Ken Smelko:
The internal content of the scroll is the Wrath of God. Only the Lamb who was slain has the authority and blessing of God to open and execute its contents. The outer seals contain judgments and events pertaining to the kingdoms on earth– expediting the coming Day of the Lords’ Wrath. When the seventh seal is opened, the scroll can be unrolled and its contents viewed — which is the much heralded Day of the Lord by many prophets, including Jesus the Lamb of God who was slain.
I don’t see how anyone can dispute that the first six seals are assigned to the end of the age of man and the execution of the Great Tribulation by Satan and his seed. They are on the exterior, the outside, of the scroll. While everything contained inside the scroll is directly from God, through Jesus.
Dr. Avraham Shallom:
As you have rightly pointed out, it is unreasonable for anyone to contend that the wrath of God begins before the breaking of the seventh seal. However, pretribbers, in order to defend their pet doctrines of immense and pretribulation rapturism do so, albeit foolishly. Because the Church is not appointed to the wrath of God; if they begin it at the start of the 70th week of Daniel, then, in their thinking, the Church is excluded.
The content of the scroll is the wrath of God. Until the seven seals on the outside of the scroll are broken, the content of the scroll cannot be accessed and viewed. Unarguably, the wrath of God begins after the breaking of the seventh seal. To teach that the wrath of God begins at the commencement of the 70th week is biblically unjustified. It was concocted and fabricated by pretribbers to keep the believers out of the 70th week of Daniel, and so also out of the Great Tribulation by the antiChrist. This doctrine is based on the theology of convenience, happiness, and the good life. Because God loves us He cannot suffer us to go through the Great Tribulation. Their premise is right, but their inference is wrong. That God loves us does not mean that we cannot suffer. Indeed, it is given to us in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but to suffer for His sake(Gal.1:29). Let them go to our brethren in the North of Nigeria who are hacked to death on a daily bases by intolerant muslims, and teach their pet doctrines.
Ken Smelko:
What in your opinion is the length of the Great Tribulation?
Dr. Avraham Shallom:
The allotted time to the antiChrist to reign is 42 months, from the midpoint of the 70th week to the death of the two witnesses (Rev.13:5; 11:3,7). The death of the two witnesses marks the terminus-ad-quem(end) of the 70th week. However the persecution by the antiChrist which is the Great Tribulation does not last for the whole of the 42 months. It is cut short, amputated in order to keep some saints alive for Rapture(Matt.24:22). If it’s allowed to last for the whole of the 42 months allotted to the antiChrist, no unbranded person will survive, both believers, Jews and Gentiles. Remember Google has mapped out the whole Earth. With the economic boycott of the unbranded and the relentless search to ferret them out from hiding by use of demonized robots, drones, etc, it will be virtually impossible to keep any one of them alive if the Great Tribulation were to be allowed to run for the 42 months allotted to the antiChrist.
Of all the events in the second half of the 70th week of Daniel, the fifth trumpet is the only one with known duration. The fifth trumpet lasts 5 months(Rev.9:10). The bowl judgments last for 23/24 days beginning from day 6/7 of the 30-day reclamation period following the blowing of the 7th trumpet which characteristically opens into the seven bowls(Rev.11:15). On the 4th day of the 30-day reclamation period, the two witnesses resurrect. On the 5th day, the mystery of God is finished as the remnant of Israel are brought into saving relationship with the God of Israel(Rev.10:7). The spiritual kingdom of God is completed on day 3 of the 30-day reclamation period of the kingdom(Hos.6:1-2).
On the 6th or 7th, the seventh trumpet which opens into the seven bowls is blown, and God Almighty reclaims His rule over the Earth. The last and 7th bowl judgment ends at Armageddon on the last day of the 30-day reclamation period. At this point, God Almighty reclaims Physical possession of the Earth. The extra 45 days is for the restoration of the Earth devastated by wars, pestilences and earthquakes of the 2nd, 3rd and 6th seals and by the wrath of God(7 trumpets and 7 bowls). It is really not part of the equation of the wrath of God. So blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the one thousand three hundred and five and thirty days(Dan.12:12). Having delineated the timeline and loci of these events in the eschatology, we can hazard guess of the rough estimate of the length of the Great Tribulation.
The fifth trumpet last five months. “And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.”(Rev.9:10 KJV). The sixth trumpet which is longer may last for about a year. If the first four trumpets which are most probably shorter in duration last about a year, it follows that the Great Tribulaion will be about a year with a margin of error of a month or thereabouts. This estimate would mean that the wrath of God will last for about two years and four months or thereabouts with a margin of error of a few months.
Ken Smelko:
Will Jerusalem Be Divided?
Avraham Shallom:
We know from our study of eschatology that Israel has come to be. Not only that, it must retain control of Jerusalem. The end time prophecy in Dan.9:24-27 concerns Israel and her Holy City Jerusalem. Israel may not and indeed will not be able to regain control of the whole land given her by God, but must remain an independent entity with Jerusalem as the eternal capital till the end of times. If Israel had lost control of Jerusalem why would the antiChrist enter into a 7-year peace treaty with her? In the middle of the seven when that treaty is broken by the antiChrist, what does he do? He relocates his headquarters to Jerusalem. Abbas says Jerusalem is the capital of Palestinian State. But the Temple is in East Jerusalem. And that is where the Third Jewish Temple will be erected.
To inform us that Israel must retain control of Jerusalem to the End Of The Ages, Jesus said,” And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” ( Luk. 21:20-24 ).
But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house: And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment. But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter. For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.”(Mark 13:14-19).” When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened”(Matt. 24:15-22).
The reference in the Olivet Discourse is to the Jewish people and their Holy City Jerusalem. If the Jews have lost control of the city, there would be no reference to the Shabbat. The Palestinian Arabs are mostly muslims and do not observe the Shabbat. Besides, the Great Tribulation is referred to as the time of Jacobs trouble(Jere.30:7). If the Palestinian Arabs are the occupiers of the city, then it would be the time of Ishmael’s trouble. But it is not.
I have never been interested in the Paris conference, because I knew from the Scriptures that nothing would come out of it. So, also any which future conference to wrest control of Jerusalem out of the hand of the Jewish people. Except for for brief period, 1,260 days, the second half of the 70th seven allotted to the antiChrist, Israel will never ever again lose control of Jerusalem. Even during that brief period, there will still be Jews in hiding in the city who shall oppose the antiChrist. As I always say, eschatology is the future history of world revealed. If you want to know the future history of the world, then master the end times.
Your interpretation, analysis, and application of Eph.2:2 is apt.
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others(Eph.2:1-3).
What this means is that we should not swallow hook, line, and sinker, as true whatever comes from the meanstream media. They must be viewed through the prism of the word of God. This enormous responsibility entails an in-depth understanding of the word of God, more so mastery of End Time prophecy. The course of this Age is controlled by the Prince of the power of the air(waves, atmosphere, starry heavens, dark void). Satan is the god of this age. The Greek word translated world in the Scripture quoted above is aion. It’s better translated age. It is the moving world. And it is coming to a consummate end, albeit, predetermined by the sovereign will of the Almighty.
This is the faith and patience of the saints that everything, the good and the bad, the ugly, pleasant and unpleasant work according to His sovereign purpose. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose(Roms.8:28). In the absence of this understanding, the ignorant believer may become befuddled and fearful and anxious. I have heard a lot of bad news in the last few days that I almost despaired but for the refuge in His word, that is, He is in sovereign control of all things, and that all things work together for good in accordance with His predetermined purpose and ultimate end.
And then I wonder how any believer not matter his status in the Church can understand the times and the seasons in ignorance of biblical prophecy?
Biblical prophecy has never been more relevant than now. Unfortunately it is not being given pride of place in the teachings in our churches here in Nigeria, especially in the south. What they call prophecy is that which the Church leaders prophesy to the congregation. We need that, but this is far more important.
We need to understand the times and the seasons in order to appreciate His moves. Like I said earlier, we need to view the goings-on in the world through the prism of His word, i.e., His prophetic word concerning the End Times revealed in the Scriptures of old.
Avraham Shallom.
Mt Zion Heritage Ministries 