We’ve looked many times at Israel’s destiny and what things will look like for that prophetic nation as the time of Christ’s return nears. One primary prophecy in this regard is from Zechariah, as again, we have looked at many times.
The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. (Zechariah 12: 1-3)
My purpose here, as usual, is to focus on how near we must be to that promise found in the great unveiling of the glory of the King of all kings when He breaks through the dark, tumultuous clouds of Tribulation at the time of Armageddon (read Revelation 19:11).
God has promised His chosen people of His chosen nation Israel, that, even prior to Armageddon, He will intervene at the time all the world tries to force Israel from the midst of nations. He tells through the prophet Zechariah that all nations will eventually come against Israel.
All the nations of the world are represented to one extent or the other by the United Nations (UN). Can we see any anti-Israel bias in this organization at present?
We consider the following news item excerpt to find an answer.
18 September 2024 Peace and Security
The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to adopt a resolution that demands that Israel “brings to an end without delay its unlawful presence” in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
With a recorded vote of 124 nations in favour, 14 against, and 43 abstentions, the resolution calls for Israel to comply with international law and withdraw its military forces, immediately cease all new settlement activity, evacuate all settlers from occupied land, and dismantle parts of the separation wall it constructed inside the occupied West Bank.
The General Assembly further demanded that Israel return land and other “immovable property”, as well as all assets seized since the occupation began in 1967, and all cultural property and assets taken from Palestinians and Palestinian institutions.
The resolution also demands Israel allow all Palestinians displaced during the occupation to return to their place of origin and make reparation for the damage caused by its occupation. (“UN General Assembly demands Israel end ‘unlawful presence’ in Occupied Palestinian Territory,” By Vibhu Mishra, UN News)
All of this is in answer to one of the most heinous attacks in history–that perpetrated by Hamas against Israel on October 7, 2023.
Satan has seemingly entered the mind of much of the world—at least those represented in the UN who have joined in voting to come against the Jewish state. But the Lord, who watches over Israel and who neither slumbers nor sleeps, has guaranteed severe countermeasures against the satanically inspired anti-Semitic forces of history.
All who curse Israel will be cursed, and all who bless Israel will be blessed, as it is written (Genesis 12: 3). We can examine the nations and peoples of history that have cursed God’s chosen and find them in the dustbins of history, or not at all.
Germany’s downfall and history of domination by a satanically inspired Soviet regime is a modern proof of God’s promise to curse those who curse Israel. The Soviet Union itself dealt harshly with the Jews, and it, too, was cursed, and continues to be so to this day as once-again called Russia.
The United States has been mightily blessed, on the other hand, having been an instrumentally used by Israel’s God in bringing the Jews again into the land God promised them.
Satan is obviously working with all his being to bring anti-Semitism to America–particularly infecting a significant number of youthful minds within the Ivy League schools.
At the same time, the Lord has, I’m convinced, raised a champion for Israel in the US at this juncture so near the end of this Age of Grace.
Like his manners or not, President Donald J. Trump continues to prove his friendship with and his determination to protect Israel in its modern reincarnation. –This while the geopolitical and national political left joins those UN forces arrayed against Israel, blaming the Jews even for what happened that evil day of October 7, 2023.
It is flabbergasting that even Jews within American government and within the institutions of higher learning such as in Harvard, Columbia, and others join the mantra to remove all Jews from the river to the sea, as is the luciferic chant promoted by mainstream news media each and every day.
However, it is heartening that God obviously is meeting this Zechariah 12-level hatred with strength to safeguard Israel emanating for the most powerful nation-state on the planet. I strongly suspect that we are about to witness that power on display against Israel’s chief nation-state enemy and its attempt to produce nuclear weaponry which Iran would certainly use to, as vowed, destroy Israel. –This action against Iran being probable despite critics who lately declare that Trump seems to be noncommittal or even have a change of mind on destroying Iran’s nuclear weapons laboratories.
For this reason–the protective nation-partnership with Israel—and the fact that God’s family, the born-again, remain in this country, there is hope that the United States will survive this end-of-the-age, satanically spawned evil at least until Jesus steps out on the clouds of Glory and shouts “Come up here!”
Here is how to be part of that family of God that will hear Jesus when He calls in the Rapture.
That if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and will believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10: 9-10)
Terry James Prophecy Line 
Is Vladamir Putin the Chief Prince of Magog(Gog)? Are the ancient people groups of Meshech, Tubal and Tobolsk, identified with modern day Russia as an invading army prophesied in Ezekiel 38:1-39:2, about to come together for an invasion of Israel?
Pope Francis is dead, the supposed last pontificate reign is about to be thrust on the world(#112) according to a 12th or 13th century monk’s vision as the last pope to head the Roman Catholic church at the end of days.
Pres. Donald Trump recently said in remarks heard by the press that he runs the country, therefore he runs the world!
Vladamir Putin rejects Pres. Trump’s pleas to use restraint in pounding Ukraine in the war. He has refudiated attempts at a negotiated settlement between the two nations, although Zelinsky has not helped with his refusals for a negotiated settlement giving land back to Russia.
But Israel isn’t living in a land of un-walled villages either! There’s still a huge separation zone-barrier to help defend Israel against its enemies! What gives? This prophesy, I feel, probably doesn’t happen until after the Rapture! The antichrist enables the wall to come a tumbling down somehow, someway thru savvy skullduggery as the smoothest speaking salesman in history!
In Ezekiel, it also says the Lord Himself will put an ‘evil’ thought in the Chief Prince’s head that prompts this invasion of Israel. If Putin continues his quest of Ukraine, and doesn’t die, he’ll see ‘booty-spoil’ in them thar hills of Israel, a Land Flowing With Milk and Honey(and gas & oil), and make a beeline for the Golan(Trump) heights before too much longer with these other various smaller nations–Iran, Turkey, Libya, Sudan et al.
I understand the Zechariah passage to mean this: No one will be unaffected by what happens to Jerusalem. We already see the beginning of its “trembling” effect on the entire world today and we can be certain that anyone who moves against it will ultimately be crushed.
As was pointed out, Germany was routed and half was under Communist domination for decades. Then, in 1989 the Berlin Wall fell along with the Soviet Union. Apparently, Vlad and his new pals of Iran, Turkey, and those who will sign up with them are totally ignorant or dismissive of what will come upon them when they move against Israel.
Under the “mis-adminstration” of Joe Biden while he was betraying Israel we saw rampant inflation, civil unrest, and natural disasters multiplied right here in America. I suspect the major players in this four-year nightmare were in a similar place as Putin & Company.
It is possible that the Ezekiel 38-39 conflict will come when Israel is lulled into thinking all is well. Perhaps the Abraham Accords will set this up.
The unexpected Ezekiel attack may then happen simultaneously with the Rapture and the Antichrist emerge shortly thereafter, claiming credit for Israel’s miraculous delivery. Most will buy into the lie, but I suspect a remnant will doubt and these may become the first of the Tribulation saints.
Of course, I’m just speculating and I would be interested in viewpoints from others who visit this site.
Ed I agree with your suppositions. We almost surely won’t be here to see Gog/Magog, and we may not see the other wars as well.
Like Terry Says, the Bible shows us it will be business as usual up to the instant that we are gone. Then the world will think of history’s timeline as BR and AR (before the Rapture and After the Rapture, although they many not call it that.)
The Antichrist will seek to change times and the laws (Daniel 7:25), I expect he will likely erase the BC/AD markers we hold to now, and make new dates to conform to his workings. He will probably even claim credit for our disappearance, and endlessly propagandize, to make that seem a good thing, to his doomed followers.
R
Thanks, Robin.
Interesting point you made about changing the dates. No one mentions this but it could very well be as you say. His first year in power could become something like 1 NWC (New World Calendar) or something like that.
I also agree he’ll take credit for things he never did just as you said. Maybe that includes protecting Israel from the Ezekiel attack. I think letting the Jews rebuild their temple will be part of his Seven-Year Covenant with Many. I actually think that this will be a global treaty of which its provisions for ratifying a middle-east peace accord will be just one component.
Others may include setting up the U.N. as his global “cabinet,” voluntary universal I.D. system which will one day become mandatory, global military force, and currency system that will be phased in to eventually replace existing currencies.
Thankfully, we will not be here when this all comes down!
You are right Ed, he’ll do everything to take the Lord’s place in the world. Nothing will escape his efforts, and I am so glad we won’t be here to watch it. It’s all I can do to keep my focused on Jesus, with things moving so fast.
I just heard of this article written on 4-21-25, an opinion posted in ISRAEL365NEWS, titled “THE SECRET RAPTURE and ISRAEL. Nobody in the evangelical community has ever spoken of a ‘Secret Rapture’ that I’m aware of, yet this writer-author quotes quite eloquently in part concerning Christian doctrine. Almost to the point of me saying has he read the New Testament because he offers a voluminous amount of NT scripture in this piece. I attached a portion of it here only because I find it so fascinating that in Israel its getting this kind of attention–false as it may be!
The title the pope takes on entering office is Vicarius Filii Dei. It translates to “Vicar of the Son of God.” It literally means “in place of God.” The numerical value of this title is 666 in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Hence, the number of his name is 666 (Revelation 13:18). As the prophecy says of the Antichrist: “He sits in the temple (Vatican) showing himself to be God.” (2 Thessalonians 2:3–4)
Another danger of this teaching is that those who hold this teaching believe they will not be here during the tribulation, so there is no need to prepare or even study the rest of the Book of Revelation past the first four chapters. This is because they believe they will not be here according to the Secret Rapture teaching. They will just leave it to the Jews who are left behind. Here is a point of clarification: God did not have to remove the Jews from the land of Goshen to protect them during the ten plagues He poured out in Egypt. He protected them with blood applied to the family home on the doorposts. In the Book of Revelation, eight of the ten plagues in the Exodus will be repeated during the tribulation. They will be poured out on those who take the mark of the beast and who worship the beast (see Revelation 14:9–10; 18:4).
God’s Correction to the Secret Rapture Teaching
God’s correction for those who are second-chance minded: “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me.” (Revelation 22:12–13 / see also 1 Thessalonians 4:16)
The reward does not come later—it comes when Jesus appears. Christ also warns about being ready:
“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matthew 24:44)
There is only one reward for all men when Jesus comes—if you are ready. There are no second chances. Those who will be welcomed at the Lord’s house of prayer for all nations at the restored temple will not have the mark of the beast.
An angel warns of coming judgment in the Book of Revelation with this warning:
“Fear God and give Him glory, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea, and springs of water. If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall drink from the wine of God’s wrath.” (Revelation 14:7, 9)
Here is the key in this verse: it is all about worship! If we have the seal of God and worship Him as the Creator, we will not have the mark of the beast. If we have the mark of the beast and worship him, we will not have the seal of God, and we will be judged:
“I saw another angel having the seal of the living God saying, ‘Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.’” (Revelation 7:3–4)
What Does the Book of Revelation Say About How Jesus Will Return?
Does it allow for a Secret Rapture? The answer is very clear in the first chapter of the book:
“Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him.”
This verse agrees with the witness of the angels on the Mount of Olives when they saw Jesus depart in Acts 1:8:
“While they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.’”
The Book of Revelation confirms this witness of the angels. Jesus does come back in like manner as He left. He left physically, visibly, and with clouds. This is exactly how He comes back, as seen in the Book of Revelation. No secrecy is seen in any of these witnesses.
The Secret Rapture is not biblical and distorts and distracts attention away from end-time events that the Bible stresses to be important. It devalues the role of the Jewish people and the Third Temple in its use. It marginalizes the Jewish people, who it sees as not worthy to be claimed by a returning Messiah. They are left behind in this teaching. They are not honored as God’s chosen people. There is a need to focus on what the Bible actually does say about the return of Christ for Christians, the role of the Jewish people, the Third Temple, and the role of Israel in prophecy. All of these important topics are distorted in the teachings of the Secret Rapture. Since many Christians today believe in the Secret Rapture teachings, there is currently a great distortion as to Israel’s role in last-day prophecy. It is time to remove antisemitism from the Christian Church and its teachings for the last days.
*The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Israel365 News
*If you’re interested in reading whole article you can find it @ ISRAEL365NEWS.com, and search for LATEST NEWS; “The Secret Rapture and Israel”.
Thanks for this another excellent article.
I can agree with Terry that the United States will indeed survive until the end of this current age however in a different form. I believe we will exist as the 8th Kingdom, a resurgence of Babylon or the kingdom of the AntiChrist.
If President Donald J. Trump is successful in bringing the world to their knees economically and to the negotiating table, then the foundation will be laid. Revelation chapters 17 & 18 describe not only a commercial powerhouse but a pinnacle of idolatry known as Mystery Babylon.
I believe our President will be successful in all that he plans to do. He is laying the foundation for the Beast Empire. As was stated by his (President Trump) mouth that it was not necessary, for all his Christian friends to worry about voting again, he would fix it. Just vote this time.
We also know according to Bible Prophecy that later the AntiChrist moves his headquarters to the Middle East (Daniel 11:45). This most assuredly precedes the destruction of what will be this hybrid Commercial/Religious hub known as Mystery Babylon. There will be no need for this stepping stone (Babylon), for the AntiChrist will have much larger aspirations in demanding that the world worship him as God.
The world has greatly changed in these first 100 days, even our allies and free trade partners are now bowing under the weight of this would be Ceasar. Many things have rapidly changed yet the evangelical community, is still looking for someone with horns to pop out and acknowledge they are the AntiChrist. Many refuse to see what is already before them.
First it was the golden statue of President Trump, then the title of Ruler of the World in a recent news magazine. We also now have our President submitting an image as the Pope! That’s just a few of these interesting tidbits. Seems as though someone is telegraphing his future role.