New Prophetic Discoveries

Commentary for March 1, 2005 — March Newsletter & Article

The “March 2005 Newsletter” is now online on the ASK Website. It is important that you read the Newsletter before proceeding to the Article, “New Prophetic Discoveries Concerning the End-Time.” This is because in footnote #1 there is a list of Dr. Martin’s articles relating to chronology and prophecy placed in order of their original composition. This will provide you with insight into Dr. Martin’s development of thought on prophecy and chronology, and you will learn along with him as he goes deeper and deeper to extract the precise meaning from the biblical text — and then makes it clear to you.

The Route of Antichrist

As surprising as it may seem the Bible shows the route of the armies and of the Antichrist in the final confrontation with Christ when He returns. Keep in mind that you will be there to “watch the show,” so to speak. All of us who are resurrected and transformed into our spiritual bodies will be gathered by angels, transported to Jordan, and then proceed with Christ and His angels to Jerusalem.

All of your suffering and all of your heartache that you experienced before your death will be a memory in a twinkling of an eye, in a joyous reunion with your brothers and sisters in Christ (1 Corinthians 15:51–54; Isaiah 64:4; 1 Corinthians 2:9). Our resurrection will signal our personal victory over death through Christ’s triumph over death. It will be sufficient for you to be content to wait 1,000 years for the general resurrection of your unbelieving loved ones.

The last battles at the Valley of Decision and at Jerusalem will be the crisis of the eon, of the age. The word “crisis” does not always denote a bad thing, if you are on the victorious side. A crisis can be a crucial or decisive point of change. One of my dictionary definitions is: “A point in a story or drama when a conflict reaches its highest tension and must be resolved.” Well the tension will be tremendous but the crisis will be resolved — it is a certainty.

Why Do They Fight?

Why then do the armies of the Antichrist fight at the last days? Why do they expect victory or hope to win? It is for two reasons. One is because God will deceive them into believing the Antichrist is the Christ. The other is because they will have powerful supernatural help from Satan, Moloch, Abaddon (Apollyon, Revelation 9:11), and other spirit entities that will have real demonstrable power (compared to humans) on their side. After all, the angels are coming along with Christ to fight, not just watch. Remember when Pilate questioned Jesus whether He was a king:

“Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.’”
• John 18:36

The time when Christ’s servants will fight is coming. It will be when He returns to rule. Before that time, and prior to Christ’s return to earth, the heavens will be cleansed by Michael and the angels:

“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”
• Revelation 12:7–9

Of course, in the battles in the Valley of Decision and Jerusalem, the humans will be destroyed easily (Isaiah 63:1–4; Revelation chapter 19). However, the spirit forces opposing Christ and His angels will also fight strongly, though ineffectively. Physical possession of earth will be taken from the god of this world, the evil spiritual forces will be imprisoned, and direct rulership will be conducted by Christ and the resurrected saints (after a period of education).

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he does judge and make war. ... And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.”
• Revelation 19:11–14

I know that some of these words have an unreal quality to them. This is because they are so far from our everyday mundane experiences. However, these events will soon be our reality. We will see spiritual things as they are. We will see Christ our Savior as He is. Our faith will become our experience. Fortunately, our faith now stands not in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:5; 1 Peter 1:9). Rejoice at our coming salvation!

David Sielaff
david@askelm.com

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