This Side of the Whirlwind

By Steven R. Harrel

Christians are being deceived! Until now, the Body of Christ has enjoyed less than the whole truth regarding The End Times, in fact, less than half! Is it any wonder the current End Times doctrines are so muddled and missing volumes of prophetic information? Discover why the prophets Daniel and John concealed important End Times facts. Learn the significance of the Great Consummation message, the second half to the Covenant of Jesus Christ. Confront the final chapters which unveil the grand conclusion to Gods extraordinary plans for the greatest story ever told.

This Side of the Whirlwind provides evidence our world is heading for more than a single apocalypse! Information within its pages will certify the Great Tribulation is neither Gods Wrath nor His plan for Christs return. Uncover previously hidden biblical facts which confirm the first apocalypse will forcefully separate True Christians (the Sheep) from the Goats. Recent revelation will also prove the Rapture cannot take place before the tribulation period has been fulfilled; thus, negating any possibility a Pre-tribulation Rapture event could exist. All this and more will be firmly established and confirmed in This Side of the Whirlwind

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Apr 15, 2016
• ISBN: 9781512734041

Steven R. Harrel

Steven Harrel was prophetically called to be a man of God one year before he took his first breath. By the age of nine, he was saved, filled with the Holy Spirit and taught by the Spirit to hear God’s voice. At twenty-five he received eight identical prophecies over a nine month period confirming many of God’s plans for his life. Then following his thirty-second birthday God sent Steven into obscurity for more than twenty-five years so he could prepare the yet unknown message for The Great Consummation; a message only found in God’s Word and This Side of the Whirlwind .

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Copyright © 2016 Steven R. Harrel.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica US, Inc.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

WestBow Press

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Artwork credit: Crystal Irvine

ISBN: 978-1-5127-3406-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-3404-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016904073

WestBow Press rev. date: 04/15/2016

CONTENTS

Preface

Chapter 1   The Great Consummation

Renaming the Great Tribulation

The Time of the Gentiles

Chapter 2   Foreshadowing of Things to Come

Chapter 3   The Foundation of Truth

Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth

Chapter 4   Study to Show Thyself

God Shall Send Delusion

Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge

Chapter 5   Prepare Your Heart and Mind

A Sinner’s Prayer

Daniel 9:24–27 Must Be Understood

Chapter 6   Understanding the Weeks

The Segments of Daniel’s Prophecy

Chapter 7   Diction for the Last Week

The Theory of Split-Versing

Daniel’s People of the Prince

He Shall Confirm a Covenant

Chapter 8   Edicts of the Prophecy

The Six Edicts

Transliteration of the Edicts

Chapter 9   In the Latter Days

The Seven Jewish Feasts

The Parable of the Fig Tree

Prophecies in Jeremiah

Life Span of a Man (Psalm 90:10)

Chapter 10   Prophetic Signs of His Imminent Return

Rebuilding of the Temple

Chapter 11   The Battle of Armageddon

Gog and Magog

Chapter 12   Fallacies of the Great Tribulation Doctrines

Seven Years of Tribulation

Three and a Half Years

Time, Times, and Half a Time

Daniel’s Seventieth Week Is God’s Wrath

Rapture or Translation

Imminence of Christ

Seventieth Week Does Not Apply to the Body of Christ

Kept from the Hour of Temptation

Jacob’s Trouble Is the Great Tribulation

The Church Age a Mystery

Chapter 13   The Seven Seals, Trumpets, Plagues

Personalities of the Great Consummation

He Who Lets

No New Salvations

The Mark of the Beast

The Other Blinding in Part

The Fifth Edict Fulfilled

The Sixth Edict Fulfilled

Charts

Defining The Day of the Lord

Chapter 14   The Great Tribulation Versus the Wrath of God

The Tribulation Period

The Wrath of God

Chapter 15   Living through the Great Consummation

Joel

Chapter 16   A Blinding in Part

Chapter 17   The Rapture and the Day of the Lord

The Fullness of Times

Chapter 18   Ransomed Love

Chapter 19   Chronology of Revelations

Chapter 20   A Moment by Moment Final Countdown

Chapter 21   Beyond the Great Consummation

Judgment Day

But I Did Not Know!

Chapter 22   Things to Come

Chapter 23   What Now?

Endnotes

Then the LORD replied:

"Write down the revelation and make it plain

On tablets

so that a herald may run with it.

For the revelation awaits an appointed time;

it speaks of the end

and will not prove false.

Though it tarry, wait for it;

it will certainly come

and will not delay.

—Habakkuk 2:2–3 (NIV)

The Day of the Lord

And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, even among the survivors whom the Lord calls.

—Joel 2:28–32 (NIV)

Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD has gone forth in fury.

A violent whirlwind! It will fall violently on the head of the wicked.

—Jeremiah 23:19 (NKJV)

PREFACE

Most statements made in this study are immediately backed up with scripture; however, because of the space required for validating some statements or annulling others, well established and accurate doctrine will not receive more than a cursory explanation.

During the years of my Christian life, I encountered numerous flawed teachings based upon the Great Tribulation and the Rapture of the Body of Christ. This study’s primary goal will be to reveal divine revelation and knowledge which has been hidden for millennia but is now released according to God’s will. The revealed information will clear up many erroneous teachings related to the Latter Days and hopefully solidify the revelations into one cohesive and accurate message covering The Latter Days, The Great Tribulation, rapture of the Church, and beyond. What this study will not do is recreate the wheels of doctrine on established subjects. There are numerous elements within the teachings of the End Times on which most, if not all, contributors will firmly agree. For example, nearly all Latter Days teachings agree that Christ will return on the Day of the Lord, which will come as a thief in the night.

This study will not necessarily cover symbolism, such as the Beast, the Dragon, the Whore of Babylon, or long-dead empires. When reading this book, understand it covers only areas pertinent to understanding, recognizing, living through, and surviving the Latter Days. By the conclusion of this book, you should be thoroughly furnished with a detailed explanation of the Latter Days and all their significant components. It is also my sincere hope that all of your questions will be fully addressed and answered.

Before you read further, please take time to pray and ask God for the guidance you will need to achieve a full and unbiased understanding of God’s Word on this subject. Thank you.

Why Write This Book?

This Side of the Whirlwind was written because I must. This is not to say I did not want to write the book; rather, I felt God pressing me to do so. This was the primary reason I began this project but not the only reason. Astonished by what the Lord began to reveal, I could not keep it to myself. I was overwhelmed with a sense of purpose and duty to share the divine knowledge the Body of Christ needs for the coming storm.

"If I say, ‘I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,’ there is in my heart as it were a burning fire, shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot" (Jeremiah 20:9 ESV).

By revelation, God has made known to me coming events of the Latter Days. Through these revelations, the Father has revealed mysteries previously withheld from Christendom. The messages Daniel and John¹ were required to withhold are now made available to the Body of Christ so the saints may understand what is coming and prepare. The last of the Latter Days are nearly upon us!

True Christians Versus Pseudo-Christians

For the purposes of this book, a true Christian is any person who is, above all else, completely committed to his or her relationship with Jesus Christ. A true Christian, whether someone who has just accepted Jesus as his or her ultimate Master and Savior or a believer committed to Christ for a lifetime, utterly recognizes Jesus as both God and the Son of the Living God and the Savior who died for the believer’s sin. A true Christian places his or her relationship with Jesus above everyone and everything, including his or her own life and well-being. According to God’s Word in Romans 10:9–10, "That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Salvation is a condition of both the heart and faith! Jesus said in John 14:21, He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me."

The pseudo-Christian for the purposes of this book was likely once a true Christian who has sadly been deceived through either a lack of knowledge or false doctrines and mistakenly received the Mark of the Beast or who, through a lack of faith or weakness of character, has given up the good fight and either bowed down and worshipped the Beast or received the Mark of the Beast out of fear, hunger, some type of personal need for him- or herself or others, or intimidation. Regardless of the circumstances, only those who endure to the end will be saved.²

Tools for Maneuvering through This Book

One of the early revelations in the writing of this book is a tool called split-versing. Take a moment to consider this interesting aspect of scripture. Sometimes scriptures speak on more than one period of time or subject or season of a subject in the same set of verses? The Lord directed me to this concept of split-versing. A split verse is any verse that covers two or more completely different segments or seasons of time within the same section of scripture or within the same verse or verses.

For example, when Jesus returned from forty days and nights in the wilderness, He immediately entered a synagogue in the town of Nazareth where He read Isaiah 61:1–2. However, contrary to custom, He only read the first third of the second verse. To make this more understandable, I have broken verse 2 into three parts. See the verse below. The first third of the verse reads "To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. The second third reads and the day of vengeance of our God. And the last third reads to comfort all that mourn."

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn.³ (Isaiah 61:1–2 KJV)

The first phrase of verse 2, "To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, relates to the covenant Christ performed during His three and a half years in ministry. His life and death brought the acceptable time of God (a time of blessing) in the form of mercy and grace to humanity while ushering in salvation. The second part of the verse, and the day of vengeance of our God," will not take place until the end of the Latter Days. The first and second parts of verse 2 take place during completely different periods of time but are both mentioned within the same verse. The first took place during the time of Christ and His ministry, while the second will take place near the end of the Latter Days. Jesus proclaimed the fulfillment of the first element of the prophecy on the day He read from Isaiah 61:1–2a in His local synagogue (Luke 4:16-32). Jesus will fulfill the second half of the prophecy and covenant of Jesus Christ at the end the Latter Days. This is the reason Jesus did not finish reading the balance of the passage at that time. During split-versing, there are occasions when one part of the verse is referring to one specific period in time, in this case, Christ’s ministry, while another part of the verse refers to a completely different period in time. The day of vengeance will take place during a later period commonly called the Great Tribulation but more accurately called the Great Consummation.

Keep the split-versing concept in mind as you move through this study. Bear in mind, the Bible authors likely had no idea God was employing split-versing techniques in their writings. According to revelation, interpreting God’s Word correctly requires recognition of the split-versing concept as it is introduced and used throughout this book.

Another tool used in this book to help communicate the oftentimes complex nature of End Times revelation will be the use of scripture verses followed by commentary. This is done in several places with key verses being revealed and detailed by comments following the verse. The first instance where this can be seen will be found in the section where we examine scripture involving the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Later in the book, this same technique will be used while covering specific chapters of Joel, Daniel, and Jeremiah, along with smaller sections of the Old and New Testaments. A chronological breakdown of the Book of Revelation will be presented, using scenario-related, time-stamped, and concept-related verses. Through this method of study it is hoped the long hidden meanings of the End Times scriptures will provide a greater understanding from God’s Word.

The techniques within this book have not been randomly fabricated. Rather, the information within this text, coupled with the techniques employed, is presented with the greatest of hope the reader will be able to perceive the same revelations as divinely provided. The revelations were given with these techniques so I could understand the depth of the material. Quite often, the volume of information was so immense it seemed beyond my ability to contain it all. Without God’s help, I do not think I could have put this all together. It was and is vast! May God bless you with the ability to comprehend all the intricacies within this message the Lord has shown me. Remember, preparing for what’s coming is the duty and responsibility of every Christian. The end is nearer than you might want to think or believe!

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. (1 Corinthians 13:1 NIV)

Brother in Christ,

Steven R. Harrel

CHAPTER 1

The Great Consummation

Behold, the whirlwind of the Lord Goes forth with fury,

A continuing whirlwind; It will fall violently on the head of the wicked.

The fierce anger of the Lord shall not return

Until He has done it, And until He has performed the intents of His heart

In the latter days you will consider it.

—Jeremiah 30:23–24 NKJV

Covering all the details of the Latter Days would require a vast amount of information. Therefore, this study will break down the most essential elements for those living in the last days. The Great Tribulation and Rapture of the Body of Christ really was not very important to previous generations of believers; however, for those in this generation, it is extremely important. This study will make a serious effort to explain why.

Seal the Book

The Christian world presents numerous doctrines on what is commonly referred to as the Great Tribulation. A lack of accurate biblical information is one of the more common faults for the Great Tribulation’s name and its many flawed doctrines. According to scripture,⁴ God directed a large portion of the End Times information concealed from humanity until the Latter Days. With the Latter Days’ information concealed, it is not difficult to understand how mistaken End Times doctrines exhibit major flaws and missing truths. How could anyone accurately develop a message when a large portion of the information has been unavailable? Through divine revelation and God’s loving mercy, the information has now been provided for the body of Christ within the pages of this book and probably the recent books of others. We live in a big world with many languages, peoples, and traditions. God has likely given revelation to others in order to reach the masses during these last days. The time is short, but by the end of the Great Consummation, every mystery of the Church Age should be revealed.⁵

The following is a brief summary of events outlining what previously has been understood as the period called the Great Tribulation. This information cannot be listed with actual time references but does provide a general order of events, an overall schedule of the End Times and what will be discussed in detail:

The Latter Days

• Jacobs’s trouble—Israel reemerging as a nation

• Beginning of Sorrows (first four seals are opened)

• Tribulation Period (seals five and six are opened)

• The Rapture takes place two and a half years after Tribulation Period begins.

• Wrath of God (spans approximately one year)—the seventh seal is opened, releasing the seven angels who sound the seven trumpets.

• The Battle of Armageddon begins.

The Millennium (Thousand-Year Reign of Christ)

• Millennial Reign begins (Son of God rules and reigns)

• Bema Seat of Judgment

• New heaven and earth (God destroys the old heaven and earth with fire, thus eliminating every curse)

The Latter Days are about the fulfillment of End Times prophecy. Scriptures say "… not one letter of the law will fail to come true …" (Matthew 5:18, paraphrased). The above outline of the Latter Days is a general expression, covering roughly eighty or less years, followed by the millennium, which covers one thousand years. As we are speaking about prophesy, actual dates and some events are yet to be revealed by God. The above schedule represents an approximate order of events.

The following section examines terminologies, including definitions of significant End Times elements necessary to fully understand this study. This foundational knowledge will help as further discussion is presented throughout the book. As many End Times topics share common phrases and events, repetition of these shared expressions is inevitable. Such repetition is required to fully explain the fulfillment of each element pertinent to the Latter Days.

Renaming the Great Tribulation

The word consummation can be defined as the bringing of something to a satisfying, complete, full or final conclusion. The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines the word consummation: to complete in every detail.

The Great Consummation will take place during the biblical era known as the Latter Days. What people commonly call the Great Tribulation is actually only one piece of a two-part conclusion to the Latter Days. This book changes the term from the Great Tribulation to the Great Consummation, based on the more appropriate communication of its purpose. Within the Great Consummation, there is a tribulation period. This is not to be confused with the Great Tribulation. The Great Consummation is made up of both a tribulation period and a time known as the Wrath of God. According to scripture, the actual tribulation period itself will be a time of great trouble, unlike any time of trouble in the history or future of the human race (Daniel 12:1, Matthew 24:21). The Bible also commonly refers to the Wrath of God as the Day of the Lord. The Day of the Lord is described in Isaiah 13:6–9:

Wail, for the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty. Because of this, all hands will go limp, every heart will melt with fear. Terror will seize them, pain and anguish will grip them; they will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look aghast at each other, their faces aflame. See, the day of the Lord is coming—a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger—to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it. (Isaiah 13:6–9 NIV)

The title, the Great Consummation, incorporates elements of both tribulation and wrath. The name, the Great Tribulation, no longer represents the overall correct interpretation of this period. Likely, Christendom has never before used this designation because of a lack of information and misinterpretations. We simply did not recognize the Tribulation Period and the Wrath of God are separate events. As will be explained, these misinterpretations were an intentional effect of God’s purposes and plans for the Time of the Gentiles, also known as the Church Age. God sealed up a portion of the knowledge until the Latter Days. That time is now!

"But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase" (Daniel 12:4 NKJV).

The Tribulation Period will take place during the Great Consummation. Therefore, when you see the expression, the Great Consummation, it refers to a combination of both the Tribulation Period and the Wrath of God. The Latter Days, or End Times, as they are often called, began approximately two years after the time of Jacob’s trouble (also known as the Holocaust). The Latter Days began with the restoration of Israel as a nation. At that time the people and Nation of Israel reemerged in the Promised Land, which was recognized as a sovereign state. Finally, Israel will possess the Promised Land up until and beyond the time of the Battle of Armageddon. Following this period of upheaval, the Messiah will be anointed king and assume His rightful place on the throne of David. As will be proven, Jesus Christ is that Messiah!

The Great Consummation as a whole will be a very difficult time in which Christendom worldwide will suffer great upheaval. The Tribulation Period is a separation process where God divides Christians (true believers) from pseudo-Christians (lukewarm Christians) in preparation for a season of reward or punishment. Before and during the Great Consummation, the majority of humanity will openly reject God, His Son Jesus Christ, and Christianity as a whole. Rejection of Christianity and its morals, and values is currently being experienced worldwide. In order to separate true Christians from pseudo-Christians God will cause the Body of Christ to be scattered over the face of the earth. Because of the Mark of the Beast, Christians will not be able to purchase food, pay their mortgages, make rent payments, or take care of their taxes. True and faithful Christians will be forced to choose between remaining faithful to their Savior or remaining in the cities to feed their families. After the Rapture, the remainder of humanity will suffer God’s wrath and judgment. More information on the Great Consummation and the Tribulation Period will be detailed later in this study and can be found in chapter 14, The Great Tribulation Versus the Wrath of God.

Many who support the concept of Pretribulation Rapture do so believing the purpose of the Tribulation Period is the wrath of God. It is also thought this period is a time for Israel to prepare for their coming Messiah. Such proponents often believe the Body of Christ has fulfilled its purpose here on earth, at least for the time being. Based on this theory, advocates support the idea the Body of Christ will be raptured before the Tribulation Period. Furthermore, they believe God’s chosen, the nation of Israel, will remain to endure tribulation. In fact, there is actually scriptural support to corroborate the idea the nation of Israel will be preparing for the coming of their Messiah during the Tribulation Period.

By design, the Israelites missed Jesus’s visitation. For the most part, they still await their warrior Messiah. They are right to wait. The Israelites expect a king to ride victoriously into Jerusalem and deliver them from their oppressors. The prophecy is yet to be fulfilled but will be! However, Jesus will deliver them not as they supposed but from the oppression of sin and death, just as He has for all Christendom.

To accomplish this task, Jesus fulfilled the first half of a two part covenant during His ministry. Three elements remain to complete the second half of Christ’s covenant:

• completion of all prophecies and visions⁶

• application of the covenant’s punishment and curses⁷

• Jesus assuming the throne of David, thereby fulfilling the Davidic covenant (an everlasting deliverance for the Israelites)⁸

At the end of the Battle of Armageddon, Israel will be presented with an opportunity for deliverance from their sin into a genuine relationship with God (for now, they have a relationship with their religion). Yet in the light of all these miracles, there will be a few Israelites who still reject Christ because He does not come as they expect.⁹

Understanding this concept is essential to debunking false End Times rapture doctrines. The Israelites are not the focus of the Latter Days. As a whole, the tribulation is about prophetic fulfillment during the Time of the Gentiles. However, each of these points requires extensive answers and will, therefore, be covered in greater detail later.

While it is true that during the Great Consummation, the nation of Israel will be preparing for the coming of their rightful messiah, it is not true this is the period’s primary purpose. The main purpose for the Great Consummation is the separation of the true Christians from the pseudo-Christians and subsequent judgment of the wicked in completion of Christ’s covenant. The Time of the Gentiles was established to provide salvation to the broadest possible group of humanity. In order to achieve this goal, it was necessary to fulfill the prophecies and edicts God ordained and established in Daniel 9:24–27 (which refers to the Seventy Weeks of Daniel). To accomplish this task, the Great Consummation contains a separation process to distinguish between the true church and the pseudo-church. This process is called the Tribulation Period and is followed by a season known as the Wrath of God. The combination of these two elements comprises the overall Great Consummation. These distinctions will also be explained in greater detail.

The Time of the Gentiles

The church more commonly refers to the Time of the Gentiles as the Church Age. The three and a half years of Christ’s ministry and the three and a half years of the Great Consummation are two parts of a single covenant spanning seven years and being fulfilled during the Church Age. The Great Consummation represents the second half of that two-part covenant and is yet to be fulfilled.

And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (Daniel 9:27 KJV)

The salvation covenant for the Body of Christ means the inclusion of all races, creeds, and nationalities, including the nation of Israel. Salvation is the primary purpose for the new covenant or New Testament with the Great Consummation being the great completion or great finale of that covenant for the Time of the Gentiles. There is much more to the Great Consummation than might appear upon a cursory inspection. In the vastness of this prophecy, the attendance of the Body of Christ is required in order to finish the task and complete the prophecies pertinent to the conclusion of the Church Age. It is not possible for all the prophecies to be correctly fulfilled without the Body of Christ being in attendance and here on earth during the Tribulation Period. At the end of the tribulation portion of the Great Consummation, the Body of Christ will be raptured and the judgment portion of the covenant will commence. Only through this process can the covenant be completed. These issues will be explained later in greater detail.

The nation of Israel will eventually receive deliverance and its heavenly reward. However, scripturally speaking, they cannot receive their reward or deliverance until the conclusion of the Time of the Gentiles. Accordingly, the Time of the Gentiles will not come to its conclusion until the Wrath of God has been fulfilled; only then will the nation of Israel receive deliverance through their expected Messiah (Romans 11:25–29). The Time of the Gentiles began when Jesus left the House of Israel in Matthew 13:1, where He stopped speaking plainly to the Hebrews. He then began teaching in parables to the rest of the world. Thus began the Time of the Gentiles orchestrated to bring the possibility of salvation to every man, woman, and child (John 3:16). Indeed, the Time of the Gentiles is the very purpose for the New Testament with the words New Testament meaning new covenant. Israel will be, according to Luke 21:24, overwhelmed by secular forces until the Church Age is completed. The Church Age ends with the Battle of Armageddon and thus begins the Millennial Reign.

Many believers have heard or read varying interpretations of the Great Tribulation. Similarly, there is confusion regarding the Rapture, the Second Coming of Christ, and the Battle of Armageddon. Most Christians mistakenly believe the Great Tribulation is the Wrath of God spanning seven years. On the surface, this teaching appears doctrinally sound. However, when placed under the scrutiny of scripture, these misinterpretations are easily disproven. The main reason for these fallacies is a lack of information. God literally withheld certain facets of the End Times message until the Latter Days (Daniel 8:26, 12:4 and 9; Revelation 10:1–11).

Another example of Latter Days misinterpretations can be found in the rationalization of the A-millennial viewpoint, which holds to the idea the millennium is purely symbolic. According to A-millennialism, after Christ’s ministry, death, and ascension, the world entered a millennial age where Christ rules in the hearts of Christians, thus beginning the Church Age. The A-millennial perspective states that since Israel rejected their Messiah, God transferred their promises to the church. Supposedly God is finished with Israel, and the Body of Christ now takes Israel’s place. This is a misinterpretation.

Preterism, another doctrine similar to A-millennialism, differs slightly in perspective by assuming many centuries ago, near the time of Christ, all prophecies relating to the End Times were fulfilled, causing the world to enter the Millennial Reign. From a Preteristic viewpoint, the world entered the millennium nearly two thousand years ago and will continue in the Millennial Reign until the time Christ returns. Scholars who embrace this doctrine assert the state of Israel continued on its appointed course in accordance with God’s ultimate plans. Preterism maintains the prophetic events relating to the Latter Days have already been fulfilled, including the prophetic elements of the Great Tribulation. Based on their doctrine, Christ need only return for the Battle of Armageddon and the restoration of the nation of Israel in order to finish the Millennial Reign. Respectively, Preteristic Christians believe they are currently living in a modified millennium rather than the Time of the Gentiles or a Church Age. The A-Millennialists, on the other hand, view the physical and literal one-thousand-year Millennial Reign of Christ to be just another name for the Church Age or the Time of the Gentiles.

The Preterists and A-Millennialists ignore certain scenarios and prophecies, not understanding God withheld sealed revelation knowledge and therefore they fail to realize their perceptions are incomplete. What they saw as the fulfillment of prophecy fails to take into account the prophecies must be fulfilled along scriptural and prophetic guidelines. These scholars also failed to consider some End Times prophecies must be collectively fulfilled during specific segments of time, as with Daniel 9:24–27. Many of the prophecies in question (those necessary to validate the Great Consummation) are yet to be fulfilled.

Events in history mirroring the fulfillment of End Times prophecies have always remained incomplete until now. The prophecies in question should be fulfilled over a relatively short period of time. Some End Times prophecies require multiple prophecies to coincide and be considered collectively for the prophecy to be valid. End Times prophecies must be fulfilled within the prophecy’s guidelines and time frame and by specific individuals and in specific locations. Many misinterpretations of prophecy are the result of ignoring these directives.

For example, in approximately 168 BC, the madman Antiochus Epiphanes attacked Israel and subsequently erected a statue to himself in Jerusalem’s temple. Some scholars at that time mistakenly believed this act was the fulfillment of the Abomination of Desolation prophecy spoken of in the book of Daniel. Prophecies with designated time frames must be fulfilled within stated parameters, such as those found in Daniel 9:24–27 (the verses scholars commonly call the Seventy Weeks of Daniel). When Antiochus Epiphanes erected this statue, it appeared to the religious community at large to be the fulfillment of the Abomination of Desolation. However, according to prophecy guidelines, the Abomination of Desolation is unveiled at the beginning of a three and a half year period of judgment. Historically, this event did not take place according to prophetic mandates.

The complexity needed to satisfy these prophecies can be found in the scriptures referring to the Seventy Weeks of Daniel. This prophecy requires an individual of Hebrew descent in the city of Jerusalem to fulfill six edicts over three segments of time spanning 490 years. Obviously, it takes more than the appearance of a few scattered circumstances to satisfy prophecy or announce the Second Coming of Christ. It takes all related prophecies or factors being fulfilled in the appropriate time frame and span of time to validate certain prophecies. Additionally, all prophecies must be fulfilled during the appropriate periods by the appropriate entities. As will be demonstrated in the text of this book, fulfillment of prophecy is no small feat. In order for an event to be the infamous Abomination of Desolation, the Beast, spoken of in the prophecy, must also scatter the power of God’s holy people and institute the Mark of the Beast. In order to accomplish this task, every man, woman, and child must be tagged by the mark spoken of in a prophecy prohibiting individuals from buying or selling for life’s necessities. There has been no such technology or event to date that corresponds with the fulfillment of this prophecy. Prior to1950, the technology did not even exist. But be aware; technology for the Mark of the Beast currently exists and is being openly purchased by individuals and corporations.

The Time of the Gentiles is the Church Age, whose purpose it was and is to provide salvation to the broadest possible percentage of humanity. A great covenant, spanning seven years, was formed to facilitate the inclusion of as many of God’s creation as possible. The first three-and-a-half-year segment of that covenant took place during Jesus’s ministry. This segment we call the New Testament or blessings component of the covenant. The Time of the Gentiles began as Jesus was forming the New Testament. The initiation of this first three and a half years was confirmed by Jesus when He said in Luke 4:21, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. There will also be a second segment called the Day of Vengeance of Our God, spanning three and a half years designed to complete and fulfill the second half of the covenant, which coincides with the end of the Time of the Gentiles.

Jesus also has a role in this segment of the covenant. The Great Consummation is the separation and punishment components of the covenant. There has been a great deal of confusion surrounding this covenant and its various features, some of which include the Rapture of the Church, the Second Coming of Christ, the Wrath of God, and the Battle of Armageddon; all pertinent aspects that will be explained in greater detail as we move through this book. Many elements of the Church Age, the New Testament, and the Great Consummation were intentional mysteries concealed by God until the proper time. These mysteries resulted in numerous misinterpretations and false doctrines. Remember, currently, there is a partial blinding of Israel taking place until the fullness of the Gentiles is complete. In other words, until the Time of the Gentiles is over, the Israeli people will not fully understand their place in God’s plan. These mysteries have resulted in many misinterpretations, such as pre-, mid-, and posttribulation rapture doctrines, not to mention A-Millennialism and Preterism.

The Beginning of Sorrows

The Beginning of Sorrows takes place during the Latter Days before and during the Great Consummation. This prophetic period is marked by its elusive beginning and ending. The Beginning of Sorrows will gradually commence as Christendom experiences an influx of false Christs, Messiahs, and prophets. This period will draw to a close somewhere near the beginning of the Great Consummation. The Beginning of Sorrows will be punctuated by rumors of wars with nation rising against nation. These hostilities are likely to represent an inordinate number of occurrences and not simply common misfortunes. There will be widespread famines and pestilences over many parts of the earth in addition to peculiar earthquakes located in unexpected locations throughout the globe. These things are the beginning of sorrows, the initiation of calamities preceding the Great Consummation. The Beginning of Sorrows is one of the many signs heralding the Great Consummation. Elements from this prophecy will likely be the calamities the Beast solves to garner favor with the world. The Beginning of Sorrows is as its name implies.

The Rapture

Though the word rapture is not found in the Bible, the event is not hard to find. First Thessalonians 4:13 through 5:9 indicates the Rapture will be a time when both the living and dead in Christ—in essence, all who pertain to Christ (Ephesians 1:10)—will be transformed from a human form into a heavenly human-type body, an incorruptible¹⁰ form of human flesh. In the process of this transformation, the Body of Christ will be gathered in the skies over the earth where they will meet the Lord Jesus Christ. John 5:25–29 implies the rapture will take place in one short period of time. According to Thessalonians, Jesus will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and then the dead in Christ will be caught up into the sky with the Lord. After the dead in Christ have been raised, the living in Christ will join the assembly in the sky. These events are only moments apart. Following the Rapture, the Body of Christ will be conveyed to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and there remain until called to the Battle of Armageddon, followed by the Anointing of the Most Holy,¹¹ which is Jesus Christ.

It is often said we cannot know the time of Christ’s return. However, 1 Thessalonians 5:1–9 indicates Christians can know the approximate time of Christ’s return. Scripture also indicates we are the Children of the Light and as such should not be caught off guard as if surprised by a thief. (For more information on this topic, see chapter 3, subsection, Jesus Speaks of His Return). In fact, only those failing to pay attention should be caught off guard.

"Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you" (Revelation 3:3b NKJV).

Both sections of scripture are true; therefore, 1 Thessalonians 5:1–9 is merely telling the Body of Christ they can know the approximate time and season of Christ’s return. Remember, all scripture must be considered. Unlike choices at a buffet, scriptural understanding requires application of all biblical verses, in context, not one verse preferred over another or singling out prophecy. We cannot pick and choose which verses to apply. All must be considered if one expects to have an accurate understanding.

Marriage Supper of the Lamb

The Body of Christ will be taken to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb immediately after the rapture of the church. The Marriage Supper of the Lamb is exactly as it sounds: a marriage celebration joining Jesus Christ, the Bridegroom, to the Bride of Christ,¹² also known as the church or the saints of God.¹³ All heaven will rejoice. The marriage supper and celebration will span the period between the church being raptured and the Lord returning with the Body of Christ for the Battle of Armageddon. The celebration will take place in the heavenly realm as the Wrath of God punishes the remainder of humanity for their rejection of Christ. The following are a few parables covering elements of the marriage concept from God’s perspective as it relates to Jesus His Son and humanity.

Matthew Chapter 22:1–14

Verses and Commentary

The following parable parallels the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

1. And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said:

2. "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son,

3. and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come."

At first, the invited guests were the House of Israel, the Sons of Abraham.

4. "Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, ‘See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.’"

Take into account, the servants sent out were prophets, seers of the Lord, priests and rabbis of the Jewish faith.

5. "But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business."

Bear in mind, this is not unlike the Christians of Christianity today.

6. "And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them."

7. "But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city."

This verse references the time when Israel was scattered to the four corners of the earth in AD 73, when Rome ruined the ability for the land to support any life. God allowed this in order to fulfill prophecy and to prepare the House of Israel to be returned to the Promised Land nearly nineteen-hundred years later when Israel would reemerge as a sovereign state on May 15, 1948. Israel’s restoration sparks the beginning of the Latter Days (Hosea 3:4–5).

8. "Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy."

Those initially invited were from the House of Israel. However, now invitees are all those who have heard the gospel or had an opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Actual guests are those not just invited, but those who have accepted the offer of salvation made available through Jesus’s death on the cross (Matthew 7:14; Acts 4:10–12).

9. ‘Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding."

All was done in preparation for bringing in the Time of the Gentiles. The process is still ongoing.

10. "So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests."

These guests are not just those whom priests covered in the blood of a sacrificial lamb, rather, those who were freely offered and accepted the blood of the Son of God in order to wash away their sins. Through this process of invitation and acceptance, God potentially includes the entire world’s population. And through this method, the kingdom’s wedding hall was, is being, and will be filled.

But, every quest is required to wear the King’s special wedding garment—the blood of the Lamb.

11. "But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment."

The wedding garment declares who is invited and provides the necessary righteousness that can only be gained through the Blood of the Lamb. Jesus, the Lamb, suffered and died to provide righteous wedding garments. Only the uninvited are without. By being uninvited and entering the wedding inappropriately, this guest is a usurper of the King’s hospitality. This is a contemptuous act against the King, His kingdom, and His hospitality. Most important, the wedding garment reveals those who were genuinely invited and accepted into the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. No one enters through a back door.

12. "So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless."

Only those covered in the blood of the Lamb bear the righteousness of God. For the blood of the Lamb is the wedding garment. Only those covered in the righteousness of God may enter the Marriage Supper without fear of reprisal.

13. "Then the king said to the servants, ‘bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

What the verse is conveying is with few exceptions, the ultimate end for those who are not invited to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Obviously, there will be those of the House of Israel at the Marriage Supper; nevertheless, even those of the House of Israel must be saved by the Blood of the Lamb.

14. "For many are called, but few are chosen" (KJV).

Obviously, not everyone who is called will make it to Christ’s marriage supper. Many believers will take God’s Word for granted and ignore His commandments. Some will take the Mark of the Beast, believing God will excuse or understand their necessity and therefore, forgive their disobedience. This concept is mistaken! Revelation 14:9–12 tells us anyone who takes the Mark of the Beast, saved or not, will suffer the full measure of God’s wrath.

Another example of God’s preparation for His Son’s marriage supper can be seen through the parable of the ten virgins.

Matthew 25:1–13

Stay ready! Be ready!

Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. "And at midnight a cry was heard: "Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!" Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, "Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out." But the wise answered, saying, "No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves." And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, "Lord, Lord, open to us!" But he answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you." Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. (Matthew 25:1–13 NKJV)

We are as the virgins awaiting the coming of our Bridegroom. Jesus is that Bridegroom. When He returns for His bride, He will come back for a spotless and unblemished bride.¹⁴ Though many symbolic aspects can be derived from this parable, there is one in particular that stands above the others. There will be those who fail to prepare when the Bridegroom comes. Scripture tells us if they are unprepared at His arrival, then they will be left behind without recourse.

"That He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:27 NKJV).

Ancient Hebrew marriage contracts were considered binding once a price was established and accepted for the bride. The formal marriage contract was a covenant, but before plans could move forward, a price for the bride had to be agreed upon and paid.

If the groom approved of the contract and wanted to pursue the potential bride, he would pour a cup of wine and place it before her. If she accepted the cup and drank the wine, her action voiced agreement to the contract. Before leaving to prepare a home for her, the groom would first give the bride gifts and then declare, I go to prepare a place for you.

While the groom toiled to prepare a place for them both, the bride would ceremonially wait and prepare herself for the return of her beloved. It was customary for the bride to anoint and bathe herself daily in order to keep herself pure, clean, and beautiful in case the bridegroom should suddenly return. Often, a groom would pay a considerable price in order to show he valued and loved her. During the betrothal period, the woman proudly wore a veil publicizing her betrothal and the happy fact she was soon to be married.

The wedding chamber (or honeymoon chamber) was made ready for the moment when the groom would come to retrieve his bride. Usually this consisted of a small home on family land or an addition to his family’s current residence. Day or night, in anticipation of the groom’s return, the bride would keep her veil at her side and an oil lamp lit and ready. During evening hours, she would keep the lamp burning in her bedchambers in case her beloved should decide to steal her away clandestinely. This was a fun tradition generally performed with parental consent. The bride knew her groom could come at any time. In this celebratory spirit, the friends of the groom would often join him as he stole away his bride. When approaching her family’s house, the groom and friends would sometimes shout happy announcements of his return. It was also customary for the excited groom to blow a shofar (a ceremonial horn) to declare his intentions. The couple would then enter their chuppah (hoop-pa) or honeymoon chamber for the next seven days to consummate their wedding vows. At the couple’s first sexual encounter, the groom would momentarily step out of their chuppah and announce the marriage consummated. The groom or his parents would then display the previously pure bedsheet to confirm their holy consummation. As odd as that might appear today, many cultures still display the wedding sheet to confirm the purity and integrity of the wedding bed and the official sealing of the wedding covenant.

After displaying the wedding sheets, the happy couple could then close themselves off for the remainder of the seven days in celebration of their joining in covenant. At the end of the chuppah, the marriage supper and celebration escalated from a happy event to a jubilant (even riotous) party. In other words, the marriage feast really began to rock!

In summary, God created a wonderful world for any who will receive His gift. One day, at the rapture, Jesus will return for His bride (those who trust in God). He went to prepare a place for us. How many will be ready when He returns and how many will be playing religious games is unclear. During the life of Christ, God gave us examples of religiosity. Unfortunately, most rejected Jesus as the chief cornerstone. As a result and according to God’s plan, the nation of Israel failed their commission¹⁵ to share their salvation message with the majority of the world.

For this reason, God transferred the responsibility of sharing the message of salvation from the nation of Israel to the Body of Christ. This was not accidental. All aspects of the transfer of responsibility were originally part of God’s glorious and intentional plan. The Son of God will marry the Bride of Christ. The price for the bride was set and paid! In the overall process, Jesus, who already initiated the marriage vows, has left to prepare a place for His Bride, the church. ¹⁶

As many are aware, Jesus is the Son of God, born of a woman, made in the image of man. God did this so His Son could give His life for His Bride. At the End of Days, when the Lord returns for His Bride, He will gather her from the four corners of the earth and take her to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. As odd as this might sound, Jesus is coming back for all those who still let their little light shine.

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:13–16 NKJV)

By the end of the Great Consummation, the world will have completed a seven-year period of covenant similar to the ketubah or wedding covenant. Only those who are wearing one of the King’s wedding garments, those stained by the Blood of the Lamb, will be considered an invited guest. Some will be ready, and some will be woefully unprepared. Those who are ready will enter into the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, and those who are unprepared will remain to suffer the Wrath of God.

The Battle of Armageddon

Books have been written, songs have been sung, and movies released depicting this infamous confrontation. Many mistakenly believe the Battle of Armageddon will be a long, drawn-out, and protracted military campaign, which will cover several continents and multiple nations. It is also believed the Battle of Armageddon will destroy the majority of humanity as nations turn against nations and peoples against peoples. Some believers go so far as to assert these conflicts will result in the extermination of the human race. Fortunately for humanity, the Battle of Armageddon is instead a single military campaign fomented against God’s chosen people in and around the nation of Israel. Scripture indicates every major military power on earth will be represented at the Battle of Armageddon in opposition to God and Israel. Though the specific time of Christ’s arrival at the Battle of Armageddon is not mentioned, once He arrives, Jesus will quickly annihilate the enemy. The resulting conflict will be brief. According to scripture, within moments of Jesus’s arrival, He will have captured the Beast and False Prophet casting them alive into The Lake of Fire. This will be followed by the death of every person under the Beast’s command (Revelation 19:19–21). The Battle of Armageddon benchmarks the end and completion of both the Great Consummation and Time of the Gentiles.

A rough outline leading up to the Battle of Armageddon:

• Initially, through the separation process of the Tribulation Period, God will cause the Body of Christ to endure a crucible in order to separate true Christians from pseudo-Christians.

• Once the Tribulation Period is accomplished, the world will experience the Rapture of the Church and the commencement of the Day of the Lord.

• The Wrath of God, which spans approximately one year, begins immediately after the Tribulation Period ends.

• The Day of the Lord begins with the Wrath of God. On the heels of God’s wrath, the Battle of Armageddon will take place.

• The Battle of Armageddon does not have an official scriptural time line. Rather, the Bible indicates the conflict will span only the time necessary for Jesus to return in the skies over Jerusalem and then destroy all those who stood against God and the nation of Israel.

So, what is the point? The judgment portion of the covenant takes place during the last year of the Great Consummation. The Battle of Armageddon will be the exclamation point and spectacular conclusion to the Church Age. In order to fulfill prophecy, this future confrontation will take place between Israel and the military forces of the world (Revelation 16:14–16). Today, the Battle of Armageddon may not seem justifiable, but by the end of God’s punishment, humanity’s sinfulness will not be in question. Humanity will have reached its full measure of wickedness in the eyes of God.

And then shall that Wicked [one] be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. and for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:8–12 KJV)

Due to the harsh level of punishment endured by humanity during the Wrath of God, nearly everyone everywhere (with the exception of Israel) will come to thoroughly hate the idea of God and the existence of the Israelites. The torments endured during the Wrath of God will serve to strengthen the world’s determination to destroy Israel at any cost and wipe the Jews and the idea of God from the face of the earth. It seems odd such a small country should elicit such hatred. Why would the world concern itself with such a small and potentially insignificant country, except that it represents profound spiritual values? Humanity will be so enraged they will need to destroy Israel, must destroy Israel, and will want to destroy Israel or die trying. Such is the point and effect God’s wrath will have on the wickedness of humanity! The Great Consummation and Battle of Armageddon are the catalysts that bring the remainder of humanity to its zenith of sin. Metaphorically, God will draw a massive line in the sand that cannot be crossed after the Great Consummation has begun. Only those who are saved and remain faithful during the Tribulation Period of the Great Consummation will be raptured. Those who stand against God and Jesus Christ will suffer His wrath. In other words, there will be zero middle ground. The Battle of Armageddon is God declaring He is Lord and there is no other.

"So I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD" (Ezekiel 38:23 NIV).

"So I will make My holy name known in the midst of