End Times Dawning: Get Ready!

By Steve Ashburn

We are rapidly are approaching a period in time that the Bible refers to as the End Times. This book explains the end times drawing from Old Testament prophecies, with an emphasis on the book of Isaiah. This 40-year period will begin with nuclear war in the Middle East, then the rapture, the Russian invasion of North America, the Russian invasion of Israel, the Tribulation, and ends with the glorious Second Coming of Christ.

This book systematically and concisely goes through these prophecies and puts them in their proper place in history, current events, and future events, along with a proper timeline of this End-Times period. After reading this book, the Christian will be able to understand:

The definition of "End Times" and similar terms in the Bible.
The role of various nations such as Egypt, Libya, Sudan, Lebanon, Syria, Gaza and West Bank in conflict with Israel.
The role of the United States as a world power and the specific parts it plays in the end times.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Deep River Books LLC
• Release date: Mar 13, 2021
• ISBN: 9781632694577

Book preview

PART I

THE BEGINNING OF THE END TIMES: NUCLEAR WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST

CHAPTER 1

A FORTY-YEAR PERIOD

(WAR WITH EGYPT)

In my previous book The Next Nuclear War, I provided a definition of the end times, and explained the sequence of events of this period according to several books in the Old and New Testaments. Rather than prove my thesis a second time, a general summary of the end times is recounted below, with an emphasis on the nuclear war with Egypt which begins this time period.

Ezekiel 29–30 and 32 describe an end-times battle with Egypt which renders the land desolate for forty years—in the midst of other cities and nations which also are desolate:

Behold, therefore I am against thee, and against thy rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt utterly waste and desolate, from the tower of Syene even unto the border of Ethiopia. No foot of man shall pass through it, nor foot of beast shall pass through it, neither shall it be inhabited forty years. And I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate, and her cities among the cities that are laid waste shall be desolate forty years: and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries. (Ezekiel 29:10–12)

This attack apparently involves nuclear destruction of the Aswan Dam (the tower of Syene) by Israel. When this happens, the Nile River floods up to the level of the hills on either side of its floodplain, and the bodies of Egyptians and others are left to rot in the desert after the water recedes, their bodies picked over by wild animals: And I will leave thee thrown into the wilderness, thee and all the fish of thy rivers: thou shalt fall upon the open fields; thou shalt not be brought together, nor gathered: I have given thee for meat to the beasts of the field and to the fowls of the heaven (Ezekiel 29:5).¹

In addition to floodwaters, Egypt also is judged by radioactive fallout from nuclear detonations, so that the southern two-thirds of the land becomes uninhabitable (from the Aswan Dam to the border of ancient Ethiopia, which in Ezekiel’s day was about two hundred miles north of there). Ezekiel describes the sun as being darkened during this time, probably from clouds of radioactive dust.

I will also water with thy blood the land wherein thou swimmest, even to the mountains; and the rivers shall be full of thee. And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light. (Ezekiel 32:6–7)

Not only does this prophecy apply to Egypt, but also the other nearby cities and nations in the Middle East, which also will be desolate and wasted. This regional nuclear war generally is described in Psalm 83, which specifies the nations which will attack Israel during this conflict, in terms of their ancient ethnic origins. The nations listed in this invasion are those immediately surrounding Israel all joined together: Edom, Moab and Ammon (Jordan); Hagarenes, Gebal, and Amalek (West Bank and Jordan, and trans-Jordanian Arabs in general); Philistines (Gaza); Tyre (Lebanon); and Assur (Iraq). In modern-day terms, this includes all the Arab countries immediately adjacent to Israel. These countries will attempt a blitzkrieg invasion so massive and sudden that Israel will have no choice but to use nuclear weapons to defend herself. Her back will be up against the wall and there simply will not be any other choice but to use these weapons, along with the full military might of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah. (Psalm 83:5–8)

After the war, Israel will be in possession of all of her ancient land, including that originally promised by God to Abraham. Generally speaking, this includes Lebanon from the vicinity of Sidon, southward to the Sinai, eastward into Jordan, and north to the Euphrates River. Isaiah 49:19–20 indicates there will be massive immigration of Jews to Israel after this war, so that the land shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants and immigrants will demand, The place is too strait for me: give place to me that I may dwell. In fact, Isaiah 54:1 infers that the population of Israel will more than double during the end times due to this massive wave of immigration: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife. Israel’s newly acquired territory in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, West Bank, and Gaza will provide them room. Obadiah 1 specifies some of this territory which will be gained after the war:

And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau [Jordan]; and they of the plain the Philistines [Gaza]: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim [West Bank], and the fields of Samaria [West Bank]: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead [Jordan]. And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel [still living in foreign lands] shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath [Lebanon & Syria]; and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad [a province of ancient Assyria, symbolizing Jews still living in foreign lands], shall possess the cities of the south [Jordan & the Sinai]. (Obadiah 1:19–20)

After this, God will bless Israel exceedingly abundantly, so that she will overflow with agricultural produce and livestock. In addition, recent discoveries of offshore natural gas near Haifa, as well as off shore fields in the Mediterranean north of Egypt, may well make Israel a major oil and gas producer. A recently proposed pipeline from Qatar to Europe (which Syria currently opposes) also will be feasible after Israel takes possession of this territory, providing for additional income through toll pipeline charges. Thus God will bless Israel exceedingly, so that she will overflow with wine and oil [incl. petroleum?] (Joel 2:24) and become like the garden of Eden (Isaiah 51:3; Ezekiel 36:35; Joel 2:23–24).

After forty years, the Lord Jesus Christ will return, and establish his thousand-year kingdom upon earth. This will involve repairing all the damage done by the judgments of the tribulation, and restoring the earth to its antediluvian condition as it was in the garden of Eden, probably as a single land mass with no more curse; meaning for example, no more thorns, briers, carnivorous animals or a life of hard work ending in death. At that time, Egypt will be restored as a nation:

Yet thus saith the Lord God; At the end of forty years will I gather the Egyptians from the people whither they were scattered: And I will bring again the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their habitation; and they shall be there a base kingdom. It shall be the basest of the kingdoms; neither shall it exalt itself any more above the nations: for I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations. (Ezekiel 29:13–15)

This millennial kingdom of Christ is a major theme of Isaiah, with all nations on the restored earth bringing sacrifices to offer to the Lord in Jerusalem, in particular during the feast of tabernacles, with Israel acting as ministers and priests of God in this regard. We will cover this theme in more detail in Part IV of this book.

With that summary of end-times events regarding Egypt, let’s now focus on Isaiah 19. This chapter recounts the same events as Ezekiel 29–30 and 32, but with a different perspective and with additional information. Isaiah 19:1 begins: The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.

The Hebrew word translated burden in verse 1 (massa) is only used in Scripture when a vision relates to extremely severe judgment. For example, a similar wording is found in Nahum 1:1—The burden of Nineveh—which refers to the complete and utter destruction of Nineveh: Isaiah 23:1 also records a judgment on Tyre: The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste. This latter judgment in context refers to the Psalm 83 end-times war with Lebanon, and will be the subject of chapters 3–4 of this book.

In a similar fashion, God now pronounces judgment on Egypt. The next part of Isaiah 19:1 describes how God will execute this judgment: Behold, the Lord rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt. In context, this probably refers to an Israeli nuclear missile (or several) with a contrail behind it, heading for Egypt at supersonic speeds. This explains the description of a swift cloud which the Lord rides upon to execute his judgment upon Egypt, which witnesses are encouraged to look up and Behold. (This reminds me of that episode in the film Dr. Strangelove where a B-52 bomber pilot over Russia straddles a nuclear bomb on the way down, waving his cowboy hat and yelling, Yee Haa! Yes, I know this sounds irreverent, but I’m from Texas so I have to smile.)

Verse 1 then describes what will happen after that: the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence [thermonuclear detonations], and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it [nuclear fireballs turning sand into melted glass]. Egypt is by and large a Moslem country, whose adherents worship Allah (Arabic, the god), formerly the pagan moon-god in Mecca, and renamed Allah in an attempt at monotheism. Our text verse describes God’s judgment on this idolatry of Egypt (thunderous detonations) and the hopeless condition of the Egyptians despite their religious faith and their determination to attack Israel (their heart melting). The Hebrew word translated heart in this verse (ulebab) means will of the inner man and denotes a failure of faith or determination, as well as the more concrete implications of a land consisting of thermonuclear-melted glass.

Verse 2 describes a strange sort of mental illness whereby Egyptian troops attack each other: And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother. Ezekiel 38:21 describes a similar judgment against the kingdom of the north in their end-times invasion of Israel: every man’s sword shall be against his brother. Zechariah 14:13 also describes the same judgment as Ezekiel: they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour. Even today there is much sectarian strife among adherents of Islam, and the only common ground many Moslem nations seem to have is their hatred of Israel. This seems to be a favorite method God has in dealing with Israel’s enemies: divide and conquer. In fact, the remainder of verse 2 seems to imply civil war, and war between erstwhile allies of Egypt: city against city, and kingdom against kingdom. Ezekiel 30:5 lists the nations that will be allied with Egypt in this war: Ethiopia, and Libya, and Lydia, and all the mingled people, and Chub. It is these nations and peoples—Libya (Put, the eastern coastal region), Ethiopia (Sudan), Lydia (western Libya), all the mingled people (all Arabs), Chub (remainder of Libya), and enemies within Israel (and the men of the land that is in league)—that the Bible predicts will attack and kill each other.

After Egypt is attacked, their social, political and religious underpinnings as a nation will be destroyed, as verse 3 indicates: And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards. The radical Islamist philosophy (the spirit of Egypt) which provided the impetus for attacking Israel shall fail, as also will the political policy of the government (the counsel thereof). Interestingly, our text verse says that the Egyptians will seek comfort in their religion (they shall seek to the idols), and describes their imams as charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards. This, of course, clearly defines their religious system as occult (charmers . . . them that have familiar spirits . . . wizards). In Old Testament Israel, such people were commanded to be put to death: A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death (Leviticus 20:27). Of course, in modern times they simply would be considered evil and foolish.

As a result of this war, Egypt will be a radioactively contaminated wasteland: desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate, and her cities among the cities that are laid waste shall be desolate forty years; God will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries (Ezekiel 29:12). The last seven years of this forty-year end-times period is known as the tribulation, during which time the Antichrist will reign as ruler of the one-world government (described in more detail in Daniel and Revelation). Verse 4 of our text passage apparently looks forward to this period: And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts. In this verse, the Antichrist is described as a cruel lord and a fierce king. In fact, Daniel 8:23 describes the Antichrist as king of fierce countenance; and in Isaiah 14:17, he opened not the house of his prisoners (a cruel lord).

The destruction of the Aswan Dam will cause a tremendous flood of the Nile River, so that the bodies of the Egyptians will be washed up even to the mountains bordering its floodplain (Ezekiel 32:6); such a flood initially would be extremely turbulent (Then will I make their waters deep) but afterward the river would become relatively placid and smooth-flowing (and cause their rivers to run like oil) as Ezekiel 32:14 indicates. In addition, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in Ethiopia (GERD)—currently under construction—upstream of the Aswan likely will reduce the flow of the Nile into Egypt to a trickle. Our text passage looks forward to this event:

And the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall be wasted and dried up. And they shall turn the rivers far away [GERD]; and the brooks of defence shall be emptied and dried up: the reeds and flags shall wither. The paper reeds by the brooks, by the mouth of the brooks, and every thing sown by the brooks, shall wither, be driven away, and be no more. The fishers also shall mourn, and all they that cast angle into the brooks shall lament, and they that spread nets upon the waters shall languish. Moreover they that work in fine flax, and they that weave networks, shall be confounded. And they shall be broken in the purposes thereof, all that make sluices and ponds for fish. (Isaiah 19:5–10)

Indeed, the waters shall fail from the sea after the Aswan Dam is destroyed and GERD becomes operational, and perhaps also because of droughts prophesied by our Lord in the Olivet Discourse (there shall be famines, Matthew 24:7) in the beginning of the end times. To an astute student of the Bible, this passage infers that the end times will not begin until GERD is finished. This dam was slated for completion in July 2017 and as of the date of this writing (summer 2017) is nearly complete. However, the government of Egypt has threatened to bomb the dam should its construction be finished.

Our text passage perhaps also may have an ancient fulfillment. In biblical times, papyrus and flax plants grew abundantly along the lower Nile, but they are now largely extinct. These plants were used to produce paper (from papyrus or paper reeds) and fiber (from flax). In addition, these plants provided a breeding ground for fish, and with their disappearance, fish populations—which once were abundant— have decreased. Today there is virtually no commercial fishing in the Nile. Several ancient tributaries of the Nile (brooks of defence) also have dried up. It appears that this judgment of Egypt, which began in ancient times, finally will be completely fulfilled in the nuclear war which begins the end times.

The decision of the government of Egypt to attack Israel—together with Libya, Sudan, and other Arabic peoples (Ezekiel 30:5)—seems foolish in view of the military might of the IDF and their determination to never again let their people be slaughtered like they were in the Holocaust. Indeed, this action seems tantamount to poking a rattlesnake with a stick—what do you expect the snake to do?—and Egypt and their allies unfortunately find out the hard way the natural result of their misguided (and ill-advised) aggression. Thus, verses 11–14 of our text passage find God questioning the judgment (sanity?) of the rulers of Egypt:

Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellers of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings? Where are they? where are thy wise men? and let them tell thee now, and let them know what the LORD of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt. The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof. The LORD hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit. (Isaiah 19:11–14)

Egypt was first settled by Mizraim, the grandson of Noah through Ham, after the Babylonian dispersion of tongues about 3000 BC. Ham is thought to have lived with his son until his death, and Egypt often is referred to in Scripture as the land of Ham (e.g., Psalm 105:23) or commonly as Mizraim (Genesis 10:6). Although Ham himself perhaps was a righteous man (he was on board the ark after all, and was one of only eight people to escape the deluge), his descendants quickly became apostate (God cursed his son Canaan) and adopted a form of the Babylonian paganism first established by Nimrod (which itself simply may have been a reflection of pre-flood conditions).² Two of his descendants mentioned in our text passage, Zoan and Noph, established cities in Lower Egypt, which is the Nile delta region. Noph (same as Memphis) was the capital of this region. In modern terms, this would include the present-day capital of Cairo and most of Egypt’s population, including her ethnic majorities (the stay of the tribes thereof). It is these rulers, who govern Egypt at the time of this prophecy, whom God speaks against.

Although Egypt had a stable relationship with Israel because of the peace treaty that went into effect in March of 1979, this effectively ended with the forced resignation of Hosni Mubarak from office— under pressure from the US and other Western nations—in February of 2011. Since then, the Moslem Brotherhood has been working behind the scenes, insinuating itself into the government in an effort to turn Egypt into a militant Islamist state. This, in turn, has caused Israel to be on high alert because of the possibility of an Islamic invasion. Although their presidential candidate Mohamed Morsi was removed from power by a military coup in July of 2013, this has resulted in a civil war with fundamentalist Moslems pitted against the more moderate elements in Egypt.

Our text passage indicates that at the time of this invasion, militant Islamists will be in power, and will have seduced Egypt, including her most powerful majorities (the stay of the tribes thereof) into attacking Israel. God calls their radical Islamist philosophy a perverse spirit which has caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit. Indeed, drunken men are lacking in judgment—poking a rattlesnake, for example?—and this lack of judgment results in the nuclear destruction of Egypt. This event begins the forty-year period known as the end times.

After this, the industrial and agricultural economy of Egypt will be destroyed, and there will be no more work for them to do, as verse 15 indicates: Neither shall there be any work for Egypt, which the head or tail, branch or rush, may do. This means that all Egypt, including Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt (the head or tail), will no longer be engaged in agricultural [date palm] branch or manufacturing [flax reed] rush activities. This is consistent with widespread radioactive contamination of their land, so that No foot of man shall pass through it, nor foot of beast shall pass through it, neither shall it be inhabited forty years (Ezekiel 29:11).

Egypt has a population of more than 82 million; most of these probably will be obliterated by nuclear detonations or fallout, and by flooding of the Nile, and the remainder dispersed among other nations: I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries (Ezekiel 29:12). Our text passage indicates that the survivors will shake with fear over the military power of Israel, and the judgment which God has rendered upon their country:

In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which he shaketh over it. And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts, which he hath determined against it. (Isaiah 19:16–17)

The timeline for this prophecy is in that day, which in context includes the forty-year end-times period and extends into the millennium. This period is similar to the day of the LORD, but includes the beginning of the end times. The Bible often uses these two similar (but not equivalent) terms in prophecy, allowing one carefully to distinguish the timelines being referred to.

In that day—which presumably will begin just a few years from the date of this writing—Israel will be so militarily powerful that they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies . . . and they shall fight, because the Lord is with them (Zechariah 10:5). Indeed, they are bristling with very accurate guided missiles equipped with enhanced-radiation warheads as well as a modern and fully capable army. It seems quite foolish to provoke them into war; nevertheless, this is what the Bible says will happen. Egypt will see the results of their provocation and shall be afraid and fear because of the terror of Israel; in fact, Isaiah says after this even mentioning Israel’s swift and sudden retaliation will cause them to be afraid in himself. The reason Scripture gives for this fear is because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts, which he hath determined against it.

In addition, this severe judgment by God perhaps can be understood in terms of Zechariah 2:8: he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye, which in context refers to modern Israel, God being extremely sensitive to those who attack her. The Hebrew word translated apple in this verse (bebabat) actually means pupil, and refers to the extreme sensitivity of the corneal nerve to even the slightest touch, which the eye responds to by instantly blinking (this is known as the corneal reflex). Zechariah 8:2 also says, I was jealous for her with great fury—again, in context, referring to the great fury God pours on those who attack modern Israel.

The remainder of our passage in Isaiah deals with Egypt during the tribulation and millennium. Although some Egyptians will suffer through the tribulation, verse 20 says, they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them. In context, this refers to the Lord Jesus Christ returning at the end of the tribulation to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords for one thousand years. At that time, our Lord will gather the Egyptians from the people whither they were scattered, and then they will be the basest of the kingdoms; neither shall it exalt itself any more above the nations (Ezekiel 29:13). In other words, Egypt will be a basic agrarian society with no authority over other nations— in contrast to Israel, which will exercise administrative and spiritual authority as kings and priests over all other nations on earth, on behalf of the Lord.

At that time, everyone who is left will be required to come to Jerusalem every year to worship the Lord and to keep the feast of tabernacles; whoever refuses, even upon them shall be no rain [needed blessings] (Zechariah 14:16–17). Zechariah does suggest that there may be some in Egypt who will refuse to keep the feast of tabernacles and not come up; and upon them shall be the plague. . . . This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles (Zechariah 14:17–19). Aside from this (probably minor) stubbornness, the Lord shall say, Blessed be Egypt my people:

In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction. In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD. And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them. And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the LORD, and perform it. And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them. In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance. (Isaiah 19:18–25)

Our Scripture passage says that five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan. The explanation for this is that during the millennium, everyone will speak the same language. (This suggests that there will only be five major cities in millennial Egypt.) This miraculous restoration of the original language reverses the equally miraculous confusion of tongues at Babel. The purpose of this conversion is so that all may call upon the name of the LORD and serve Him together: For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent (Zephaniah 3:9). Our text passage indicates that the Egyptians will do this, and and swear to the LORD of hosts. One of their cities (there are five mentioned) will be called, The city of destruction, which in Hebrew would be îr haheres. The meaning of this name isn’t clear (maybe they’ll be one of the stubborn cities). The Egyptians shall also build an altar to the LORD and shall know the LORD in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation.

Isaiah also says there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria (presentday northern Iraq) during the millennium, with people traveling to and fro. This implies commerce and trading, and by implication some light manufacturing. Isaiah describes Tyre (Lebanon) as manufacturing food and clothing during the millennium, which activity shall be holiness to the LORD . . . for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing; Isaiah 23:18). The LORD considers this manufacturing and trading holy before him, and of the nations which engage in it, the LORD shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.

After forty years, at the end of the tribulation the Lord Jesus Christ will return to claim the earth as his own, and to rule over and judge the nations. By this time, the earth will have been horribly destroyed by war (radioactive contamination) and by the divine judgments described in the book of Revelation, so the Lord will have to restore the earth to a perfect condition—he would never rule over a radioactive earth. The nations—including Egypt—will each have a place in this restored earth. What was once a radioactively contaminated wasteland will become like the garden of Eden, for the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it. The millennium thus will be a time of rest and worship, when they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid (Micah 4:4).

Another clue that the end times will be forty years long is found in Micah 7. Israel previously was described as a terror to Egypt in Isaiah 19 because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts; Micah 7 now extends that fear to all other nations involved in the conspiracy to invade her, as well as the nations in general which are watching the conflict from the sidelines.

Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old. According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous things. The nations shall see and be confounded at all their might: they shall lay their hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf. They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the Lord our God, and shall fear because of thee. (Micah 7:14–17)

The timeline here is when Israel will be restored as a nation (as in the days of old). For forty years (According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt), God will deal with them marvelously. This forty-year period probably is the same as that of the dispersion of Egypt, which ends with the second coming of Christ: neither shall it be inhabited forty years. . . . At the end of forty years will I gather the Egyptians from the people whither they were scattered (Ezekiel 29:11, 13). During these forty years God will defeat Israel’s enemies (Ezekiel 28:26); restore them to their ancient land with its original boundaries (Obadiah 1:19–20); pour out blessings so that Israel will overflow with wheat, oil, and wine (Joel 2:23) and fill the world with fruit (Isaiah 27:6); call his church to himself and leave Israel to wonder what happened (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17); defeat the kingdom of the north and her hordes in a display of entirely miraculous power (Ezekiel 38–39); shepherd and protect Israel miraculously from the Antichrist and his forces (Revelation 12); and return as King of kings and LORD of lords, at which point Israel finally will recognize him as their Messiah (Zechariah 12:10).

That’s a lot to happen in forty years! We will explore each of these events in subsequent chapters of this book.

Also during this time, Israel will be so impressive