The Days of Noah and the coming Jewish Holocaust
In an article by Dave Hunt downloaded from Midnight Call Ministries, he states the folowing
The world is pressuring Israel to give more land to the Palestinian Authority, which has not kept one article in the Oslo Accord and violates everything. Nevertheless, somehow the delusion will lead to a guarantee by the Antichrist. I think I can tell you how he is going to be revealed. They are going to come to the point at which they think they have peace and safety. The Bible says of the Antichrist in Daniel 8:25 that "...by peace, [he] shall destroy many."
Some may disagree, but I believe the event described in Matthew 24 and Luke 17 is the Rapture. I don't think that these passages can be speaking about anything else, because they describe the day when the Son of man is revealed to His own, not to the world. It certainly can't be the Great Tribulation. The Bible says in Matthew 24:37, "But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."
Similarly, we read in Luke 17:28, "Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded." It was a time of prosperity; it was a time of ease; it was a time of security; the last thing that they expected was judgment. I believe we are progressing to the point at which men will think they can solve their problems through their humanistic means.
Now before I begin, let me just say that I admire and respect Dave Hunt's ministry and I have no "axe to grind" as they say. The problem I have is I feel that he is in error on a small point about the Rapture. But to me is a large error that should be corrected. I do not wish there to be any errors concerning our Blessed Hope the Rapture by those that I feel are in leadership positions. So let us begin.
"Some may disagree, but I believe the event described in Matthew 24 and Luke 17 is the Rapture. I don't think that these passages can be speaking about anything else, because they describe the day when the Son of man is revealed to His own, not to the world. It certainly can't be the Great Tribulation. The Bible says in Matthew 24:37, "But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."
Notice what
Eph 3:4-6 has to say,.
"Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel."
The Church was a mystery that was never revealed before until the time of the Apostles. It was revealed by the Apostles and not Jesus to the disciples. Jesus was preaching the coming of the millennium kingdom to Israel. He was not preaching the Rapture of the Church to Israel, because for one thing, the Church did not even exist at the point in time.
Dave Hunt continues by saying, "Similarly, we read in Luke 17:28, "Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded." It was a time of prosperity; it was a time of ease; it was a time of security; the last thing that they expected was judgment. I believe we are progressing to the point at which men will think they can solve their problems through their humanistic means."
This is a common mistake made by many, so let's take a look at Luke 17.
Luke 17:26-37
"And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot's wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together."
So we can see here that Israel will be at peace before the destruction comes upon her. Paul states that when they say "peace and safety," then sudden destruction shall come upon them. For 3 1/2 years the antichrist will protect Israel from the ravages of war that will be breaking out all over the world at the start of the tribulation.
"And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet." Matt 24:6
Notice that Jesus says that the Jews will only hear about war, it does not say that they will be involved. Again I say that they will be protected from war by the so called man of peace known to us as the antichrist. This is why Israel will see him as their Messiah. Now back to the gospel of Luke.
"Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot's wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it."
This will take place right after the antichrist sits in the temple to announce to the world that he is not a god, but rather the only God. It's then sudden destruction will come upon Israel like a snare, in fact as the Lord says that they will not even have time to come down from the roof tops. That is how sift the holocaust will come!
"And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them." Rom 11:9
"Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished." Isa 13:16
It is at this point that I feel the armies of Russia will attack because of the antichrist claiming to be god of the world. My speculation is that at that point Russia will attack with such swiftness that the antichrist will be taken by surprised. In fact in this war he will be killed as they sweep into to the middle east with lightning speed.
"Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it?
And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army:
And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them?
And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face." Ezek 38:14-18
Notice that the attack comes when Israel is at peace. It's then when Russia will come swiftly into the Holy Land and pass through. The only way that this can be possible is if the antichrist, the protector of Israel, is killed.
Dan 11:40-44
"And at the end time the king of the South will collide with him, and the king of the North will storm against him with chariots, with horsemen, and with many ships; and he will enter countries, overflow {them,} and pass through. He will also enter the Beautiful Land, and many {countries} will fall; but these will be rescued out of his hand: Edom, Moab and the foremost of the sons of Ammon.
Then he will stretch out his hand against {other} countries, and the land of Egypt will not escape.
But he will gain control over the hidden treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; and Libyans and Ethiopians {will follow} at his heels.
But rumors from the East and from the North will disturb him, and he will go forth with great wrath to destroy and annihilate many."
(NAS)
Notice the order here and how Ethiopia is mentioned last. I would appear that as Gog sweeps over the land to plunder it all, his place of rest will be in Ethiopia. Drunk with victory he will drink and dance till "rumors from the East and from the North will disturb him." Mow what could those rumours be? I imagine would be that the Asians our now getting ready to war. So what about the North. If you are in Ethiopia as I feel the Russian leader will be, a country that would be directly north of you would is Israel. Now what news could come out of Israel that would disturb him?
What I believe is that he will begin to hear verified reports that the antichrist has now risen from the dead and is gathering his armies together! If this is the case, no wonder the Russian leader will "go forth with great wrath to destroy and annihilate many." Knowing that he is finished, he will go out like a rabid dog ripping and tearing everything in his path.
At this point God himself will come against Russia and destroy her." And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD. Ezek 39:6
At this point many will leap for joy, "And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?" Rev 13:4
Now that the beast has risen from the dead and proved to the world that he is the God, could it be that the fire God rains down on Russia could be seen as a major sign that the antichrist is God, (not "a" god)?
"And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men." Rev 13:11-13
So now back to the subject at hand. Luke 17 is not the Rapture of the Church but the time of a great Jewish holocaust against the land of Israel. As I have stated, the world will be at war and for the first 3 1/2 years, Israel will be protected from it and this will be seen as a time of peace in Israel. But, "...as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all." Luke 17:26-37
The message to Israel by Jesus is very clear. Israel is not to be asleep at this time but to be watching, and to be ready. For the ones that are not spiritually awake and do not run, they will be cut down. Verse 30-33
"Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.
Remember Lot's wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it."
At this midpoint in the Tribulation, Israel is warned to not to be softened by the new peace in their land believing that it will last a 1000 years. No. Jesus warns them to be watchful. To be sober and waiting for the time of great persecution to the Jews is coming. Like lighting Russia will swoop down upon them like a great bird of prey. Then after this the beast will come against them like never before in the history of mankind.
"For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces." Zech 11:16
"I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together." To those who do not flee, they will be destroyed.
This is as I say not the Rapture of the Church but the coming holocaust against the Jews. It may be that this may also be a picture of the Rapture, but nothing more than that. We see that it is night time for the two men and daytime for the two women in the field. As we all know, there are different time zones around the world, and this seems to allude to the gentile nations and this could allude to Rapture. But this would only be a shadow meaning and not the main meaning which was a warning to Israel.
Please have you and your local Church pray very hard for Israel.Pray that more and more Jews come to the saving knowledge of Christ and become a part of the Chruch.
As for us the Church we must always,
"...wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come." 1Thes 1:10
Richard Vizzutti