The treaty the false messiah signs with Israel starts on a Yom Kippur (Tishri 10), ten days after the Natzal on Tishri 1. The false messiah and Europe will be fighting Russia for three years, from a Yom Kippur to a Yom Kippur, at the end of the third year of the Birth-pains. Six months later it will be the halfway point of the Birth-pains, Nisan 10. Russia is defeated by Yom Kippur of the third year. Ezek 38-39 is written in the language of Yom Kippur. Egypt is a type of Europe in prophecy, and Pharaoh is a type of the false messiah in Scripture. Assyria is a picture of Russia/Gog/Magog, and Hezekiah was in a military treaty with Egypt when Assyria attacked (Isa 36.1-37.9). Hezekiah expected Egypt to help him against the Assyrians. But, God was not going to let Tirhakah of Egypt help because God was going to destroy Assyria himself. So, here is what happens. Josephus quotes Herodotus and says that the two armies were going to square off in the morning, and were facing each other. During the night, rats ate the bow-strings, arrow feathers and slings of the Assyrians. Sennacherib decides not to fight Tirhakah and the Egyptians. God was reserving the Assyrians for himself.
In the Birth-pains, Israel will be in a treaty with Europe and the false messiah. The United States is gone, destroyed by the Russians. God will not allow Europe and the false messiah to help Israel when Russia and her allies attack. He is going to destroy the Russian army and the alliance himself, so that Israel can’t say it was because of the help of Europe and the false messiah. Again, we learn from Mic 5.5 about the “seven shepherds and eight leaders of men.” We know that when the false messiah takes power there are ten horns (Rev 17.12-13) and these have not received power as yet, but they will along with the false messiah (Rev 13.1). Then Rev 17.8-11 says that the beast (false messiah) is also “an eighth” kingdom. Rev 17.9 says that the seven heads are seven kingdoms. Five have fallen (Egypt; Babylon; Assyria; Medo-Persia; Greece); one is (Rome) and the other has not yet come (Revived Rome). Rev 17.11 then says, “And the beast which was not (hidden till the Birth-pains), is himself also an eighth (ruler over the final configuration of seven, an eighth empire) and is one of the seven (Rome) and he goes to destruction.” The false messiah is an eighth ruler over an eighth empire. Mic 5.5 says there are seven shepherds, which are seven rulers under the false messiah, who is the eighth ruler, and we have shown from Dan 7.8,20,24 how three crowns left this alliance.
Napoleon tried to put Europe together in another “Roman Empire” and was defeated by the Russian winter. Hitler tried to put together Europe and tried the same thing, and he was defeated by the Russian winter. But, the false messiah will bring Europe together. When Russia invades Israel, Israel will call on Europe for help, and they won’t. God destroys Russia, but the false messiah and Europe will capitalize on their defeat and realize this is a great time to finish Russia off once and for all. Mic 5.5-6 says that the “seven shepherds and eight leaders of men” will “shepherd” (rule over) the land of Assyria (Russia) with the sword (Ezek 39.6; Num 24-23-24). As a result, the false messiah and Europe become the most powerful army and kingdom in the world. Anciently, when Assyria invaded, the prophets told the people not to leave the land and go to Egypt. But, many of them did and the Egyptians turned on them. Isa 30.1-8 describes what would happen. This will also happen when Russia invades. The 144,000 and the Two Witnesses will warn the people not to flee to Europe because they will be fleeing right into the hands of the false messiah, but many will not listen and be persecuted. Egypt is describes as “Rahab” in Isa 30.7, and Rahab was an ancient name for Egypt. It also means a “prostitute, broad wall and pride” (Psa 89.10, 51.9; Job 26.12-13; Job 9.13, 41.33). This will happen again in the Birth-pains.
Now, what we have been doing is using this one topic as an example on how to study by doing two basic things. First, how to ask the right questions, and secondly, how to work through a passage. This passage in Micah has a lot of information on eschatology that must be defined and then put together, so it is a good one to use. Micah 5.1-9 deals with three time periods. There is the “historical” which deals with what was going on at the time of Micah. This aspect can never be ignored when looking at the Scriptures. Midrashic pearl stringing is taking a passage, and another, and another and putting them together to form a message. For example, in Rom 3.9-18, Paul puts together Psa 14.1-3, 53.1-3; Ecc 7.20; Psa 5.9, 140.3, 10.7; Isa 59.7-8 and Psa 36.1. He “strung” these verses together to give a message. The term “messianic” points to the Messiah directly. The term “eschatological” mixes the others together.
How do you find definitions to get a biblical understanding? Get a concordance and lexicon, go to the Encyclopedia Judaica and the Jewish Encyclopedia; Josephus; Mishnah; Talmud; Jewish commentaries; Jewish prayer books; the Targums; the Pseudo-pigrapha; certain books by certain authors like Alfred Edersheim, Raphael Patai, Harvey Falk; David Fohrman and many others; any Artscroll book is another good source. But, you always check things out by the Word of God.
In order to properly understand eschatology, you must understand that it is understood as pertaining to the redemption and the Messiah. It is seen from six reference points: the historical; Messiah and his first coming; Messiah and his second coming; the Birth-pains; The Atid Lavo, or Messianic Kingdom and the Olam Haba. Eschatology is studied in the context of the festivals and the Temple. You must have a working knowledge of these two things before you will ever understand prophecy and eschatology. All of the Tanak (old testament) teaches the coming of the Messiah. We went over the three Hebrew terms that mean “eschatolgy” and they are the Acharit Yamim (latter/last days); the Ik’vot Ha Mashicah (Footsteps of the Messiah) and the Chevlai Shell Mashiach (Birth-pains of the Messiah). You must have the 7000 year plan of God mastered. You have the time before creation, called the L’Olam Vaed (forever), also the Olam Haba. Then you have a 6000 year period called the Olam Ha Zeh (Present Age). This period is divided into three, 2000 year periods. The first is called Tohu (desolation), the second is called Torah (instruction) and the third is called the Yom’ot Mashaich (days of the Messiah). Then we come to the final 1000 year period called the Atid Lavo (Future Age) and the Messianic Kingdom,] and the Day of the Lord. After this period, we enter into eternity called the Olam Haba (the Coming World).
Here are some concepts to understand eschatology. You cannot look at the Scriptures on just one level, but four. This is the Peshat (literal), Remez (hint, alluded to), Drash (thresh thresh it out, interpret) and Sowd (secret, mystery) level. There needs to be a balance. History is unfulfilled prophecy, and prophecy is unfulfilled history (Ecc 1.9, 3.15). Another concept is “Here now, but not yet” (Num 24.17). There are Scriptures that have a partial fulfillment, but the fullness comes later. Also, a prophecy is not limited in time, they can have numerous fulfillments. If we can understand and work in these area’s at a proficient level, we will be well on our way to being able to rightly divide the Word concerning eschatology and the coming of the Messiah.
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