Tanak Foundations-Concepts in Second Kings-Part 15

If King Uzziah is a picture of Israel in the days leading up to the birth-pains, then this earthquake is very significant. It was felt throughout the land and spoken about in five different places in the Scriptures. So, let’s look at Amos 6.11 in particular where it says, “For behold, the Lord is going to command that the great house be smashed to pieces and the small house to fragments.” Some see a reference to the Temple here. In the peshat, it means that big and small houses will be snapped. The Lord is showing there is no partiality in this earthquake. But if this is alluding to the Temple, as Josephus says, then this means something.

Could there be a great earthquake like in the days of King Uzziah coming in the days leading up to the birth-pains? Could this earthquake bring down the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount, thus opening up the way for the rebuilding of the Temple in the birth-pains? That which has been done before will happen again (Ecc 1.9, 3.15).

Isa 6.1-13 tells us something about the death of King Uzziah, and it will allude to the Natzal (rapture) and its timing. It will also allude to the commissioning of the 144,000 (Rev 7.1-8, 14.1-5). We believe that the reign of King Uzziah is a picture of the days leading up to the birth-pains (tribulation). So, when King Uzziah dies it means that we are now in the days of the birth-pains, right at the beginning.

We read in Isa 6.1 that Uzziah dies and then Isaiah sees a vision called the “Ma’aseh Merkavah” meaning “Work of the Chariot/Throne.” This vision came as Uzziah died because Yotham hasn’t even gone through a coronation as king because he is not mentioned as being the king yet. We will not get into too much detail on this chapter, but it is very eschatological. However, we do want to get into concepts related to our premise that Uzziah is a picture of the days leading up to the birth-pains, and the last ten kings of Judah is a picture of the seven year tribulation period.

Isaiah sees a vision of the Lord as soon as Uzziah dies (so now we are in the birth-pains). This alludes to the fact that as soon as the Olam Ha Zeh period of 6000 years is over we have Yom Teruah, also known as Rosh Ha Shanah (head/beginning of the year). This is also the first day of the last 1000 year period called the Atid Lavo, Sabbath of God, Day of the Lord and the Lord’s Day. Isaiah is a picture of the believer in Yeshua with a Torah-based faith who will be caught up to heaven and see the Lord “high and lifted up.” But that is not all. This is also a picture of the commissioning of the 144,000 at the same time as the Natzal (rapture). Will these 144,00 actually see the Natzal as it happens and immediately believe in Yeshua? Paul was not a believer until he saw the Lord in a bright light on the road to Damascus, and he believed in minutes.

Isaiah has his lips cleansed (meaning a pure confession) and his sins are forgiven. This will happen to the 144,000. They are not believers the day before the Natzal, and are not taken, but as soon as it happens they are saved right at the beginning of the Day of the Lord and the birth-pains. They are called “the first fruits to God and to the Lamb” in Rev 14.4. But, “first fruits” of what? They are the first fruits of those saved during the birth-pains/tribulation. That is why the timing of Isaiah’s vision in Isa 6 is important. It happens as soon as King Uzziah dies, which alludes to the end of the Olam Ha Zeh (6000 years).

Here is another point to remember. The birth-pains will be the first seven years of the Day of the Lord, also known as the Millennium. The birth-pains do not occur before the Day of the Lord or the last 1000 years, or after it. The tribulation is the first seven years of this 1000 year period. The birth-pains will begin on a Yom Kippur and end on a Yom Kippur seven years later, with the return of Yeshua (Matt 24.29-31).

Then in Isa 6.8 we have a very interesting question. The Lord asks, “Whom shall I send and who shall go for us?” Then Isaiah says, “Here I am, send me!” The Lord tells him about the people and how they don’t follow the Torah or listen or understand. This will continue until “cities are devastated” and “houses are without people.” Nothing will be left but a remnant. This describes the conditions of the birth-pains/tribulation and these conditions will cause Israel to repent (Hos 5.15 through 6.3). This is the calling of the 144,000.

Eschatologically speaking, we are in the days of King Uzziah, leading up to Rosh Ha Shanah, Tishri 1, year 6001 from creation. We believe that we may be a few years away from the blowing of the shofar that signals the Natzal/rapture and here is why. There are several things that we believe must happen before the Day of the Lord and the birth-pains begin. For example, a Red Heifer must be found and killed and the purification ceremony that goes along with it must be performed. This seven day ceremony will allow the Temple services to begin on Rosh Ha Shanah, year 6001, according to a double reference prophecy in Ezra 3.1-6.

This will be done soon after Israel’s acquisition of the Temple Mount and the removal of the Dome of the Rock. We have said previously that this could happen with a huge earthquake, like the one described during the reign of King Uzziah (Josephus, Antiquities, Book 9, Chapter 10.4; Zech 14.5; Amos 3.14, 6.11, 8.8, 9.1).  An overlooked aspect to this thought is if there is an earthquake that removes the Dome of the Rock and the other buildings up there, it will also open up the ground and what is underneath these buildings today.  That means tunnels, caverns and cisterns that were in doubt will come to light, and they will be able to place the Temple buildings precisely where they have always been.  It will also reveal the precise place of the altar site.  Ezra 3.6 says they began to offer korbanot on the altar on Tishri 1, and Hag 1.1-15 tells us that they began to work on the house of the Lord on Elul 24, seven days before Tishri 1.  This is an indication of what will happen in the future.

This may be an allusion to the fact that the Red Heifer and the cleansing of the priesthood and holy things must happen at least seven days prior to the Naztal and the beginning of the Day of the Lord. However, all the rubble from the Dome of the Rock and all the Arab buildings up there will need to be removed. This will take time, so that means if the Natzal happens on a Rosh Ha Shanah (Tishri 1), then the heifer will be killed on or about Elul 24 (Hag 1.15) or before. Believers in Yeshua will see this happen before the Natzal.

In addition, Israel may be divided in some way into a two-state system. This was the case with Uzziah, Yotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah with Judah and Samaria, until Samaria (the northern kingdom) was defeated and taken into captivity during the reign of Hezekiah in the south in 722 B.C. So, Israel may be a divided state also in the third year of the birth-pains (reign of Hezekiah), with one state religious and the other secular (Isaiah Chapters 3, 7, 8, 9, 10).

The next thing that will happen is oil will be discovered in Israel because this is one of the reasons Gog and Magog (Russia) attacks (Hos 12.1; Ezek 38.8; Gen 14.10; Isa 2.7; Isa 45.3; Deut 32.13). The politics in Russia will change with a new attempt to stabilize Russia and move with more antagonism towards Israel (Ezek 38.1-6). In America, antisemitism will be on the rise. Let’s review and look at some of the opening events of the birth-pains (Jer 50.7, 11, 17, 21, 33, 51.19).

The Natzal will happen after 6000 years from creation has expired. Yes, that’s right, the universe is less than 6000 years old, deal with it. This brings us to Rosh Ha Shanah, or Yom Teruah (Num 29.1), or Tishri 1, the first day of the Civil Calendar. The resurrection of the righteous will happen, then those believers who are alive at the time join those resurrected and proceed to heaven for the Coronation and the Wedding of the Messiah (Isa 13.2, 26.19, 21.5; 1 Thes 1.10, 4.13-18; 1 Cor 15.51-55; Psa 45; 2 Thes 2.1-3; Job 14.10-14, 19.25-26).

The Temple/korbanot services will begin on the same day as the natzal (Ezra 3.1-6; Hos 3.4-5; Rev 11.1-2). At the same time the 144,000 realize that Yeshua is the Messiah because of a special revelation, and start moving to Israel if they are not there already. This type of thing has happened before. Paul saw and talked to Yeshua after the resurrection, and Yeshua’s brothers didn’t believe in him till after the resurrection, and Elisha saw Elijah depart and received a double portion.

Between the days of Tishri 1-7, the Jewish population in America not taken in the natzal leave America for Israel, and many non-Jews leave with them. On Tishri 8, Russia (Assyria) attacks and destroys America (Babylon) with a surprise attack (nuclear) and Europe will be in a panic (Jer 50-51; Isa 13, 14, 18, 20, 24, 47, 48; Rev 18; Psa 137.1-9; Rev 14.8).

On Tishri 9, the False Messiah takes over Europe in one hour because of the panic over the loss of America. They believe they are next. There will be 10 “sub-kings” or rulers with him at this meeting. He tells these representatives from their home country that he has a plan but they need to give him dictatorial powers from their home countries because he does not have time to go through all their individual legislatures. They give him power and authority (Rev 17.13). Meanwhile, there will also be a religious ruler who will rise up in support of the False Messiah, and he is known as the False Prophet (Dan 7.15-28; Rev 17.12-15).

On Tishri 10-11, the False Messiah will make a military treaty with Israel. At the same time, the 144,000 and the two witnesses begin their ministries in Israel after leaving America (Isa 6.1-13, 18.4, 48.20; Mic 4.9-10; Zech 2.1-7, 4.1-5, 11-14; Rev 11.3-13; Jer 50.4-8, 51.6,9,10,45,50).

Before we get to the last ten kings of Judah (2 Kings 15.1 to 25.30), there are three keys to understanding the birth-pains and biblical eschatology. First, the last ten kings of Judah relate to the seven years of the birth-pains as we have said, and will go over. Second, the eighth century B.C. prophets relate to the first three and a half years of the birth-pains, while the seventh century B.C. prophets relate to the last three and a half years of the birth-pains. Third, it is necessary to have a functional understanding of the biblical festivals, their dates and what their themes and idioms are in order to understand the messages given by these prophets.

Another thing to keep in mind is Russia will be fighting a conventional war with Europe and the False Messiah during the first three and a half years of the birth-pains. Russia will be dominating and winning this war, allowing it to feel safe enough to invade Israel at the end of the third year of the birth-pains, around the time of Rosh Ha Shanah entering into the fourth year. They will be destroyed by God on Yom Kippur (more on that later).

So, with all that said, we will pick up here in Part 16 with the first year of the birth-pains, pictured by the reign of King Yotham (Hebrew “Yotam” and it means “Yehovah is perfect”).

Posted in All Teachings, Articles, Idioms, Phrases and Concepts, Prophecy/Eschatology, The Festivals of the Lord, The Tanak, Tying into the New Testament

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