Podcast # 29: The Land of the Covenant – Part Two
Scott: My name is Scott Paton. I am speaking today with Allan Colston. He is the author of the book “The Last Days of Tolemac”. This is a book dealing with prophecy.
For those listeners who may be new to this topic, this Podcast is another in the series “Signs of the Times”. Hello Allan and welcome to the Podcast.
Hello Scott, it’s great to be with you again.
Scott: In our last Podcast you spoke about the early history of the Jews, and said that you would follow this up with a summary of what is predicted to happen to them in the future.
You’re quite right Scott. As I recall, I said that now that the Jews had returned at last to their ancestral land, I hoped that they would enjoy a better future than they had endured in the past. Unfortunately, the Bible predicts that even worse things lie in store for them.
Scott: That doesn’t sound good. What sort of things does it predict?
Well Scott, at the end of our Podcast entitled “The ISIS Crisis“, I mentioned that the prophet Ezekiel predicted that there would come a time when a coalition of Islamic forces, together with their armies, would assemble on the borders of Israel, to the South, the East and the North.
Their purpose in doing so would be to attack Israel from all points at once, with the intention of overrunning the country and slaughtering all the Jews, thus ridding the land at last of the hated Zionists, and leaving it free to become the centre of the new Islamic State.
But just when they were poised for success, and the population of Israel realised that no foreign country would be coming to their aid and that all hope was lost, Ezekiel predicted that there would be a miraculous intervention by God. As he wrote in Chapter 38 verse 22:
“And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire and brimstone.”
And this is where it gets really interesting Scott. For this would not be the first time that God had interceded on behalf of the Jews by means of thunder, fire and hail. In the 23rd verse of chapter 9 of the Book of Exodus, we read:
“And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt”.
But as I mentioned in our previous Podcast, the plagues attributed to the LORD during the time of Moses were not miraculous at all. As explained by Velikovsky in his book Worlds in Collision, they were actually the natural outcome of a close encounter between the earth and a comet.
And just as a comet came to the aid of the Israelites at the time of Moses, so I believe that another comet will save them from the forces of the Islamic Alliance. And it would not surprise me Scott, that when that time comes, followers of Zacharia Sitchin will claim that it is the return of Planet X.
Scott: I gather you don’t believe that.
No Scott I don’t. But when destruction rains down upon the earth from the skies, it probably doesn’t matter too much who is right anyway. The end result will be the same. The assembled armies of Islam will be caught out in the open and be destroyed, while the land of Israel will be saved. As we read in the 39th chapter of the Book of Ezekiel, verses 3 and 4:
“And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:
“And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand. Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured.”
The Islamic armies that had gathered on the borders of Israel would be exposed “on the mountains of Israel”. Their guns, rockets, tanks and artillery would prove no match for the fury of the meteorites and the “fiery hail” that would descend on them from the skies.
After the comet had passed, the countryside would be littered with the wreckage of the Islamic armaments and the bodies of their dead. So many people would die on the land to the East of the Dead Sea that the stench of rotting flesh would fill the air. As Ezekiel wrote:
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: and shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it the valley of Hamongog”.
Ezekiel wrote that it would take the Jews seven months to bury the dead and dispose of their carcases. “And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land”. (Ezekiel 39:11-12) He even penned four verses inviting animals and birds to feast on their flesh.
What makes this prediction by Ezekiel so important Scott, is that it marks the beginning of the seven years of tribulation described in the Book of Revelation. For the day on which this aerial assault begins will be “The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord“, long predicted by the prophets of old.
This will be a day of triumph unlike any other in the history of the Jews. It will be a day when the prophecies of the Old Testament will be vindicated, and the heathen armies will no longer threaten the land of the Covenant. As Ezekiel wrote in chapter 39 verses 7-8:
“So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel. Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord God; this is the day whereof I have spoken.”
Scott: But Allan, if these prophecies come true in the way that you say, surely this will be wonderful news for the Jews.
Of course you are right Scott. At least for awhile. For when the people of Israel see that their enemies have been destroyed, and that they have been spared from annihilation by means of divine intervention, the entire nation will rejoice, and even sceptics will be converted into fervent believers.
In fact, while the rest of the world is dealing with the devastation caused by the comet, the Jews will finally accept that their nation truly is a nation of destiny, and that they have a special Covenant with God. As Ezekiel writes in chapter 39 verses 21 and 22:
“And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them. So the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God from that day and forward.”
Scott: So what effect will this have on the nation of Israel?
Well Scott, the nation of Israel will be completely transformed. Whereas at the present time the population is divided by fierce political rivalries, the Jews will now come together with a renewed sense of unity and purpose. They will rebuild their nation according to the teachings of Moses.
They will be assisted in this by another seemingly miraculous event. Because their enemies will have been utterly routed by the disasters caused by the comet, the Jews will be free at last to build a new Temple of Solomon on its original site on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem.
Scott: What will happen to the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa
Mosque?
That’s a great question Scott. And we can get a clue as to their fate in the 38th chapter of Ezekiel, verse 19, when he writes: “For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken. Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel”.
The Muslim shrines that now stand on the Temple Mount in the old city of Jerusalem will collapse. The earthquakes and the meteorites will leave both of these sacred places in ruins, allowing the Jews to build a third Temple, to replace the one that was destroyed by the Romans.
When this Temple is rebuilt according to the original plans, the Jews will once again restore their practice of sacrificial worship in the Tabernacle of the Temple. The Sanctuary will once more be a place of ritual purity, and will become the new focal point of the Jewish religion.
This won’t be as difficult as you might imagine Scott, for there is an organisation in Israel known as the Temple Institute , that is already preparing for just such an opportunity. In fact, I have discussed this on my Blog, in a piece entitled “Rebuilding the Temple of Solomon“. As they point out on their website:
“The major focus of the Institute is its efforts towards the beginning of the actual rebuilding of the Holy Temple. Towards this end, the Institute has begun to restore and construct the sacred vessels for the service of the Holy Temple. These vessels, which G-d commanded Israel to create, can be seen today at our headquarters in Jerusalem.
“They are made according to the exact specifications of the Bible, and have been constructed from the original source materials, such as gold, copper, silver and wood. These are authentic, accurate vessels, not merely replicas or models.
“All of these items are fit and ready for use in the service of the Holy Temple. Among the many items featured in the exhibition are musical instruments played by the Levitical choir, the golden crown of the High Priest, and gold and silver vessels used in the incense and sacrificial services.”
Scott: So Allan, how do we know that the Temple of Solomon will actually be rebuilt?
Well Scott, the short answer is that we know this from the words of Daniel in the Old Testament and Jesus in the New Testament. Both refer to the fact that the Anti-Christ that is to come will go to Jerusalem to be crowned in the new Temple of Solomon. But we are getting a bit ahead of ourselves here.
In the dark days that follow the global destruction caused by the comet, the governments of the world will no longer be able to command authority, leaving a power vacuum in their place. But out of this chaos will come a man who will draw to him the leaderless masses in what is left of Western Europe.
He will be a man of charismatic charm who will attract the masses with his powers of oratory. But what will make him seem divine to those who are drawn to him is the fact that he will be able to perform similar miracles to those that were attributed to Jesus.
Together with these divine qualities he will also bring a message of hope to all those who are suffering. He will preach a message of brotherhood and peace. He will heal the sick and feed the hungry. Everywhere he goes, he will be greeted as the long awaited saviour of mankind.
This man will negotiate a treaty with Israel, promising to protect the Jews, while at the same time allowing them to pursue their ancient religious practices. However, midway through the seven year period of the apocalypse Scott, a dramatic change will occur.
Scott: What sort of a change will take place?
According to the Bible Scott, this man will suffer a “grievous head wound”. Although this will appear to be fatal and cause his followers to despair, he will miraculously recover. But his recovery will be accompanied by a complete change in personality.
In place of the man who had previously taught peace and kindness towards others, there will emerge a new person who will manifest demonic qualities. In other words, the man who was previously hailed as the new Christ, will now begin to act like the long predicted Anti-Christ.
This will be the time when the vision of St. John will be fulfilled, when the world will come to recognise this man for the demon that he truly is. As we find recorded in chapter 13, verses 3-7 of the Book of Revelation:
“And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded unto death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power to the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him?
“And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
“And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.”
The next forty-two months after his miraculous recovery will be the darkest time in the history of the earth. It will be the time when the Anti-Christ will go forth in an orgy of blood, killing all those who resist him. And it will culminate in his decision to go to Jerusalem to be crowned as a living God.
Scott: Why would the Anti-Christ go to Jerusalem to be crowned?
Because Jerusalem will be the focal point of the Jewish religion. But that in itself would probably not be enough to induce the Anti-Christ to travel to Jerusalem to be crowned. But it does raise a tantalising possibility Scott.
For if by chance the Jews should happen to rediscover the lost Ark of the Covenant, and restore it to its former location inside the Holy of Holies in the new temple of Solomon, then the prospect of getting his hands on the Ark would undoubtedly draw the Antichrist to Jerusalem like a magnet.
And according to Bible prophecy, when the Anti-Christ travels to Jerusalem, he will no longer come as a man of peace. This time he will come with his conquering armies. They will lay waste to the countryside and devastate the cities of Israel.
When the Anti-Christ enters the Holy of Holies of the Great Temple to be crowned as a living God, he will not only defile the temple, but this act will be the “abomination of desolation” described in verse 27 of the 9th chapter of the Book of Daniel:
“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”
When Jesus was asked about the events that would occur in the last days, he said that there would be an “abomination of desolation”, as predicted by Daniel. This would be the time when the city of Jerusalem would be attacked and the time when the inhabitants would be forced to flee for their lives.
This is how it was described in verses 15 to 21 of the 24th chapter of the Gospel according to St. Matthew:
“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
“Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
“And woe unto them that are with child, and unto them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”
St. Luke puts it this way in verses 20 to 24 of chapter 21 of his Gospel:
“And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
“For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days, for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
“And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”
So here we go again Scott. As if the Jews have not suffered enough already. Now they will have to face the wrath of the Beast, as St. John calls him. And if they think that the holocaust was bad, when millions of Jews died in the gas chambers, what follows will dwarf all the horrors of their bloody past.
Scott: What sort of things are you referring to?
Those who live in Israel at that time will be forced to flee into the mountains in order to escape the wrath of the Anti-Christ and his armies. But this campaign of death will not only be directed at the Jews. It will also be unleashed on anyone who does not worship him as the living God.
According to the prophet Zechariah, when the Anti-Christ enters Jerusalem and begins his reign of terror, two thirds of all the Jews alive at that time will be killed. The remaining third of the population will be tried in the fires of the tribulation that will follow.
“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.
“And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.”
“And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, it is my people: and they shall say, the Lord is my God.” (Zechariah 13: 7-9)
Those who can survive the trials that will take place over the next forty-two months will be purified. They will be rewarded with eternal salvation when the Great Redeemer returns to the earth to judge the wicked.
Scott: What sort of trials will they have to endure?
They will have to face trials of persecution, torture, starvation and death. But these will probably seem easy compared to the physical hardship of trying to survive in the mountains, or in subterranean caverns, as well as the challenge of finding food and water in a desert land.
But it will not just be the Jews who will have to cope with these calamities. They will affect all the people on the earth at that time. This period of tribulation will be the time when the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse will ride, bringing with them the plagues of famine, war, disease and death.
The death toll from these plagues will be enormous. As St. John wrote in his Book of Revelation, one quarter of the entire population left on the earth will fall victim to these plagues.
“And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.” (Revelation 6: 2)
“And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.” (Revelation 6: 4)
“And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.” (Revelation 6: 8)
During this time the earth will be afflicted by periods of extreme heat. This heat will cause streams and river beds to dry up and people will be desperate to find water to drink. Due to the unrelenting droughts, crops will fail, and famine will spread throughout the world.
Lack of sanitary conditions will lead to the outbreaks of many different kinds of disease. For many people who are caught up in these hellish conditions, the pain of living will cause them to yearn for death as a way of escape from these ghastly plagues.
Yet the Bible says that death will elude those who look for a way out. They will be forced to suffer. “And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.” (Revelation 9: 6)
But in spite of these cruel conditions, the drums of war will continue to beat, as the armies of the Anti-Christ march remorselessly onward in their campaign for world domination. They will only be stopped when they reach the valley of Jezreel, and their appointed battle of Armageddon.
But, as I have said before Scott, that is a story for another time.
Scott: Well Allan, these last few Podcasts have certainly given our listeners plenty to think about. I know that I will look at the events that are unfolding in the Middle-East now in an entirely new light.
You have been listening to Allan Colston, author of the book “The Last Days of Tolemac”. Do join us for our next Podcast, which will be another in the series titled “Signs of the Times.”
