There are days — and I’ve had many of them lately — when the sheer weight of global events presses in with such prophetic intensity that it’s hard not to wonder: Are we seeing the beginning of the end? Or the unveiling of something we’ve misunderstood?
For many of us who take Scripture seriously and literally, the prophetic timetable laid out in Daniel, Revelation, Thessalonians and elsewhere is familiar: a covenant with Israel, a rebuilt temple, the desecration of that temple, and the rise of the man of sin. These are concrete, expected events. And I still hold fast to their reality. But even as I hold that line, I find myself wondering: Have we misunderstood the nature of these events?
The temple, for instance. Scripture is clear — the temple of God is not just masonry in Jerusalem. In the new covenant, the temple is the believer (1 Corinthians 6:19), the Church (Ephesians 2:21-22), the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. Christ Himself referred to His body as the true temple (John 2:19-21). Could it be that the “temple” prophesied in the last days is not only a physical edifice, but a spiritual structure — the Body of Christ — and that the desecration may be a spiritual invasion, a corruption from within?
And what of the covenant in Daniel 9:27 — so often interpreted as a political peace treaty? The Hebrew word berith is overwhelmingly used for religious covenants, not political ones. Could this “covenant with many” be a great spiritual compromise? An unholy alliance of apostate religion, where truth is laid aside for unity and false peace? Could the Antichrist establish his dominion not only through politics, but by capturing the hearts of a Church that no longer loves the truth?
This is not allegory for its own sake. This is not a retreat from the literal. It is a recognition that what is literal may also be spiritual — and that Satan’s most effective desecration might not be the erection of a statue in a building, but the enthronement of deception in a place that once housed truth.
All this unfolds against the backdrop of time itself. We are fast approaching the 2000-year anniversary of the cross, following 4000 years from Adam to Christ. Is this the dawn of the “seventh day” — a final sabbath? The alignment is too significant to ignore, but too sacred to dogmatise. We must tread carefully, humbly. And yet we must tread.
So as we watch nations rage, truth be trampled, and corruption rise — even as some of it is gloriously exposed — we must ask not only, What is happening in Jerusalem?, but What is happening in the Church? What is happening in us?
Watch, therefore, and pray. Keep your eyes on Christ. The true temple. The true covenant. The true peace.
Dear John
I am so enjoying ‘Arise and Shine!’
Some time ago, I came to the inescapable conclusion from Scripture that God’s people must pass through the Great Tribulation, so I have greatly enjoyed reading your eloquent, yet non-technical exposition of this viewpoint.
I believe it is entirely reasonable that the last trumpet of 1Cor15 is the 7th trumpet of Revelation.
Interestingly, the first trumpet in the BIBLE is the descent of the LORD on Mt Sinai, in order to create ISRAEL as his firstborn son among the nations.
So isn’t his descent from heaven to rescue, to redeem and to complete her a beautiful symmetry?
My principal question, at this point concerns WHY the trumpet and bowl judgements are separated?
Jesus spoke of “a time when no man can work,” an intriguing statement, since work and general human activity continues right up to the Rapture.
Therefore, what about the time immediately following the Rapture?
Daniel 12 speaks of 1260 days, plus 30 days, plus 45 days.
The abomination stays in place for 1290 days.
What if the 1260 days are the time that precedes the Rapture, the 30 days are the days of the bowl judgements- during which time the wedding feast takes place, then 45 days to destroy Antichrist’s kingdom and to remove all the demonic realm from the earth?
Dan 12:12
“Blessed is he who arrives at the end of the 1335 days.”
i.e. they have made it safely through to the Millennial kingdom.
At his coming, all the world sees Christ in the air, and all the world sees the saints ascend? He has descended from Heaven, and is therefore visible, but he DOESN’T descend to the surface of the earth.
The reason for the removal of the saints, at this point, is because they have overcome, and their testimony through the 3 1/2 years of Antichrist is COMPLETE.
All the saints then come back to the earth, AFTER the feast, with all the host of heaven, to take dominion over the earth.
Is this a possible explanation for the strange timings of Dan 12?
During the trumpet judgements, the saints are called to endure. Many are martyred This accords well with the fifth seal, and the central thesis of your book.
However, during the bowl judgements, the saints are not mentioned. There is only a single reference to the set apart ones, the ones destined to be preserved:
Rev 16:15
“Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he might not go about naked and be seen exposed.”
An enigmatic verse, for sure. But could it refer to God’s clothing of that individual, for the purpose of their salvation at the end of the 1335 days? It reminds me of God’s clothing of Adam and Eve, to signify his salvation- and of many other clothing references which have spiritual meaning.
It would seem to me that the trumpets are the final period of testimony, whereas the bowls are designed to bring all remaining mankind to the edge of hell whilst, as yet, not actually sending them there. Testimony isn’t possible or necessary during the chaos of the bowls, when Antichrist prepares for Armageddon.
Mankind is NOT ignorant about Christ at this point. In the sixth seal they testify clearly concerning the imminent wrath of the Lamb. (Rev 6:16) They know it is coming because the Two Witnesses clearly prophesied it over them.
God is giving mankind one final final chance to repent for the judgement of eternal damnation.
Mankind KNOWS who they must cry to, in order to save themselves.
However, in Rev 16, they specifically curse Yahweh himself THREE times in vv 9, 11, and 21, thus sealing their eternal doom. The bowls simply serve to prove the just judgements of God that will come upon those left behind. (sealed ones excepted, of course)
I note how brief is ch 16, the bowls chapter. The destruction of the earth far exceeds anything in the Trumpets. I believe this matches v well with “a time when no man can work.”
Lastly, where exactly do the Two Witnesses fit in? It would seem reasonable that they testify for the first 1260 days of the Abomination of Desolation? Rev 11:3?
So when they are killed, and there are presents all round, this seems to be in the sixth trumpet?Rev 11:10. Is their Rapture a prophetic foretelling of the main Rapture event at the 7th trumpet?
So…their 1260 days wouldn’t align perfectly with the 1260 Days of the Abomination, since they are raptured before the 1260 days of abomination are complete?
But Rev 12:3 simply says that they prophesy for 1260 days. It doesn’t specify that their prophesying begins at the moment of the revelation of the AoD in the Temple.
What if they start prophesying shortly prior, as a warning for the saints to flee Jerusalem? Mt 24:15.
Maybe, at this time, the HOLY SPIRIT has not yet released this fine detail. However, I believe the separation of the final judgements into Trumpets and Bowls is exegetically of extreme importance, and the Holy Spirit could illumine us on that single, most important point?
Not looking for slick replies here. Simply thinking out loud.
Again, dear John, most sincere thanks for your excellent labours in bringing “Arise and Shine” to us. I’m sure I will be accessing it many times in the future.
God bless and keep you
Chris Moyler
Tunbridge Wells UK
Dear Chris,
I have responded to you by email.
God bless you
John