{"id":1408,"date":"2013-07-01T12:21:34","date_gmt":"2013-07-01T17:21:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/legacyinstitute.org\/wordpress\/?p=1408"},"modified":"2013-07-02T11:53:33","modified_gmt":"2013-07-02T16:53:33","slug":"update-prophecy-in-the-middle-east","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legacyinstitute.org\/wordpress\/2013\/07\/update-prophecy-in-the-middle-east\/","title":{"rendered":"Update, Prophecy in the Middle East"},"content":{"rendered":"

I was planning to talk about this recent news and how I see prophecy being fulfilled in the Middle East today by writing to you in my monthly Legacy Letter. \u00a0But I decided that I need to send you a blog posting because things are happening so fast it is difficult to keep up.<\/p>\n

God gave the Prophet Daniel special insight into (from Daniel\u2019s perspective) the far distant future. \u00a0That prophesied future is upon us today. \u00a0If we understand the way that prophecy works, we can see what is happening behind the scenes in the news reports we watch on TV and read in our newspapers and magazines. \u00a0A recent news flash reports that the United States plans to, now officially, send arms to the Syrian rebels and send military instructors to train them to succeed in overthrowing Bashar Assad(1).<\/p>\n

Why should that matter to us? \u00a0What should we care about what goes on in a distant Muslim country where many hate the United States and if possible, would wipe Israel off the face of the Earth? \u00a0Well, you had better watch developments in Syria very carefully because prophecy is unfolding before our very eyes!<\/p>\n

I have said for a long time that I believe that Syria would be a \u201ccookie cutter\u201d repeat of Libya. \u00a0The U.S. will now openly arm and finance rebels to overthrow Assad. \u00a0Libya is a mess. \u00a0Radical Islamists killed the American Ambassador; three other Americans, and burned a so-called consulate. \u00a0Black Al Qaeda flags were hoisted all over Bengazi. \u00a0We still do not know who is running the show in Libya. \u00a0Next door, Egypt is firmly in the hands of the Muslim Brotherhood whom the United States is financing with billions of dollars in aid as well as jets and tanks(2). \u00a0The U.S. is also now sending a battalion of the 1st Cavalry Division as part of a multi-national force(3) \u00a0ostensibly for \u201cpeacekeeping\u201d purposes to police the border between Egypt and Israel. \u00a0This unit has just completed riot control training because Egypt is bracing for riots against Mohammed Morsi, the new and now unpopular Muslim Brotherhood President.<\/p>\n

The Islamic Jihadis that fought against Khadafy in Libya have now moved on into Syria and are fighting Assad. \u00a0U.S. politicians are pushing the American Congress and European allies to declare a \u201cNo-fly Zone\u201d. \u00a0American soldiers and missiles are already based in Jordan. \u00a0Turkey, a NATO member and, at least on the surface, an ally of the U.S. and Europe has the CIA and U.S. military instructors teaching Syrian opposition forces at secret bases just over the border. \u00a0 D\u00e9j\u00e0\u00a0vu? \u00a0Yes, I would say so.<\/p>\n

So, why is it necessary to have American and European involvement in a civil war to overthrow Assad in Syria? \u00a0The answer is contained in prophecy, given to one of The Eternal God\u2019s Prophets thousands of years ago and recorded so that you and I can read it and understand.<\/p>\n

We must keep in mind that God uses what Bible students call \u201cdual fulfillment\u201d to prepare us for what is to come. \u00a0The first prophetic fulfillment is a dress rehearsal for the actual fulfillment at the End of the Age.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s look at Daniel\u2019s prophecy that is talking about Syria. \u00a0But first let\u2019s set the stage.<\/p>\n

Alexander the Great conquered Egypt and the vast Persian Empire, but died young at Babylon in 323 B.C. with no heir. \u00a0The empire was divided between his four generals(4). \u00a0General Seleuchus took Syria and Babylon. General Ptolemy became Pharaoh of Egypt. \u00a0The Holy Land remained in the middle between these two new empires. \u00a0The other two generals took Greece and Asia Minor.<\/p>\n

\"BattleofIssus333BC-mosaic-detail\"<\/a>
Alexander fighting the Persian king Darius III. Alexander Mosaic, Naples. (Author: Ruthven)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The Egyptian Ptolemaic dynasty fought against the Seleucids of Syria for many years. \u00a0Palestine was usually a part of the Seleucid lands. \u00a0Daniel prophesied about this back and forth tug of war between the King of the South (Ptolemaic rulers) and the King of the North (Seleucid rulers) in Daniel 11.<\/div>\n

Both the first and latter fulfillments of the prophecies of Daniel concerning Syria are contained in Daniel 11. \u00a0These two separate fulfillments each involve the desecration of the Sanctuary of the Temple in Jerusalem. \u00a0 In Daniel 11:29, we find the beginning of the first fulfillment of the desecration.<\/p>\n

In 175 B.C., Ant\u00edochus IV Epiphanes (meaning \u201cGod with us\u201d) came to the throne of the Seleucid Empire. He had grown up as a political hostage in Rome because the Seleucid Empire was under Roman control. \u00a0After taking the throne, Antiochus began a series of wars with Egypt, the traditional enemy of Syria.<\/p>\n

\"Antiochus_IV_Epiphanes_Morkholm\"<\/a>
Coin struck during Antiochus Epiphanes\u2019 reign. He believed he was the earthly incarnation of Jupiter Olympus, King of the gods and had himself depicted as Jupiter on his throne holding Nike (Victory). Notice obverse (L.) (Figure courtesy: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. http:\/\/www.cngcoins.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In Daniel 11:29-39, Daniel tells us \u2013in advance- what took place in one particularly disastrous war.<\/p>\n

Dan 11:29-39<\/strong><\/div>\n
At the time appointed he {Antiochus} shall return, and come toward the south; but<\/em><\/div>\n
it shall not be as the former, or as the latter.<\/em><\/div>\n
For the ships of Chittim(5) shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved,<\/em><\/div>\n
and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall<\/em><\/div>\n
even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.<\/em><\/div>\n
And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength,<\/em><\/div>\n
and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that<\/em><\/div>\n
maketh desolate.<\/em><\/div>\n
And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the<\/em><\/div>\n
people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.<\/em><\/div>\n
And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall<\/em><\/div>\n
by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.<\/em><\/div>\n
Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall<\/em><\/div>\n
cleave to them with flatteries.<\/em><\/div>\n
And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to<\/em><\/div>\n
make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.<\/em><\/div>\n
And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify<\/em><\/div>\n
himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of<\/em><\/div>\n
gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is<\/em><\/div>\n
determined shall be done.<\/em><\/div>\n
Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard<\/em><\/div>\n
any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.<\/em><\/div>\n
But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers<\/em><\/div>\n
knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and<\/em><\/div>\n
pleasant things.<\/em><\/div>\n
Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall<\/em><\/div>\n
acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many,<\/em><\/div>\n
and shall divide the land for gain.<\/em><\/div>\n

Antiochus Epiphanes went with a strong army to attack Egypt. \u00a0But as he was pressing toward Alexandria, he was met by a Roman envoy (backed by Roman naval power) and \u201cencouraged\u201d to leave Egypt. \u00a0Incensed at being thwarted in his plan of conquest, he returned north. \u00a0Looking for an excuse to vent his anger and frustration, he sent his army to Jerusalem to sack the Temple and take out his spite on the Jews.<\/p>\n

Antiochus and his men murdered thousands of Jewish men, women and children(6), and moved to wipe out the worship of Yahweh God. \u00a0He forbade circumcision; the observance of the Sabbath and Holy Days, and halted all sacrifices to God. \u00a0He made possession of the Torah punishable by death. \u00a0He replaced the worship of the true God in the Temple with the worship of idols IN THE TEMPLE! \u00a0He erected an idol of Jupiter Olympus (probably with the likeness of himself) on top of the Altar of Burnt Offering and the Holy Place, and commanded the priests to offer sacrifice of swine and other unclean animals on the Altar. \u00a0 \u00a0He polluted the Sanctuary with pig\u2019s blood and commanded his soldiers to engage in homosexual acts openly in the Temple Precinct. \u00a0Some of the leaders of the Jews abandoned the Covenant and joined in the worship of idols and adopted Greek dress and customs.<\/p>\n

Eventually, a Priestly family (Maccabees) rose up against his rule; defeated the Seleucids using guerrilla tactics, retook Jerusalem, cleansed the Temple and restored the worship of the True God.<\/p>\n

Antiochus wanted to retake Jerusalem and punish the upstarts, but an attack from the Northeast by the Parthians(7) caused him to take the majority of his army to meet the Parthian threat and send a smaller contingent to retake Jerusalem. \u00a0Antiochus had some initial successes against the Parthians, but was struck with a terrible disease of the bowels(8). \u00a0He died with worms eating his insides, much like King Herod(9), who also claimed he was a god. \u00a0The Jewish Festival of Hanukkah commemorates the cleansing and re-dedication of the Temple after the victory over the Seleucids.<\/p>\n

This entire course of events from the setting up of the idol of Jupiter in the Temple to the death of Antiochus Epiphanes took place over the course of approximately 3 \u00bd – 4 years.<\/p>\n

Daniel prophesied that, \u00a0And 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.<\/em> Dan 12:11<\/strong><\/p>\n

This first fulfillment (I call a rehearsal) happened nearly 1200 years ago. \u00a0It was about 170 years before Jesus was born.<\/p>\n

But it is going to happen again.<\/p>\n

Jesus prophesied about a future time when a Great Tribulation will take place. \u00a0It<\/div>\n
Will be a terrible time when God\u2019s people will be persecuted. \u00a0This will take place<\/div>\n
at the very End of the Age. \u00a0Jesus said it would last for approximately 3 \u00bd years.<\/div>\n
Jesus said the sign that marks the beginning of this Great Tribulation will be the<\/div>\n
setting up of the Abomination of Desolation spoken of by Daniel (see Matthew<\/div>\n
13:15).<\/div>\n

Didn’t this setting up of an idol of Jupiter already happen about 200 years before Jesus spoke these words? \u00a0Yes, it already happened and it will happen again! \u00a0But first the stage has to be set by a war between the King of the South (Egypt and\/or whoever controls Egypt) and a King of the North (Syria and\/or whoever controls Syria) at the time of the End.<\/p>\n

Dan 11:40-45<\/strong><\/span><\/address>\n
And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of<\/em><\/div>\n
the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with<\/em><\/div>\n
horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall<\/em><\/div>\n
overflow and pass over.<\/em><\/div>\n
He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown:<\/em><\/div>\n
but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the<\/em><\/div>\n
children of Ammon{Jordan}. \u00a0He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the<\/em><\/div>\n
countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.<\/em><\/div>\n
But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the<\/em><\/div>\n
precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.<\/em><\/div>\n
But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall<\/em><\/div>\n
go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.<\/em><\/div>\n
And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious<\/em><\/div>\n
holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.<\/em><\/div>\n
–<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
\"Jupiter<\/a>
Statue of Jupiter Olympus seated on the throne of heaven (Courtesy: Sanne Smit)-<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

First, the King of the South {Egypt} must \u201cpush\u201d militarily at the King of the North {Whoever is occupying Syria}. \u00a0Then the King of the North retaliates by attacking Egypt and occupying Palestine, including Israel(10). \u00a0Jordan(12) escapes occupation.<\/p>\n

News from the Northeast concerns him (the King of the North), so he returns back from attacking Egypt and decides to place his headquarters in Jerusalem. \u00a0This is when the incident of the latter fulfillment of the Abomination of Desolation(12) is fulfilled. \u00a0This event will mark the beginning of the End Time Great Tribulation.<\/p>\n

If we now combine the prophecy of Daniel 11:40-45 with the prophecy of 2 Thessalonians, we can form a clearer picture about what will take place in the not too distant future.<\/p>\n

2Th 2:3-4<\/strong><\/div>\n
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there<\/em><\/div>\n
come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;<\/em><\/div>\n
Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is<\/em><\/div>\n
worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that<\/em><\/div>\n
he is God.<\/em><\/div>\n

Look also at Revelation<\/p>\n

Rev 13:11-12<\/strong><\/div>\n
And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two<\/em><\/div>\n
horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.<\/em><\/div>\n
And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth<\/em><\/div>\n
the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose<\/em><\/div>\n
deadly wound was healed.<\/em><\/div>\n

So, this King of the North (Beast, Man of Sin, Son of Perdition) will sit in the Temple, call himself god and accept worship by most people of the world. \u00a0Now this is not so far fetched. \u00a0King Herod said he was a god.. \u00a0Antiochus Epiphanes said he was the human incarnation of the king of the gods. \u00a0Roman Emperors said they were gods and commanded incense and worship of themselves. \u00a0Why not the coming King of the North \u2013 also called the Beast, Man of Sin, and Son of Perdition.<\/p>\n

So, who is the King of the North? \u00a0That is a good question. \u00a0The answer is, we DO NOT yet know! \u00a0Anyone we might say now is pure speculation. \u00a0We must wait and watch. \u00a0But we do have clues from the first fulfillment. \u00a0Antiochus Epiphanes was the first fulfillment of the King of the North. \u00a0He controlled the area we know as Syria today. \u00a0He was a Roman client ruler. \u00a0He fought the ruler of Egypt (the King of the South) over control of Palestine. \u00a0He eventually occupied Palestine, including Judea (present day Israel). \u00a0He took to himself Godly prerogatives. \u00a0He considered himself the human incarnation of the king of heaven. \u00a0He persecuted the Jews of Judea (now Israel). \u00a0He wanted to erase the Jewish worship of the God of Abraham and replace it with a pagan Greek\/Roman counterfeit. \u00a0He was ruthless, convincing orator, cunning and arrogant. So, that is what we need to look for.<\/p>\n

What about Syria? \u00a0Besides being the territory of the Seleucid Kings of the North, Turkey, Syria and Lebanon have always been the traditional path of invasion of the Crusaders out of Europe. \u00a0The target of the Crusades has always been Jerusalem. \u00a0There was even a Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem that lasted for over 200 years ruled by a French dynasty.<\/p>\n

Does history repeat itself? \u00a0Yes it does. \u00a0Solomon said that there is nothing new under the sun(13). \u00a0Because of the pattern of dual fulfillment we see in Bible prophecy, we know that it will happen again. \u00a0Maybe this time, because of what 2 Thessalonians tells us, we may see a human being sitting in the Temple on some sort of throne or seat of authority, claiming he is the incarnation of the king of the gods \u2013 perhaps an incarnation of Jesus Himself! \u00a0Is that too outlandish to consider? \u00a0What does 2 Thessalonians say? \u00a0There is also the issue of the Temple. \u00a0In order to sit in the Temple, there has to be a Temple. \u00a0Will a Third Temple be built in Jerusalem BEFORE the End? \u00a0It looks very likely. \u00a0Speculation can be very useful, but it is unreliable. \u00a0The clues we get from Daniel\u2019s prophecy in Daniel 11 are reliable. \u00a0We must wait and prayerfully watch.<\/p>\n

Until next time,<\/p>\n

A Servant of the True King of Heaven,<\/div>\n
T. Leon Sexton<\/div>\n
—<\/span><\/div>\n

1) \u00a0CIA to lead effort to arm, train Syrian rebels, June 15, 2013, FoxNews.com<\/a><\/span>
\n2) \u00a0See Legacy Institute Blog Posting, March 8, 2013<\/a><\/span>
\n3) \u00a0http:\/\/www.forthoodpresscenter.com\/go\/doc\/3439\/1807255\/<\/a><\/span>
\n4) \u00a0Daniel 11:4<\/span>
\n5) Rome<\/span>
\n6) Historical estimates are 40.000 killed and 40.000 enslaved.<\/span>
\n7) Part of the \u201cLost Tribes\u201d see works by Historian Steven M. Collins , www.stevenmcollins.com<\/a><\/span>
\n8 ) 2 Maccabees 9:5-28<\/span>
\n9) Acts 12:23<\/span>
\n10) The Glorious Land<\/span>
\n11) Edom, Moab and Ammon<\/span>
\n12) Or Abomination that Makes Desolate.<\/span>
\n13) Eccles 1:9<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I was planning to talk about this recent news and how I see prophecy being fulfilled in the Middle East today by writing to you in my monthly Legacy Letter. But I decided that I need to send you a blog posting because things are happening so fast it is difficult to keep up. God gave the Prophet Daniel special insight into (from Daniel\u2019s perspective) the far distant future. That prophesied future is upon us today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1408","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-generalnews","7":"czr-hentry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/legacyinstitute.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1408","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/legacyinstitute.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/legacyinstitute.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legacyinstitute.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legacyinstitute.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1408"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/legacyinstitute.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1408\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1417,"href":"https:\/\/legacyinstitute.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1408\/revisions\/1417"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/legacyinstitute.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1408"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legacyinstitute.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1408"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legacyinstitute.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1408"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}