What is the
purpose of the Great Tribulation? What is the prophetic role of Ammon,
Moab, and Edom (now known as Jordan)? Where do “those who are in Judea” flee?
Where does Jesus return? The Mount of Olives? (Zech
14:4) or Edom? (Isa
63).
Last month we explored the historical
backgrounds of Ammon, Moab and Edom. This month we’ll take a look at their
prophetic destiny:
He shall enter also into the glorious
land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his
hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. - Daniel
11:41
Ammon is now Amman, the capital of Jordan. It
appears this is one of the few areas that escape the rule of the coming world
leader (commonly known as the “Antichrist”).
Prophetic Relevance
Jesus warned the dwellers in Judea that when
they see the “Abomination of Desolation”—a desecrating idol installed in the
Holy of Holies of the Temple—to immediately flee to the mountains. The remnant
of Israel will find refuge there for three-and-a-half years while God protects
them and provides for them. From other passages, we learn that the remnant will
flee to Bozrah in the mountains of Edom.
The Great Tribulation
“The Tribulation” is often used as a generic
term for the entire seven years of the 70th Week of Daniel. However,
the Great Tribulation is actually defined as the last half of the week:
three-and-a-half, not seven years.
And at that time shall Michael stand up,
the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall
be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a na-tion even to that
same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall
be found written in the book. - Daniel 12:1
Note too, that although it is worldwide, the
focus is on Israel:
Alas! for that day is great, so that none
is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of
it. - Jeremiah 30:7
The Next Holocaust
Some view the Nazi Holocaust in Germany as its
fulfillment. However, devastating as that was, it hardly fits the text. It is to
be followed by dramatic cosmic signs and the Second Coming of Christ:
Immediately after the tribulation of those
days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the
stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And
then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the
tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the
clouds of heaven with power and great glory. - Matthew 24:28, 29
This was hardly fulfilled historically.
Tortuous attempts to allegorize this text just don’t work. The worst is yet to
come. It has been estimated that the Nazi Holocaust killed one Jew in three; it
appears the next one will take two out of three:
Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and
against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd,
and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little
ones. And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts
therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I
will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is
refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I
will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my
God. - Zechariah 13:7-9
The Purpose of the
Great Tribulation
The purpose of this ordeal, the “Time of
Jacob’s Trouble,” is to drive Israel en extremis, to return to God: “I
will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my
face: in their affliction they will seek me earnestly (Hosea
5:15). Interesting Old Testament passage: God says, “I will go and return to
my place…” To return, He must have left it! Watch those “until’s” in the text:
they often denote significant milestones. The term offence is singular
and specific. Apparently, a prerequisite condition for the Second Coming of
Christ is for Israel to acknowledge her Messiah and to petition His return.
(This would help explain why Satan continues to be so intensely committed to the
Jews’ destruction.)
The Armageddon Campaign
And he gathered them together into a place
called in the He-brew tongue Armageddon. - Revelation 16:16
The engagement involves a global confederacy
led by the coming world leader. The campaign includes the following stages:
-
The Assembly of the Army (Rev
16:12-16): The Valley of Jezreel is the staging area for the armies
coming against Jerusalem and, thus, against God the Father and His Messiah.
God’s viewpoint is one of mockery (Joel
3:9-11;
Ps 2:1-6). This is the “Day of Vengeance” (Isa
61:2).
-
The Fall of Jerusalem (Zech
12:1-9;
14:1-2;
Micah 4:11-5:1). More than half the city will be taken into slavery by
the Gentile forces from the Valley of Jezreel.
-
The Armies at Bozrah (Jer
49:13-14;
Micah 2:12): The world army pursues a faithful remnant, which fled to
the mountains of Edom in Jordan.
Bozrah (“Sheepfold”):
Bozrah is pinpointed, which was located in the region of Mount Seir, on the
western side of Edom in southern Jordan (Micah 2:12). An ancient sheepfold
had a narrow entrance so that the shepherd could count his sheep, and, once
inside, he could guard a single entrance to contain them. (Cf. “I am the
door,” John
10). Sela, now Petra, fits the description, shaped like an ancient
sheepfold, with a narrow passageway (the “Siq”) opening up to a spacious
city surrounded by cliffs.
-
The National Regeneration of Israel:
Israel’s required confession (Lev 26:40-42; Jer 3:11-18; Hos 5:15) and
pe-titioning the Messiah (Zech 12:10) inaugurates the final three days of
the campaign with pleading and petition (Hos 6:1-3; Isa 53:1-9), fulfilling
Romans 11:25-27 (see also Zech 12:10-13:9; Joel 2:28-32; Isa 64:1-12; Ezek
20:33f; Ps 79:1-13; 80:1-19). When the faithful remnant petitions Jesus to
return, He comes to rescue them.
-
The Second Coming of Christ
(Isa 63:1-6): If this battle wasn’t stopped, all mankind would be destroyed;
however, the Lord interrupts it, at Petra in Edom, fighting for His remnant
of believers. He is described as covered with the blood of His enemies.
(Note: His armies are not re-quired in the fighting.)
-
From Bozrah to the Valley of Jehoshaphat
(Isa 63:1-4; Rev 19:13; Isa 34:5-6, 8). The Antichrist is powerless be-fore
Christ (Hab 3:13; 2 Thess 2:8; Isa 14:3-11, 16-21). His armies are destroyed
(Zech 14:12-15; Joel 3:12-13) at Bozrah (Jer 49:20-22), then Megiddo. Bozrah
to Megiddo is 176 miles; 1,600 furlongs (Rev 14:20).
-
The Victory Ascent upon the Mount of
Olives: (Zech 14:3-4; Rev 16:17-21; Mt 24:29; Joel 3:14-17.) His
ultimate victorious return to the Mount of Olives is described in Zechariah
14. That leads to the establishment of the Lord’s Millennial Kingdom on the
Earth. Many experts believe the weapons that will be used at Armageddon are
in inventory today.
Role and Placement of Ezekiel 38
However, we hold the view (which is disputed
by reputable Bible scholars) that Ezekiel 38 is not part of Armageddon
scenario:
- In Ezekiel, the invasion comes from the
north; Armageddon, from the whole earth;
- Definite armies from the north (Magog);
not all nations of the world;
- Egypt not involved (cf. “King of the
South” in Dan 11:40);
- Russia’s invasion is for spoil;
Armageddon, to destroy the Jews;
- Seven-month cleanup inconsistent with
Israel’s flight;
- Cleansing may be preparation for
rebuilding the Temple;
- Seven years’ energy requirement would
carry into the Millennium. (See The Magog Invasion for further
study.)
