Recap Overview
To recap: the entire Tribulation period, according to the traditional belief as based on Daniel’s “seven”, is a span of seven years (see prior blog references). Several things occurred in the first half—which is 42 months or 1260 days. God sealed and protected a remnant 144,000 people who escaped to the wilderness. This period also saw the coming of the Two Witnesses (see prior blogs), among Revelation’s Trumpets and Woes (plagues).
Interestingly, as pointed out in a prior blog, true Prophecy becomes historic, and then oftentimes lives on to be compared to and enlighten End Times material. The Book of Ezekiel is much like John’s Revelation, as related in previous blogs. He saw the appearance of the Lord’s Glory (Eze. 1:28), and mentions woes. Like John, Ezekiel was called to witness (Eze. 2:4,7,9-10); he ate a scroll like John (Eze. 3:3; Rev. 10:10), and that was before the Witnesses came & arose. He even said some Exiles came to the River Kebar (Eze. 3::14-15). They might be compared the Zion’s protected remnant!
Now, among the trumpets & woes also came many “locusts”, the Beast, the Dragon (Satan), and the False Prophet. Once these “fallen stars” were imprisoned on earth (as even the Book of Enoch suggests), Jerusalem and the world became their sole playground. The False Prophet came in peacefully, and made “a covenant for seven” (as Daniel said). He “spoke as a dragon” (Satan) but had the horns of an innocent “lamb”. The false Prophet is the anti-Messiah; and is ruling the world from Jerusalem. Ezekiel may have seen this event as “the siege of Jerusalem” (Eze.4:7); and perhaps later as, “The city has fallen!” (Eze. 33:21).
Since The False Prophet took the sacrifice away, (although it does not say blood sacrifice) it is possible that a Temple had been constructed in Jerusalem during a time of peace. Daniel the abomination was set “in the midst of the seven” when the daily sacrifice was removed, which is an implied 1260 day point (of seven years). Later, Daniels calls the same event “1290 day”, (which might imply a pre-tribulation of 1 month). In any case, it is only 45 days from those events to (the time comparing to Revelation’s False prophet martyring those who did not worship as he said). Indeed, Ezekiel says, “God marked” those who lamented over the idolatry (Eze. 9:4). Revelation says the people who “held to the testimony of Jesus”, were slain (as martyrs, they received a martyrs reward from God). Indeed, as Jesus referenced, using Daniel’s 1290 & 1335 days, time for the elite’s sake was “cut short” (also see prior blog).
From Daniel’s 1335 point, to the end of the (traditional) “seven” leaves a highly implied 40 and one-half months until the Battle of Armageddon. The number 40 will be seen shortly as a VERY important detail, comparable to one Dead Sea Scroll of the End Times. Scriptures are clear that Judgment will come upon Edom, Moab, Ammon (the ones allied with the False Prophet and Beast, reigning under the power of Satan, as the Unholy Trio); but the whole world will be involved (Rev. 21:1; Isaiah chap.14-29; Ezekiel chap. 25-36; Zephaniah, Dead Sea scroll 4Q385, etc.). Jerusalem appears to be the center of the conflict. Zion was safely hidden, and Christians martyred, so the exposed world’s operating systems represented pure evil—just as in the Days of Noah. Even some believers took the mark of the Beast, being deceived , they were found to be weak during hard times and compromised their faith—only “to be tried as gold”, for soon the Wraths of God would come upon the World.
Ezekiel says the Wraths condemned false prophets, idolaters, and Jerusalem’s unfaithful (Eze. Chs 13, 14, 15). There ruled the Unholy alliance: Satan (the Dragon), who powered The Beast and The False Prophet.
The First Five Bowls of Wrath
The first bowl of wrath caused painful sores upon people. The second wrath destroyed the seas and things within them. The third wrath destroyed other waters of the world. The fourth wrath made the sun “scorch people with fire; yet they still refused to repent and glorify him” (Rev. 16:1–9). The fifth bowl of wrath plunged the throne of the Beast into darkness.
Comparatively, the Dead Sea Scroll 4Q440 speaks of “three ages of darkness”, and the last age could be this one. Two ages (or realms) of darkness are logical: Genesis (ch.1), when Light (Good) was separated from Darkness (Evil). The next age of darkness occurred in the Days of Noah, when only eight righteous souls carried the “light” of truth; the rest of the earth was filled with “darkness” (Gen. 6:11-13). Darkness relates to not having the knowledge of God.
Parables abound of the “blind” or those in “darkness.” Such was this End Time, as described in Amos 12:11-12. The Qur’an says people are “left in darkness” when (God) takes away His Light (2:17). In this case, the 144,000 were safely hidden, and the others were “caught up to meet him in the air”—in essence, no light remained to shine on the people. There were no “representatives” of God’s Word; so a spiritual famine struck the world (Amos 8:11; Ez. 4:16).
The knowledge of God is Light. King David wrote, “Your Word is a Light unto my path.” Micah said, “The Lord will be my light…I will see his righteousness” (Micah 7:9). John said, “God is Light; in Him is no darkness at all” (1John 1:5). Jesus said “while I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 11:9-10).
The third instance of “the age of darkness” seems to be this second half of the Tribulation period, as the Unholy trio reigns. People who followed him had been deceived; the people were “blinded”. The deceived world was in partial darkness; while the throne of Beast was in total “darkness”.
The Beast is referenced, along with his source of power (Satan), and the other Beast as being “Belial” in a Dead Sea scroll. The scroll also references the Book of Isaiah: “When the total years of this age are complete…(is) the age when Belial (Evil) is unrestrained in Israel, just as God said by the prophet Isaiah…” (Isa. 24:17; Damascus Document). T
he writers of the Dead Sea Scrolls, are “the Yahad” but also called the “sons of Light”. The Dead Sea Scrolls speak often of the “Sons of Darkness” as “those of Belial” and seemingly refer to the evil world-fillers as “the Kittim”. The scrolls are quite specific about the End Times battles between the “Sons of Light” and the “Sons of Darkness”.
The Sons of Darkness
The “Sons of Darkness” are “the Kittim” of the earth. They are counted among the demonic evil forces “those of Belial”. In the Dead Sea Scroll commentary on Habakkuk, it says the Kittim in the End are the Chaldeans (Babylonians) “who have no faith in God’s Laws”. Scripture and the Dead Sea Scrolls also speak of “the Kittim of Assyria”, which is clearly not of Chaldea. Although different, the Kittim had as one chief commander: Satan (Revelation’s “Dragon”).
Satan is the power behind the Beast and False Prophet, so they are the Unholy Trio who dominate the world in the End. His chief associates, the The Beast and False Prophet, belong to an exclusive category “companions of Satan”. They all came up from the abyss (as did the “locusts”); while the Kittim seem to be humans that are simply deceived, and thus influenced by evil and led by Satan. They existed throughout history. Even some people who call themselves “believers” are part of the Kittim and are “the sons of Darkness”.
Daniel says the “ships of the Kittim will come against the king of the North” (Dan. 11:28-30, 40). Daniel depicts one faction of them coming against the last King of the North, which is the “False-Prophet/Wicked-Priest/anti-Christ” (reference an earlier blog). The English translation of Daniel simply reads: “Kittim ships of the western coastland oppose him”. Both translations agree historically, as the (original) Kittim were a naval force from the Mediterranean Sea, who settled along the coast of the Great Sea and spread out from there.
The Kittim had a reputation for being powerful forces, thus demonized by civilizations, and known mostly known as “the sea peoples”. Their first mention is in Genesis as descendants of Magog, son of Javan, son of Japheth, son of Noah (Gen. 10:1-4). (Magog is mentioned in Revelation 20, and is associated with Gog—forces gathered by Satan himself after he was bound for 1000 years during the Millennial Reign.) Of Noah’s sons: Japheth’s clan went north and west, while Ham’s went into Africa and Canaan, and Shem’s stayed in and around the Fertile Crescent region. In the End, the world-wide “Kittim”, although somewhat different, are under on king (Satan) and living within all of the locations of those original clans (Num. 24:24; Isa. 23:1,12; Jer. 2:10; Eze. 27).
The Kittim are counted among the “forces of Belial”—yet, in the case of Daniel, only the Kittim of the West seem to challenge the False Prophet. They were either not fully aligned with the Unholy Trio reigning in Jerusalem, or simply too proud. This seems a simple case of pride and “a house divided”. Solomon says “pride comes before a fall” and Jesus said “a house divided will not stand”. Maybe these are the wars and rumors of wars, and there is infighting in this era before the “Sons of Light” battle?
The Book of Enoch, simply says of the Kittim: they march forth upon the earth with the intent of evil (see previous blogs). Revelation says, when “the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the River Euphrates it dried up, preparing the way for the kings of the East” (Rev. 16:12). So, between the King of the North (Satan), the Kittim of the West, and the kings of the East seem to be of three directions of the four existing on Earth. Only the South is missing. Since these are prophetic writings, are these literal or symbolic directions?
Directions of the Universe
We know from prophecy that nations from all directions of the Earth receive judgment. So…Is there more to the prophetic direction “kings of the East” than meets the eye and matches this knowledge? What is the key to solving the mystery of the many directions of the Kittim; and the kings of the North who Daniel depicts as the last of the world “rulers”. Something might be missing, and perhaps it involves prophetic language. Oftentimes we need to look past our human concepts, and in this instance it concerns directions.
The ancient Egyptian text called the Prophecy of Neferohu, and a few ancient Babylonian texts, have repeated mentions of directions that sometimes do not fit their context; but rather the End Times! The similarities are overwhelming; and it is hard not to imagine that most ancient civilizations knew of the End—perhaps through the Holy Spirit of God, or through the earliest prophetic writings like Enoch. Josephus even said the ancients had the writings of Adam and Seth, which specified two world destructions: one by Water and one by Fire; but they knew not which would come first (reference a prior blog).
Enoch lived before the Flood; and his basic knowledge of God carried through Noah and his family (the only survivors of the Flood). But, within a few centuries came the separations of peoples under tribes and languages. So, while Enoch’s writings may have lived on in oral tradition of other nations, within time theirs may have decreased in purity—all except the Hebrews.
Generally, ancient texts about the North and South speak of very powerful forces, while the West and East frequently relate back to death or life. The Book of Enoch seems to unlock something of those directions when he inserted an odd section containing descriptions. It is quite possible his writings influenced the ancient texts. Yet, to my knowledge, no one has noticed the often odd directional “phenomenon” occurring within ancient texts.
Enoch divided the heavens (the universal realms) into what all humans can relate to: the four directions. I envision an Orange cut into quarters, and each quarter has a “direction” with different planes that were/are adjoining. Enoch quite clearly calls “South, the place of The Holy One’s Throne”—(and he was not speaking of an earthly king). Perhaps for prophetic writings about the End Times, we might do well in thinking outside of earthly terms and align them with Enoch’s (implied) universal terms.
For instance, Egypt’s ancient people believed Pharaoh was the stronger force and he dwelt in the south; so to read the Prophecy of Neferohu as prophetic, south is symbolic of the supreme ruler: God. Interestingly, the ancient Egyptians also have symbolism related to Enoch’s West. Enoch says of the West, “there, all the stars (spirits) go, hundreds upon thousands”. Ancient Egyptians believed “the west is the dwelling of the Righteous” and they buried their dead to the West of their cities. What if the ancient Egyptians, obsessed with the afterlife, used the Book of Enoch to relate many texts in that prophetic code of South and West?
Do Enoch’s “universal directions” also hold meaning for our writings? What of the “kings of the East” in Daniel? When Enoch speaks of the East he refers to purely earthy things: “heat, drought, destruction, etc.” Could Enoch’s Universal East be: “the Earth/ of the Earth/ one having Life”? That definitely fits the Kings who “come from the East”; they might be the Kittim; the “earthly, world-wide, evil forces” coming for the End Time Battle(s).
Enoch gives yet another clue that East might be Earth: “from (the East) the vessels arise to the heavens.” Indeed, since the human body has been called the “Earthly Vessel”, their souls do arise—some to everlasting life, others to everlasting fire. Enoch’s use of the word “vessel” even relates back to the ancient Egyptians who built “death” vessels, called “solar boats”. Those “vessel” scenes are painted in ancient tombs as the deceased “rides them into the heavens”.
Can we then assume that Enoch gave us a prophetic code by describing the universal directions: “East” is the place of earthly things (Life on Earth); the South is the Throne of the Almighty (In the Holy of Holies); and the West is “the abode of the Righteous” (in Heaven). By process of elimination the only direction that remains is the one that relates heavily to Daniel’s End Time “Kings of “North”.
Enoch’s Universal North might allude to “the dwelling place of the unRighteous”—the only place that remains theologically is hades, hell, the Abyss—the throne of Satan. Scripture tells us, that those up from the abyss gather the kings of the earth for battle with the Lord. They had come from the abyss (Hell/hades); Enoch’s North.
Enoch also says: “it is called the North because there all the ships GATHER and make their circuits, traveling to the eastern heavens”. Recall from Scripture instances that the Evil angels (Satan, demons, and the Nephalim: “fallen stars”) had access to earth. They were able to return to the abyss and come back to earth even after the Flood (Genesis 6:4; 11). Is this what Enoch meant as their “circuits”?
Testing The Theory
Other ancient texts which contain directions, seem to confirm Scripture’s details of the End Times—but only when unlocked by the code within Enoch’s (implied) prophetic universal directions. Since Adam lived 930 years and Methuselah lived 969 years; and in between them existed Enoch, maybe the ancients knew much of what has been revealed to us, but they used different terms?
Cultures far removed from each other still carry many different versions of the flood, but use culture specific names for Noah. The directional theory as compared to the End Times can be seen from the Egyptian’s Prophecy of Neferohu. As shown in previous blogs, if a prophecy is true it becomes historic (that one did); then, if historic, the Word can live on and match End Times details—using prophetic terms.
Egyptologists say this writing was predicting Prince AMENI who was from the South, “arose” to oppose the Northern king; to eventually rule in his stead as Amenemhet. In Enoch’s terms, it is like saying “The Holy One, Prince of the South, opposes Satan, the King of the North”. Interestingly, Messiah Jesus, is identified in Revelation 1:18 as “the AMEN” which is to say “It is so; Word of God”. Since Messiah is known to be “at the Right Hand of God”; he is at the Throne—Enoch’s prophetic Universal South. The Gospels confirm he “arose”; and we know he will descend to Earth again to fight and overcome the forces of evil. He will oppose the “King of the North” and his forces “the sons of darkness”.
The warriors were the “Kittim of the Earth” and they were led by the “fallen ones/Nephalim” up from the abyss. This battle in the Prophecy of Neferohu reads much like Revelation’s End Time Battle, which ends when Messiah reigns eternally as the King of Kings; Prince of Peace (Rev. 19:11-15; Isaiah 9:7; Psalm 110:1).
More texts need to be examined before we can assume, despite the time of “Babel” when the single language and culture split into many, that some basic theological truths carried forward, including some details of the End Time Destruction. However, the evil Kittim of the earth, watered down and warped the Truth of God; over time the original concept of the One God: One with several traits was incorporated into many gods representing those traits—and each had a name.
It is possible that Egypt’s once pure concept of “Amen” became “Amon the god of Thebes”—one among many they worshipped. And Scripture says Amon idolatry will receive judgment (Jer. 46:25). When the pharaoh Akh-en-Aten (once called Amen-Hotep) rid polytheism to worship one god, he called him “Aten”. He presented him as male, the Creator of all things. He depicted him as the Sun disk, with long arms lovingly extending hands towards his creation. Since Akhenaten was born a mere 40 years after the Exodus, he may have understood much of the original concept (although using a different title)—from those who knew of Moses!
But to run further with this theory of cross-cultural knowledge of Enoch’s Universal Directions, it must pass the test of the Gospels—where it is merely implied.
According to the story in Luke, Jesus depicted the righteous as being able to see into Hades, yet unable to reach them “for there was set a great chasm fixed between the two areas” (Luke 16:22-24). Indeed, if picturing the universal directions as a quartered sphere, broken apart, those in the West are separate; but run parallel to the North. And since God separated that “light” from “dark” on day one of creation (Gen. 1), obviously a chasm exists between them. No other chasm exists between the other “realm/quarters” than that one, from Scripture implications.
Also in Luke’s parable, someone in Hades (i.e. the north) asks Abraham in Heaven (i.e. the west) to warn his family on Earth (i.e. the east). These three directions obviously imply separate realms. And between each section are either broad surfaces of the quartered sections, or narrow points. For instance: the East adjoined along a broad surface of the North (hades). This is a the broad way (Matt. 7:13-14). The West (Paradise of the Righteous; heaven) adjoins the Eastern surface only at the point; narrowly. It is the narrow Way.
Additionally, it is hard not to notice the implications of people on Earth (East), sandwiched between the Throne of Satan and the Throne of God! Many people during the course of world history have chosen Darkness over Light—including the troops of Kittim, “The Sons of Darkness.” Furthermore, hades/hell (the North) is Satan’s Throne; and is directly opposite (in opposition to God’s Throne (South). As the dissected sphere shows, only a very select few “fallen angels” were allowed to approach the Throne throughout history. Meanwhile, the souls of the West (and angels) are broadly connected to the South.
Enoch’s Universal directions theoretically fit Scriptures, prophecies and other ancient texts.
The Sixth Wrath: Evil Three-Fold
Satan and his evil followers were imprisoned on Earth to complete their “appointed mission” and bring the world to its End. And they did as they have done throughout history: enticing sin in the world, they thereby perpetuated a dangerous and increasingly chaotic world. In the End, many “nominal believers” took the mark; and so the operating world was purely evil and anti-God’s Word.
The Gospels say people in the End will be “lovers of themselves; lovers of money; boastful; full of pride; abusive; ungrateful; unholy; disobedient to parents; without love; unforgiving; slanderous; without self-control; brutal; treacherous; rash; conceited; lovers of pleasure and not God; having the form of godliness but denying its power…of depraved minds…although they claim to be wise, they became fools; and their foolish hearts were darkened…forsaking the natural, their men (and women) exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones” (2 Tim 3:2; Rom. 1:21-27).
When the Sixth Wrath of God is poured out upon the world, it is justice being served, for He had been very patient.
In Revelation there is a change in tone with this Wrath: “Then I saw three evil spirits proceeding from the mouths of the Dragon, the Beast and the False-Prophet” (Rev. 16:13-16). In essence the three most evil now numbered twelve! Using Arithmalogues (see prior blogs), it confirms (3×3) is evil three-fold (9). Those (9) Evil Spirits, plus the Unholy Trio (3) reigning in Jerusalem adds up to 12. That 12 can be further deduced to 6×2 which also agrees with the text. 6 means “the nature of” something (x2) the “spoken or written word”. If used in a positive sense (2) can be seen from Scripture in: “the two tablets of Law”; a “two-edged sword”, etc. In fact, (2) is used repeatedly in the measurement of the Ark of the Covenant: “the Word of God”; and for other items regarding the worship of God (Ex. 25-31:18; et.al). However, since this is a known evil regime, (2) must be used in the negative, therefore it means “the nature of it is opposite the Word-of-God”. The Word of God is Truth, but these are Liars. This rendering especially fits what is known of the Unholy Trio: the Dragon (Deceiver/anti-truth), the Beast (Liar/anti-truth), and the False-Prophet (Wicked Priest, Anti-Christ, thus anti-WORD of God) is one who “spoke like a dragon” (anti-truth). Indeed, the “evil nature of” (6) the world in the End Days has an atmosphere that is purely Anti-God’s Word (2).
With this Wrath, the anti-Word is three-fold plus those from whom they came (=12). Since (12) means “congregation” and this is a known evil regime, 12 is used in a negative sense—confirming, as we know: a purely evil congregation! During the second half of the Tribulation period, portions of anti-Word will fight other evil—but the most known is “the Sons of Darkness” facing off with “the Sons of Light”.
As a side note, one Islamic belief depicts an End Time battle fought on the plains in Syria; which is why the Islamic State targeted that area and tried to “bring together the world powers to facilitate the End”. However, that area seems just one of the many battles that are fought in the End Times, according to scriptures speaking of “wars and rumors of wars”. In addition are the Dead Sea Scrolls, which tell of a series of battles. These will eventually culminate in the Battle of Armageddon and annihilate evil.
The world system during the End seems to be possibly a conglomerate, thus “Mystery Babylon” (see a previous blog). However, though more study (and especially since it says the “city fell”) it might be unfaithful Jerusalem, which had been overtaken in the End by the Beast of the Earth (False Prophet) and the first Beast (see prior blogs). It was she “who killed the prophets” and “got drunk on the blood of the saints”. She rode upon the Beast—who had ten horns (kings) that it controlled. These kings hated her, although for a while she rode it; but she (and they) will come to an end!
Just Judgements
Judgment came riding in on a horse; the one riding is the “Word of God. And he was followed by the armies of heaven”. He was called “Faithful and True” (Rev. 19:11). “With justice he judges and makes war. He has a new name on him which no one knows, but he…He is dressed with a robe dipped in blood and his name is the Word of God…He treads the wine-press in the fury of the Wrath of God…He will rule them with an iron scepter” (Rev. 19:14-15).
Speaking of a scepter, note the scepter of the male child, whom the woman (Zion) gave birth to while being pursued by Satan, the Dragon (Rev. 12:5). Messiah is the unique child of Zion. That same scepter of the Messiah is also referenced in many Messianic verses; such as: Gen. 49:10, Num. 24:17; etc. Ezekiel says “the scepter of my son Judah” (Ez. 21:8, 13). The Messiah Jesus was of the line of Judah.
Messiah is often depicted in Scriptures as a king and warrior—in that, as the Dead Sea Scroll writers say, he is “The Messiah of David”. King David prophetically wrote: “In your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness; let your right hand display awesome deeds…your throne, O God, will last forever” (Psalms 45:4-6). Furthermore, in David’s 110th Psalm, a specific phrase is used to reference the Messiah: “The Right Hand of God”. David wrote, “The Lord said to my Lord, sit thou at My Right Hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” At the “Right Hand” means he is in the place of honor. “The Lord is at your Right Hand; he will judge the nations and crush the kings on the day of his wrath”. David also references his scepter: “The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion…” (Psalm 110). This says he comes to Zion.
Apparently he will cleanse the temple, as Jesus once did—only this time, completely (John 2:13-19). When Mathew told of Jesus’ words about the end in chapter 24, he preceded it with a chapter containing seven “woes”—directed from Jesus to hypocritical “teachers of the Law”. It is hard not to relate this to the Anti-God’s Word of the End. That chapter even ends with the warning that the Temple will be destroyed, yet he references Psalm 118:26 “Baruch ha-ba b’Shem ADONAI. Blessed is he that comes in the name off the LORD.” Ezekiel’s book also mentions judgment upon the idolatry in Temple.
It fact, Ezekiel’s book seems to follow Revelation chronologically, while also delineating a prophetic word for his own era. Judgment comes upon the idolatry in Temple before any other judgments brought forth. So, will judgment first come upon Jerusalem’s idolatry in the End Time, also? Ezekiel was quite specific of what he saw of the idolatry in the Temple: “this idol of jealousy”…”incense rising”…”(even) the elders of the house of Israel”…”detestable”…” 25 men with their backs toward the temple, their faces to the East, bowing down to the sun in the East”…”House of Judah putting the branch to the nose!…This is no trivial matter therefore I will deal with them.” (Ez. 8:4-18).
Indeed, the world was darkened, and Wrath had thrown the throne of the Beast (False-Prophet) into total darkness. That throne was upon the Mount in Jerusalem where the idol (the First Beast) was set. Across from the Mount is the Mount of Olives. Zechariah says Messiah will stand upon the Mount of Olives, and half of it will break to the north, while the other half to the south—in a day unique, no light, no snow, no frost, without daytime or nighttime—a day known only to the Lord. “Then when nighttime comes, there will be light” (Zech. 14:4-6).
Indeed, as Messiah Jesus descends to bring judgments there will once again be light in this darkened world. Recall he once said “while I am in the world, I am the Light of the World.” Ezekiel said of him, the one who brought the Judgments, “I looked and saw a figure like a man…his appearance glowing as bright as metal…and he showed me the idol that provokes to jealousy. And there before me was the Glory of the God of Israel. He said to me: ‘Look!’ (At the idolatry)” (Ez. 8:2).
In Ezekiel’s ninth chapter he tells of the wrath brought upon the idolatry there, and then says the Glory of the Lord departed from the Temple (Chapters 9 & 10). Where does he go? He departs to battle. Oddly, Ezekiel said, “I have assigned 40 days, a day for each year” (Ez. 4:6). Are these “40 days of years”? Are they “days, years, or even months”? Written between the lines of all these items known from prophecy of the End, brings to mind the Dead Sea Scroll’s War Scroll—especially the number 40.
Forty Days, of Years, of Months
The War Scroll allots 40 years for a series of battles—but perhaps that is prophetic language and should read “40 months of years”. Likewise, the above reference of Ezekiel could be “40 days of years of months”. If so, it falls within range of the 42 allotted months of the second half of the Tribulation—the time in which the Judgments come.
Recall that 40 and one-half months remained, of the 42 months. This is the span of time after the 1335 day mark, when ones called “blessed” (Revelation’s patient ones, holding “to the testimony of Jesus)” received a martyrs rewards and “went to meet their Lord”. In Daniel, that 1335 day point is 45 days after the abomination was placed at “1290 days”. Elsewhere Daniel calculated it differently and said it was “in the midst of the seven”—1260 days, which assumes the 7 years total to reach Armageddon’s battle. Both calculations are correct; but it is his 1335 day point comment that gives the best reference for “time being cut short” for the elect: a month and one-half into the second half of the Tribulation; leaving a highly implied 40 and one-half months until the Battle of Armageddon.
Before delving into the remaining 40 and one-half months, let’s address the possible one-half month first. Early in Revelation, John mentions the scroll with seven seals which only the “Lamb” was worthy to open. The sixth seal’s earthquake is most probably the time of the earthquake when the Two Witnesses came back to life and arose; and the placement of the abominable idol which created “darkness” causing some to mourn in sackcloth (Rev. 6:12; 11:11-13). Therefore the seventh happened afterwards—perhaps our missing one-half.
The seventh seal is an interesting seal (of events). “When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about one-half an hour’ (Rev. 8:1). Afterwards an angel hurled fire upon earth and an earthquake, among other things (Rev. 8:5). If that is the earth quake that occurs when the city breaks apart, following Armageddon, then the “half an hour” could be symbolic language of the missing half a month (Rev. 16:17-21).
So it might take 45 days from the last martyr to die to reach the 1335 day point; added to these 15 days, means that 2 months of the 42 have been accounted for. 40 months remain until Armageddon. This is the period of time for the Bowls of God’s Wrath to occur, during the second portion of the Tribulation period.
Now, the War Scroll designates a series of wars led by the Lord, which total “40 years”. In sum total these seem a very close parallel to the 40 months remaining of the Tribulation period. Since “hours” can be “months” and days” can be “years” in prophetic language, might not “years” be “months” (and Ezekiel’s “40 days, a day for each year”). Ezekiel continues: “Turn your face towards the siege of Jerusalem” (Ez.4:6-7).
Since his prophecy also culminates in the Lord reigning—may be Revelation and the Dead Sea War Scroll, relate also. If so, may we try reading the War Scroll in this way to gain more coherency and consistency by applying scripture?
The War Scroll
The War Scroll delineates a series of wars that are fought in the End Times. A certain portion of the evil ones, “The Kittim of Assyria” are allies with “the ENEMIES of Edom, Moab, Ammon and Philistia”. Recall that Edom, Moab and Ammon are allied with the Unholy Trio; and that is where the 144,000 “sealed-by-God” people might be hiding.
One Dead Sea scroll says this, “Those who enter into the Yahad [“sons of Light”] should not backslide because of fear, terror (of) death or persecution that may occur in the time of Belial’s dominion” (Charter of the Association of the Yahad). Perhaps the hidden “Zion” are the new “Yahad”, as the Qumran community who left behind these Scrolls were called Yahad. They were also called “the Sons of Light”, whom we know will face off with the “sons of Darkness” in the End.
The War scroll says one faction of the sons of Darkness are also allied with “Jews who ignored the Message of the Yahad” (War Scroll). The first battle described is against “Edom, Moab, the sons of Ammon, the Amalekites, Philistia, and “those who broke the Covenant”. Interestingly, Micah seems to suggest Edom as the wilderness location of the 144,000, “For now you go forth from that city (Jerusalem). You will dwell in the field, and you will come as far as Babylon (Edom borders that area). There you will be rescued. There will Adonai redeem you from the hand of your enemies…for he gathers them like grain on the threshing floor” (Micah 4:8-12).
Indeed, Moab, Ammon (both in modern-day Jordan), and in Edom (an area around Babylon and to the East) seems to be the location of the first battle; fought purely by the Lord. Even Isaiah implies the LORD fights solely, in this area—AND to free the hidden ones in the wilderness (Zion): “Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson? Robed In splendor…I have trodden the wine-press alone; from the nations no one was with me…I looked but there was no one to help so my own arm worked salvation for me” (Isa 63:1-5).
Trumpets and Banners
The Dead Sea Scrolls’ War Scroll also contain details that might confirm the 12 Tribes as those who were hidden, kept safe, redeemed, and then later fought the other battles. In Revelation, we see that the sealed were 12,000 people of each of the 12 Tribes, equalling the 144,000 (in the wilderness; freed in the first battle).
The scroll also speaks of the war trumpets and the war banners during the battles; and that they all end up back in Jerusalem. While the trumpets are interesting, I will only address the banners here as they are quite revealing.
At first glance the groups carrying the banners seem to be in sets of 4 and sets of 8; for the group of 4 they tell of what is written upon them at three different times: “as you go to”, “as you draw-near”, and “as you return-from”. Of the set of 8, what is written upon them is also at three times and these are similar: “as you prepare”, “draw-near”, and “return-from”. At first glance that looks like two separate bands of people; the 4 + 8 obviously add up to the 12—perhaps the 12 Tribes. Even the language of the two groups: “draw-near” and “return-from” matches; and while these do not match exactly, they are so similar: “as you prepare” and “as you go”.
When the banners are seen together as a complete 12, the wording as they “set out” encourage those fighting. Reading them, the traits of God remind each other who they are: “Tribes, Assembly, Clans, Righteousness, Justice, Truth”, etc. As they “draw-near” the battles, the words written might intimidate the “sons of darkness”; they give the reason why they battle: “Tumult, Appointed Time, Retribution, Cause”, etc. The banners’ words, when they “return-from”, will be addressed in the coming blog—for they are quite revealing.
The Remaining Years
The War Scroll says that after that battle, “the Kittim enter into Egypt”. However, the scroll is broken at that point; but it does manage to say the Sons of Light return from the Wilderness to camp in the wilderness of Jerusalem.
The scroll then tells of wars during “the remaining 35 years”; but given the rule of prophetic language, I believe it can be read that as “35 months of years”—as well as theses: “For six years (months) the whole Congregation shall fight it together”. Personally, I believe this is when the back-slidden of spiritual Zion are grafted into literal Zion, and they battle together (Eze. 37:15-21). They were tried as gold, but have since come to their senses and renounced the False Prophet. Ezekiel says there will be One Nation under One King: the stick “belonging to Judah and the Israelites associated with it” and another: “Ephraim, belonging to Joseph and the Israelites associated with it…Join (them) and they will become one stick in My hand” (Eze. 37:15-19, 22,10). Ephraim has on occasion been used to signal the “straying” ones that the “shepherd brought safely home”.
The War Scrolls next tells of 29 years (29 months of years): “…and the war of DIVISIONS shall be waged for the remaining 29 years (months)”. In year 1 (1st month) against Aram-Naharaim. In year 2 (2nd month), the sons of Lud, the rest of Aram, Uz, Mesha (perhaps Turkey over to Greece). In year 3 (3rd month) against those beyond the Euphrates. In years 4 & 5 (4th & 5th months) against the sons of Arpachshad. In years 6 & 7 (6th & 7th months): against Assyria and Persia. In year 8 (8th months) against Elam. In year 9 (9th month): against the sons of Keturah and Ishmael—Saudi Arabi). For 10 years (10 months) “the wars shall be divided against the sons of Ham.” Since the remaining 10 years (10 months) are fought against the sons of Japheth—(established earlier as “the Kittim”; related to Magog, whose King was Satan).
In the battles listed in the War Scroll we find the majority of the countries mentioned in all of the End Times Scriptures. Ezekiel mentions judgments upon these, as well as all the “lovers of the prostitute”—i.e. Revelation’s Mystery Babylon (Ez. 16; Rev. 17). Interestingly, the battles fit nicely when reading the War scroll, when using prophetic language: “5 years (of months)”, “seven months (of years)”; “four weeks (of months)”, etc. Specifically, in the first battle the Lord redeemed the hidden 144,000 of Zion who join “spiritual Israel” for the remainder of the wars.
If the 40 years are “40 months (of years)”, the culminate in the battle of Armageddon (next blog). Only 2 months had preceded these wars. 45 days of the 60, are gathered from Daniel’s 1335 day “clue”. The other 15 days are perhaps the seventh seal when “heaven was silent” before the judgments. It was 42 months total after the setting up “the abomination which causes desolation”.
Still as with a prophetic interpretations, one must judge for themselves if these 40 “years” within the War Scroll—as well as details of Enoch’s Universal Directions give us further light for the End Times which we face. In the End, the King of Kings (of the South) faces off with the Prince of Darkness and his forces (of the North). Light battles Darkness…for whom will you fight? @achadpeace
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