© Copyright 2010 - 2020   All rights reserved. Daniel 11 Explained (condensed ‘one page’ commentary) ‘Matthew 24’ Explained (must match Revelation) The ‘Seals’ Explained (Revelation timeline revealed) Seven Churches Explained (Past & Present Church Prophecy) Note: ‘Sitemap’ shows a complete list of all pages (by category). ‘Homepage’ gives 3 simple steps + timelines + summary. Current Events from Daniel 11 (matching the Middle East) The Abomination (Daniel 11:31) done Recent Events ISIS - Saudi - Turkey (Daniel 11: 24-27) Final Events to the Abomination (Daniel 11: 28-30) Shiites re-take Persia + America’s Role Begins (Daniel 11: 21-23) soon done done Daniel 11 Explained  Condensed “one page” Commentary (verse by verse) 586 BC 516 BC 445 BC 66 AD 4 / 5 BC 136 AD 1948 / 1949 1878  2020 ? 70 years 71 years 70 / 71 years 70 years 70 years 70 / 71 years Destruction of 1st Temple (2 Kings 25:8-9) 70-year Periods in Jewish History (3rd ‘pair’ possible very soon) Completion of Jerusalem wall (Nehemiah 6:15) Birth of Jesus (based on Herod’s death in 4 BC) Start of 1st Jewish revolt (Begin Seal 2) End of 3rd revolt  & complete exile (End of Seal 2) 1st modern Jewish settlement in Palestine  (related to Seal 3) Israel declared a nation in 1948 / war until 1949 (related to Seal 4) Possible Rapture - uprising & abomination  (Seal 6) Completion of 2nd Temple (Ezra 6:15) Jesus’ resurrection (Seal 1) see related page: The Seals Explained #4.  Pattern of 70-year periods   There is a pattern of 70-year periods in the Bible (see chart below), two of which are in the Seals, so it makes sense that the 6^th Seal rapture could create a third 70-year period.   Of course, the 70^th anniversary of Israel’s ‘declaration of independence’ has already passed, but what if God recognizes the 70th anniversary differently than we do?  I mean, Israel signed their final armistice with Syria, on July 20, 1949, which officially ended their ‘war of independence’.  Thus, the 70^th anniversary from that date would start July-2019 and extend to July 2020, which is when annexation is due to start.  Re-written: 5-31-2020  - Rapture Soon   It’s no secret that I’ve felt the rapture has been close for some time now, but I think we are finally approaching the event that will bring the uprising and abomination in Daniel 11:31.  That’s the event I’ve never wavered from watching because that’s what Jesus said to do. (below)  The uprising has been due, with various events stoking the flames and tensions coming to a boil, which has been a painfully slow process, but it looks like we are finally there.    Briefly, the abomination from the Book of Daniel is the key to the rapture because that’s what Jesus said to watch for in Matthew 24:15.  At that exact moment, Judea is instructed to flee to the mountains (v.16), which matches those in the mountains, during the 6^th Seal rapture, who see Jesus in the sky and mourn. (Rev 6:15-17)  Of course, they mourn because they are Jews and realize that Jesus was indeed their Messiah and they missed out.  Revelation 7 describes two distinct groups: the 144,000 Israelites (Jews) who are chosen (sealed), but remain on earth through the Trumpet plagues, and the great multitude from every nation (Christians) who arrive immediately to heaven.  Those same two groups are reflected in Matthew 24:15-31, following the abomination, where those sealed are not fooled by the false prophets on earth (v.24), and the Christians are gathered immediately to meet Jesus in the sky (vs. 29-31).  There are definitely two groups in Matthew 24:15-31 because there are two groups in Revelation 7 and the two accounts must match.  The signs in the sun, moon, and stars, during the rapture in Matthew 24:29-31, match perfectly with the signs of the 6th Seal (Rev 6:12-14) and the subsequent ‘multitude from every nation’ who arrive in heaven after the rapture (Rev 7:9).  By the way, Seals 1-5 were during the past 2000-years, so Seal 6 is the next one due.  The Trumpet plagues, which start in Rev 8, literally can’t start until the 7^th Seal is done (half-hour of silence), which proves the rapture is ‘pre-tribulation’ (Trumpet and Bowl plagues come afterwards).  Note: The “great tribulation” (mentioned in past tense in Rev 7:14) refers to the Seals in Rev 6 (resurrection to rapture), since that’s the only time the multitude from every nation could be ‘washed in the blood of the Lamb’ and become the Bride of Christ.  In other words, the “great tribulation” (Seals) is different from the ‘post-rapture tribulation’ (Trumpets and Bowls).  Did I say brief???  I’m just now taking a breath, but it was necessary to explain that the abomination from the Book of Daniel is the key to understanding the timing of the rapture, since that’s what Jesus said to watch for.    The abomination is mentioned in four chapters in Daniel, but Daniel 11 gives the most detailed list of events leading up to it.  To make a long story short, all those events have been satisfied and verse 31 is the next one due.  Daniel 11:31 “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.”   I go into more detail on the abomination page, but for the purpose of identifying the nearness of the rapture, I’ll focus more on the ‘armed uprising’, which must happen first- in conjunction with the setting up of the abomination.  The Muslims refer to an armed uprising as an ‘intifada’, of which there have been two in history: the first being Dec-1987 to 1993, and the second being Sept-2000 to 2005.  The next one will be the third, which will likely fulfill Daniel 11:31, when they set up the abomination, which will accompany the rapture.  The million-dollar-question is: What event will trigger the third intifada?    I think we have finally reached the event that will trigger the 3rd intifada: Israel’s annexation  of 30% of the West Bank, which is planned to start in the Knesset (parliament), July 1, 2020.  Tensions have been rising for quite a while now, especially after Donald Trump was elected president of the USA, which is the primary backer of Israel.  First, Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moved the US embassy there, which triggered weekly riots on the border of Gaza, which continued for over a year, until they were stopped due to covid-19.   They were protesting over steps being taken that would hinder a future Palestinian state on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.  Although tires were burned, rocks were thrown, and many protesters died, it was not considered an intifada.  Now, the planned annexation of all the settlements, plus the Jordan Valley, will essentially eliminate all Palestinian hopes of a state with the borders they had envisioned.   If the intifada doesn’t happen now, it will be too late.    There are several factors about the annexation that potentially match other prophecies. 1. Trump’s Peace Plan and Paul’s Prophecy   The annexation comes as part of Trump’s peace plan, or ‘deal of the century’, which fits Paul’s prophecy: “While people are saying, “peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” (1 Thess 5:3)   Granted, Israel has been talking about peace for a long time, but Trump’s peace plan has been heavily promoted and anticipated, so Paul’s prophecy is truer now than ever.  Notice that no one actually has to sign the peace deal for Paul’s prophecy to be true; they only need to be ‘talking about it’, which they most certainly are.    Another observation about the same verse is that a pregnant woman shows definite signs that the birth is coming soon, but the exact moment of labor pains still come as a surprise (normally).  Likewise, there are definite signs that the rapture is coming soon, but the exact moment will be a surprise.  I mean, July 1^st is just the date that parliamentary proceedings are planned to start; the uprising will still be a surprise.    Among those condemning the annexation is the Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei, who has taken to Twitter to call for West Bank fighters to be armed, as in Gaza.  In one tweet, he seems to admit to helping Hamas gain weapons, which Israel has always suspected, but never verified.  The call to arms is significant, since Iran is currently ‘king of the north’, in Daniel 11, starting in verse 21.  The ‘king of the north’ gains power in the post-rapture, led by the antichrist (Daniel 11:36 or ‘mouth of the beast’ in Rev 13:5), who eventually invades Israel, along with the armies of the beast, to kill the two witnesses (Rev 11:7).  Thus, Trump’s move to pull America out of the nuclear deal and re-impose sanctions, even though Iran was abiding by the deal, was another key element of end times, not to mention the assassination  of General Soleimani, since those events have stoked anger and resentment between the ‘king of the north’ and US, which by association, increases the chance of a surprise attack upon Israel.  Iran has often said that their anger is not with Jews, in general, but with the nation of Israel, occupying Palestine and displacing Palestinians, of which annexation is another major jab, perhaps the final straw.  2. Israeli Elections and Kaduri’s Prophecy   The annexation was a primary consideration in forming the new Israeli government, after three elections in one year.  In the first two elections, neither side could form a majority coalition of 61 members in the Knesset.  During the third election, and amidst impeachment in the USA, Trump invited both Netanyahu and Gantz to Washington for the unveiling of his peace plan, which could wait no longer.  Netanyahu gained a few seats in the third election, but not enough for a clear majority.  Another deadlock and a 4^th election seemed inevitable when suddenly Netanyahu struck a deal with Gantz to form an emergency government.  Polls showed that a 4^th election would have given Netanyahu’s right-wing a clear majority, but one party on the far-right, Yamina, was against Trump’s peace plan, which could derail the annexation.  Thus, a unity government was formed, with annexation starting July 1^st  written specifically into the agreement.    The reason all this potentially fulfills a prophecy is that a well-known Jewish Kabbalist (mystic), Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri [c. 1898(?) – Jan 28, 2006], made a seemingly impossible prediction about end times, which remarkably materialized in 2019/2020.  According to Rabbi Eliyahu Merav, he was watching Kaduri take questions, 40-years ago, when someone asked when the Moshiach (Messiah) would arrive and whether there were signs that would precede his arrival.  The rabbi answered, ‘When there will be elections but there will not be a government’.  Rabbi Meray never forgot that statement because it seemed impossible, but 40-years later, Israel’s unprecedented need for 3 elections in one year (and almost a 4^th) seems to have fulfilled Kaduri’s prophecy.  Now that the deadlock has been broken, annexation can move forward and complete the final events of end times and Jesus’ arrival.   Backing up a bit, it seems that Kaduri’s statement, during question and answer, was just a quick summary of some longer prophecies that he wrote in a book.  The book was called ‘And He Swore to Isaac’, which was written in his younger days, subsequently hidden or lost, but recently found in the Kabbalistic school of Nahalat Yitzhak.  In the book, Kaduri wrote: "On the eve of the year 5780, the year of corrections [Sept-2019 to Sept-2020], there will not be a government in Israel for an extended period and the various camps will quarrel much without a decision on either side, and then, on Rosh Hashana [the Jewish new year] itself, they will fight in heaven, the holy side against the side of evil, and G-d and His entourage will decide between them."    Kaduri also referenced another Kabbalist, Rabbi Sasson Hai Shoshani, who prophesied: "There will come on the day that two ministers win the government in the land of Israel. Both their names will be Benjamin and neither of them will succeed in establishing their government or kingship.  On that day, know and understand that the King Messiah already stands at the doorway and on the Sabbath afterwards he will come and be revealed.  Understand this and remember it."    Normally, I don’t pay attention to Jewish prophets, let alone mystics, because they don’t believe in Jesus, but as Moses said, ‘the way to tell if a message is from God or not is to wait and see if it comes true’. (Deut 18:22 -paraphrased)  Well, there are distinct elements in the above prophecies that have indeed come true.  For example, the unprecedented 3 elections came in the year predicted, 5780, when they ‘quarreled without a decision’.  In the second prophecy, the names were correctly predicted because Netanyahu and Gantz are both named Benjamin.  Plus, neither of them succeeded in establishing their kingship because they were forced to form a unity government, meaning that Netanyahu gets 18-months as PM, and Gantz gets 18-months as PM.  If that much of the prophecies have come true, then it stands to reason that they are legitimate, especially given that Kaduri’s statement was the recollection of Rabbi Meray, 40-years ago, and it was reported in June 2019.  If the prophecies are legitimately from God, then the rest will come true, most importantly that “King Messiah already stands at the doorway.”    Note: I wouldn’t try to get more specific and pick an exact date from Kaduri’s prophecies because the “Sabbath afterwards” seems to have already passed since the Benjamins made their agreement.  Although Kaduri specifically mentions Rosh Hashanah, I wouldn’t try to limit God to that one day; it could be sooner.  It’s exciting enough to know that Jesus is ‘standing at the doorway’.  I think annexation could spur the uprising that sets up the abomination, which will be the sign for Jesus to step over the threshold and call us home.  Praise Jesus.  3. The Abomination and Middle of the 70^th Seven   According to Daniel 9:27, the abomination will be set up in the ‘middle’ of the 70^th Seven  (NIV), or ‘midst’ of the 70th Seven (KJV), which is about the same thing, but vaguer.  Daniel 9:27 (NIV)  “He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”   To be clear, the abomination is at the ‘start’ of the post-rapture tribulation, which consist of the Trumpets and Bowls, which last a total of 2300-days. (Daniel 8:13-14)  [see chart on left]  I want to make that clear because people often try to say that the 70^th Seven is the same as tribulation, but it’s not.  For one thing, 2300-days is not the same as 7-years, but more importantly, the abomination is at the start of the 2300-days, and the middle of the 70^th Seven.  Thus, the two periods overlap about half way, as shown in the chart, but the abomination, which happens at the rapture, is definitely ‘pre-trib’.  That means the 1^st half of the 70^th Seven, leading up to the abomination, happens before the rapture.  Thus, if a person could figure out the event that starts the 70^th Seven, which is a ‘confirmation of a covenant with many’, then they would have the approximate time for the rapture.  I emphasize “approximate” because the ‘middle’ or ‘midst’ of a 7-year period cannot be pinpointed to one day.  It’s more of a general time, and even then, figuring out the ‘confirmation’ can be elusive.  That being said, I think we are already in the ‘middle of the 70^th Seven’, so an uprising around annexation or afterwards would fit God’s prophecy.    So, what do I think started the 70^th Seven?   First of all, the subject of this verse is Iran, not Israel, since the one who ‘confirms a covenant with many’ is the same one who ‘sets up the abomination’ and “the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”  The “end that is decreed” is literally the Trumpet and Bowl plagues in Revelation, including Armageddon, which is poured out on the antichrist and armies of the beast.  Since Iran is ‘king of the north’, as I explained earlier, I think the antichrist will come from Iran to lead a ‘group of armies’, which is referred to as the ‘beast’, against Israel and the southern nations of the Middle East. (Daniel 11:40-43)  That is when the beast will kill the two witnesses (Rev 11:7) and force the ‘mark of the beast’ upon Israel (Rev 13:16-17).  Of course, the 144,000 who are chosen and ‘sealed by God’ refuse the mark and get martyred (Rev 14:19-20), which is between the Trumpet and Bowl plagues, thus “cutting their days short,” as Jesus said in Matthew 24:22.   Those 144,000 later become priests during Jesus’ 1000-year reign on earth. (Rev 20:4-6)    Now that I’ve given a summary, I believe the ‘covenant’ (agreement or promise) that Iran ‘confirms with many’ was the JCPOA, better known as the Iran nuclear agreement.  I don’t think there could be any other agreement that could be any more historic and pertinent to the current situation than the Iran nuclear agreement.  Plus, it was made with the P5+1 (US, UK, France, Russia, China, and Germany), which is literally “many.”    The “confirmation” most likely came on ‘Implementation Day’, January 16, 2016, which is when Iran completed its requirements for the agreement, and in return, some of the sanctions were lifted.  If 3.5 years are added to that date, then the exact middle would be July 16, 2019.  Of course, the ‘exact middle’ has already passed, but like I said, a person cannot pinpoint the middle of a 7-year period to just one day.  Plus, the Parable of the 10-Virgins  says that the “Bridegroom was a long time in coming” (Matt 25:5), so a person would not expect Jesus to come on the exact middle.  Annexation is due to start July 1^st, 2020, which will be about one year ‘past’ the exact middle, but I think any time in that area, even extending to Rosh Hashanah (if necessary), would still qualify as satisfying the prophecy.    Note: To show the importance of the nuclear agreement in Bible prophecy, I believe the ‘interim’ agreement, Nov 24, 2013, fulfilled Daniel 11:23, which ties Daniel 11 to Daniel 9.  Plus, it was critical in Daniel 11:28, when Rouhani complained to the P5+1, at the UN General Assembly, Sept-2016, which prompted Obama to release billions of dollars in frozen assets.  By the way, Daniel 11:28 is the only modern verse that specifically mentions the ‘king of the north’ by title and it’s very distinctive to that event.  Also, if Implementation Day was the confirmation, then it means the 70^th Seven started in 2016, which is a year on God’s ‘timeline of 37’s’, which seems appropriate to me.  Of course, Trump withdrew America from the nuclear agreement, in 2018, which has contributed greatly to our current situation with the ‘king of the north’.  Thus, the nuclear agreement has stood the test of time, since 2013, and remains a primary catalyst for current events in the Middle East, thus I’m almost positive it’s the covenant featured in Daniel 9:27.  I don’t think anyone can be 100% positive, but I’m pretty sure.  That still doesn’t lead to an exact day, but everything fits together.  (more ‘current events’’ are detailed on the abomination page.) Chart showing the offset between 70th Seven and 2300-day Tribulation click to enlarge Related pages: Covid-19 in the Bible The Abomination Related pages: Covid-19 in the Bible The Abomination