ISAIAH CHRONICLES THE END TIMES – TIMING OF DAMASCUS DESTRUCTION SOLVED

The Old Testament prophets were called upon in times of national apostasy.  They were the evangelists chosen to bring revival to the nation.  They were patriots who spoke on behalf of God to the heart and conscience of the people.  Their message was twofold: it was for the people of their day as they called for repentance, but also presented God’s divine plan and purpose for their future.  It reminds the people of their sins and failures, but also the glorious prospects that lay ahead.  The Book of Isaiah often speaks of the grace that Gentiles would share with Israel in the coming 1,000-year millennial reign of Christ on Earth during Christ’s Kingdom Age.

The hope of Israel’s future rested upon two covenants – the Abrahamic covenant promising the land as an inheritance and the Davidic covenant promising the kingship of the Messiah, Jesus Christ – governing a world kingdom.  The land and the Messiah were paramount to Israel’s future glory.  The Promised Land must be possessed – from border to border – not part of it, but all of it.  Jesus Christ must come and establish a worldwide kingdom with headquarters in Jerusalem.  During the early years of Israel’s political structure, unbelief was widespread.  Many of the people took up the habits of their neighbors.  Some intermarried with Gentiles among whom they lived while some adopted the pagan religious practices around them.  After Solomon’s death, the nation was divided.  A political power struggle pitted cousin against cousin.  God’s plan for the nation had to take a back seat to petty squabbles.  Such division sounded the death knell of the nation.  God drove the Jews from their land and put the kingdom in abeyance for a future generation more worthy of the blessing.  The prophets had promised the kingdom and the king, but both were contingent upon the spiritual progress of the people.  As the ministry of the prophets developed, their promise of a Messiah took on a two-fold character – a suffering Messiah and a reigning Messiah.  This concept of suffering and glory confused the rabbis.  They could not comprehend the two comings of Christ, so they came up with two Messiahs.  One Messiah would die for the sins of the people, while the other Messiah would come and restore the kingdom to Israel.  Peter referred to the dilemma as he wrote …

“Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow” (1 Peter 1:10-11).

Peter wrote that the prophets themselves could not determine the matter.  They did not understand their own inspired writings.  Their only conclusion was that there should be two Messiahs – Messiah Ben Joseph, who would die for the sins of Israel and Messiah Ben David, who would come in power and glory to set up the promised kingdom.  The prophet Isaiah wrote at length about the suffering and the glory.  Isaiah 53 gives a picture of the suffering Messiah while Isaiah 63 gives a picture of his future glory.  Jesus quoted Isaiah at the synagogue in Nazareth when he read only half of a statement given in Isaiah 61 about the “acceptable year of the Lord,” and did not finish the sentence which predicted the “day of vengeance of our God.”  Only after the first advent of Christ did men finally understand the difference between Christ’s suffering and his future glory.

Today, a similar dilemma faces theologians.  And again, the difficulty lies in the interpretation of the prophets.  The paramount question facing Christians is: Will the Church go through the Tribulation?  Will Christians have to suffer the persecutions of the Antichrist?  Or will we be transported into Heaven before a world government is established and a world currency is imposed upon the citizens of our planet?  Many expositors and ministers are beginning to consider the possibility that we might suffer through the Tribulation period.  It is my firm belief, however, as you can see from other articles on this site, that we will not go through the Tribulation.  All Christians will be taken out of this world before the seven-year Tribulation period begins.  There are many places in the New Testament that imply a pre-tribulation rapture, but as for the Old Testament, Isaiah gives the best view. Upon a closer examination of this book, one will notice that Isaiah displays an amazing chronological order of events.  Here is the sequence of events.

First, the nation of Israel is reborn.  Second, the world’s political structure deteriorates.  Suddenly, the dead in Christ are raised and we who are still alive who are in Christ are suddenly transported into Heaven.  Then, God pours out his judgment upon an unbelieving world, destroying the highly Satanic world government – described in the Bible as a dragon with seven heads and ten horn (see a previous article titled “THE SEVEN-FOLD DEATH OF MEGALOPOLIS: GOD’S HIDDEN SIGN” in the “Recommended Reading” section at the end of this article.) This sequence of prophetic events happens to be given in that order by Isaiah.  It all begins in Isaiah 26:17.

THE BIRTH OF ISRAEL

First in the order of events is the birth of Israel …

“Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O Lord” (Isaiah 26:17).

Here is a prophecy of the rebirth of Israel that occurred in the year 1948.  The birth pangs of this event were fulfilled in the two great wars of the 20th century – World War 1 and World War 2.

POLITICAL FAILURE

Next, we find political failure on the part of those who hope for a utopian world (one could perhaps call it more accurately an intentional failure by the powers that be behind the scenes to create chaos for the implementation of world government).  Instead of solving the world’s political and economic problems, Jerusalem becomes the focal point of world contention …

“We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen” (Isaiah 26:18).

Since 1948, Jewish hopes for peace on Earth have not materialized.  Instead, Israel has incurred the wrath of the Arab world and the complacency of other nations.  Nor has the U.N. been able to insure peace (likely intentional).

THE RESURRECTION

Things will get worse and worse until a catastrophic war erupts – the battle of Gog and Magog which will be preceded by preliminary wars, one of which will likely be the destruction of Damascus.  It is a strong indication in scripture that the Russian invasion of Israel will trigger a heavenly response.  During the midst of that worldwide (likely nuclear) conflagration, the resurrection of the dead in Christ and the rapture of the living born-again believers into Heaven will have already previously occurred, either before or in the midst of those preliminary Ezekiel 38 & 39 wars …

“Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead” (Isaiah 26:19).

With what we see occurring in the Middle East at the present moment regarding Russia and America along with the whole of NATO over Syria, can we possibly decipher a clue from Isaiah’s sequence of events regarding the timing of the destruction of Damascus?  Is there a clue in Isaiah that would at least present the possibility of knowing when in the sequence of events of the end times that Damascus will meet it’s destruction regarding the timing of the rapture?  Stunningly, indeed there is.  As noted above, the sequence of end times events chronicled by Isaiah begins in Isaiah 26 verse 17 alluding to Israel’s rebirth as a nation in 1948.

Once the Jew is back in his land, the nations then fail to bring peace to the world.  Amazingly, the next event we see recorded here in Isaiah’s sequence of events is the resurrection of the “dead in Christ” (verse 19).

THE RAPTURE

But that is not all.  Along with the resurrection of the “dead” in Christ will come the rapture of the “living” saints in Christ.  We can see it in the next two verses …

“Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.  For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain” (Isaiah 26:20-21).

We are invited to enter special chambers – heavenly protection prepared for us where we will be hidden until God’s indignation is completed.  That is the rapture of all born-again Christians in Christ just before the Lord punishes the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquities.  That is an obvious pre-tribulation rapture of all born again people in Christ, which will coincide with the resurrection of the dead in Christ.  It is an absolute stark and amazing picture that we should see a description here of the regathering of Israel in verse 17 and 18 (fulfilled in 1948) followed by the resurrection of the “dead in Christ” in the very next verse (verse 19), followed by the rapture in the very next verse after that – which establishes a sequence of end time events.  Yes, it further establishes a pre-tribulation rapture of all those who are born-again in Christ!  And as will be seen below, the sequence reveals that the destruction of Damascus will occur shortly after the rapture of the church.

GOD’S FINAL JUDGMENT OF THE DRAGON FROM THE SEA

After all believers are removed from the earth, a world government is formed.  It takes on the metaphoric appearance of a dragon rising from the sea of humanity.  The very next verse continues the prophecy …

“In that day the Lord with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea” (Isaiah 27:1).

Isaiah’s prophetic Leviathan corresponds with John’s seven-headed ten horned dragon of Revelation.

The sea in which he dwells alludes to a sea of humanity.  Man’s efforts at world government without God will at last be realized – only to be divinely judged.  Isaiah’s order of events is quite obvious.  Israel will be born; the nations will fail to bring peace to the earth; the political situation will worsen until Israel is invaded; suddenly the dead in Christ will be raised and the living people who are born-again in Christ will be caught away into Heaven; and finally, a wicked and ferocious world government will emerge so that the Lord can later pour out his final judgment on this global system of governance in Revelation 18.  That is the chronology of Isaiah.  He taught a pre-tribulation resurrection and rapture.

DESTRUCTION OF DAMASCUS – NEXT IN THE SEQUENCE OF ISAIAH’S EVENTS

With what we see occurring in the Middle East at the present moment regarding Russia and America along with the whole of NATO over Syria, can we possibly decipher a clue regarding the timing of the doom of Damascus in Isaiah’s sequence chronical?  Is there a clue in Isaiah that would at least present the possibility of knowing when in the sequence of events of the end times that Damascus will meet it’s destruction in relation to the timing of the rapture itself?  Indeed, there is.

As noted above, the sequence of events begins in Isaiah 26 verse 17 alluding to Israel’s rebirth as a nation in 1948.  It has generally been a matter of debate within prophetic circles on whether or not the church will still be on Earth to see the destruction of Damascus.  It is generally held that the rapture will occur a short time in proximity either before or after the rapture.  When examining Isaiah’s sequence of events, it would seem to strongly indicate that the sequence puts it’s destruction immediately after the rapture in close proximity.

At first look, the doom of Damascus would seemingly not make any sense to place it anywhere near the time of the rapture considering the fact that the most well known scripture declaring the destruction of Damascus occurs in Isaiah 17, well before the passage of Israel’s rebirth in 1948 chronicled in Isaiah 26.  This could almost lead one to believe that Isaiah’s description of the fall of Damascus was fulfilled in the past and is not a prophecy of the future in connection with modern-day Israel, but in connection with the Israel of old.  However, with my curiosity raging and piqued, I had begun to read over the chapters following chapter 26 verses 20 and 21 describing the rapture, and after chapter 27 verse 1 describing the punishment of Leviathan.  Stunningly, I came upon another well-established narrative of Damacus’ destruction that has largely gone overlooked by many prophecy expositors when trying to decipher where in the sequence of events related to the rapture it occurs.  It is found just a few verses later after the resurrection, rapture and Leviathan verses.  It is found in chapter 27 verse 13 …

“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem” (Isaiah 27:13). 

Here, in the sequence of events, we see an exciting continuing pattern referencing the destruction of Damascus after the rapture!  In fact, this astounding occurrence most assuredly puts the destruction of Damascus likely immediately after the rapture!  Before going any further, one may be tempted to point out Isaiah 57:1, which is a scripture that many Bible prophecy expositors have often pointed to in pointing out a picture of the rapture of the church, thus throwing a monkey wrench into the whole Damascus narrative that Damascus will be destroyed immediately after the rapture, or at least make it a bit more confusing.  In fact, it would seemingly put the rapture into a post-Tribulation position if it were not for Isaiah 27:13.  If one sees Isaiah 57:1 as the rapture of the church, then yes, it would contradict the Damascus destruction timing narrative observation presented above.  But one thing must be understood about events that will transpire in the Tribulation period itself – and that is the fact that we have the story of the two witnesses who will be killed in the streets of Jerusalem and then be resurrected, or “raptured,” into Heaven in the site of all who are alive at that time.

Given the observation of Isaiah’s sequence of events regarding the destruction of Damascus in Isaiah 27:15 after the rapture in Isaiah 26, it makes more sense that Isaiah 57 may be alluding to the resurrection, or rapture, of the two witnesses, not the church.  In fact, the Isaiah sequence would almost demand it and allow for no other interpretation.  If both Isaiah 26:20 and Isaiah 57:1 are referring to the rapture of the church, then the clearly observable pattern of Isaiah’s sequence of events falls apart.  This cannot be for this sequence is rock solid and leaves no room for misinterpretation.  Therefore, it makes more sense that Isaiah 57:1 is alluding to the “rapture” of the two witnesses, not the church.  This would keep the Damascus destruction narrative in closer proximity to the rapture (post rapture) rather than a further out and further away post-rapture destruction, thus making the military tensions being currently witnessed in Syria a sign of the imminent rapture of the church.  This gives the church a huge sign that our departure is that much nearer.  Furthermore, in the most well-known passage of scripture describing the destruction of Damascus, as most know, is located in Isaiah 17.

What about this?  Is there an even further clue about the fact that this most well-known passage concerning Damascus is found in Isaiah 17 and further seals the deal that it is a future prophetic fulfillment in connection with modern Israel and not something that happened in connection with ancient Israel?  Surprisingly, it does indeed seem to be a major clue.

As most prophecy watchers may well know, it was in the year 1917 that the Balfour Declaration was issued.  It was a public statement by the British government during World War 1 announcing support for the establishment of a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine, then an Ottoman region with a small minority Jewish population.  The fact that the most well-know Damascus prophecy would be chronicled specifically in chapter 17 is most peculiar considering that the Balfour Declaration occurred in a year that just so happens to correspond to a chapter with the same number 17! (1917)!  This clue is yet another indication that we are looking at a near-future fulfillment when Israel is restored as a nation and not a past fulfillment as some contend.

This amazing and peculiar panorama of prophetic events of Isaiah would, then, seem to be yet another nail in the coffin of those who hold the argument that the destruction of Damascus was fulfilled in the 8th century B.C. around 732 B.C.   Of course, we do not need the Isaiah chronicle to prove that the Damascus destruction is an event that will occur in our day just after the rapture.  There are also other clear cut points to be observed to prove that this is still a future event, but the Isaiah chronicle surely puts the final nail in the coffin of doubt and seals the coffin shut in my humble opinion.  Can we now say that it is safe to dispose of the theory that the Damascus prophecy was a fulfillment of the past?  Indeed, I think we can. More on the timing of Damascus’ destruction can be read in my previous article titled “PROPHECY ALERT: COUNTDOWN TO WORLD WAR 3 – THE SOON DESTRUCTION OF DAMASCUS” by clicking the link in the “Recommended Reading”section at the end of this article.

In reality, this conclusion is just simple observation in the sequence of events clearly hinted at in Isaiah.  It looks like the church will indeed still be here to witness the build-up to this devastating and prophetic event as we are currently witnessing on the world stage at this very moment, but shortly thereafter or in the midst of the build-up just before the event happens, the church seems to disappear as already observed above in the next event in the timeline of Isaiah.  The continuing pattern of already known prophetic events revealed in Isaiah’s timeline documented below further solidify that observation.

ISAIAH’S 57:1 PRE-TRIBULATION CHURCH RAPTURE OR TWO WITNESSES RAPTURE?

As noted above, Isaiah 57:1 is often presented as a reference to a pre-tribulation rapture of the church.  The reason for doing so is very convincing at first glance.  In fact, up until before I embarked upon this article, I assumed so as well.  But now, I am rethinking this scenario in light of Isaiah’s end times sequence.  If the sequence of Isaiah calls for a rapture in chapter 26 verse 20, then what is the rapture doing in chapter 57 verse 1? If there were no displayed timing sequences observable in Isaiah, then there is certainly no problem with both chapters alluding to the rapture of the church.  But with the sequence timing clearly being observable and existing in Isaiah’s book structure, that would mean that both scriptures cannot be describing the rapture of the church.  It is here that I will further seek to reveal that chapter 57 verse 1 may well be alluding to the rapture of the two witnesses.  The further evidence, or at the very least a clue, seems to be located earlier in the previous chapter (chapter 56 verse 1) …

“Thus saith the Lord, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed” (Isaiah 56:1).

Here, we can seemingly see an admonition or warning that God’s salvation is soon to come and his righteousness will be revealed.  The words salvation and righteousness, in this context, seems to be speaking of the second coming of Christ and not the rapture.  Furthermore, the admonition and narrative seems to be putting it’s location in time in the midst of the Tribulation with the following words in verse 7 …

“Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people (Isaiah 56:1).

As most may know, sacrifices and offerings will be re-instituted during the millennial reign of Christ on Earth for those still in their physical fleshly bodies in Israel.  Chapter 56 seems to be putting forth the narrative that the Tribulation is in full swing and that soon, when it’s over, the sacrifices will soon be restored.  In the very next chapter, we see the narrative of the “righteous perishing,” “merciful men are taken away while no one considers that the righteous have been taken away from the evil to come.”  As we know, in Revelation 11, the two witnesses are killed (perished) and “taken away” (raptured).  Here, we seem to see the evidence that buttresses the Isaiah sequence of events narrative:

“The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come” (Isaiah 57:1).

Isaiah used the Hebrew term “ovad” to describe what will happen to the subject people called “the righteous” in this verse.  Though it is translated into the King James Version English as “perisheth,” it simply means “to cause to disappear.”  When he said “the righteous perisheth,” was he actually saying “the righteous will be killed?” Then, we see them “taken away, which is exactly what will happen to the two witnesses seen in Revelation 11 three days after they are killed! Why is this word translated as “perisheth?” Because the world will think that these two witnesses have been destroyed. They will then resurrect from death and disappear (taken away), having been snatched away in the sight of all men.  Furthermore, “… no man layeth it to heart … none considering that merciful men have been taken away from the evil to come.”  We know that the Revelation 11 passage reveals that people will actually exchange gifts in celebration at the death of these two witnesses. Isaiah uses the Hebrew term “osaph” – translated in the King James Version as “taken away.”  It is a harvest word meaning, “to be gathered up into a place of safety.”  What Isaiah was saying is that merciful men – the righteous (the two witnesses?) – will be transported into a place of safety – “from the evil to come.”

  

That is Isaiah’s seeming 57:1 view of the two witnesses being raptured.  This view seems to harmonize with the flow of sequenced events in this book and keeps with the narrative that there is a displayed timing sequence.

ISAIAH’S MYSTERY BABYLON

Immediately following the rapture (of the two witnesses?) in Isaiah 57:1, a message of judgment is given to the followers of Mystery Babylon …

“But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore (Isaiah 57:1).

At this point in the Isaiah narrative, God is about to pour out his judgment upon the great whore, Mystery Babylon.  Here, she is called a sorceress, adulterer and whore.  These are terms similar to those used in Revelation 17 that describe Mystery Babylon as the “mother of harlots.”  Isaiah concludes chapter 57 with this warning …

“There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked” (Isaiah 57:21).

At this point in the Isaiah narrative, the Tribulation has begun.  The Antichrist has appeared on the scene declaring peace! peace!, but there is no peace to the wicked.  In the next two chapters, we have the messages of the two witnesses.  According to the other prophets, Moses and Elijah will minister to the children of Israel …

“Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins” (Isaiah 58:1).

“Behold, the Lord‘s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1-2).

The messages of these two witnesses will be to bring Israel to repentance.  Moses and Elijah will point their people to Jesus Christ as their true Messiah.

ISAIAH’S VIEW OF CHRIST’S RETURN

As we approach the end of chapter 59, we see Armageddon and the glorious appearing of Christ to save the day …

“So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him” (Isaiah 59:19).

“When the enemy comes in like a flood” alludes to the battle of Armageddon.  It will occur at the end of the Tribulation period.  A coalition of armies will pour into Israel for a proposed genocide of the Jews.  When that happens, the Lord will lift up a standard against them …

“And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord” (Isaiah 59:20).

Chapter 60 is a praise chapter, which follows the glorious appearing of Christ …

“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee” (Isaiah 60:1).

How do we know that Isaiah 60:1 describes the second coming of Christ?  Because in verse 2, we have a description of the darkness which fills the earth when the sun turns black as sackcloth and the moon turns as blood …

“For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee” (Isaiah 60:2).

Isaiah’s sequence of predicted events shines through if only we will look for them. There are too many passages that correlate with a pre-tribulation rapture for us to simply ignore them.  It is unfortunate that the prophets of old did not have the value of hindsight.  But we do not have the advantage of hindsight either.  We can only view current fulfillments of prophetic events and compare them with scripture.  Only then can we begin to understand that the prophecies are accurate in every detail.  Though all of the Old Testament prophets add certain highlights to the prophetic events of the end times, Isaiah seems to be the most prolific.  He was not only a devout man of God who called his people to repentance, but was a patriot and statesman as well.  He was the kind of man who, as a priest, could enter the Temple and go into the presence of God where he caught the vision of the great Creator upon his throne of glory.  His description given in Isaiah 6 is remarkably like that given by John in the book of Revelation.

CONCLUSION

Isaiah wrote that when Christ comes, he will remove a cloud or veil that covers all nations, indicating the possibility of a worldwide nuclear winter …

“And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations” (Isaiah 25:7).

Update Commentary: It is quite possible that this description of a face covering and a veil spread over all nations is a prophecy indicating the Lord’s removal of face masks currently being worn by the world’s inhabitants by governmental decree.

Like the other prophets, Isaiah also refers to the light of the sun and the moon …

“Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound” (Isaiah 30:26).

Isaiah also described a darkness that would cover the earth …

“For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine” (Isaiah 13:10).

He also described what could be it’s profound effect upon the planet …

“The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly.  The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again” (Isaiah 24:19-20).

All of this could be the result of an explosion in the sun, but a more likely scenario for the fulfillment of this particular prophecy is the approach of the Planet X system with it’s accompanying moons and other orbiting bodies entering our solar system.

In the picture further below, which I thought was irretrievably lost and gone forever after I accidently erased it from my phone (or so I thought), I managed to capture what looks to be a second moon in our skies while walking down the sidewalk here in Denver, Colorado near where I live. This particular picture was captured on my old Samsung galaxy light camera phone. Important to note here is the fact that I double-checked to see if our moon (Earth’s moon) was behind me, and indeed, it was.  It was in the complete opposite direction of this moon.  In my haste to capture this object before it disappeared behind the layering of chem-trails starting to menace the sky, I unfortunately neglected to turn the video recorder on and pan around to the opposite position in the sky to capture the moon behind me (Earth’s moon) to show that this object was not Earth’s moon.  This moon also appeared further away in space than Earth’s moon.

Also important to note is the fact that while looking at this object with the naked eyes, it was much clearer and more defined than what you see in the photo.  But even still, the photo came out clear enough so that one can most certainly see that a round, solid object is there.  A third important thing to note is the fact that, initially, I stared at the object to make certain that it was not just a round shape that randomly appeared in the chemtrail pattern as the chemtrail clouding drifted across the sky.  While watching the chemtrails drift, I noticed that the round solid-looking object did not drift and lose shape along with the chemtrails.  It stayed in the same position while the chemtrails moved, showing that it was not a part of the chemtrail pattern.  When initially viewed with my naked eyes before I even snapped the photo with my phone, it was even less obscured by the chemtrails than what is seen in the photo.  Furthermore, if I had snapped the photo right then, it would have been even more clearly defined.  If one looks close to their screen, you can indeed still see that the round outline of the object is even crisper and not a chemtrail blob.  Having read and studied much concerning the history and the recent Planet X system information available, I knew immediately exactly what it was that I may be looking at. Quite possibly, what you are looking at in this photo is one of the Planet X orbiting moons as this system makes it’s way ever closer to our planet.

The Planet X narrative seems to be the best narrative that would fulfill the above prophecy.  Only two prophecies appear to precede the resurrection and the rapture – the birth of the nation of Israel and the failure of the world to bring about a lasting peace.  We have seen two of these prophecies fulfilled in this past century.

With all of the war tension that has very recently taken a dramatic turn for the worst involving Russia and the United States over Syria, we can only come to the conclusion that we shall soon see resurrection of the dead in Christ and the rapture of all born-again Christians into Heaven and then the destruction of Damascus.  It may be months from now or it may be a few more years, but be assured that we see the storm clouds rolling in upon Damascus.  The rapture cannot be that much further away.

TIMING OF DAMASCUS DESTRUCTION UPDATE ALERT:

SUPERBOWL 53 AND THE DESTRUCTION OF DAMASCUS?

FEBRUARY 3, 2019:  It has been demonstrated before that God seems to use our entertainment industry to give us clues and signs of prophetic events and send prophetic warnings our way, such as was demonstrated in a previous article on this site concerning the 1997 Hale-Bopp comet and it’s stunning connection to the story of the Titanic and the same year that the movie itself was released in theaters nationwide.  This prophetic connection demonstrably extended to the year 2017 and the election of a man to the presidency of the United States with a biblically peculiar last name that just so “happens” to describe what will occur at the rapture event (see a previous article titled “THE HALE-BOPP COMET AND IT’S PROPHETIC CONNECTION TO THE YEAR 2017 AND “TRUMP”: A DRAMATIC SIGN OF THE COMING GLOBAL JUDGMENT in the “Recommended Reading” section at the end of this article). That year also saw an amazing rapture sign in the heavens commonly referred to in Christian circles as the “Revelation 12 sign.”

Could the upcoming Superbowl 53 game hold clues about the precise timing of the destruction of Damascus, thus, the rapture?  Or, at least be a dramatic clue of it’s soon approach possibly this year in 2019?  Hold on to your seat, we “may” have a dramatic end time clue.

In these very last days, the Lord’s communication through his signs are being manifested in a myriad of different ways.  In fact, one should be quite amazed at the consistent and unexpected ways he is giving us these signs, such as with the aforementioned Hale-Bopp comet. It’s almost as if he challenges our faith and our own preconceived ideas about what is or is not allowed to be a sign. Is it possible that communication would extend to us through something as silly as a sports game? Especially sports games that are in the national spotlight, like the major league baseball and NFL games, and particularly, through Boston’s sports teams – especially the New England Patriots.

It seems far from a coincidence that prior to the 9-11 twin towers and Pentagon attack judgment sign that the Patriots have never won a Superbowl.  The Red Sox hadn’t won the world series in 86 years.  The Boston Bruins hadn’t won a Stanley Cup in 39 years.  It seems that these team’s long droughts of championship success was providentially pre-determined by God in order to emphasize his raising up of these Boston teams post 9-11.

In fact, the Patriot’s first Superbowl win came just months after 9-11.  As hard as it is to believe today, for a brief time after 9-11, there was a sense of “patriotic” unity in the nation.  During the Superbowl in early 2002, the nation became instant New England Patriots fans.  At the time, everyone seemed to recognize the symbolic significance of the team named “Patriots” from the city that symbolizes American history and heritage.

However, this renewed national and civic pride in America came without the recognition that the 9-11 catastrophe was, in fact, a judgment sign on America.  This national pride came without repentance and a return to God.  Years later, it was revealed to us in Jonathan Cahn’s book “The Harbinger” detailing the countless signs surrounding 9-11 and the full extent that the Lord had gone to in communicating judgment warning with 9-11.  The upcoming Superbowl between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams will be (perhaps) the last great 9-11 judgment sign on America.  It may be part of the last chapter in this epic 9-11 story between God and America.  Evidence would suggest that America is about to be judged and the Patriots have been providentially placed in this Superbowl as a symbolic demonstration of that possibility.

Over the 17 years since 9-11, the Patriots have experienced a seeming miraculous win after miraculous win.  As will be seen as you continue to read, the purpose will be evident that God demonstrated this miracle aspect near the end of this season with a famous play that became known as the “Miami Miracle.”  The numbers demonstrably made this a sign.  There were 7 seconds to go when player number 17 threw a 69 yard miracle touchdown that cost the Patriots a home-field advantage in the play-offs.  Important to note that the number 69 in scripture is prophetically important in the book of Daniel in Daniel’s 70th week prophecy).  The team was seemingly miraculously lifted up by God during these years since 9-11 in order to symbolize how it is that America has been miraculously lifted up by him alone throughout her history.  Lest there be any doubt about this fact, the evidence for this has been overwhelmingly demonstrated in a previous article on this site titled “AMERICA AND A PROPHETIC FOUR DIMENSIONAL TRIP THROUGH THE TABERNACLE OF MOSES” – see the “Recommended Reading” section at the end of this article).

Ultimately, God lifted up the Patriots over these seventeen years in order to demonstrate the team’s fall from grace in order to symbolize America’s soon coming fall from grace.  This was beautifully illustrated in last year’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.  The Philadelphia church is a favored church among the seven churches mentioned in the book of Revelation chapters 2 & 3.  It is the church that is declared to be spared from the approaching seven years of judgment on Earth called the Tribulation and will be raptured off the Earth prior to the beginning of this horrible seven years, thus the win of the Philadelphia Eagles over the New England Patriots …

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.  Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.  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. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Revelation 3:7-13).

Nick Foles, the humble back-up quarterback that often praises God publicly, started the game for the Philadelphia Eagles wearing jersey number 9 – a number that symbolizes judgment.

Foles and the Eagles marched over the Patriots all the way to a victory parade in the streets of Philadelphia that symbolized the rapture of the church of Philadelphia into Heaven.  A “great multitude” packed the city of Philadelphia.

This event spoke to Revelation chapter 7 in which the raptured church is seen standing before God in Heaven after being raptured ….

“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, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.  And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever” (Revelation 7:9-12).

Below are two quotes from the national newspaper USA TODAY that revealed this victory as a sign from God …

“Organizers said they were prepared for up to 2 million people to jam the parade route from South Philadelphia’s stadium district to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  That would be roughly twice the turnout for Pope Francis in 2015, but football may be this area’s unifying religion.  And the Eagles had, at long last, delivered the team’s worshippers to the promised land with Sunday’s upset victory over the New England Patriots.” 

In a quote that hinted at the patient endurance that Jesus commended to the church of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia team announcer said …

“We have waited for so long, but our dream has finally come true,” the team’s announcer, Merrill Reese, declared as the ceremony got underway on the Museum’s iconic steps.  “I don’t think words can really describe what is going on here today,” said Nick Foles, the back-up quarterback who earned MVP honors at the Superbowl. 

The Eagles vs. Patriots Superbowl game ended in the dramatic closing seconds.  Instead of another typical Tom Brady miraculous come-from-behind game winning drive, this time Tom Brady was stripped of the ball for a turnover.

This symbolized the ball being stripped from America and being handed back over to Israel for the end times Tribulation period, during which times, the saints in the Church of Philadelphia are celebrating in Heaven.

As a side note, think about the prophetic hints in the following story – The Philadelphia Experiment is an alleged military experiment supposed to have been carried out by the U.S. Navy at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania sometime around October 28, 1943. The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Eldridge (DE-173) was claimed to have been rendered “invisible” (or “cloaked”) to enemy devices.

The story first appeared in 1955, in letters of unknown origin sent to a writer and astronomer, Morris K. Jessup. It is widely understood to be a hoax; the U.S. Navy maintains that no such experiment was ever conducted, that the details of the story contradict well-established facts about USS Eldridge, and that the alleged claims do not conform to known physical laws.  But one of the more credible experiments claims that the U.S. Navy attempted to de-materialize one of its own submarines using a magnetic field in the form of what was/is called a “moebius strip.”  The moebius strip is a single-sided geometrical figure without a beginning or an end.  It was allegedly cut in half with an electronic device.  Following this action, the submarine is said to have “disappeared” or “vanished” from “Philadelphia.”  It is said to have instantaneously reappeared in New Port.

In another experiment, it is said that a warship was made to disappear from Philadelphia and re-materialize in Norfolk, Virginia before disappearing once again, then reappearing once more in Philadelphia.  One of the more surprising facts of World War 2 is the psychic and occult experiments that were carried out on a very large scale around that time by the Americans, the British, the Russians and the Germans.  A submarine “vanishing” from “Philadelphia” and reappearing somewhere else?  A warship disappearing from Philadelphia and then later reappearing in Philadelphia?  It is known in scripture that seven years after the rapture of the church, we shall come back to Earth and rule and reign with Christ on Earth.  Need I say more?

A very prophetic 17 years after the Patriots won their first title in 2002, the Patriots will be playing the Rams – the very same team they beat in their first Superbowl win that came in 2002 right after 9-11.  The number 7 shows God’s touch upon something.  This is the 7th time that two teams played a rematch in a Superbowl.  The Patriots are also the only team to have played 3 Superbowl rematches.  It seems to demonstrate the Lord’s poetry that the Patriots play the Rams again in the last Superbowl ever.  It seems that he has done this in order to point the nation’s attention back to the Patriots first Superbowl win right after 9-11, a game in which the nation identified with the Patriots.  We can see now that the Lord has seemingly orchestrated a match-up between the New England Patriots (New England symbolizing America’s history and beginning in it’s covenant with God) and the Los Angeles Rams again in this Superbowl in order to highlight these 17 years that he has symbolically lifted up the Patriots.  Another way the Lord seems to be highlighting these 17 years of grace that America has received since the 9-11 judgment warning sign through this Superbowl is the very number of this year’s Superbowl.  It is Superbowl 53.

The number 53 is the 17th prime number.  In other words, the number 53 is another expression of the very prophetic number 17.  17 is the 7th prime number, therefore, this reveals God’s touch upon this number.  The number 17 is linked to resurrection in scripture.  For example, the 17th triangular number is 153 which symbolizes the harvest of souls into the Kingdom of God at the end of the church age in the book of John chapter 21 …

“And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.  As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.  Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.  Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken” (John 21:8-11).

The sum of 1+2+3+4 … all the way up to 17 equals 153.  The number 17 also expresses the combination of 10, which is the number for ordinal perfection and the number 7 for spiritual perfection (10+7=17).  The number 17 is the day of the month in which Jesus rose from the dead (Nisan 17).  It was also the day of the month in which the Ark of Noah lifted up off the earth (Heshvan 17).  Genesis 17 expresses a transition from flesh to spirit through the covenant and promise from Isaac to Abram (Genesis 17=flesh to spirit).  In relating the event of the rapture, scripture speaks of this very concept …

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:52-57).

The changing of the names from Abram to Abraham and Sarai to Sarah in the circumcision.  This symbolizes a change from that which is after the flesh to that which is after the spirit.  Additionally, the Lord seems to be communicating that this is (possibly) the last Superbowl before judgment on America takes place through the number 53.  As already stated, the number 7 symbolizes God’s touch upon something.  This is expressed time and time again throughout the entire Bible.  Interestingly, the number 7 is mentioned 53 times in the end times book of Revelation.  Therefore, God’s touch is upon this 53rd Superbowl with end times symbolism.  Through his trail of signs, the Lord is pointing to Isaiah 17, the very scripture that describes the horrific destruction of Damascus …

“The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.  The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid.  The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the Lord of hosts.  And in that day it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean.  And it shall be as when the harvestman gathereth the corn, and reapeth the ears with his arm; and it shall be as he that gathereth ears in the valley of Rephaim.  Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the Lord God of Israel.  At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.  And he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands, neither shall respect that which his fingers have made, either the groves, or the images.  In that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch, which they left because of the children of Israel: and there shall be desolation” (Isaiah 17:1-9). “Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!  The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.  And behold at eveningtide trouble; and before the morning he is not. This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us” (verses 12-14).

He is communicating that the beginning of judgment on the world and the beginning of the end times leading to the Tribulation period begins at the moment that Damascus is judged with this city’s complete destruction over night with a powerful weapon of frightening destruction and with 7 years of terror.

The gematria value of the name “Damascus” 444, which is a number that symbolizes the world and through G444, the number 444 also symbolizes man (Damascus = 444 / G444 = man).  The city of Damascus is also known for its standing as the oldest and continuously inhabited city in the world, and for this reason, Damascus also symbolizes the world .  A deeper study on Damascus in the Bible also reveals Damascus to be a symbol of the world.  The Lord seems to be using the number 17 in his signs to point to Isaiah 17 (quoted above) and to also symbolize judgment on the world.  Therefore, the end of these 17 years of grace since 9-11 while the New England Patriots were symbolically lifted up quite likely symbolizes the end of this grace upon America and culminating with judgment upon her.  This providential demonstration through the New England Patriots and their dramatic and miraculous wins began in their first Superbowl in 2002.  At the end of the game, the Los Angeles Rams scored two straight touchdowns to tie the game at 17 to 17.  The Patriots started from their own 17 yard line with just 1 minute and 21 seconds to go and no time outs.  The ensuing series of plays from Tom Brady that unfolded resembles near every late game performance that we’ve seen from him over the last 17 years.  In other words, through the 2002 Superbowl, the Lord was very possibly (and quite likely) communicating to us that America had 17 years before judgment after the 9-11 judgment sign.

This intricacy of prophetic signs of the Lord’s hand in the affairs of man should stun, shock, amaze and overwhelm any observer with even the slightest ability of spiritual hearing.  If only America and the world knew this and knew it in 2002.

In further demonstrating the Lord’s miraculous hand in lifting up the Patriots, their miraculous and dramatic win in their AFC Championship victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, one will further realize in this anecdotal example how God is using the Patriots to demonstrate himself.  Below is a quote from an ESPN article …

“In the end, the Patriots won the game because they won the overtime coin toss because special teams captain Matthew Slater called heads and the coin bounced his way.  Slater would later state afterward in his lock room that he always calls heads because his Hall Of Fame father, Jackie, once instructed him to.  “We always say that God is the head of our life, so we always called heads, simple as that,” Slater said.

What is seemingly uncanny is the fact that people often have an irrational and visceral hatred for the Patriots among many nationwide.  A plausible theory for this is that there is an unconscious spiritual element to this that is the spirit of rebellion against God.  It is an interesting “coincidence” that the Hall Of Famer mentioned in the quote played his entire career with the Rams.  Given that the careers of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick span the 17 years between two Superbowls played against the Rams.  Let’s now get to some of the shocking things that the Lord is now revealing through this upcoming Superbowl in more prophetic connections involving the number 17 (remember, Isaiah 17 describes the destruction of Damascus).  There was a significance in the huge trail of signs in the Boston Red Sox victory parade on October 31, 2018 that included duck boats that resembled little arks (think Noah’s Ark before the judgment of the flood of Noah in the book of Genesis).

This has an uncanny connection to the duck boat sinking tragedy that occurred on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, on July 23, 2018.  The owners and operators of a duck boat that sank in Missouri, killing 17 people, put passengers’ lives at risk by going out to water when severe thunderstorms were predicted.  This tragedy involved the numbers 31, 17 and 9.  There were 31 people on board the duck boat, 17 deaths and 9 deaths from within the same family.

4 days after the Boston Red Sox victory parade, the New England Patriots played a game against the Green Bay Packers in the national spotlight on Sunday night.  The numbers in the game paralleled the duck boat tragedy numbers.  The score was 31 to 17 and the game was week 9 of the NFL season.  Both of these signs revealed 17 days after the October 31st Red Sox victory parade sign!  October 31st + 17 days = November 17th (9/9/5779 [Hebrew calendar year] and the reason for the number 9 in the 31, 17 and 9 numbers in the signs.  This was one of the numerous ways in which the Lord pointed to November 17th and 9/9/5779.  Before the game, the Patriots vs. Packers match-up was dubbed “GOAT VS. GREATNESS” in the sports media and it was in week 9, a number that symbolizes judgment as already pointed out earlier.  This is what made this a sign that points to scripture as Matthew 25 speaks of the final judgment that separates the goats and the sheep …

“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats …” (Matthew 25:31-32). 

“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels …” (verse 41).  “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal” (verse 46).

The sheep that follow the shepherd home are considered great in the Lord’s eyes, but goats cannot be herded and thus go their own way, which is why the Lord used this metaphor.  It is now clear that the Lord gave us this “Goat vs. Greatness” sign in week 9 of the season as a precedent for recognizing this Superbowl as a battle between a goat and a ram.  A ram is a sheep, thus this Superbowl contains Matthew 25 symbolism.

Lest one think that God does not and would not use this sort of end time signage in our entertainment, I would point out to you the following from 1 Corinthians …

“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence” (1 Corinthians 1:27-29).

A FINAL THOUGHT

It is very interesting indeed that we are in the prophetic and extremely biblical 70th year since Israel’s reestablishment as a nation in 1948 as predicted in Bible prophecy.  Combining this sign with the above Superbowl game signs and it’s hint at the number 17 and the destruction of Damascus, thus the rapture before that horrific event, is extremely eye-opening and should cause all to re-evaluate their standing with God and make their preparation accordingly. These signs may not mean that this will occur this year (2019) specifically, but who can argue the fact that these signs are, at the very least, pointing out the fact that it is going to be very, very soon.  Keep your eye on Damascus!  Things are happening and we are almost out of time.

Although there are some who put the Damascus destruction a short time before the rapture, the timeline of Isaiah hinted at seems to be a post rapture destruction.  I personally remain open to the thought that it’s destruction may indeed occur before the rapture. As always, there may be a little something indicated in scripture that is unknown to myself that would definitely indicate this as being so.  Regardless of whether it occurs a bit before or after the rapture, it most certainly is very prophetically significant that we see Damascus in the mix of world tensions such as they are at the current time, especially in light of Russia’s involvement.

This article is intended to present an additional observation in scripture to perhaps clarify the Damascus puzzle.  But in the end, the Damascus part of Isaiah’s seeming timeline cannot be one-hundred percent certain given that there are other very credible timing scenarios.  I still remain open to it’s pre-rapture destruction.  The main reason for this article, in reality, is to show not only that a timeline of end time events is presented in the book of Isaiah, but to show that there is a definite indication of a pre-Tribulation rapture within that timeline of events and that the destruction of Damascus is a prophecy intended for our time.  Whether it’s pre-rapture or post rapture is more of an aside interesting observation which may or may not be accurate.  But, it is extremely interesting and near to being undeniable that it’s destruction will be after the rapture, not before, given this observable Isaiah timeline structure of the flow of events.  In the end, it is for you to decide whether it will be pre-rapture or post rapture.  Personally, I’m open to both possibilities.  Keep your eyes on Syria!

TIMING OF DAMASCUS DESTRUCTION UPDATE ALERT 2:

RUSSIA INVADES UKRAINE TWO DAYS AFTER SIGNIFICANT PALINDRONE DATE

FEBRUARY 24, 2022

In light of all of the seeming biblical prophetic signage that has accompanied the aforementioned Superbowl game and its prophetic numbering threads connecting it to Damascus, the obvious and glaring number that we should keep at the forefront of our minds is the number 53 – the number assigned to this particular Superbowl game. In a recent article on this site, we have explored the significance of the number 153 to the rapture and its many other prophetic signs connected to this peculiar number from John chapter 21 and the 153 fish. That article can be seen here.

It should also be noted that we have just crossed what seems to be a prophetically significant timing milestone as it pertains to the date of 02/22/2022. This is known as a “palindrone.” A palindrone is a word, phrase, verse or sentence that reads the same backward or forward. This date would more commonly be read worldwide as 22/02/2022. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022 – which would be 2 days on a “Tues”day “twos”day after the 22/02/2022 palindrone. Interestingly enough, the Superbowl 53 event occurred in the 2nd month of 2019 – a time span of 4 years from then until the year 2023, which is a possibile rapture year based on a 1949 Matthew 24 fig tree rapture model. Here, we see the numbers 2 and 4 corresponding with the date that Russia invaded Ukraine and also corresponding to Matthew “24.” With that thought in mind, given that we have just discussed the prophetic significance of Superbowl 53 and its seeming association with the 9/11 false flag attack on America in 2001, it should be noted that 22 years after 9/11, 2001, brings us to 2023. In recent postings, it has been speculated for various reasons that the fig tree generation of Matthew 24 may well extend the outer time limit of the rapture into 2023. In line with the overarching message of this posting upon examining Isaiah’s end time chronicle of events as it relates to the destruction of Damascus and the rapture, we must now ask the question … Are we looking at a 2023 destruction of Damascus and the rapture event shortly before? In the video below, an interesting narrative will emerge concerning the palindrone and the prophetic timing significance of America crossing this palindrone date.

THE RAPTURE AND YOUR ESCAPE

The demonstrably divinely inspired text that we call the Bible promises a coming horrendous seven-year Tribulation period of judgment upon Earth for all of mankind, no matter what your religion, belief or creed is, and even to those who don’t believe anything spiritual at all.  In this approaching time of judgment, it is certain that the judgment of God will fall upon the earth as Revelation and other prophetic scripture declares it will.  We can now clearly see the signs of this approaching nightmare.  However, this same divinely inspired text that we call the Bible promises an escape from this horrendous time of judgment only to a certain category of people …

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” 1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

“But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:8-9).

Put simply, an event is coming that will be so stupendous that it strains the mind to contemplate such an event happening.  It is an event that will see millions upon millions of people across the globe suddenly disappear without warning.  The millions of disappeared will have literally ascended into Heaven itself after instantaneously receiving a new glorified body fit for Heaven.  A body that will be able to withstand the atmosphere and glory of Heaven.  This event is known as the “Rapture.”  But, as mentioned above, the promise of escape is only to those who are “born again” in Christ.  This is why it is crucial to understand what Christ meant when he declared in no uncertain terms that only those who are “born again” in him will enter the Kingdom of God.  For the explanation of this, keep reading below.

In order to accept the offer of God’s grace and his salvation, you must take the crucial three steps of …

1. Agreeing – A belief and agreeing with God in all that he says in his word, the Bible, about the fact that you are separated from God, as every man and woman on the face of the earth are before accepting his salvation.  The Bible reveals that all are separated from him in a spiritual state of death, or said another way that the Bible reveals it, in a state of sin, that will result in damnation in the afterlife.  Agreeing with God in your heart that you are in need of his salvation.  The Bible reveals that God looks upon the heart of a man or woman, and thus, responds accordingly to the person who comes to him for salvation in recognition of his inability to save himself.  The Bible makes these facts very clear – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).  The Bible describes these three kinds of death:

• physical death (the state experienced when life leaves our bodies).

• spiritual death (spiritual separation from God caused by our state of spiritual death inherited from the first man Adam – the state of sin that results in our daily outward acts of sin, whether deliberate or not, whether omissive or not; and finally …

• the second death (the fixed state entered into by the individual who dies physically while he or she is dead spiritually). This state is entered into after the death of the body which results in punishment in the afterlife until the event of the Great White Throne Judgment occurs wherein the damned are resurrected from Hades, or Hell, and are judged according to their works and finally destroyed and cease to exist after being cast into the Lake of Fire. Revelation 14 refers to this tragic end of the unsaved as the “Second Death” (verse 14). It is this state of suffering entered into after physical death and then final destruction at the Great White Throne Judgment in particular which is the horrible result of receiving the wages of sin (unforgiven due to unbelief and rejection of Christ). The Lord Jesus Christ frequently described such a death as being irrevocable in a destiny which he called Hell.  He described Hell as a literal place of judgment (Matthew 13:42); a place of everlasting fire (Matthew 18:8); a place of torment (Luke 16:24,28); a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:50); a place of remorse (Mark 9:44-48); of bitter memory (Luke 16:25), and a place originally prepared for the Devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41).  In fact, Jesus more often warned about Hell than he spoke about Heaven.

It is not God’s will or desire that any person should be consigned to perish in Hell (2 Peter 3:9), but rather that all should come to repentance of unbelief toward him and believe on him for the salvation of the individual’s soul.  But God’s justice requires that the “soul who sins” (remains in it’s state of death or state of sin) is the one who will die a second time after a long period of torment (Ezekiel 18:4).  So, agree with God, admitting that you are unable to save yourself and in a state of sin under God’s just condemnation for that sin and that you are in need of his salvation.

2. Believing – Then, believe that God does not want you to perish eternally in the torment of Hell because of your sin.  Believe that God loves you so much that he provided a way whereby he could still be a just, holy and righteous God, and yet pardon you.  Believe that God did not just overlook sin, but that he sent his only begotten son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to provide salvation by personally paying the penalty for sin.  Believe that Jesus Christ, whose life, death, burial and resurrection is the best-attested fact of antiquity, did come to earth to live, die, rise again and ascend to Heaven in order to provide justification and salvation for all who trust him.  Believe that he, and he alone, can save you because he has fully satisfied the just demands of God.  Believe that you can’t become righteous in God’s sight by your own effort.  Believe that he wants to save you and that he will save you.  The Bible provides a solid basis for such belief …

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16-17). 

“But God demonstrates his love toward us in this:  while we were yet sinners,  Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). 

God presented him (Jesus Christ) as a sacrifice of atonement through faith in his blood.  He did this to demonstrate his justice because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished – he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies the man or woman who has faith in Jesus (Romans 3:25-26). 

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures … ” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). 

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). 

“Jesus answered, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).  “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out [drive away]” (John 6:37).

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).

3. Calling – It is not enough to agree with God, admit your need, and believe that Christ can and will save you.  You must act upon those facts. God’s requirement is that you repent of your unbelief toward him and actively call upon him for the salvation of your soul based on the fact that you cannot save yourself. It is unbelief in particular that damns the soul to its horrible fate …

“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18).

You must be willing to completely turn from your own efforts to save yourself or from any other hope.  You must come to Christ, calling upon him for salvation and counting on the fact that he will do what he has promised.  This means simply taking the gift of pardon and eternal life which he offers.  Merely believing about Jesus Christ without coming to him makes as much sense and is as effective as believing that a medication can successfully treat a fatal disease, but failing to take it.  Yet again, the Bible emphatically and authoritatively provides the basis for such statements.

The word translated “believe” here means to “rest one’s entire weight and trust on the object or person in which the belief is placed.”  It requires action in keeping with the intellectual assent of that belief.

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

” … but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

The logical question you may be asking at this point is:  “how do I come to Christ and call upon him?”  The answer is that “calling upon the Lord” is just another term for praying, or talking to God.  To talk to God is not a complicated process, dependent upon some special rituals.  God has invited people to approach him through his Son in simple, straightforward terms.  In fact, Jesus approved of the dishonest, despised tax collector who simply prayed, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.”  While the exact words of your prayer to God are not of vital importance (since God sees and knows the attitude of your heart), the following is the kind of prayer that you could pray in calling upon God for salvation …

“Dear Lord Jesus:  I realize that I need you.  I admit that I have sinned and that I deserve your just, eternal punishment for that sin.  But I am sorry for my sin and I am turning to you and asking for forgiveness.  I believe that you died and rose again to pay sin’s penalty on my behalf.  I come to you and open my heart to you.  I ask you to come into my life, forgive me for all of my sin and make me your child.  I invite you to take control of my life and to cause me to be the kind of person you would have me to be.  I thank you for doing this because you have promised that whosoever calls upon you, as I am doing now, shall be saved.  I pray this in the name of your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.”

If this prayer expresses the desire of your heart, I urge you to sincerely and genuinely express it to God as your prayer.  The Bible makes clear that when we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ in our heart, God forgives our sins and counts us righteous, and that when we openly confess with our mouth what we have done in our heart,  God gives us assurance of that salvation (Romans 10:9-10).

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again” (John 3:3-7).