Yes, Micah speaks of the Messiah, Jesus the Christ, and of the coming of the gospel, and of heaven and hell. Also Micah clearly speaks of Israel’s former dominion in the Middle East as to be restored.
No! This is not about any so-called “millennium.” Rather of things yet to happen in history.
Listen to this audio lesson here, or click on the Audio Player to download as an MP3 file.
Also Micah clearly speaks of two gigantic assemblies of ALL nations against the Jews, neither of which has happened YET!. Both of these are preceded by world-wide persecution of Christians. The first is during that great time of stress in which the Jews turn to their own Messiah, Rabbi Jesus of Nazareth. The second is at the end of time.
Micah talks about good things which are coming, both the coming the gospel, the good news of salvation to all the nations of the earth, AND the ending of all wars.
Then goes on to show how prophecy typically relates the immediate subject under discussion related to ultimate destinies of all things. This is something which throws many people off, but it should not. Also, once understood, it makes the reading of many other prophecies both more readable and more understandable.
Also we begin to address in this lesson the fact that there are prophecies in Scripture of the gospel coming, and of heaven and hell, and also there are still UNFULFILLED prophecies about the Jews as a nation. And no! We are not talking about the so-called “millennium,” but rather of things which are still happen in history before the end of this universe.
Listen to this audio lesson here, or click on the Audio Player to download as an MP3 file.
Jewish Chronicles deals with how the Jews came to where they are today in history, and where all these things are leading.
Jesus will not leave everything the way it is. He will come back to judge the world in righteousness.
This is a short intermission in the relatively short history of our present heavens and earth, and a short time of amnesty from all of our wrongs, before Jesus brings this disintegrating universe to a close. Jesus now has all authority in both heaven and earth, Mtt 28:18. He is now working to put down all opposition.
“25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death.” 1Cor 15:25-26
Jesus has given us a ministry of reconciliation, 2Cor 5:19.
This short time just before Jesus comes again, is time for us to repent, and come to our senses.
“The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with US, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2Pe 3:9
Jesus promises us that terrible things will happen, just before the end of our age.
Paul speaks of these things in a general sense in his letter to Timothy.
“But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons” 1Tim 4:1
“But know this, that in the last days, grievous times will come.” 2Tim 3:1
The details are given in both the Old and the New Testaments. A war will come by “the little horn,” “the abomination of desolation,” the living corpse, “the man of lawlessness,” “the beast,” against all righteousness and goodness and holiness in the entire world.
Jesus will bring all of mankind’s, and the spirit world’s, foolishness, to a dramatic close.
Moses tells us both when the Jews will turn to Jesus of Nazareth, and when Jesus will come again.
“For Yahweh will judge his people, Repent himself for his servants; When he sees that their power is gone, There is none remaining, shut up or left at large.” Deut 32:36
When all is lost and there is no hope, and strength to oppose evil, THEN Jesus will come
“25 There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth anxiety of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the waves; 26 men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 But when these things begin to happen, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.” Lk 21:25-28
Prophecy is pertinent to our lives throughout all history. We are truly on the edge of forever.
If you believe this, you will try to be ready for this. It will change how you live, it will change your ethics. Prophecy is NOT an optional extra. Believing what God says in prophecy does matter! It is an ethical matter.
Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901
Both the Old Testament and the New Testament testify everywhere to the sins of the Jews
Moses laid it out.
“32 For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, Of the fields of Gomorrah: Their grapes are grapes of gall, Their clusters are bitter: 33 Their wine is the poison of serpents, The cruel venom of asps.” Deut 32:32-33
A later Jewish prophet also noted,
“14 … the Jews; 15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:” 1Thes 2:14-15 KJV
All of this will turn around during a time of great stress
One day the Jews will wake up! It all be in a time of severe stress on the Jews worldwide. Also it seems this will be preceded by severe persecution of Christians worldwide. This is discussed at length in Jewish Chronicles, available from your bookseller.
“When you are in oppression, and all these things are come on you, in the latter days you shall return to Yahweh your God, and listen to his voice:” Deut 4:30
The KJV incorrectly translates this as a conditional promise, but it is an UNFULFILLED statement of what WILL BE! The next one is unambiguous even in the KJV.
“Yahweh your God will circumcise your heart, and the heart of your seed, to love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, that you may live.” Deut 30:6
There will be a dramatic spiritual turnaround for the Jews, which will result in a dramatic flourishing of Christianity both in Israel and all around the world.
The great time of stress will evidently begin with severe worldwide persecution of Christians!
This is too big a topic to condense into a short article, but it does seem to indicate the persecution of Christians precedes the assault on Israel, but is dealt with in “Jewish Chronicles.”
The Jewish survivors of this great time of stress, will build Israel into a mighty worldwide power
“In that day, Yahweh’s branch will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the beauty and glory of the survivors of Israel.” Isa 4:2
They will preach the gospel of Jesus Christ among the nations.
“… I will send such as escape of them to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the isles afar off, who have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the nations.” Isa 66:19
There are many other passages to quote.
Here is the promise, written about 1400 BC
“40 If they confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, in their trespass which they trespassed against me, and also that, because they walked contrary to me, 41 … if then their uncircumcised heart is humbled, and they then accept the punishment of their iniquity; 42 then I will remember my covenant with Jacob; and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham; and I will remember the land.” Lev 26:40-42
Only the truth will make the Jews … or you and me … free!
New and better days are coming for the Jews, all in their Messiah, Rabbi Jesus of Nazareth.
Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901
When the Messiah came, He fulfilled all the Old Testament prophecies of His first coming. That included betrayal by a friend (Psalms 55 and 69), a judicial murder (Isaiah 53), and death by crucifixion (Psalm 22), and many other things which the reader search out and see for himself.
At first the common people among the Jews enthusiastically accepted the Messiah, but their leadership opposed Him, and arranged His murder, exactly as predicted in the Old Testament. They then worked ruthlessly to suppress Christianity, and anyone involved. Some believed in their Messiah, but the majority were intimidated into submission … even to this day.
Then other paths to worldly power were pursued
Still wanting that worldly preeminence that was promised them, but unwilling walk in righteousness and truth, many Jews turned to dark deeds for preeminence and power. That included the occult, revolutions, and oppressing and exploiting those gullible goyim the people of the nations whenever they felt they could get by with it.
Then the Jews met with a series of cataclysmic judgments from God
As with most nations in history, many judgements for the sins of peoples come in smaller setbacks and desolations. Beyond such things, three huge disasters are spoken of for the Jews. Two have already happened, and one is yet to come.
The first was the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem in 586 BC
After centuries of patient warning being sent to them through God’s servants the prophets, God finally brought the hammer down. First the northern kingdom of Israel was conquered and deported in 722 BC, never to return to their land.
“Yahweh rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight.” 2Kgs 17:20
All of which had been predicted by God’s prophets, whom the people and ruler had rejected. Then came total desolation and deportation of Judah and Jerusalem in 586 BC, after multiple rejected opportunities to turn around.
The second great desolation was the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD
Jewish Chronicles tells the story of how the Jews transitioned from Moses’ Law to religions of their own making, and the disastrous results this has had. Available from your bookseller.
Zechariah forecast these things, Zech 10:9-10. Also Rabbi Jesus warned,
“20 But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let those who are in the midst of her depart. Let those who are in the country not enter therein. 22 For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.” Lk 21:20-22
Jesus further predicted in 30 AD,
“They will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Lke 21:24
Which is exactly what has happened over the last two thousand years. Still unwilling to accept these answers, the disastrous second century AD Bar-Cochba revolts only dug their hole deeper.
Why did this happen?
“… because you didn’t know the time of your visitation.” Lk 19:44
They had plenty of evidence. But they just didn’t want to believe and follow.
The third tragedy is yet to come.
Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901
They were to be the preeminent nation of the earth
“Yahweh will make you the head, and not the tail; and you shall be above only, and you shall not be beneath; if you shall listen to the commandments of Yahweh your God, which I command you this day, to observe and to do them,” Deut 28:13
It is a great tragedy. The Jews have been unwilling as a group, to listen to their own Lord and God, the One whose name in the Old Testament was Yahweh. When the Lord built them up in Egypt, and delivered them from slavery by many mighty acts, as is recorded in the book of Exodus, even then they were unwilling to give up their own will for God’s will.
Moses spoke of the Jews of his generation
This is from the Song of Moses which he spoke to the entire assembly.
Jewish Chronicles details and analyses Israel’s slide into other spirits, witchcraft, and magic. Indeed, the fountainhead of most modern witchcraft and magic is from Jewish books: the notorious “Kabbalah” which is discussed at length about how these teachings compare with Scripture, both Old Testament and New Testament. Available from your bookseller.
“5 They have dealt corruptly with him, they are not his children, it is their blemish; They are a perverse and crooked generation. 6 Do you thus requite Yahweh, Foolish people and unwise? Isn’t he your father who has bought you? He has made you, and established you.” Deut 32:5-6
Again Moses spoke of these things.
“He said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: For they are a very perverse generation, Children in whom is no faithfulness.” Deut 32:20
Moses had already made it clear that the worse was yet to come for the Jews.
“For I know your rebellion, and your stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, you have been rebellious against Yahweh; and how much more after my death?” Deut 31:27
Then began a descent into seeking other gods and other spirits. This is a side of Judaism which has never entirely gone away, and influences much of their behavior, even to this day.
God says He has tried to change them
Seven centuries later, Isaiah comments on their sidetracks into the occult.
“2 I have spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, after their own thoughts; 3 a people who provoke me to my face continually, sacrificing in gardens, and burning incense on bricks; 4 who sit among the graves, and lodge in the secret places; who eat pig’s flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels; 5 who say, Stand by yourself, don’t come near to me, for I am holier than you. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burns all the day.” Isa 65:2-5
Then they tried to turn their obedience into human tradition rule keeping
And they put their human rules above God’s rules.
Then when their Lord and Messiah came, they murdered Him.
He wept for them.
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, like a hen gathers her own brood under her wings, and you refused!” Lk 13:34
This situation will last indefinitely. However,
Only the truth will make the Jews free, Jn 8:32
Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901
There is definitely one more time for God’s people in the wilderness.
There is a time, near the end of this universe, when an evil man is allowed control of this whole world for a short period of time. He is called “the man of lawlessness” in 2Thessalonian chapter 2, and is “the beast” in the book of Revelation. He only rules for a very short period of time.
“5 A mouth speaking great things and blasphemy was given to him. Authority to make war for forty-two months was given to him. … 7 It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him.” Rev 13:5, 7
So this false god/man has authority over ALL the earth, for a period that is variously described as 42 months, or 1,260 days, or “time, times, and half a time” (which is a Hebraism for 3-1/2 years).
“All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been killed.” Rev 13:8
NO ONE has had such power world-wide YET!
But the true believers in God will be given protection … in “the wilderness.”
“The woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that there they may nourish her one thousand two hundred sixty days.” Rev. 12:6
“Two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, so that she might be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.” Rev 12:14
So the church one more time will be nourished in the wilderness, just before they enter the ultimate promised land, heaven itself.
And there may be another time in the wilderness, before that!
There is also yet to come a season of world-wide stress on all Jews, that results in their turning to Jesus of Nazareth in faith. This is spoken of in previous posts about “The Jews Coming to Rabbi Jesus of Nazareth.” In that time of great stress on BOTH Jews and Christians, one-third of all Jews world-wide, will be killed, Zech 13:8. (See previous posts on this subject.)
But also Scripture seems to imply that many Jews that escape this time of great stress, will do so in the wilderness. God says of the Jews,
“Therefore, behold, I will allure her, And bring her into the wilderness, And speak tenderly to her.” Hos 2:14
It does seems to be speaking of the Jews here, and not of the later church of both Jews and gentiles. And Jeremiah more specifically tells us,
“Thus says Yahweh, The people who were left of the sword found favor in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.” Jer 31:2
If you look at Jer 31:1, it is specifically about when the Jews come into the New Covenant in Jesus Christ.
Scriptures are from the World English Bible WEB, a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901.
Jew and Gentile will yet literally become one in Jesus Christ, Ephesians chapter two. Although still unrepentant in our present time, the Jews will finally repent and confess their sins and bring great glory to God, to the gospel, and to themselves.
“40 If they confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, in their trespass which they trespassed against me, and also that, because they walked contrary to me, 41 I also walked contrary to them, and brought them into the land of their enemies: if then their uncircumcised heart is humbled, and they then accept the punishment of their iniquity; 42 then I will remember my covenant with Jacob; and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham; and I will remember the land.” Lev 26:40-42 KJV
The sorrow of the Jews for their sins will be great.
Severe times will come on both Christians and Jews, before the Jews turn to Jesus the Christ. Available from your bookseller.
“I will pour on the house of David, and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they will look to mea whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son, and will grieve bitterly for him, as one grieves for his firstborn.” Zech 12:10
This description goes on into Zechariah thirteen. The third part of the Jews which escapes the sword at the hand of the nations will then be purified.
“I will bring the third part into the fire, And will refine them as silver is refined, And will test them like gold is tested. They will call on my name, and I will hear them. I will say, ‘It is my people;’ And they will say, ‘Yahweh is my God.’”” Zech 13:9
The cartels will be stripped of their unjust gains.
“… And you will beat in pieces many peoples: And I will devote their gain to Yahweh, And their substance to the Lord of the whole earth.” Mic 4:13
God will choose some of the Jews to finish declaring the salvation of God to all the nations.
“I will set a sign among them, and I will send such as escape of themto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the isles afar off, who have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the nations.” Isa 66:19
The earth will finally be filled with the knowledge of the Lord. ALL nations will have an opportunity for salvation.
How long will this take? I do not know. I does not tell. But it will be a time of great glory for the Jewish nation.
And then comes the end!
“11 Many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray. 12 Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end, the same will be saved. 14 This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Mtt 24:11-14
Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are from the World English Bible WEB, a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901.
Some think this triumph is when Jesus comes to personally rule over Israel in Palestine.
The Bible does talk about a very long period of time, a “thousand years.” It is a period when Satan in severely restrained. Even so, Scripture does not really discuss a millennium as such
Jesus will never physically be here on earth again, as was proved in the post “The Jews Coming to Jesus of Nazareth will NOT be heaven on earth!” of November 4, 2020. Great things will happen when the Jews are converted as nation to Jesus of Nazareth, BUT it will NOT REALLY BE HEAVEN ON EARTH. Yes, it will be great times in human history, and some of these temporal benefits are discussed in Bible prophecy. Some of these things will even be symbolic (types or shadows) of heaven, but not really a heaven on earth!
The premillenialists are CONFUSING prophecies of heaven, with prophecies of good times in the present gospel age!
The conversion of the Jews to their own Messiah, Rabbi Jesus of Nazareth, will bring astonishing benefits to both the Jews as a nation, and also to the entire world. Available from your bookseller.
This can be easy to do when the latter sometimes acts as symbolic of the former! So, they end up with a “heaven on earth” sort of thing which will never happen. There will still be troubles. There will still be wars. There will still be sickness and death, although human life will be considerably extended in those days. “Evil men and seducers” will still grow worse and worse, 2Tim 3:13.
The evil men and seducers want to use this confusion to sell their Satanic god-man, and sell their Satanic heaven on earth. When, just before the end of this age, Satan is released for a short while, this “beast,” this “man of lawlessness,” will be allowed a very short three and one half years rule.
Then Christ will come. The Bible only speaks of a second coming (Heb 9:28), NOT of a second and then a third coming. They don’t discuss it much but the premillenialists implicitly have both a second coming (for the so-called millennial kingdom), and then a third coming before this present heaven and earth pass away. However such is not in Scripture.
The national conversion of the Jews to their own Messiah, will bring some astonishing benefits to the Jews and to the nations.
Many Scriptures point to the success of the gospel is being preached to the entire world.
27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to Yahweh. All the relatives of the nations shall worship before you. 28 For the kingdom is Yahweh’s. He is the ruler over the nations. Psa 22:27
Clearly speaking of benefits of the gospel in our present world, and Jesus does clearly have all authority in both heaven and earth even now, Mtt 28:18. And He clearly rules over the kings of the earth now, Rev 1:5.
Men may sometimes fail, as is spoken of in Numbers chapter 14. Still.
“but in very deed, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of Yahweh;” Num 11:21
God’s word is not harnessed or restricted by men’s failures.
“Scripture cannot be broken,” Jn 10:35
Scriptures are from the World English Bible WEB, a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901.
“shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall the sovereignty of it be left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” Dan 2:44
See the earlier blog “The Kingdom HAS come!” and search at the top right of this blog for posts concerning the kingdom.
God still rules in the kingdom of men.
The Jews will yet be a blessing to ALL nations, and Jew and Gentile will be united in Rabbi Jesus the Christ. This and more is discussed in Jewish Chronicles, to be released Friday, November 6, 2020. See your bookseller.
“He changes the times and the seasons; he removes kings, and sets up kings; …” Dan 2:21
Likewise, Paul says,
“… there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God.” Rom 13:1
Further, that authority in our times is exercised by Rabbi Jesus of Nazareth, the One and Only Christ.
“… All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.” Mtt 28:18
Jesus can do as He pleases with rulers of the earth Psa 2:10-11, and they are warned.
“Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, For his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all those who take refuge in him.” Psa 2:12
In fact even Psalm 2 also describes the insane revolt against the Son’s rule near the end of our present age.
But there is more!
Then all the material of the Daniel 2 image, “the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold,” was broken into powder and the wind blew it away. These ancient empires were to no longer be found, which of course is what has happened. All of these empires disappeared, Dan 2:35.
Notice, although the church / kingdom was not a political entity, was not of this world (Jn 18:36), but the truth which it taught, did destroy all of these pagan empires. The crowning point or this verse comes in the very last part.
… and the stone that struck the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.” Dan 2:35
This is the stone cut without hands, the kingdom / church which was established “in the days of those kings,” Dan 2:44. A spiritual kingdom. However, any which way you take it, this last part of Dan 2:35 has NOT happened Yet! The church, the Lord’s kingdom in this world, has not filled the earth, YET !
But when the Jews turn to Jesus of Nazareth,
when they turn in the time of great stress, it says that then God
“… will send such as escape of them to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the isles afar off, who have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the nations.” Isa 66:19
The Jews will lead the way in completing the Great Commission of preaching the gospel to all men. Then will the last part of Dan 2:35 be fulfilled. Then the end will come, Mtt 24:14
Scriptures are from the World English Bible WEB, a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901.
