“Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. But LEAVE OUT THE COURT (capitals mine) which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles (non-Jews). And they will tread the holy city underfoot for 42 months (3 1/2 years). And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days (42 months, 3 1/2 years), clothed in sackcloth.”

Revelation 11:1

Remember April 9, 2019! I will discuss it in a moment…

This prophecy above from Jesus directly to John on the Isle of Patmos in approximately 95 A.D. is absolutely amazing! It tells us so much about the Last Days we are currently living in! First, John is told to measure the then rebuilt Temple of God. How do we know it is to be rebuilt? After all, 25 years before he even wrote the Book of Revelation, in 70 A.D., the Romans had totally destroyed the Jews 2nd Holy Temple. We know just like the first and second Temples of God previously built and destroyed in Jerusalem, this third, soon to be rebuilt Temple MUST also be located on the Temple Mount. Secondly, John was told NOT to measure the court area outside the Temple because that area had already been “given” to the Gentiles (non-Jews) for their own purposes. This tells me the Temple of God must co-exist on the Temple Mount with the other “temples” of the Gentiles for some period of time. Third, we know the Gentiles will take control of the city of Jerusalem for the final 42 months before Christ Returns at His Second Coming which also means the Third Temple will not be in use by the Jews during that time.

“And he (the anti-christ) shall confirm the covenant (peace agreement) with many for one week (seven years): and in the midst of the week (after 3 1/2 years) he shall cause the sacrifice to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation (Christ’s Return), and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”

Daniel 9:27

We know about the Abomination of Desolation by the anti-christ midway through the Tribulation when he enters the then rebuilt Jewish Third Temple of God causing the animal sacrifices to cease and desecrates it by proclaiming himself to be God and demanding to be worshipped as such. We know this will happen from the above Scripture that halfway through the seven year Tribulation period, meaning 3 1/2 years BEFORE Jesus Returns at Armageddon and 3 1/2 years AFTER a “covenant” is “confirmed” between the Jews and many others.

“And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days (3 1/2 years, 42 months, 1,260 days), clothed in sackcloth.”

Revelation 11:3

Finally, for 3 1/2 years God’s two Witnesses will prophesy to all in Jerusalem. This is striking because we learned in a previous post (What happens when these 2 guys come knocking on your door?) these two Witnesses will prophesy in Jerusalem for 42 months and then will be killed by the anti-christ, setting off a wave of celebration and parties by the non-believers who have been tormented by them and their message for 42 months. Their unburied, dead bodies will lay in the streets of Jerusalem for 3 1/2 days. Then the entire world will see them come alive and ascend to Heaven.

“And when they have finished their testimony, the beast (Satan) that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified (Jerusalem). And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.”

Revelation 11:7-12

Today on the Temple Mount there are two holy Muslim sites, the Dome of the Rock (the gold dome in picture above) and the Al Aqsa Mosque (the grayish dome on the far left side in the picture), the third holiest site in Islam. This is where Mohammed supposedly was transported from Mecca in a dream, although history actually reports he never once even visited Jerusalem! Do you notice the park like area with the green trees in between the two Muslim shrines?

So, what does this all have to do with April 9, 2019 and prophetic events in Jerusalem? On April 9, 2019 Israel will have national elections and decide whether Benjamin Netanyahu will remain as Prime Minister of Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu has been very tough on the Arab-Israeli conflicts and Iran’s involvement in Lebanon and the Syrian war on Israel’s northern border. He has stated publicly he will not give up land for peace since the Arabs have never once done what they said they would do in order to make peace with Israel. He has bombed Iran weapons caches in Syria and Lebanon while holding the Palestinian insurgency on the Gaza strip in check. But something has changed!

Many Sunni Arab countries also see Iran as a major threat to peace in the Mideast and are now embracing Israel’s right to exist in order to stave off Iranian aggression in the area. Since Donald Trump was elected President, his son-in-law Jared Kushner (an Orthodox Jew) and advisor Jason Greenblatt have been secretly negotiating with Israel and the Arabs on what President Trump calls the “Deal of the Century”. It is estimated these two have travelled to Israel and the Arab world THREE TIMES A MONTH for two years to negotiate a peace agreement between the two sides. President Trump has even gone so far to say neither side will like everything in the Agreement AND they won’t hate everything in it either! Out of respect for the Israeli elections, President Trump has put off presenting the 175-200 page Agreement until after the April 9, 2019 elections.

Please, let me be clear! I am not saying Donald Trump is the anti-christ (although some of my Democrat friends probably feel he fills the role). I am not saying this is THE peace “covenant” spoken of above in Daniel 9:27. There have been a number of “peace agreements” over the last 50 years, none of which have ever settled the primary issues of the establishment of a Palestinian State OR given the Jews the right to rebuild their 3rd Temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem which they have controlled since the 6 day war of 1967.

What I will say however is IF an Agreement could be reached allowing the Palestinian State to be formed in Judea (that part of Israel we refer to as the West Bank), letting the Palestinians claim part of East Jerusalem as their capital, and let the Jews rebuild their Temple without desecrating the two existing Muslim sites already on the Temple Mount (there is enough space there!), the seven year Tribulation begins! Interestingly, if you read Daniel 9:27 again you will see the anti-christ will “confirm” with “many” for one week (seven years) the “covenant” (peace agreement). This could be that while Trump may present the basics of the Peace Agreement, it could be someone else that later ultimately “confirms” it. Also, since the Agreement will be with “many”, this could also mean not just Israel and the Palestinians but Israel and the majority of the Arab world will endorse it.

The bottom line, without setting dates or times, is within the next two months the Trump Administration will present a peace agreement which may allow what both sides want but which neither side wants to give up. If in fact you see these events unfold as the Bible says, then know the anti-christ is soon to be unveiled, the Palestinians will have their own nation in the West Bank; the Jews will rebuild their Holy Temple on the Temple Mount; the seven year Tribulation will begin setting the final countdown to Jesus Christ’s Return; and the two Witnesses will proclaim His Word for the next 3 1/2 years.

“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind . For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates [of this event] we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, ‘PEACE AND SAFETY (capitals mine),’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape”

1 Thess. 4:13, 16, 17; 5:1-3.

Oh yeah! I forgot to mention this will also mean the Rapture could now occur at any moment! People will be talking then about Peace and Safety! Are you ready to be snatched away “in the twinkling of an eye” to spend eternity with Jesus in Heaven? How comforting is that for us, knowing all the terrible things which will occur on the earth during the seven year Tribulation BUT knowing we can escape it all by simply accepting Jesus died for our sins and asking forgiveness for our sins. If you are comforted by this, make sure your friends and family are also! That means to do as we are all instructed and that is to “…therefore comfort one another with these words.” His Word and Prophecies are so comforting! Be watching because things are happening quickly!

May God Bless you!