A Future 7-Year Era
Many things about the future are unsure: the stock market, the end of COVID-19 mutations, space travel to Mars, etc. But God’s prophets have told us of many future events in the Bible which are sure to come. Let’s begin this week examining scriptures outlining what the next thousand years hold for us, and beyond.
Forget for the moment man-made church denominational doctrines, and adhere strictly to the Bible as our guide. The Book of Revelation will be our chief resource, supplemented by other Bible prophecies.
The Book of Revelation begins with this verse: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass” (Revelation 1:1). Let’s begin looking at some things which, according to God, will surely come to pass.
“I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore [1,260] days, clothed in sackcloth [dressed for grieving and praying]. ...And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed” (Revelation 11:3-5).
An almost three-and-a-half-year time period is ahead for us: specifically 42 months of 30 days, or 1,260 days. During those 1,260 days, two prophet-witnesses will prayerfully intercede against wickedness.
Evil men who might harm them can not, because they possess powers like the prophets Moses (Exodus 9:2324) and Elijah (1Kings 18:30-38).
“And when they shall have finished their testimony, the [man called] “Beast” that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them” (Revelation 11:7).
After those two prophet-witnessess finish their 42-month mission, they will lose their protective power, and will be slain by a man who is the embodiment of a satanic demon from the ἄβυσσος (AB-us-sos), abyss, bottomless pit.
“And there was given me a reed like unto a [measuring] rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the [non-Israeli] Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months” (Revelation 11:1-2).
The temple in Jerusalem has not existed since 70 AD, when it was destroyed by the Roman army. According to this prophecy, Jerusalem’s temple will be rebuilt one day. After the two prophetic witnesses are dead, the man called “Beast” will invade Jerusalem with his army, and will reign over Israel and the rebuilt Jewish temple for about 3 1/2 years, or 42 months, or exactly 1,260 days.
John continues recounting his prophetic Revelation vision.
“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars” (Revelation 12:1). The “woman” prophetically speaking, is the nation Israel. The sun and moon and 12 stars symbolize the patriarch Jacob, his favorite wife, Rachel, and Jacob’s 12 sons who fathered the 12 tribes of Israel (Genesis 37:9-10).
“And the woman [Israel] fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore [1,260] days.
...And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time [one year], and times [2 more years], and half a time [another 1/2 year]” (Revelation 12:6,14). As stated before, Israelites will be forced to flee their homeland while Israel is under the military control of the man called “Beast” for 3 1/2 years, according to God’s prophetic calendar.
To summarize, the Bible prophesies a future 7-prophetic-year period of time which is divided into two halves. For the first 3 1/2 years, Israel will be protected from a demonic Middle-East leader while two special prophets of God live among them performing miracles. For the final 3 1/2 years, after those prophets are dead, Israel will be overrun by the armies of the demonic man known as the “Beast.”
Jesus tells Christians, today’s disciples, “But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
In your patience possess ye your souls” (Luke 21:18-19). Good advice from Jesus concerning that future 7-year era, and any other situation we may face.