? A 3.5 year interval from 15 September 1996 ends on 15 April 2000, for example. iii. Rev 18 indicates all the End of the Age events come to a head within one hour, and we know one hour – in prophetic time – is 15 years. Hence 15 years back from Davidson’s Great Pyramid date for commencement of the Millennium (17 September 2001) also points to 17 September 1986 as the starting point of the final hour. iv. The seven years of burning the weapons of war (Ezek 39:2) should commence within six months of 17 September 1994. If the clean-up does not commence in that interval, it means we do not yet understand the seven years or the 2001 AD date or both. 8. Daniel 12 starts with a reference to Michael standing up for the People of Israel and it also refers to Jacob’s Trouble (... the time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation...). These references clearly show us that both Houses of Israel are in view in this chapter. In verse 7 the angel raises both hands to heaven and declared: It shall be for a times, times and a half: and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people all these things shall be finished Given that the fall of both houses was spread over 117 years (see Figure 1), the reference to 1260 years in the context of both houses, seems to point to a time line that starts from the mid- point of their fall, 662 BC (see Figure 7).

BC 662 <--- 1260S ---> 598 AD <--- 1260S ---> 1858 AD <--- 120S ---> 1978 AD

Figure 7 – Mid-Points of Israel’s and Judah’s Captivities

The year 598 AD is 1260 Solar years from the midpoint between the start of Israel’s punishment and the start of Judah’s punishment. It is, essentially, the middle of the Dark Ages. A fitting description and clear proof that Israel (and therefore the rest of world also) had reached its nadir. In this weakened state, St. Augustine landed in Britain in the Spring of 597 AD and was made Archbishop of Canterbury in November of that year. At Christmas, King Ethelbert was converted to Roman Catholicism. The year 598 is the beginning of Roman Catholicism in Britain 17. Adding the 1260 years of “religion” to 598 brings us to 1858 – the year Darwin announced his “theory of evolution”. The theory was readily accepted by the “intelligentsia” of the day and dealt a body-blow to all the churches and, by association, to the Bible itself. From this time, the church influence in education and their power to direct the nation began to fade. It was the beginning of the “educated man” and the “God is dead” era 18. Furthermore, in 1857-8, Britain was embroiled in the Indian Mutiny, which culminated in the independence of India in 1858. This was the start of the disintegration of the British Empire. The years, 1899-1902, saw the Boer War followed by a steady stream of wars for independence and the progressive granting of self rule which attest to the demolition of the Empire. It was replaced by the Commonwealth of Nations.

17 Rev 11:3 states that the two witnesses (both houses of Israel form one witness and both covenants of the Bible form the other) will prophesy clothed in sackcloth. Sackcloth is black and rough; not a natural colour or choice of material to use of clothing God’s people. This suggests that the prophecy too, whilst unnatural, does the job after a fashion. Hence the prophecy of the witnesses is the teachings of the churches – they are not natural to Israel, although they claim to be so. The priests of these churches dress in black. 18 From 598, when the King accepted Roman Catholicism, to the Synod of Whitby in 664, when England officially accepted the faith nationally, was 66 years (6 x 11 – man and the error of man’s judgement). If there is any doubt about the huge Roman Catholic legacy that persists in the Church of England, spend a few minutes reading about all the Saints commemorated in the front of the Book of Common Prayer.

19 If we add 120 years to 1858, we arrive at 1978. In the middle of that year (23 July 1978), the then Archbishop of Canterbury – the supposed spiritual leader of the nation – said, at the opening of the Lambeth Conference of Anglican Bishops:

Our spirit life has died on us, for we are no longer listening to God.

9. In Daniel 12 we find three distinct time intervals: 1260 years, given in verse 7; 1290 years, given in verse 11 and 1335 years given in verse 12. The difference between these numbers is 30 years and 45 respectively; 75 years in total (see Figure 8).

60 <------> 1290 <------> 1335 30 45

Figure 8 – Interval Periods Contained in Daniel

Adding this interval to the terminals in Figure 5 brings us, once again, to 1917 and 1957. Jerusalem surrended on 9th December 1917 and this was the eve of Edom’s return to Palestine. Thirty years later, in December 1947, it was the eve of the formation of the Israeli state which occurred in May, 1948 (five months later). Forty-five years later, we come to December 1992, the eve of the signing of the Palestinian and Israeli peace plan in September, 1993 (nine months later). The year 1992 is of interest for another reason – the Bosnian war commenced in April 1992 and it has all the potential for becoming a much wider war. This is particularly important given the intervals described in (7), above. For example, the Islamic Council have stated they will send Islamic troops to replace the NATO forces if NATO abandons the Bosnians and the Muslims of Chechnya are calling for a united Muslim stand against Russia. 10. We know that when Jesus spoke of the acceptable year of the Lord in Luke 4:18, that He was referring to the duration of His ministry – a period of 62 weeks. We also know that He stopped reading in the middle of the verse because Isa 61:2 goes on to say ... and the day of vengeance of God; to comfort them that mourn. This expression, day of vengeance, appears in two other verses:

Isa 34:8 – For it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion.

Isa 63:4 – For the day of vengeance is in mine heart and the year of my redeemed is come.

Given the precedence set by the duration of Jesus’ ministry, it is reasonable to expect the unveiling of Israel will take place over approximately 12 months. The next problem is to determine what marks the start of that year and what events it covers.

The “completion dates” quoted in this study for the Times of Nations are not examples of “failed expectations”. They show a progressive pattern of events that must be fulfilled. It is the presentation of this information in the constant effort to keep focused on the important issues of our lives that really matters. Whether it proves to be right or wrong, it should not obscure the necessity for probing, testing and researching these things. For example, the final days of this age must include:

20 a. Jacob’s Trouble b. Standing up of the Two Witnesses c. The war of Joel and the judgements of Isaiah and Obadiah on Edom and British forces descending on the hills to the West of Jerusalem. d. The First Resurrection of the dead (the Second Advent – Jesus in the air, not on Earth) e. The destruction of the Israeli State f. The raising of the last siege of Jerusalem by the Third Advent (descent to the Earth) with the annihilation of the Russian and Islamic forces by the Great Earthquake which splits the Mount of Olives apart. g. The war of Armageddon h. Satan cast into the Pit

The war of Joel will be precipitated by religious issues rather than purely political ones. Militant religious Islam has been on the rise again for the past decade or more. The beginnings of that final battle which destroys all four evil Beast religions may be fomenting in the Balkans but is certainly fomenting in the Holy Land over which religion is to have control of Jerusalem. The PLO says the battle for Jerusalem is only just beginning.

Islam is itself divided between the militant Shi-ites and the Sunni Moslems. In fact it was the Western World’s fear of creating a political vacuum for the Shi-ites which made it refrain from destroying Saddam Hussein after the Gulf war for he is the strongest leader of the Sunni States. Are similar fears of creating a new Moslem State in Europe making the Western Powers appear to be trying to aid the Bosnians while tacitly allowing time for both the Croats and the Serbs to accomplish their extinction? The Muslims in Bosnia are neither Shi-ite nor Sunni but of Turkish origin. Their President has the firm view that all Europe must become Muslim and, like Hitler, has written a book and been held in jail because of his views.

Whatever lies behind it, the Muslim versus Christian conflict is escalating rapidly. At the same time Judaism, with Christian financial support from the USA, is trying to block both Sunni and Shi-ite moves against the Israeli State. Russia (Amalek) is ostensibly trying to join the Christian West as a Capitalist State and getting vast financial assistance from the West in the process. In addition, Russia is openly selling large stocks of modern military weapons to anyone who wants to buy them (but still producing more of them). Many Islamic States are eagerly buying from Russia those very weapons which Joel describes as being used in the coming assault on the Israeli State.

Because the Israel (British) nation is a member of the EEC and a member of the United Nations which is a World Body based on Babylonian laws, British military forces are assigned to the UN for peace- keeping purposes. British air, ground, sea – surface and submarine – forces are currently deployed in the Balkans, in the Adriatic Sea and in the waters around the Middle East. When the Russian-led Islamic attack on the Israeli State finally develops, it is certain that these British forces will be deployed there for more of those “peace-keeping” duties.

The landing of Israel (British) forces from the air, on the Western Slopes of the Holy Land, is recorded in Isa 11:14 and has been written there for the past 2000 odd years. The AV translation of this verse is, however, exceptionally poor. Ferrar Fenton, the Amplified Bible, the NEB and the Jerusalem Bibles all give more literal renderings of that verse. Because of all these British (Israel) units engaged in this last battle for Jerusalem, there will be no military strength left in Britain for its own defence. This fact will not pass unnoticed by Russia and could prompt an attempted invasion by sea and air forces in fulfilment of the Time-of-the-End prophecies of Dan 11:40,41.

21 The timing coincides with the Resurrection of the Dead prophecy of Isa 26:19, and in answer to the resulting return of Israel/Britain to God’s Laws the events of verse 21 and Isa 27:1 follow immediately. The three aquatic animals in the rivers and sea (of enemy peoples) represent Israel’s Age-long lurking enemies, the modern descendants of Amalek, Assyria and Babylon. These God destroys in fulfilment of the prophecies of Ezek 36 and of verse 37 in particular.

Hence it is difficult to see how any of the few remaining prophecies can now be fulfilled without precipitating fulfilment of one and all the others in a chain reaction. The Greek text of Matt 13:40,49 refers to this stage as The close of the Age and therefore it must include the last hour of the Judgements of God. Mankind has now reached that point where nothing he can do can remedy World problems such as:

1. The progressive loss of the World’s rain forests 2. The increasing size of the holes in the ozone layer 3. The World population explosion 4. The burgeoning national debts of every nation 5. The worsening state of World trade and unemployment 6. The growing pollution of the oceans 7. The rising tide of crime, corruption and terrorism.

In fact these things are themselves a part of the Judgements of God which continue sweeping over the Earth till the end. God has let these things happen in order to demonstrate the long term results of failing to implement those Laws for the replenishment of the Earth which He laid down at the beginning of time.

Lev 18:28 warns that if the people do not obey God’s Laws the land itself will spue the people out. Today, in 1994, we can see the land in South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland doing precisely that. Spueing the farmers and whole rural communities out because the farmers have disobeyed God’s Laws of the land for decades and the people have repudiated God’s Laws in favour of those devised by the heathen and other members of the United Nations. In addition all have allowed God’s Sabbath to become a day of sport, entertainment and commercial activity.

The climax of these and other Close-of-the-Age Judgements is now at our very doors. Paul said in 1 Thess 5:4, that those who study God’s Word should not be in darkness or taken by surprise by the Second Advent (in the air). Jesus said in Matt 24:37-38 that when He returns, the World will be behaving as it was in the days of Noah. Hence active belief in Him and in His Laws would be practically non-existent.

Isa 3:9-12 describes how things would be for God’s people in these Last Days; Sodomy would be openly accepted; children would oppress their elders; women would rule in many walks of life. Those who should be our leaders in political, judicial, religious, academic and scientific fields would be quick only to mislead us down the popular trail of deference to other gods, “sacred sites” and admiration of foreign arts and cultures. All these conditions are part and parcel of our daily life right now.

As it was in the days of Noah, so also it was for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. They also were eating and drinking, building and planting etc, but the same day Lot walked out of the city they were all destroyed (Luke 17:29). The Second Advent, Jesus says, will be just as sudden and come without any further warning. The mourning referred to in Matt 24:30 and Rev 1:7 will be done by those who are confronted with the reality of Jesus for the first time in their lives – in the form of the Resurrection of the Dead. For they will know that, for them, it is too late to make amends.

22 The Resurrection will thus come, for most people, as a thief in the night while all these distracting Winds of Judgement are still sweeping through the Earth. It will come when the wise can see that none of our “leaders” have the slightest idea of how to solve even one of the national problems confronting us and the World today. And when our Lord does return to redress the situation, He comes as King to take over an existing throne from the present faltering Zarah Line and restore it to the Throne of David on which He, alone, holds the right to rule. His Kingdom is therefore a Monarchy – not a Republic.

Paul says (Phil 3:20) our (Monarchial) Commonwealth, of which we are an earthly colony, exists now – in the Heavens. And we await the coming of our King and Saviour from it to transform us to His likeness in His new Kingdom of the Heavens on the Earth.

Matt 25:32 states that when He returns He separates the people in the Commonwealth of Israel nations into two classes – the sheep and the goats. In effect God allows us to do that for ourselves by exercising the free will that He gave to all of us. Those now opting for a Republic are, in actual fact, signing their own Extradition Order out of God’s Kingdom. They will stand self-condemned by their own choice on this and many other unrighteous issues confronting each one of us in these Last Days of the Age.

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–––––––––– References:

A. Guinness, G.H., Light for the Last Days, New Edition, edited by Cachemaille, E.P., Morgan and Scott, London, 1917. B. Barnett, C., Bonaparte, George Allen and Unwin, London, 1978. C. Britannica Junior, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., Chicago, 1961. D. Ellicott, C.J., Editor, A Bible Commentary for English Readers, Cassell and Company, London, circa 1900. E. Hislop, A., The Two Babylons, Loizeaux Brothers, New Jersey, 1959. F. Davidson, D., The Judgment of the Nations, The Covenant Publishing Company, London, 1940. G. Davidson, D. and Aldersmith, H., The Great Pyramid, Its Divine Message, 11th Edition, Williams and Norgate Ltd, London, 1948.

Mathematical Constants

The following constants are taken from Davidson (G): Solar Year: 365.242465 days Lunar Year: 354.3671 days

23 Index Ezek 38: 4 ...... 15 Matt 24:21,22 ...... 13 1 Ezek 39: 2 ...... 19 Matt 24:29 ...... 15 1 Thes 5: 3 ...... 17 Matt 24:30 ...... 22 G 1 Thess 5: 4...... 22 Matt 24:30,31 ...... 13 Gen 27:40...... 12 Matt 24:31 ...... 13 2 Gen 48:19...... 18 Matt 24:32-34 ...... 13 2 Chron 22...... 14 Matt 24:37,38 ...... 22 I 2 Ki 19:28...... 15 Matt 25:32 ...... 23 Isa 2 ...... 3 Mich 4: 5 ...... 3 A Isa 3: 9-12 ...... 22 N Acts 7:38 ...... 4 Isa 7: 8 ...... 18 Isa 11:14 ...... 21 Num 24:20...... 14 D Isa 26:19 ...... 22 O Dan 2...... 3 Isa 27: 1 ...... 22 Dan 2:19 ...... 2 Isa 34 ...... 15 Obad...... 15 Dan 2:28 ...... 2 Isa 34: 8...... 20 Obad 12-14...... 11 Dan 2:34,35 ...... 7 Isa 37 ...... 14 P Dan 2:35 ...... 2 Isa 61: 2 ...... 20 Dan 2:42-45...... 6 Isa 63:4 ...... 20 Phil 3:20 ...... 23 Dan 7...... 3 J R Dan 7: 2...... 3 Dan 7: 3...... 3 Jer 3:18 ...... 12 Rev 1: 7 ...... 22 Dan 7: 6...... 4 Jer 24: 1-10 ...... 13 Rev 7 ...... 13 Dan 7: 7...... 9 Jer 30: 7 ...... 13 Rev 7:14 ...... 13 Dan 7:17 ...... 3 Joel 2:5-7 ...... 15 Rev 11: 2 ...... 2 Dan 8...... 3 John 2:20...... 9 Rev 11: 3 ...... 19 Dan 10: 4...... 13 Rev 12:14 ...... 2 L Dan 11...... 13 Rev 13: 2 ...... 4 Dan 11:40,41 ...... 21 Lev 18:28...... 22 Rev 16 ...... 13 Dan 11:41...... 14 Luke 4:18 ...... 20 Rev 16:15 ...... 13 Dan 12...... 19, 20 Luke 11:49-51 ...... 15 Rev 16:16 ...... 13 Dan 12: 1...... 13 Luke 17:29 ...... 22 Rev 17:16 ...... 10 Dan 12:12...... 11 Luke 19:27 ...... 12, 15 Rev 18 ...... 19 Luke 21:24 ...... 11, 12 E Z M Ex 17:14-16 ...... 14 Zech 12: 3...... 11, 12 Exo 19: 3-6 ...... 4 Mal 1: 4...... 11, 12 Zech 13: 8...... 15 Eze 14:21...... 3 Mat 16:18...... 4 Zech 14...... 15 Ezek 11:15...... 12 Matt 3:10...... 13 Zech 14:4-5...... 15 Ezek 21:26,27 ...... 11 Matt 13:40,49...... 22 Ezek 36:37...... 22 Matt 24:21...... 13

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