Previous - Endtime Discourse
Chart of Endtime
bird's-eye view
Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days
Daniel 12:12
Update: August 20, 2026
In Short
This is an Endtime scenario based on the books of Daniel, Zechariah, and Revelation. The most prominent bases for our conjecture is the date of October 7, 2023. Since then the Palestinians, that had already been betrayed and harrassed for 75 years, found themselves in a living hell. We therefore see October 7, 2023 as the start of the 70th week of Daniel, the 'covenant made heavy to many' by forces of the empire.
This Endtime scenario sees the following sequence of events:
1. The rapture of the church,
expected November 2026
2. Seal 1 - The rescue of the Palestinians (white horse),
expected Feb 2027
3. Seal 2 - The invasion of Israel by Iran, WWIII (red horse),
expected Apr '27
4. Defeat of overstretched Iran by the US (great sword),
expected Aug '27?
5. Seals 3-5
The build-up of the beast system from ruined Israel, by means of destruction of supply chains (3rd seal, black horse) and mass killing of dissidents plus launching epidemics (4th seal, pale horse and 5th seal) -
Lasting for 1 year
6. Seal 6 - Great worldwide earthquake, bringing the empire to its knees,
Expected August 2028
7. Intermezzo
Separating the 144,000 from the twelve tribes of Israel (probably mostly Palestinians) sealing them as the heralds of the coming King, the returning Jesus, bringing the gospel of the kingdom of God. Those obeying the message will come out of the great tribulation victoriously and enter the eternal kingdom.
8. Trumpets 1-4 -
Cosmic disasters, probably caused by multiple impacts from a meteorite -
Expected: April 2029
9. Trumpets 5,6
Implementation of the beast-system - seen in the image of the beast, the real-time digital copy of all items and persons in the emipre. Trumpet 5 - the political pressure seen in an army of locusts with a sting in their scorpion tails that 'hurts'. Trumpet 6: the military coercion - horses with lion's heads - also with tails that 'hurt'.
Trumpets 5 and 6 together will last for 1.5 years
10. Vials 1-4 -
Heavenly attack on the US-empire, the beast system, by the first four vials, causing havoc - skin disease - water pollution - solar flare -
Expected October 2030
11. Vial 5
is poured out upon 'the throne of the beast' (the digital image in Jerusalem by which it managed total control), causing total darkness of the empire. The vial might represent an uprising of Palestinians from their hiding place, taking over Jerusalem.
12. Vial 6
Drying up of Euphrates, used by the beast to mobilize most armies around the world toward Israel in order to retake control of the system
13. Vial 7
Second worldwide earthquake, together with enormous blocks of hail, raining down on the empire of the beast
14. The return of Jesus
on the white horse, judging the armies that will have gathered around Jerusalem
Expected November 2030
Amen, come Lord Jesus!
Next - Endtime Persons, Groups
7 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. (Jer.30:7)
21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; (Dan.7:21)
1 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
3 Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. (Zech.14:1-3)
25 And he shall speak great words against the most High... (Dan.7:25)
27 ...and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate... (Dan.9:27)
40 And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.
41 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.
42 He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
43 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.
44 But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.
45 And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. (Dan.11:40-45)
13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Rev.12:13-17)
10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10)
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. (Rev.12:10-12)
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (Jn.12:24)
1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.
2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.
4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held... (Rev.6:1-9)
12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. (Rev.6:121-14)
3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.
4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. (Rev.6:3,4)
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. (Math.24:7-9)
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (Math.24:14)
1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.
3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. (Rev.8:1-6)
1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. (Rev.9:1-5)
28 And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace. (Gen.19:28)
2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshiped his image.
3 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.
4 And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.
8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.
10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain
12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. (Rev.16:2-12)
17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great. (Rev.16:17-21)
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. (Rev.22:12)
11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. (Dan.12:11,12)
3.5 Years Endtime
As stated on the homepage and on the page with our end time definition, we state the Endtime to be the last 3.5 years before the return of Jesus. Arguments for this position are also offered further down on this page. The Endtime is the end of circa 2,600 years of human history under the rule of the empires, which themselves are controlled from the unseen world, with the influence of satan as the most immediate of powers. The picture above contains our vision on the 3.5 years Endtime, summarized in a chart. The grey tints show the increasing darkness during the Endtime. The last 1.5 years will by far be the most difficult to survive. The red line graph shows the fluctuating power of the empire shortly before and during the Endtime. The round pictures show the events of the endtime under the 7 seals, the 7 trumpets and the 7 vials. The lowest line under the picture shows our present estimation of the months in which the Endtime events would unfold, an estimation made on August 20, 2026. This estimation is based on signs in heaven and on earth. We first enter into the signs on which our present Endtime-expectations are based. Then we explain the above Endtime-phases in more detail.
The signs
1. October 7, 2023 started a downright genocide in Gaza as well as an all-out attack and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the West-Bank. We presently hold this date to be the start of the 70th week of Daniel, the last 7 years before the return of Jesus, based on Bible texts that describe these 7 years as a very troubling time for the people of the most High (Jeremiah 30:7, Daniel 7:21, 25, Daniel 9:27, Revelation 12:13, Zechariah 13:9, Zechariah 14:1,2).
2. The situation of both the Palestinians in Gaza and those in the West-Bank has become totally hopeless. The 'board of peace' has proved to be nothing but a cover for Israel's policy of ethnic cleansing, which it is pursuing in the West-Bank at a pace, never seen before. And what does prophecy say? '...and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city' (Zechariah 14:2). The 1948 Nakba, that drove half of the Palestinians from their homes and their land has almost reached its climax. It will be followed by: '...Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle' (Zechariah 14:3). 'Those nations' are the IDF-soldiers and settlers which have less relationship to old Israel and often aren't even Jews but pose as such for political reasons. Zechariah 14:3-6 is directly linked to the white horse of Revelation 6:1,2 and Revelation 12:14-17.
3. If October 2023 would be the start of 'the last week' and April 2027 would be the start of the last half of the last week, the Endtime, then the world will see the 'abomination of desolation' in April 2027. Multiple bible texts point to the abomination of desolation as the start of the last 3.5 years (Dan.7:25, Dan.9:27, Dan.11:39, Dan.12:11, Math.24:15, 2 Thess.2:3,4, Rev.13:5). We expect this to be an insult to Islam in Al Aqsa. Since the year 2000 there is a worsening politically motivated religious crises around the Al-Aqsa compound, which sharply deteriorated after October 7, 2023, with daily incursions of Jewish settlers in the Al-Aqsa precincts while the access is barred to Muslim worshippers.
4. For the powers behind the empire to enact an insult to Islam in the Al Aqsa in order to provoke Iran into invading Israel (Daniel 11:39-45, Isaiah 28:14-19, Zechariah 13:8), there has to be a desparate need for them to do so. From its inception, Israel has been the most fostered and protected ally of the US-empire. But the disastrous US-Iran war has brought the US on the verge of losing global hegemony. Since february 2026, the US-empire has every motive to lure Iran into overstretching. The Al Aqsa coul be the perfect bait.
5. According to prophecy, the invasion of Israel by Iran won't touch 'Edom, Moab and Ammon' (Daniel 11:40-45) - translated to modern times that would be Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Therefore the invasion would pass through Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. Isn't it striking that Iran has affiliated resistance forces in each of these countries and that the governments of thes countries have become very weak because of the intervention of the US in past decades? What is more, the US is planning to withdraw from Iraq (Sept.30, 2026) and the Kurdish opposition forces that have been US-proxies for years, have been severely weakened by recent Iranian operations on Iraqi soil. All of this could be a preparation for the Iranian invasion of Israel in the near future.
6. All over the world, tensions between countries and peoples are rising. The Ukrainian proxy war against Russia becomes more violent by the day. Countries in SouthEast Asia are being prepared for an attack on China. The hatred against minorities, refugees and illegal immigrants is rising in many Western countries. The world has changed into a powder keg which is only waiting for the spark to be ignited. This would mean that the red horse of the second seal, at which 'peace will be taken from the earth and people will slaughter each other', is around the corner.
7. Since the Ukrainian proxy war on Russia, the export of both fertilizer, energy and grain from both Russia and Ukraine has dropped, but it fell even further since growing tensions in the Black Sea in July/August 2026. Since the US-war on Iran, that started on February 28, 2026, the strait of Hormuz has been practically closed, and the passage of ships fell to about 10% of prewar levels. Besides that the Yemeni Ansarallah forces are blocking the Red Sea for Saudi traffic. Above all, many refineries in Gulf states have been badly damaged. All of this affects the world's supply of both diesel and fertilizer. Many analysts are predicting the outbreak of famine within a year. That could be the fulfillment of the black horse of the third seal.
8. Five and a half year past October 7, 2023, to be precise: on Friday, April 13, 2029, an asteroid will come closer to earth than the outer ring of satelites. It is called 'Apophis', after the Egyptian god of chaos. It is believed that earth will not be impacted but that could be a false assurence to prevent panic among the public. There are also uncertain factors, like possible changes in course, the effect of earth gravity on the strange wobbling of the asteroid and on the strange 8-shaped form and its rather 'loose' content.
9. On September 23, 2017, a heavenly sign appeared in the sky that exactly matched the great signs that Revelation 12 speaks of. Since then a war in heaven could also be seen, ending in the coming down of 'the devil comet', 12P/Pons-Brooks, from the mouth of the dragon, far in the North, to deep in the South - as prophesied in Revelation 12. While descending, the genocide on Gaza started on October 7, 2023, which is exactly what was foretold in Revelation 12:13. We could therefore expect the soon fulfillment of Revelation 12:14-17, linked to the white horse (Revelation 6:1,2) and Zechariah 14:3-6 as mentioned in point 2.
10. The rise of both AI-computing power and the capacity of datacenters has made the world ready for a real-time copy of the complete US-empire, the image of the beast, which will be mandated for the global public once the US has regained its world-supremacy. We see the roll out of the beast system under the fifth trumpet the military coercion under the sixth trumpet. After 1.5 years of total technocratic tyranny, Jesus will return to destroy the beast system and to establish the worldwide kingdom of his Father.
1. The Rapture
For Christians, the most important issue of the Endtime is the moment of the rapture of the church. In Revelation 3:10, the Lord promises his faithful church to keep her 'from' (= 'away from' or 'out of') the hour of temptation. In Endtime Visions we have argued that Jesus will come for his church within a few months before the start of the 3.5 year 'hour of temptation' or 'great tribulation'. We repeat these arguments at the bottom of this page. The rapture marks the end of the 'church-age' and is symbolicallly presented in the 'coming higher up' of John in Revelation 4:1 at a 'voice like a trumpet'.
In Revelation 12 in Stars we show that since September 23, 2017, every detail of chapter 12 of Revelation is played out in the stars of heaven. The outcasting of the dragon to earth is seen in the downfall of comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, which was named 'the devil comet' since July 2023. It fell from high in the North to deep in the South - most visibly during the eclipse of April 8, 2024. The rapture could be represented in the outcry from heaven after the casting to earth of the dragon: 'Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them' (Rev.12:12). The equivalent of this triumphant outcry on behalf of those 'dwelling in heaven' was seen in the stars of August 12, 2025, the conjunction between Venus and Jupiter in Gemini, Twins, sign of the church being with Christ. It was the eighth Venus-Jupiter conjunction after the Revelation-12 sign of 2017 - seven for the seven churches on earth - the seven church phases in history (Revelation 2, 3) , the eighth for the rapture of the church. So, since since Autust 12, 2025, we've been in eager expectation for the rapture. But in the mean time, the ninth Venus-Jupiter conjuction has taken place on June 9, 2026, the second in Gemini.
Now, it is August 2026. So when do we expect the rapture? At the bottom of this page we explain why we think the rapture to take place a few months before the start of the last half of Daniel's 70th week, so just before the last 3.5 years until Jesus' return. This is a view that is close to mid-trib if that complete week of 7 years is to be seen as 'tribulation'. It is indeed a week long tribulation for the true descendants of old Israel, as the one text on this last 'week' of 7 years makes clear: 'And he (the representant of the empire) will make the covenant (a 'deal' with the central bankers, called the Balfour declaration) heavy to many (the Palestinians) for one week (7 years). It is the time of Jacob's trouble (Jer.30:7). Based on the sharp rise in violence against Palestinians since October 7, 2023, we now hold October 7, 2023 to be the start of Daniel's 70th week. If so, then the midst of the week would be about April 7, 2027.
If the stars would be an indication for the rapture we have to look at the path of Venus, 'the bright Morningstar', as Jesus called Himself. Venus regularly changes his position from morningstar to eveningstar and back. Around October23, 2026, Venus again swithches from evening to morning star in Virgo, while being in retrograde motion. While retrograding, Venus turns back toward Virgo, encircles 'Sprica', the ear of grain amidst the bundle of wheat in the hand of Virgo, and from there starts to follow the sun on its 'regular path'. On November 14, Venus will be exactly on the line between Spica and Porrima (the star at Virgo's elbow). That would be about 5 months before 'the midst of the week' - the 7 years that we think started on October 7, 2023, with a midpoint in April of 2027. A rapture on November 14, 2026 would leave enough time for events that prophecy tells us to happen between the rapture and the start of the great tribulation. As we discuss below, an exact mid-trib position is not in accordance with scripture because of events that will take place between the rapture and the outbreak of worldwide chaos.
The picture of the bundle of wheat in the hand of Virgo, with the star 'Spica', the 'ear of grain' at the center, is full of symbolism. Jesus compared his death on the cross with the falling of a 'corn of wheat': 'Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.' (John 12:24). On the day of Christ's death, it was the full moon that 'fell' from the star 'Spica' toward the feet of Virgo. Paul also compared the death and the future resurrection of believers (which will happen at the rapture - 1 Thessalonians 4:17) with the sowing of seed and the harvest -1 Corinthians 15:42-44. Likewise, we see death and victory at the center of Revelation 12, which is at the center of Revelation: 'And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death'. (Revelation 12:11). The indications of the rapture in the heavens is more closely studied on our page 'Rapture in Stars'.
The constellations Leo and Virgo seem to be very important signals for God's actions:
(1) On the day of Christ's death, the full moon descended from the hand of Virgo toward her feet, the corn of wheat that fell to the ground, as Jesus prophesied shortly before his sufferings.
(2) The Revelation-12 sign is comprised of Virgo (the woman with Child) and Leo (together with Venus, Mars and Mercury forming the crown of 12 stars). Together with the sun at her shoulder and the moon at her feet and Jupiter inside of her (for 9 months), the heavens of September 23, 2017 showed a perfect match with Revelation 12:1-6.
(3) Shortly before October 7, 2023, a comet reached perihelium (its closest approach to the sun) while going along the tail of Leo and through the breast of Virgo, ending at the tail of the great snake on October 7, 2023.
(4) If our prediction turns out to be right, the rapture would take place with Mars and Jupiter just below the mouth of Leo (the Lord Himself descending with a command, with the voice of the archangel), with Venus at Spica, the ear of grain in the hand of Virgo, and with Mercury at a star close to the feet of Virgo.
2. The seven seals
The Endtime will start a few months after the rapture of the church, which we now expect in November 2026 - based on the path of Venus through the heavens. Shortly after the rapture the Lamb will take the scroll and open the 7 seals. The opening of the first seal will start the interference of the Lord on behalf of his persecuted people in the land, the Palestinians (Rev.6:1,2). The white horse of the first seal corresponds to the wings of the great eagle of Revelation 12:14-16 and the battling of the Lord for the sake of his people in Zechariah 14:3-6. The opening of the second seal will set in motion the Endtime events of the last 3.5 years, 'the great tribulation'. The red horse of the second seal corresponds to Revelation 11:2, Revelation 12:17, Revelation 13:5, Daniel 9:27, Daniel 11:39,40, Daniel 12:7 and 11, Mathew 24:15. The seals 3-5 are the dramatic effects of the war that will break out under the second seal - famine, death and martyrdom. We expect that the events that are related to the opening of these seals, will succeed one another within a year because the events of the seals are interconnected, each one calling forth the next.
Seal 1 Seal 2 Seal 3 Seal 4 Seal 5 Seal 6
White horse Red horse Black horse Pale horse Martyrs Earthquake
Start victory War Famine Death
The events under seal 1 indicate the start of the God given victory for God's earthly people (true Israel). This will ignite a world war (the opposition by the empire) under seal 2. The unprecedented war will result in famine (seal 3) and death (seal 4) and death of martyrs (seal 5). Finally God will react to the raging evil of the empire by a worldwide earthquake (seal 6).
That the seals are closely linked to each other is also seen in the 'sword' and the 'famine' of seals 2 and 3, which reappear at seal 4, as causes of death (Rev.6:8). The effect of death under the sword of seal 4 is seen in the martyrs of the fifth seal. The earthquake of the sixth seal is God's reaction to the unprecedented lawlessness of the empire, demonstrated in seals 2-5.
With the first six seals, earth's events will speed up enormously as happens with a stream of water, approaching an avalanche. What previously took decennia to emerge, will then happen within a couple of years. Moreover, the world has been preparing for war, famine and massive death for a long time. A diversity of conflicts could ignite any moment into a world war: the Ukraine war, the war on Palestine, the US war on Iran and the tensions with China. The position of farmers has been deteriorating all over the world, making humanity extremely vulnerable to food crises. The US-Iran war has greatly disrupted the flow of energy. Supply lines have been consolidated in very few hands, that can easily switch off supplies of energy, food and water. Governments have vigorously propped up their executive powers in order to control and to demonize those that dare to resist. We therefore estimate that the events of the seals 2 - 6 could easily all pass within one year.
We have good reasons to believe that the white horse of the first seal has nothing to do with the antichrist (which is generally thought), but that it represents the intervention of God and his angels on behalf of the holy people that are on the verge of being destroyed, i.e. the Palestinian people, which consist of the true Israeli's. As already mentioned, we see the white horse of the first seal connected to the two wings of the great eagle of Revelation 12, that will place 'the woman', God's persecuted people, out of reach of the dragon. In the stars of heaven, Sagittarius, which exactly matches the white horse of Revelation 6:1,2, with a bow and a crown, has a shield and an eagle directly above his head. We dive deeper into these matters on our page 'Endtime in Stars'. After God's rescue operation, which of course will take some time, his people will be fed in the wilderniss for 'a time, times and half a time'. So God's people in the land will be safe during the last 3.5 years. That means that they will be rescued shortly before the start of the 3.5-year Endtime. If the path of Venus is an indication, the white horse of the first seal would be around February 3, 2027. Then Venus comes at the bow of Sagittarius while the moon goes directly over the central star 'Nunki', occluding her.
Like the rapture of the church, the rescue of Palestinians will come as a total surprise to the world, which has sought to totally destroy them. The powers of this world will need time to accommodate to God's sudden rescue operation. Therefore it takes time before the empire will react. But when it will react, it will be in total opposition to the Most High. The 'emperor' wil set himself in the holy place as if he is God, as is indicated by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:4. That is 'the abomination that will cause desolation' (Daniel 12:11, Mathew 24:15), the red horse of war and destruction.
Since long, the powers behind the scenes have wanted to build a temple in Jerusalem. The idea rose during the crusades of the Knights Templar which went underground in the 14th century. They were the powers behind the fouding of the US-empire. This is the reason why the seal-calamities are presented as 'horsemen'. We believe that no temple will be built because of resistance by the Muslim nations. Out of frustration 'the emperor' will set himself in one of the Mosque's on the 'Haram al Sharif'. The rage this will ignite in the whole of the Middle East is not difficult to imagine. That is why this act is called 'the abomination of desolation'. The blasphemous act of the emperor will set the world ablaze. It is the red horse of the second seal. Of course, such an act can only come after a long military and diplomatic struggle, which we have seen unfolding since February 2026.
We expect the red horse of the second seal (Rev.6:3,4) around 3.5 years after October 7, 2023, which we estimate to be the start of Daniel's 70th week. If the red horse coincides with the abomination of desolation - as we argue - then the red horse would come at the midst of 'the week'. That would be around April 7, 2027. Looking at the stars of heaven on that date, we see (1) Venus at the waterstream of Aquarius, which could signal 'the flood' of armies, invading Israel as the start of WWIII, (2) Mars coming out of the mouth of Leo (one of the creatures, saying 'Come') and (3) The sun directly above Saturn (type of Satan) that is above the body of the 'beast out of the sea', the empire.
A total disruption in supply lines during war-time (that were already strained in the years before) will cause famine in the autumn of 2027 (black horse of seal 3) and mass death in the winter of 2027/2028 (pale horse of seal 4). Other causes of death are 'the sword' (being either war or the death penalty), epidemics (because of deteriorating living conditions) and wild animals (which start to cause harm once chaos spreads). The fifth seal gives a voice to the many martyrs, which points to the sword as the death penalty by dictatorial governments - the 'ten horns' ruling as kings for on hour with the beast. The seals 2-5 follow the pattern of the Endtime discourse of Jesus in Mathew 24:7-9.
We have to realize that the seals 2-5 coincide with the first 18 of the 42 months of Revelation 13:5, during which the beast will be given total control over earth's affairs. The chaos of the apocalyptic horsemen 2-4 is meant to bring about the order of the empirical hegemon, the 'new world order', which it has been striving after for decades. That is why we see an ascending line of 'power of the beast' in our Endtime Chart above. By provoking Iran into total war against Israel (the red horse), the empire will finally succeed in defeating the last barrier toward total world control.
But it is God, not the empire, Who has the ultimate control and God will curtail the power of the empire by the enormous earthquake of the sixth seal. With the empire shaking and on the run, God's people have the opportunity to flee and to prepare for a worldwide campaign, that will be heralding the kingdom of heaven. That is what Jesus foretold in Mathew 24:14 and what we also see in Revelation 7: the 144,000 sealed of the 12 tribes of Israel and the great multitude that will come out of the great tribulation as a result of the preaching.
Finally, the seventh seal does not mention a separate event on earth but announces the start of the next sequence of disasters, the seven trumpets. Those will constitute the climax of the great tribulation.
3. The seven trumpets
The calamities under the trumpet judgments are separated from the seal-events by some activities in heaven:
(1) Revelation 7 - four angels that hold the four winds receive the instruction to wait with calamities until the 144,000 elect from the 12 tribes of Israel would be sealed and would have started their worldwide bringing of 'the gospel of the kingdom' as told by Jesus in Mathew 24:14.
(2) Revelation 8:1 - the opening of the 7th seal by the Lamb
(3) Revelation 8:1 - half an hour of silence in heaven
(4) Revelation 8:2 - the giving of the 7 trumpets to 7 angels
(5) Revelation 8:3-4 - the prayers of the saints going up in the hand of an angel in front of the altar
(6) Revelation 8:5 - the throwing of fire from the altar on earth by the angel.
We do not know how long these actions will take in earth's time. We estimate that about 5 months will pass between the worldwide earthquake of seal 6 and the impact of the first trumpet.
After the devastating earthquake of the sixth seal, human society needs some time to reorganize and to resume the development toward the beast system. In the months following, the 144.000 converts from true Israel will evangelize the world and millions will convert to the Lord, because of their message, combined with what they have seen of God's eternal power. After those 5 months, the beast system will be set in place, as we will discuss below and on our page or Revelation 9. Any kind of freedom would forever be gone if Jesus would not return.
The disastrous effects of the first four trumpets (Rev.8:6-13) resemble the impacts of a comet on earth's conditions. The trumpets seem to follow each other in rapid pace. They also seem interconnected.
Trumpet 1 Trumpet 2 Trumpet 3 Trumpet 4
Hail with fire A fiery mountain Polluting rocks Darkness
The trumpet events could all be triggered by the sudden impact of a comet or an asteroid which would split in four distinct 'parts' in earth's atmosphere .
(1) The smaller fiery rocks, mainly impacting plant life - Trumpet 1
(2) The biggest rock falling in an ocean impacting the seas - Trumpet 2
(3) Rocks in the tail that pollute many waters - Trumpet 3
(4) Dust of the comet that will obscure the sun, moon and stars - Trumpet 4
New comets are very regularly spotted. The first four months of the year 2025 there were 18 discoveries. During the months February - August 2026 12 new comets were spotted. Normally their paths remain far from the earth. However, for once this could be very different. Comets mainly are first noticed by observers in a late stage of their approach, about 2 months before they cross earth's orbit. So havoc could be looming late in 2027 because of an earth bound comet without anyone knowing it at the moment we write these lines.
In case of one comet, one would expect the effects to come all in one month or even one week. Some comets are broken into pieces. That makes it possible for a more prolonged influence, with different effects for each of the pieces impacting earth's atmosphere. This concerns their direct impact. Of course there will be long-lasting effects of the four trumpets on creation of years or even decades.
Besides the unknown risks of comets there is the presumably known risk of an asteroid that will approach earth within a shorter distance than that of the furthest ring of telescopes. The name of the Astoroid is 'Apophis', after the Greek god of chaos. Studies of this object have shown that it has the size of a skyskraper, that it has the form of an eight, with two sizeable ends that are connected by a shallow neck and that it is not solid but probably contains 'rubble'. This is exactly the type of object that could cause a sequence of multiple incidents when it is subjected to earth's gravity. That the risk is scaled down to zero by NASA does not mean that there won't be any risk. It is the usual behavior of authorities that do not want the public to go into a panic mode which they cannot control. And while the object has come under scrutiny of worldwide observers, there are still unknowns in the equation that determines whether an impact with earth will happen or not.
The day that is calculated for the close encounter with earth is also telling: Friday April 13, 2029. That is exactly 5.5 years after what we estimate as the start of the 70th week of 7 years of Daniel on October 7, 2023 or 1.5 years before the end of these 7 years. This period of 1.5 years matches with the total duration of the two remaining trumpets that will last till the end of the 7 years, 5 months for the fifth trumpet and 13 months for the 6th trumpet. Besides, the moment of havoc by the four trumpets through impacts of Apophis would also leave some months time between the great earthquake of the six seal and new disasters, for God's people to prepare for and start with their great mission (Mathew 24:14, Revelation 7).
Trumpets 5 and 6 differ from the first four trumpets as was the case with the seals. They differ however in an opposite way. The first four seals have to do with acts of humanity while seals 5 and 6 concern acts of God. With the trumpets it is the opposite. The first four trumpets show acts of God, while trumpets 5 and 6 concern acts of man. Trumpets 5 and 6 are interrelated and both describe the frightening execution of power by the beast system, that is described in Revelation 12, 13 and 17. Trumpet 5 shows the political pressure and trumpet 6 the military pressure to accept the mark of the beast. We hope to dive deeper into this very complicated matter with our explanation of Revelation 9.
We estimate that there won't be any separation between the first 4 trumpets and trumpets 5 and 6. According to Revelation 9, trumpet 5 will take 5 months (Revelation 9:10) and trumpet 6 will take about a year and one month. (Revelation 9:15) That no time will elapse between trumpets 4 and 5 is based on the following:
(1) The effects of the first four trumpets are directly followed by the loud voice of an eagle in the midst of heaven, saying: “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!” (Revelation 8:13). The next 'temptations' are around the corner - not months away.
(2) The locusts of trumpet 5 are not in need of any grass, that was just scorched at the first trumpet, for they are to attack human-beings.
(3) The devil is in great hurry from the moment that he was thrown to earth (Revelation 12:12). With all the loss of time due to the great earthquake, he won't alow any postponement of his long awaited empire of total control. He has gotten the key to 'the bottomless pit', from where the technocratic tyranny will emerge (Revelation 9:1) through the abomination of desolation, followed by the final victory over all Middle Eastern resistance.
(4) Smoke rises from the pit once the key has been used, picturing the total devastation of Israel by the raging war from both Egypt and Iran (Daniel 11:40-45, Isaiah 28:14-19) - 'smoke as the smoke of a furnace', a description from the destruction of Sodom, a characterization of Israel's state of mind (Gen.19:28, Rev.11:8). The locusts of the fifth seal come out of the smoke. That means that no time will elapse between the devastation (of the war, the earthquake and the first four trumpets) and the horrors of the fifth seal.
All of the above leads to this time frame of the Endtime:
Seal 2-6 Intermezzo Four trumpets Trumpets 5,6
18 5 1 18
This totals the 42 months of the reign of the beast.
The vials are on the very end of the Endtime as we have defined it - the 3.5 years - the last half of Daniel's 70th week. The start of the vials will end the reign of the beast quite abruptly. It will take about just one month to destroy its power to 'act' or to 'reign' (we now think: October/November 2030) and one other month to completely destroy every facet of it, militarily, culturally and economically. So the 18 months of totalitarian reign of the beast are divided in 17 months of full rule on the basis of horrific terror and one month of declining and crippled rule, as we see the sharp drop in the red line, indicating the 'power of the beast'
From our analysis follows that we expect the completed beast system not to last for 3.5 years. Its days will be shortened by about 2 years during the first part of the Endtime and by one month at the end of the Endtime. Therefore, it will last only one and a half year, the last month even in a maimed state. Of the 42 months of imperial power to act, eighteen months are necessary for making the beast system operational (through enormous suffering by the human population by the last 3 Apocalyptic horsemen). For another six months the system will lay mutilated because of God's intervention by the earthquake of seal 6. At the end the system will be cut short by God's wrath in the judgments of the vials, leaving the beast scrambling for power instead of ruling. The remaining 17 months will display the most horrendous technocratic rule the world has ever experienced.
That the mandatory use of the mark of the beast for buying and selling would last for 3.5 years is nowhere indicated in the Bible. What comes closest to this notion is the description of the power of the beast out of the sea: 'The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months' (Revelation 13:5). But that also includes the taking of worldwide control to get the system operational (Apocalyptic horsemen 2-4 - 18 months). The 42 months also include the revival of the system after being devastated by God's intermediary judgment of the worldwide earthquake (6 months). And the 42 months include the protection of the system against the catastrophes of the vial judgments at the end (1 month)..
4. The seven vials
The vials are God's judgment on the beast system, that has completely taken over 'Babylon the Great'. This 'Babylon the great' once was a 'mystery', when it operated as the church system that had alienated itself from the Lord because of her 'love of this world'. We explain this in our exposition on Revelation 17. The Roman Catholic church and those who came out of it derived their power from world governments, a situation that lasted until the 18th century. Since then 'the beast', the USA and its vassals, have totally ruined apostate Christianity, leaving nothing but an outward appearance, with which the beast could dress itself. So the beast has become known as 'a christian nation' upholding 'human rights' while in the meantime igniting and fighting the most evil wars one can think of in order to establish and to consolidate its hegemony in the world. What else does such a system of countries, governments and institutions deserve than to receive the most destructive of God's judgments? These judgments we see in the vials, affecting every person that will be attached to the system. The vials will be the final blow from the Lord to this present world, from which it will never recover. This is made crystal clear in the Revelation 18. The vials themselves are described in Revelation 16. They are the following:
Vial 1 Vial 2 Vial 3 Vial 4 Vial 5 Vial 6
Sores Sea blood Rivers blood Scorching sun Dark empire Armageddon
The 7th and last vial will be the second worldwide earthquake (the one of the 6th seal was the first), combined with hailstorms, which will leave nothing of (1) cities, (2) mountains and (3) islands. The events of the first four vials seem unrelated: (1) the sores (which will effect only those who have taken the mark of the beast), (2) the sea and (3) the rivers turning to blood and (4) the scorching sun.
The havoc because of the first 4 vials could trigger internal disruptions. Muslim nations who had to accept the blasphemous beast system for one and a half years, could again invade the nation of Israel, which will be the center of the beast system in the Endtime and which has become vulnerable because of God's devastating judgments. A great earthquake is mentioned just before the blowing of the 7th trumpet, destroying a tenth of rebuilt Jerusalem, killing '7,000 names of names of man' (Revelation 11:13).
The darkening of the empire because of vial 5, that will be poured out on the throne of the beast, could very well be an attack on Israel, thereby disturbing the worldwide control system, the image of the beast, that will be operating from Jerusalem. It could be an attack from Palestinian resistance groups, that were able to hide through God's intervention (Zechariah 14:3-6, Zechariah 9:13-16 and 10:3-7 and 12:5-6). After the fifth vial, everyone attached to the beast system is suddenly 'in the dark', on his own, not able to receive or send any information anymore, no longer able to buy or sell.
With the operating system of the beast in turmoil, the beast will experience an existential threat. It will do everything possible to hold on to its world dominance, hence the gathering of most armies of the world towards Israel - Armageddon. The military shift towards Israel will therefore not be to attack the 'promised land' but to defend it and to restore it as the command center of the beast. The state of Israel is 'the beast out of the earth' that will manage 'the Beast - Image - Mark' of which 'the mark of the beast' will be part and parcel.
The 7th and last vial, inducing the second worlswide earthquake and heavy hail, will probably accompany the return of Jesus, when 'the powers of the heavens shall be shaken' as Jesus said (Mt.24:29). His coming will be accompanied by a darkening of the sun, a turning of the moon into blood and the falling of the stars from heaven. This is a repetition of what happened under the sixth seal, when humanity thought that the wrath of the Lamb would come. But here, while the wrath of the Lamb has truly come, we see no hiding in mountains. Instead, we see a waging of war against 'the One that comes from the heavens on a white horse' (Revelation 17:14, 19:19). This enormous difference in mindset on earth shows us that seal 6 and vial 7 are two completely different events and not, as some have suggested, one and the same. At the end of the beast's reign, those partaking in his empire have been so thoroughly brainwashed, that they dare take up arms against their Creator.
Mindful of the Lord's word of his 'coming quickly' (Rev.22:12) and the 'shortening of days' (Math24:22) we estimate that the vial-judgments, including the total defeat of the beast and his armies, will take no more than 2.5 months. This would also correspond to the 1,335 days (1,260 +75 extra days = 2.5 months) of Daniel 12:12.
While the last vial is being poured out, leading to a worldwide earthquake and great hail with devastating consequences, the Lord Jesus will return, while seen on a white horse, destroying all armies and political powers of the world. This is what Christ Himself foretold when He said: “Immediately after the distress of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory." (Mathew 24: 29, 30)
With the return of Jesus, the most dark of all times in history will end. We no longer expect this 'Endtime' to be a period of 7 years, the whole of Daniel's 70th week, as we did till recently. Like so many that follow a futurist approach, we thought until the end of 2022, that the seals would be opened from the beginning of the last 7 years of Daniel's 70th week. And we once thought that the fifth trumpet would be blown around the 'abomination of desolation', halfway the 70th week of Daniel.
But events on earth as well as very clear signs in the stars have brought us to the understanding that only the first seal will be opened shortly before the last 3.5 years - the last half of Daniel's 70th week. We have come to equate the red horse of the second seal to the abomination of desolation, the sign of the start of the Endtime. But not only earthly and heavenly circumstances urge us to leave the notion of an Endtime of 7 years. Scripture itself contains many indications, as we hope to demonstrate on all pages of this site. God has indeed shortened those days. He has cut them into half. Amen, come Lord Jesus.
Explanation of the Endtime Chart
Having laid out the scriptural reasons for our Endtime view, we will now explain the chart that contains this view. Here is the chart again:
27 And he shall make heavy the covenant to many for one week... (Dan.9:27)
13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. (Rev.12:13)
9 And I will bring the third part through the fire (Zech.13:9)
5 So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. (Mathew 24:15,16)
39 Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory (Dan.11:39)
11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. (Dan.12:11)
18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it. (Isaiah 28:18)
3 Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. (Zech.14:3-5)
1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. (Rev.4:1)
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. (1 Cor.15:42-44)
2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. (Rev.11:2)
5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all peoples, and tongues, and nations. (Rev.13:5-7)
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. (2 Thess.2:3,4)
4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb... (Rev.7:4,9)
7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;
9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.
10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;
11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.
13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound! (Rev.8:7-13)
13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.
16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. (Rev.9:13-16)
8 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. (Rev.11:8)
14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. (Rev.17:14)
19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. (Rev.19:19)
22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. (Math.24:22)
29 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:
30 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. (Math.24:29,30)
Rapture: 5 months before the start of the Endtime of 3.5 years
Seven seals, opened by Jesus in heaven - lasting 18 months
1. White horse - Rescue of God's true people: 2 months before the Endtime
This will reduce the power of the empire, the world being astonished by God's intervention.
2. Red horse = Abomination of Desolation - the desecration of a holy site by the empire, this won't be the Jewish temple - it will be a Mosque, probably Al Aqsa - this will start WWIII and thereby the Endtime.
This will first reduce the power of the empire, Iran taking control of the Middle East but it will overstretch and be defeated.
3. Black horse - Worldwide famine caused by war: 7 months into the Endtime - Failed harvests from October 2028 onwards
4. Pale horse - Massive death - multiple causes: 11 months into the Endtime
5. Martyrs - Those beheaded by the empire, pleading for revenge
6. World wide quake - Enormous reduction in the power of the empire: about 1.5 years into the Endtime
Intermezzo - Gospel of the Kingdom - a Pause lasting 5 months
After the quake of seal 6, there will be a relatively quiet period of about 5 months. The worldwide quake is not directly followed by other calamities in order for the 144,000 of Israel, to be sealed by angels. These 144,000 will bring the gospel of the kingdom (Mathew 24:14). Their testimony will bring large masses of people to repentance and knowledge of the Lord. Those masses will eventually enter the kingdom of God, once Jesus has returned.
7. While the empire is recovering, the 7th seal is opened, leading up to the 7 trumpets
Seven trumpets, blown by angels.
The first four trumpets will last about 1 month.
1. Burning of 1/3rd of trees and all the grass
2. Devastation of 1/3rd of ships and sea life and coastlines (tsunami's)
3. Poisoning of 1/3rd of waterresources
4. Darkening of 1/3rd of heavenly bodies
The first four trumpets will again reduce the power of the empire.
The last 3 trumpets - lasting about 18 months
An eagle will announce the terrible blows to humanity by the last 3 trumpets. called the three woe's.
5. The locusts from the abyss (first woe)
About two months after trumpet 4, the empire is suddenly revived by demonic forces from 'the abyss', which in Revelation 9 are described as locusts. Their effect is enormous political pressure to take 'the mark of the beast' (described as 'hurt'). Their activity will hold on for 5 months. The empire empowered. It comes up 'from the abyss' (Revelation 17:8)
6. The battle horses with lion's heads (second woe)
Directly after the locusts, with their political pressure, follows military pressure to accept the mark of the beast. The horses are described to have 'hurt' in their tails and fire in their mouths. One third of mankind prefers death above the 'hurt', eternal damnation by God because of siding with the most evil system that was ever set up by man. This military tyranny will last for 13 months until the end of the Endtime. If Jesus wouldn't return, humanity would be forever imprisoned by totally demonic evil.
7. The seventh and last trumpet (third woe)
leads to God's total judgment upon the empire, described in 7 vials of plagues, mingled with God's wrath, being poured out on earth. This will only take about two months. The empire will prove to be nothing compared to the power of God Almighty. At the sixth vial, most of the world's armies will gather around Jerusalem, the control center of the evil empire. At the seventh vial, all infrastructure of the empire will be leveled and its armies will be destroyed by Jesus, Who returns on a white horse.
After the return of Jesus, the beast, that is the empire, with all its affiliates, especially Zionist Israel and all those that have been part of it, will be thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20).
From here on, we offer arguments for the definition of the Endtime as the last 3.5 years before the return of Jesus instead of the 7 years that is generally believed to be the duration of the Endtime. These arguments are also presented on the page 'Endtime Definition'. This page will end with arguments why we believe the rapture of the church will take place shortly before the 3.5 year Endtime and not before the last 7 years or exactly at the midst of the last 7 years. These arguments are also presenten on the page 'Endtime Visions'.
The Endtime
Many charts of the Endtime have been made, based on assumptions about Endtime periods that are indicated in Bible prophecy. The periods, indicated by bible prophecy are the following:
(1) The 70th and last week of Daniel's prophecy of 70 'weeks', which consists of 7 years (Daniel 9:27). The midpoint of this 'week' is of great significance.
(2) The great tribulation, starting with the 'abomination of desolation', the worship of an idol in 'the holy place', leading for enormous devastation and ultimately: God's wrath (Mathew 24:15-21). The 'abomination' takes place at the midpoint of Daniel's last week, 3.5 years before the end of it.
(3) The hour of temptation, that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth (Revelation 3:10).
Some add to these periods terms like 'the day of the Lord' (2 Peter 3:8) and 'the coming (Parousia = presence) of the Lord'. But these terms probably concern the total period during which the interactions of the Creator with his creation will be experienced by every creature, starting with the rapture of the church, ending with the dead, standing before the great white throne, at the end of the Millennial Kingdom of Christ. For the Lord 'a day is as thousand years'. Therefore we leave out this term.
The manner with which the end of (1), the 70th week of Daniel, is marked (Daniel 9:24), leaves room for no other explanation than that the 7-year period will end with the second coming of Jesus.
From Daniel 9:27, it is clear that period (2), the great tribulation, will start halfway the 70th week of Daniel. This 7-year period will start with the 'confirming' or 'strengthening' of a covenant with / for / to many. At the midpoint of the 7-years period, 'the offering' will be stopped and 'an abomination' will be set up, which will be the cause of devastation - which is seen in the 3.5 years of great tribulation, that directly follows. The second half of 'the week', the 7-year period, will be filled with death and destruction. That would be 3.5 years before the second coming of Jesus. Therefore the great tribulation covers the last half of Daniel's 70th week, 3.5 years, ending with the return of Jesus. This is what Jesus Himself tells us in Mathew 24:29, 30. His coming in power and great glory will occur shortly 'after the tribulation'. Daniel refers to these 3.5 years as 'time, times and half a time' (Daniel 7:25, 12:7) and as 1,290 and 1,335 days (Daniel 12:11,12). The book of Revelation also mentions these 3.5 years, as 'time, times and half a time' (Revelation 12:14), as 1260 days (Revelation 11:3, 12:6) and as 42 months (Revelation 11:2, 13:5).
We assume that all of these time spans refer to one and the same period, 'the great tribulation'. However, there could be small differences because they concern 3 different events:
(1) The flight and refuge of the 'the woman', the holy people. (Rev.12:6, 14)
(2) The absolute reign of the beast and his war against the saints (Rev. 11:2, 13:5, Dan.7:25, 12:7)
(3) The testimony of the two witnesses (Rev.11:3).
So (2) the great tribulation is equal to (1) the last half of Daniel's 70th week. The third indicated time period (3) the hour of temptation, is more difficult to interpret. It is not completely clear what is meant in Revelation 3:10 with 'the hour of temptation' from which the Lord would keep the faithful in his church. When searching the Greek word for 'temptation', it is never again used in Revelation and in the NT mostly applies to Christians. But in Revelation 3:10 the special hour of temptation does not concern the faithful but 'those that dwell upon the earth', which is humanity as a whole. Based on the content of Revelation, we consider 'the hour of temptation' to be synonym to the great tribulation, the last 3.5 years before Jesus' second coming. For this, we offer the following arguments:
(1) Looking at the book of Revelation, the whole of humanity will only be subjected to the execution of the demonic power of the beast for 42 months, which is again the last 3.5 years (Rev.13:5-7)
(2) The word 'hour' in a similar meaning as in Rev.3:10 is seen in Rev.17:12 - 'And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast'. This seems to correspond to that same period of 'execution of power' by the beast of 3.5 years.
(3) The temptation of that last evil 'hour of temptation' will start at the second seal, bringing the red horse of a third world war. We argue that the trigger to this worldwide devastation will be 'the abomination of desolation', which will happen at the midpoint of Daniel's 70th week. That is 3.5 years before the return of Jesus. This would mean that 'the hour of temptation' is equal to the 3.5 years of great tribulation. This can also be seen in the prophetic discourse of the Lord in Mathew 24, as we show in Endtime Discourse.
The Rapture - Problems of the mid-trib position
Revelation 2 and 3 give a bird eye view of church history, while Revelation 4:1 mirrors the rapture with the transfer of John to heaven, where we see the church represented in 24 elders. But where do we see the start of the great tribulation? Where do we see war break out in the Middle East (Daniel 11:39-45), followed by nation rising against nation and kingdom against kingdom (Mathew 24:7)? That is at the second seal, when the rider of the red horse comes into action, 'taking away peace from the earth'. Between the rapture of the church and that midpoint of the week - the abomination causing desolation (Daniel 12:11), at least 3 things must happen:
(1) The raptured believers will stand before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor.5:10),
(2) The Lamb must take the scroll from the right hand of Him that sitteth on the throne while being worshiped by the host of heaven (Rev.5:7-12), which will resonnate throughout all of creation in the ages to come Rev.5:13)
(3) The first seal has to be opened for the white horse to come into action. That white horse is the start toward ultimate victory of God's persecuted people, the Palestinians. They will have to be replaced to safety (Hosea 2:14, 15, Zechariah 14:3-6, Revelation 12:14-16). They will have to repent and learn to know the Lord the way He wants to be known (Hosea 2:16,17, Zechariah 12:10, Zechariah 13:8,9).
A second reason for the necessity of a timelapse between the rapture of the church and the start of the great tribulation is the adaptation of the forces of empire. However swift worldly powers will react to the spiritual vacuum, left by the rapture and the 'being taken away' of the Holy Spirit (2 Thess.2:6,7), they will need some time to plan and coordinate their actions in order to take full control over earthly affairs. Therefore some time has to elapse between the rapture of the church and the start of the 42 months of action by the beast out of the sea, seen in the red horse and the bringing of world war III.
The Rapture - Problems of the pre-trib position
The pretrib position, a rapture before the start of the 7 years of tribulation for the true Jewish people has also its shortcomings.
(1) The 7 year tribulation does not concern the complete earth but only 'Jacob'. It is called 'the time of Jacob's trouble' (Jeremiah 30:7). Jesus did not promise to save his church from the time of Jacob's trouble. He promised to keep her from 'the hour of temptation that would come upon the whole earth' and that does not start before the midst of the last 7 years. Only then does the dragon start to 'make war with the remnant of her seed', which is all over the world, the Palestinians in exile and those standing with them. Only then will 'nation rise agains nation and kingdom against kingdom' (Mathew 24:15). Only then will the rider of the red horse 'take away peace from the earth that they would kill one another'.
(2) Besides the red horse, there is no other point in the book of Revelation at which a total worldwide war breaks out. We once held the view that the locusts of the fifth trumpet would be at the midst of the week. That however is not the start of a war. It is the release of demonic spirits that combine with already available technology to sudue the earth to the beast system. That is what will come once the war will have been decided in favor of the US, so that it can roll-out the beast system. Moreover, the time that will be covered by the trumpets 5 and 6 is 5 months plus 13 months, a total of 18 months. Directly after the sixth trumpet the strong angel descends from heaven, announcing the 7th trumpet with the 7 vials that would end the power of the empire. All of this means that the Apocalyptic horsemen will not fill the first half of the 7 years of Daniel's 70th week. They will start around the midst of the week. A rapture before the last 7 years of history would mean that it would take place almost 3.5 years before any prophetic Endtime fulfillment. It is not conceivable that 3.5 years will pass without any further significant events
(3) The rapture of the church is also the taking away of 'the restrainer', the Holy Spirit, that holds off the total outbreak of lawlessness in the actions of 'the lawless one', that 'will set himself in the temple of God, proclaiming to be God' (2 Thessalonians 2:3-7). The actions of antichrist at the midst of the week presuppose the departure of God's holy Spirit from earth in the rapture. But that will happen only shortly before the son of perdition will be revealed, not 3.5 years before - while the devil knows he has little time.
(4) The Lord spoke of the 'shortening of those days' while speaking of the 'great tribulation'. with a word that also means 'to mutilate'. This 'mutilation' could come from the little time that will be given to the enemy to build his empire, i.e. the shortening of the first 3.5 of 7 years by leaving the church on earth. We see this also in the panic of the dragon in Revelation 12:12 - 'He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short'.
(5) The Lord promised 'to come with haste'. This coming will start with the rapture of the church and the opening of the seals. That also seems to indicate a shortening of that last period of 7 years by a rapture taking place toward the midst of those 7 years.
(6) There is no indication of the length of the first half of Daniel's last week. The length of the second half is clearly indicated, 7 times in total, 2 times in the book of Daniel and 5 times in the book of Revelation. Therefore, the first half of the last 7 years is not an established biblical period, like the second half. Moreover, the first half of Daniel's last week has no noticeable starting point (only: 'strengthening of an already existing covenant) like the second half has (the abomination of desolation). And lastly, the first half of Daniel's week has no specific name in bible prophecy, like the second half has (great tribulation)
Conclusion - between pre- and mid-trib
Based on these shortcomings of both the pretrib and the midtrib position, we come to the following conclusion. (1) We define the tribulation no longer as the 7-year period of the 70th week of Daniel. We define the tribulation as identical to 'the great tribulation' or 'the hour of temptation', the last half 3.5 years of Daniel's 70th week. (2) The church will leave the earth a short time before the start of these last 3.5 years of tribulation. In that sense we still hold on to a pretrib view, while we have changed the definition of 'trib'. (3) Would we hold on to the complete 70th week of Daniel as being the tribulation, then our vision is somewhere between the pretrib and the midtrib positions, but closer to the midtrib.
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. (2 Peter 3:8)
24 Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy. (Daniel 9:24)
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