Chapter 4

Not only did Daniel reveal in advance the coming great kingdoms of the world but also particular events and time frames that will follow on the last days concerning Israel and the adversaries of Christianity. Daniel’s prophesy of “Seventy Weeks” in Daniel 9:20-27 deals a lot of importance on understanding the Great Divine Plan of God and the prophecies.

What does the “Seventy Weeks” mean? First, let us understand that in every prophecy a day is equivalent to one year. The word used here was “shabua” which was a common usage for years. So the seventy weeks was actually seventy weeks of years (NIV puts it plain, Seventy Sevens). This is the length of time of the captivity of the Jews in Babylon according to the prophecy of Jeremiah being read by Daniel himself at that time (Dan 9:2). After which they were to return to their land and start as a nation anew.

1st Part: Sixty-nine (69) Weeks from the issuing of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem until the ruler (Jesus Christ) comes; and

“Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble.

The decree referred to here was the decree of Artaxerxes, the king regarding the permission to rebuild Jerusalem. Read Nehemiah 2:1-8. The date was “In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes . . . ” (v.1). History books record the Artaxerxes accession at 465 BC, and his 20^th year would be 445 BC. The first of Nisan, a Hebrew calendar is March 14, 445 BC of our Gregorian calendar. That is where we start counting the 69-week prophecy of Daniel. We need to convert the 69 weeks of years into days to get into the end of the 69 weeks. That is, 69 weeks x seven years x 360 days which is equal to 173,880 days. Adding this to March 14, 445 BC, it will give us the date close to the crucifixion of Christ, which is in April 6, 32 AD. The prophecy was fulfilled perfectly!

The “seven weeks” (seven sevens), the first part of 69 weeks was inserted to affix the time of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. It was supposed to occur seven weeks or seven x seven = 49 years after the issuance of the decree. That means that in 396 BC, the streets and a trench were rebuilt in Jerusalem.

He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.

The Seventy-Week prophecy of Daniel . . . the time of the end revealed.

Many eras had passed and still this passage of Daniel remains a mystery. But first let us understand the time setting. It apparently bound to happen in the last days since the abomination that causes desolation is also spoken about by Christ concerning the last days. Read Matthew 24:15. The Seventy-Week period therefore is not a continuous time frame. The first part was already fulfilled. The second part is still to happen ahead, very close.

What does the Bible mean to “confirm a (in some manuscripts, the) covenant”? According to www.dictionary.com, to confirm means:

Whose covenant, the devil’s? Certainly not. It should be completely the Lord’s covenant otherwise it should not have covered the entire seven years which include the Lord’s Day.

The Lord God had established many covenants with men beginning with Adam until the coming of Jesus. In fact the whole Scriptures or the Bible is the written Covenant between God and men since the beginning of time, of man. Which of these covenants will be affirmed to the people in the last days and why? It is to prove that the Bible is not a myth as some believe, and the mighty works of God in the ancient days did really happen. One of His important commissions for us to do is to spread the Gospel but time had proven that the Good News of salvation is not enough for many to believe the Lord since even this is based on the Bible and the prophets. What is therefore the surest way to make many believe the Bible? A miracle? No. Believe it or not, God is about to reenact the biblical events— He shall repeat history and it has started! The antichrist shall be instrumental in repeating biblical events (Dan 9:27), after all he shall be the rod of God’s anger (Isa 10:5-6) against sinful Israel. Read:

"Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of my anger, in whose hand is the club of my wrath! I send him against a godless nation, I dispatch him against a people who anger me, to seize loot and snatch plunder, and to trample them down like mud in the streets.

The “Assyrian” here is singular, the ruler of Assyrians, referring to the would-be antichrist.

As it was and always, God makes covenants with men to help us fight evil and He will do the same old works again in the coming darkest days of Israel. It will take only seven years for God to do just that— to show to all mankind a likeness of what had happened to all creations from the time of Adam until the birth of man Jesus. It is for our own sake, the weak in faith why God had to confirm His mighty works before our very eyes. Prior to the Lord’s second coming, we shall witness our present day version of the Exodus or the parting of the Red Sea, the journey to the wilderness, the conquest of the nations, the fall of Israel, Judah, Assyria, Babylon, and Egypt plus many more events as they happened in the past in a bigger scale in different locations. They will involve the same descendants of people who made biblical history in the new places God had put them in. Praise God! Here’s the ultimate manifestation of God’s power, His love and great compassion to all who are weak in faith. But to the unbelievers, their end will not have any excuse.

Why should the Old Testament or “The Covenant” be repeated? That is how the entire plan of God is meant to be accomplished. World events are simply the resemblance of the past history. Notice the words of Jesus . . .

For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (Matt 12:40)

As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. (Matt 24:37)

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. (Eccles 1:9)

How will all the biblical history be repeated? We shall explore the details one by one through the pages of the Scriptures.

Before we proceed to the last “Seven Years”, know again for certain that the earth is already ripe for harvest, all is set for the last seven years prior to the millennium. It cannot happen in the next generation, it is within our own lifetime, even to our doorsteps.

The Book of Matthew 24:6-8 outlines the first signs of the last days as Jesus Christ Himself spoke:

“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.”

Wars happen because of poverty. Every nation wants to rise and progress. When a nation hungers, it will do practically anything to feed its people or the people would use the sword to feed themselves. Now we are reaching the bursting point of the earth’s carrying capacity. While population grows, the greater is the need for services and food. The world has never been at any time very volatile. Even allied nations today are fighting trade wars against each other due to economic recessions. More explosive than trade war is religious war and we find terrorism as founded on contrasting beliefs and religion. There are many flash points in the entire world that would explode to a full-scale war at any time. We read rumors of wars in the papers every day.

The environmental concerns are as worse as the threat of wars. Global warming remained uncontrolled despite measures to check it. Erosion, greenhouse effect, and depleted ozone layers are affecting the world’s agricultural harvest. Pollution is so serious in all fronts— air, water and soil contributing to the low farm output. Many nations big and small had virtually beg for food in order to survive. Others believe that earthquakes are more frequent and stronger now than at any time in history. Other calamities associated with it like volcanic eruptions, depletion of aquifer, wrought havoc on many areas of the world.

A devastating, giant tsunami dwarfs people on the shore along the beach in Thailand during the deadly earthquake in Indonesia in December, 2004.

Not only that natural and manmade signs are eminent these days. Even the antichrist is already living and creating fear between the Western allies and the Christendom. Wars between ideologies are also becoming intense particularly between Islam and Christianity. Almost always, we are in great danger of war erupting in Middle East as peace continues to elude the region despite the efforts of superpowers to forge peace between Israel and her Muslim neighbors.

This was already revealed to Daniel almost 2,500 years ago. The Book of Daniel, Chapter 11 recorded in advance the fate of two kings, the king of the North and king of the South. But unlike in the earlier prophecies of Daniel when he wrote of kingdoms that oppressed the nation of Israel, this time he wrote of two major lines of kings who are both hostile to Israel and yet constantly at war against each other. Their wars affected Israel as if being caught in the crossfire since the two warring kingdoms were located at the immediate north and south of the Holy Land, hence they were termed King of the North and King of the South respectively.

Many Bible researchers have already established the identities of the first kings of the North and South. All the biblical events concerning the kings were convincingly fulfilled to the letter. It started with the remnant kings of Alexander’s Empire, between Ptolemy ruling Egypt and Judea as the Southern Kingdom and Seleucus Nicator ruling Syria, Babylonia and lands near India as the Northern Kingdom.

Particular interest however should be focused on the kings of our age, the last days. But contradictions between theologians and historians are apparent concerning these two kings of the last days. In our time when boundaries of nations have changed, the Lost Tribes of Israel already resettled in new lands, and old kingdoms also grown so big, it is important to consider the whole earth’s geography in locating the North and South. Among the four great beasts, note that only the Leopard Kingdom remained in its original location, which is the Middle East. The Lion (and Eagle), being attributed to the House of Israel is now in Europe and America. Only a part of Israel, the House of Judah remained in the former location of the old Kingdom of Israel along with the tribes of Levi and Benjamin (Ezra 1:5). After years of migration, the Bear, is now the USSR and parts of Europe and South Asia.

In our era however, the North and South are still as it was— the north and south of the original Holy Land but their kings may not be in the same locations as the Egypt in South and Syria or Babylon in the North. They now include the allies of those kings. The modern Egypt as we have learned is now the United States of America, not anymore its origin, the weak and small nation of Egypt in the Middle East. The king of the North now involves one of the leaders of the leopard kingdom, the Arab world— including the nation of Iraq, the site of original Babylon.

The future antichrist is the likeness of King Anthiocus IV Epiphanes, the Madman who fulfilled in part the later part of the prophecy. Read the account in Daniel 11:29-31. He erected the idol Zeus Olympus, the Roman God inside the Holy Temple It was abomination that causes desolation referred to in the Bible. Soon, we should expect in a bigger scale of this abomination that will be set up somewhere causing great desolation to the entire world.

This is to warn everybody that the danger is real. The antichrist should come from the land of Babylon, today the nation of Iraq. If he is to rise and rule today, the most likely candidate based on current worldwide development is in fact already here now with us. Biblically, all indications and circumstances are already in place that could propel him into power and world ruler anytime now and in the very near future. Will he be no other than King Saddam Hussein or one of Iraq's future king? He is the most likely person who could fulfill the prophecies about the last king of the North and he is to fulfill all the last phases of Daniel 2, 7, 8 and 11. Are you not aware of his deeds? From now on read the world news-- it is worth observing the developments in his country and his enemy, Great Britain and the United States. Fear not and be not troubled. God is more powerful. He will come with great power and glory to save us all!

This is the summary and encouragement. Below is a short analysis of past or probable future events vis-à-vis biblical prophesies why I had come to this hypothesis and well, conclusion.

At the time of the end the king of the South will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood.

Iraq had invaded Kuwait but the world alliance of more than 30 nations led by the United States which was called 1991 Operation Desert Storm or the Persian Gulf War successfully repelled him with great forces. That resulted to great devastation to Saddam’s country putting his nation’s economy to ruins and his people to near starvation. The infrastructures were quickly turned into pre-medieval state and became much poorer than most countries of the world. It was followed by the second war 12 years later, the War in Iraq to put out Saddam from power suspecting he was developing weapons of mass destruction. Now the United States is still in control of the country but will the West succeed?

U.S. troops topple a giant statue of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad, as the whole world watches on TVs following the capture of the city in April 2003. Someday, the author believes, similar statue shall be put up as an abomination that causes desolation.
Photo Source: Wikipedia Encyclopedia

The Bible says not so. The world alliance simply planted a seed of hate and vengeance in the Iraqi people. The 1991Operation Desert Storm simply made Iraq, that old Babylon a stronger nation now waiting for its own time. The king of the North has no other obsession now in mind but vengeance against the West and the world. In the end he will again engage the south (now USA) but accordingly, he has enough forces to succeed. Read on...

He will also invade the Beautiful Land. Many countries will fall, but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand. He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Nubians in submission.

The Beautiful Land could be the Land of Judea, now Israel, Europe or America. Also notice how Egypt here being pictured as a very wealthy country, a far cry from the lowly Egypt as the world now knows?

In the meantime, let us review briefly the history of the Kingdom of Israel. After the death of King Solomon, Israel became a divided kingdom, the northern part being the House of Israel and south, the House of Judah. We also learned that the House of Israel fell first in the hands of the Assyrians and much later, Babylon conquered the House of Judah. So the House of Israel fell first. In confirming the covenant, the same sequence must follow. In today’s case, Europe, the home of the Lost Tribe or House of Israel should fall first before the House of Judah. The Beautiful Land in verse 41 therefore refers to Europe.

Again, now Egypt enters the scene as sort fortunate of being spared from war. Again, the Bible (2Kings 19)and history confirm that Assyrian forces were not able to conquer Judah and through Egypt.

Picture of Saddam Hussein taken by coalition authorities after his capture.
Photo Source: CNN

Probably in the last days Egypt (USA) will appear to be trying to play safe in an obvious demonstration of pursuing a greater national interest. First it will succeed but not for long. According to the verse, the antichrist will gain access to the great wealth of America its government has always protected.

Notice also that Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from the hand of antichrist. We have identified Edom as the USSR. It is no surprise since the USSR is a traditional ally of the Iraqis. Moab and Ammon are now the countries of the Arab world, always been the enemy of Judah. All the rest of the Arab world shall rest their hope on Saddam Hussein as the leader of a New World order. Libyans and the Nubians shall simply submit unto him. The West and her allies are in great jeopardy.

Now we can explain why the Lion Kingdom of the last age had its wings torn off, stood like a man and a heart of man was given unto it (Dan 7:4). The Lion of the last age is the Allied Force of NATO, simply called the West. In a bid of trying to avert a full-scale war against the Arab world, USA would probably try to play safe to protect its national interest. This will hurt NATO members and eventually, Europe would severe ties with the US literally tearing the eagle’s wings off the lion— USA being the Eagle and Great Britain, the leader of NATO Forces as the Lion. A divided force becomes weak and Europe becomes an easy prey to the Leopard Kingdom, the United Arab Forces led by an Arab King. The heart of a man symbolizes mercy and compassion, traits that ferocious beasts do not possess. Likewise, America’s role by then will suddenly change from a good brother to an oppressor Egypt towards the people of Israel, his own brothers.

The mainland United States is the only great nation sitting between two oceans, the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans. To the northeast is the vast island of wilderness, Greenland. It will have an important role to play during the Day of the Lord.

Let us first identify where the antichrist will pitch his tent, that is, his headquarters as the New World ruler. Verse 44 says it is “...between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain”. Mountain is a biblical symbol for a great, big nation. Scan the globe and we will find no other nation that befits a great nation that is between the seas. It is no other than the great land America or specifically, the USA. USA sits between the two of the world’s largest oceans, the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans.

Then why beautiful and holy? Understand that USA, the “Egypt”, was Manasseh, the recipient of the other half of the birthright promise of God. The other half was Ephraim’s, his younger brother. It is holy not because of the nation’s predominant Christian religion but because of the blessings and promises of God that was permanently bestowed on its land and people. In fact its people and any country on earth do not deserve at all to be called “holy” just like their old ancestors. It was simply the blessing and promises of God that made the land holy and beautiful and not of any man’s doing for we all fall short of the glory of God. That is how great the promise of God to Abraham was. The blessings to the land and people, both physical and spiritual are indeed holy and beautiful because they came from the Holy and Omnipotent God. Regardless anyway of the sins of Israel, the Bible still calls Israel a holy race (Read Ezra 9:2) and Manasseh is also a son of Joseph, the son of Israel. USA is actually playing a dual role today, as Israel and likewise as an Egypt. In the same way God described through prophet Daniel that the Babylonian Empire of Nebuchadnezzar the Gold Kingdom, then the world’s greatest kingdom not because of their religion, its king’s power or whatsoever but only because of the blessed and beloved Israel they held captive in their territory.

Another important clue that identifies this mysterious location of the throne of the antichrist is the “east and the north”, which troubled the antichrist. Read v. 44:

“But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. …”

East and the North simply mean northeast in our modern-day English language. Again, look at the globe and locate a land just northeast of the USA, the seat of antichrist. We find no other land except the vast island of Greenland. The line intersects Canada but this cannot be that nation that can terrify him since the message implies a report, meaning a news from a far place and not readily accessible and easily invaded. This location will be further verified in Chapter 6. But wait, let us pause and stop at Greenland, take the word of the Bible as it points to. Why Greenland? It is simply a vast, cool wilderness of ice and water, almost unpopulated. Seems harmless, but why would the antichrist be alarmed by reports from it? It is very important to solve this mystery for it should answer the remaining puzzles of the prophecies. Again the mystery of Greenland will be explained further in Chapter 6.

Many more astounding facts will surprise us later. Details of the many events will be unfolded before our eyes. Prophecies for the last seven years comprise almost ninety percent of all prophecies of the Bible. After identifying the major players of the prophecies it should already be easy for Bible readers to follow through the entire story flow of the whole Divine Plan of God.

It is time for us to turn to the pages of the writings of the other prophets beginning with the prophet Isaiah.

The book of Isaiah is to me one of the richest sources of clues for unlocking the prophecies about the last days. Understanding the other books of prophecies relies primarily on the book of Isaiah. His prophecies are the most detailed account of the final journey of Israel during the last days but these are hidden deep in mystery. Isaiah lived sometime during the reigns of King Uzziah to King Hezekiah of Judah.

The meaning of Isaiah’s prophecies is one worth a very close study. In order to understand his commission let us read and understand how God started him up in his ministry.

He said, “Go and tell this people: ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ Make the heart of these people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed. (Isa 6:9-11).

So that is exactly how the prophecies were intended to be. The words of God were purposely given to the people of Israel (this people) to make their hearts hardened, shut off their ears and close their eyes. Why? In those times God’s own people did not believe. His blessings were completely shut off from them as if the communication line between God and men was completely cut off.

Jesus Christ quoted the same words to the apostles when He said to them regarding His speaking in parables:

This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. (Matt 13:13-16).

So though in sins, God is still able to talk to His people though in parables and hard figures of speech or symbols only the righteous understands. Why? Jesus Himself said:

Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. (Matt 7:6).

Every word of God is bread of life, so precious, made available only for the chosen and for those who are poor in spirit who are willing to receive the Word. Nowhere in the Bible that God had begged the unbelievers to listen to Him nor Jesus preached the Word like a cheap merchandise to those who were not willing to listen.

Until now the prophecies of Isaiah confuse many. His book, again is in fact provides the pivotal information in understanding all the prophecies of God. Daniel outlined the framework and time settings but Isaiah put in detail in unlocking them as well as of the other prophets and the book of Revelation.

But many will insist that Isaiah’s inspired prophecies had already been fulfilled.

First the yes. The book of Isaiah prophesied about the fall of Assyria (2Kings 19:20-37) and the destruction of Jerusalem in the hands of the king of Babylon hundreds of years before they happen. And they did happen as accurately as even identifying in advance the name of the future king of Persia, king Cyrus who destroyed Babylon (Isa 45:1).

And the no. For example on the fall of that same nation of Assyria. Assyria actually fell in the hands of an angel of the Lord who struck them down by night (read 2Kings 19:35) without the knowledge of those surrounding them. In Isaiah’s book it tells of the Lord Himself will destroy the Assyrians by fire and diseases. Now read yourself about how God destroys Assyria:

Therefore, the Lord, the LORD Almighty, will send a wasting disease upon his sturdy warriors; under his pomp a fire will be kindled like a blazing flame. The Light of Israel will become a fire, their Holy One a flame; in a single day it will burn and consume his thorns and his briers. The splendor of his forests and fertile fields it will completely destroy, as when a sick man wastes away. And the remaining trees of his forests will be so few that a child could write them down. (Isa 10:16-19).

Now let us be careful with the usage of terms in Isaiah’s prophecies. When the Lord spoke of the kingdom of God, He refers to earth as a garden and people as trees or plants; the enemy as thorns and briers. Remember Jesus’ parable of the weeds in Matthew 13:24-29? Read also Isaiah 6:13.

There is a great difference about the fall of Assyria in both cases. The Bible also tells of Jesus’ Second Coming as a consuming fire.

See, the LORD is coming with fire, and his chariots are like a whirlwind; he will bring down his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For with fire and with his sword the LORD will execute judgment upon all men, and many will be those slain by the LORD. (Isaiah 66:15-16).

So the prophecies of Isaiah apply to both the past and the future, even now, the present. It is easy for the people of ancient times to understand the passages of Isaiah literally since the symbols such as “swords and horses”, “Egypt”, “Assyria”, etc. belong to their era but the ultimate meanings do not belong to them. In the contrary, the fulfillments and meanings are for us but the symbols and names belong to their time. In between, people were dumbfounded and lost interest in the book and literally as prophesied, calloused. Today is the best time to unlock the mysteries since it is almost the time of the end. The chosen should not be left without warning by not knowing the richness of Isaiah’s messages because the prophecies are for the elect. Therefore, we now derive here a clue to unlocking all prophecies. All prophecies involving nations should have a biblical likeness, a counterpart. That is, the last days events are just the confirmation or reenactment of the past biblical events.

Fulfillment of the prophecies shall be the greatest proofs of God’s awesome power primarily to strengthen our faith. Ultimately, because of His great love and compassion, He will yield a little to man’s stubbornness using deep prophecies even to rescue the wicked. Jacob struggled with God and men and Jacob had overcome (Gen 32:28). He will emphasize that He Himself is the author of all things when He said:

I foretold the former things long ago, my mouth announced them and I made them known; then suddenly I acted, and they came to pass. For I knew how stubborn you were; the sinews of your neck were iron, your forehead was bronze. Therefore I told you these things long ago; before they happened I announced them to you so that you could not say, ‘My idols did them; my wooden image and metal god ordained them.’ ... (Isa 48:3-5)

Now again let us recall the confirmation of the covenant of Daniel’s seventy-week prophecy. History shall repeat itself within seven-year period. Assyria fell before; it shall fall again during the Second Coming of Jesus. But who is this Assyria of the modern age?

We need to remember again the crucial events of Israel’s past life one by one in order to understand Daniel and Isaiah. The life of the nation of Israel can be summarized in seven phases:

We shall learn that each of these shall happen again within just seven short years, the confirmation of the covenant.

The time element is a very crucial factor in understanding the last seven years in order for us to understand the flow of events affecting the lives of all the chosen and the coming of the Son of God. After all the preliminary events have come to pass, we may be able to know the year of His coming but not necessarily the exact day and the hour (Matt 24:36). One reason perhaps is, the antichrist will change the set time and laws (Daniel 7:25).

The middle of the seven is exactly three and one-half (3½) years from the start of seven years. That marks the exact time when the antichrist would rule the world and put and end to Christianity.

The times, a time and half a time is interpreted also in the book of Revelation as two years, one year, and one-half year (3 ½ years) or 1,260 days, which is three multiplied by 360 days (in the Hebrew calendar). Read Rev 12:6,14. It is also forty-two (42) months (Rev 13:5).

The House of Israel fell first followed by the House of Judah. Judah remains where it is in Middle East, now we know it by name Israel although it is only a part of the whole tribe of Israel. The other Ten Lost Tribes including the half-tribe of Ephraim and Manasseh as we have identified is now part of Europe. Europe is now united and aptly called United Europe or the European Community, the Common Market, etc., as they used to be in the ancient times. Ephraim is Great Britain and Manasseh as the United States of America, which now doubles as the modern day Egypt.

Europe will fall in the hands of the Assyrians and Assyrians are descendants of the Kingdom of the Leopard, the Arab World, the old nemesis of Israel.

The invasion of Europe marks the time of the beginning of the Last Seven Years of mankind. It is also the end of the seven-year supremacy of the West following Joseph’s interpretation of the dream of the Pharaoh while he was in Egypt, that is, the seven years of abundance and seven years of famine. The West or the descendant of Israel is now still enjoying the global supremacy in economy and military power. It is however also written that Egypt continued to be a great economic power since it was the provider of food to all nations around it during the time of the famine. How will we then start counting for the seven years of abundance? The end of the Cold War era, the disintegration of USSR, the fall of Iraq could be good guesses and that all happened in 1991 through 1992. From then, USA and NATO with Europe are the greatest military powers of the world, the years of abundance. They controlled the global economy, world policies and decisions. That partly fulfills God’s birthright blessings to Abraham and to his descendants. Edom, which is now Russia with the Middle East is now also under the yolk of the Western World. Therefore if that is the case, seven years from then will end in 1998 through 1999. The question now is, will the last seven years start immediately after the years of abundance or supremacy? The biblical record of Joseph’s life did not indicate if the start of the famine started suddenly after the end of the seven years of abundance. The author believes that it was not sudden, the famine could not have occurred until all food stocks were consumed and there should be time for a weather transition in case a drought occurred throughout the land of Egypt and the nations around it. In the same way, we are left unaware and lost when the last seven years will start and now the world is living on a short, “borrowed time” starting from the new millennium. The year 2000 and beyond should be full of surprises for all mankind.

The illustration above shows the sequence of military conquest of the enemy of Israel against the whole world. This will signal the start of the last seven years and many events shall happen very fast, powers changing hands for the fulfillment of prophecies and confirmation of God’s covenant. Expect the dawn of the “RED”, the rise of Edom, with him are the hordes of “red” allies, the Islamic and Communist nations! The end of Western world dominance shall end—

“But when you go restless, you will throw his yoke from off your neck.” (Gen 27:40).

Although Europe as House of Israel will be invaded, Judah and Egypt will be spared at first. But at that point there will be a sudden change of world order. "Assyria" will then try to conquer the whole world instead. What happens in between will be discussed in the next chapter.

“...its wings were torn off...” (Dan 7:4). USA shall sever ties with Great Britain. The Western allies shall be divided.

“Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of my anger, in whose hand is the club of my wrath! I send him against a godless nation, I dispatch him against a people who anger me, to seize loot and snatch plunder, and to trample them down like mud in the streets. But this is not what he intends, this is not what he has in mind; his purpose is to destroy, to put an end to many nations . . . ” (Isa 10:5-7).

So like the ancient, the modern Assyrian King shall simply be the instrument of God’s wrath against His sinful people. He will invade and defeat Europe and later on will also invade Judah and then the USA as a "Babylonian King."

. . . I removed the boundaries of nations, I plundered their treasures; like a mighty one I subdued their kings. As one reaches into a nest, so my hand reached for the wealth of the nations; as men gather abandoned eggs, so I gathered all the countries; not one flapped a wing, or opened its mouth to chirp.” (Isa 10:13-14).

This pictures a kingdom of overwhelming power, countries never giving a fight, they simply surrender. Territorial boundaries will likewise be removed, then group them as the wicked king’s territories, and loot all their treasures.

‘No one flapped a wing ...’ This will remind us of the Lion Kingdom that stood like a man, his wings torn off and heart of a man given unto it (Dan 7:4). Obviously, the West will be overwhelmed with compassion not ever using the weapons of mass destruction (nuclear war) to combat the enemy.

It will prove very costly on the side of America, the Eagle’s wings torn off the Lion having severed relationship with the Europe and Judah, the Lion.

“Manasseh will feed on Ephraim, and Ephraim on Manasseh; together they will turn against Judah. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.” (Isa 9:21).

So that will be one of the causes of West’s downfall— the Western allies will crack.

After Europe’s downfall, a New World order follows. Many Europeans will seek refuge in their brother land, America. There will be new sets of time and laws. There will only be one world leader . . . the antichrist! That time his kingdom will shift from Assyria to Babylon, the time when he will have both Judah and Egypt (Israel and USA) under his rule. That is actually his wildest obsession— to seek vengeance against the very same countries responsible to his nation’s sufferings. Your guess is as right as mine. Is he Saddam Hussein, the king of New World order, the second kingdom of Babylon? Near the end of his reign, he will persecute many, ruling like a Pharaoh over his captives, the people of God.

“I will stir up Egyptian against Egyptian— brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom. The Egyptians will lose heart, and I will bring their plans to nothing; they will consult the idols and the spirits of the dead, the mediums and the spiritists. I will hand the Egyptians over to the power of a cruel master, and a fierce king will rule over them,” declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty. (Isa 19:2-4).

Thousands of American citizens in protest against the US continuing war in Iraq. One day there will be huge division in America's foreign policy resulting in nationwide civil strife (Isaiah 19:2).
Photo Source: CCMEP

There shall seem to be chaos and division in the last days of America. They shall also lose their trust on the Lord. They lost military supremacy because they cannot execute plans against the enemy. Then the antichrist will take the opportunity, invade and reign directly over them so that the prophecy of Daniel will come true— “He (the antichrist) will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain . . .” (Daniel 11:45). America is between the two great seas, the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans. Beautiful and Holy because they have also the blood of their father Joseph, and their land was blessed in abundance through series of God’s own promises.

At this point, the antichrist will become a Pharaoh to Israel. Read these passages from Isaiah 19:11-16:

“The officials of Zoan are nothing but fools; the wise counselors of Pharaoh give senseless advice. How can you say to Pharaoh, “I am one of the wise men, a disciple of the ancient kings?” Where are your wise men now? Let them show you and make known what the LORD Almighty has planned against Egypt. The officials of Zoan have become fools, the leaders of Memphis are deceived; the cornerstones of her peoples have led Egypt astray. The LORD has poured into them a spirit of dizziness; they make Egypt stagger in all that she does, as a drunkard staggers around in his vomit. There is nothing Egypt can do— head or tail, palm branch or reed. In that day the Egyptians will be like women.”

Zoan and Memphis are once the greatest cities of Egypt of old. Its modern day equivalent might probably be the greatest places of USA— Washington and probably New York. Remember they are just now symbols only to be known when all cities already lie in ruins (Isaiah 6:11).

Now, during those times of chaos, true Egyptians and true Israelites who will be in the side of God will be determined. America will be divided as two nations filtering out from among them the chosen people of God. Then the Israelites among them will be in great distress and sufferings as slaves of the Pharaoh, the antichrist.

The LORD will strike Egypt with a plague; he will strike them and heal them. They will turn to the LORD, and he will respond to their pleas and heal them. (Isa 19:22).

Amen! Does this remind you of the plague of Egypt in Moses’ time? Read also Revelation 11:6; 16:21. By pouring down the plagues, the Americans will come to know the Lord because Egyptians are themselves worthy of salvation; they are Manasseh, the son of Joseph.

Just like its ancestor, USA today is the world’s major power and main supplier of war machines.

‘Yet this is what the Sovereign LORD says: At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the nations where they were scattered. I will bring them back from captivity and return them to Upper Egypt, the land of their ancestry. There they will be a lowly kingdom. It will be the lowliest of kingdoms and will never again exalt itself above the other nations. I will make them so weak that it will never again rule over the nations. Egypt will no longer be a source of confidence for the people of Israel but will be a reminder of their sin in turning to her for help. Then they will know that I am the Sovereign LORD.’ (Ezek 29:13-16:).

It speaks of the time yet future, forty years after the end of the last seven years. Here it speaks of the Egyptians being once the source of confidence of all nations, source of arms, wealth and security of all means, thus making people forget God completely. Indeed now it is. This also proves that the modern Egypt is afar and apart from its origin and will return to that origin which is the Upper Egypt, meaning the country of origin, the land of their ancestry, which is their small nation in the Middle East where Joseph, their forefather was, the only “Egypt” the world now knows.

So that even during the time of Isaiah God had already warned us in advance not to rely on wealth and weapons but on God alone in anticipation of the fulfillment of the birthright promise. Read:

“Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD. Yet he too is wise and can bring disaster; he does not take back his words. He will rise up against the house of the wicked, against those who help evildoers. But the Egyptians are men and not God; their horses are flesh and not spirit. When the LORD stretches out his hand, he who helps will stumble, he who is helped will fall; both will perish together.” (Isa 31:1-3).

Horses and chariots here are again symbols meaning weapons of war. God did not fail to fulfill His promise of world supremacy to his nation, yet it requires careful stewardship on the part of this nation in utilizing the blessings. Possessing enormous global power is both a responsibility and a holy blessing. Power oftentimes misled us from relying on God alone. And America is guilty of that sin. Both the giver and receiver of weapons shall fall. Read report on the world and the US military spending.

Just like in the old days of slavery in Egypt, God shall redeem His people. He will do the same way but in a far marvelous manner for all people to see and remember for eternity.