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Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s word on Bibleline, here God’s truth on Bibleline. Welcome to Bibleline with Dr. Ralph Yankee Arnold, pastor of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida. Clearly declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ through the radio and the internet. Your regular prayers and monthly support make it possible for Bibleline to continue on the air. You can reach us toll-free at 1-800-576-3771. Online donations may be made by clicking on the donations link on the BibleLineMinistries.org homepage. We pray that you will enjoy our commitment to the clear gospel of Jesus Christ and that today’s first part of this two-part message will be a blessing to you and your family.

Take your Bible and turn with me to the book of Zechariah, the book of Zechariah. And I want to establish that when you read the book of Revelation, chapter 1 verse 19 it talks about, you know, write the things which are the things which have been and the things that we’ll be hereafter. And it kind of breaks down the whole book of Revelation. But look up here just a second. In chapter 4 of the book of Revelation, chapter 4 starts with the rapture and in chapter 6 to chapter 19, all of this takes place during this period of time right here.

So the book of Revelation, this is talked about in the Old Testament. So you can understand a lot of the so-called symbolism stuff by simply going to the, like a book of Daniel or Zechariah, even in some places in Ezekiel, and you’ll get some clues of what he’s talking about there. So here in the book of Zechariah in chapter 14, I want you to look there in verse 1, Zechariah 14 verse 1, and you’ll notice that the Lord is talking about during this period of time.

And you’ll notice that there is a certain nation, certain city that’s talked about during this tribulation period right here. Now, if we don’t utilize these verses and say they mean anything, then we were left up to conjecture. We can figure, well, it could be this one and this one, it doesn’t. But I do believe that my view on this is correct. But I can’t definitely prove it. It’s just that it’s an idea that I have and I wrote these notes 40 something years ago and well after 40 something years I still haven’t changed my mind.

But I’m just trying to establish that there are some clues I believe in the Old Testament that kind of lets us know what is the key points of the tribulation period. So we know what talks about in the seven years is about the 70th week of Daniel. So it’s about the holy people. It’s about the holy land. It’s about Jerusalem. It’s about God’s holy mountain. So I believe those are some keys that help us as we go through the book of Revelation trying to figure out, well, what is this talking about?

And so I believe there are some definite clues in here that will help us. Now look in verse 1 of Zechariah chapter 14 verse 1, Behold the day of the Lord cometh and thy spoils shall be divided in the midst of the, for I will gather all nations against Rome to battle.” It’s Jerusalem to battle and the city shall be taken. That means Jerusalem is going to fall. So when we get to the book of Revelation and we look at it Well, we know that the Antichrist is going to come and all of them against the little O’Nation of Israel.

But there’s got to be this peace treated that we know they’re going to make. And we know that whoever makes the peace tree with them is not going to keep his word. He’s going to break the treaty. So that means that whoever they make the treaty with is going to break the treaty and then try to annihilate the Nation of Israel. So when you come across in the book of Revelation, chapter 17, where the woman is riding a scarlet colored beast.

Well, the scarlet colored beast is the exact same colors that we find that the devil is. He is a scarlet colored beast, and it mentions this. And so it’s the head of a political system, and then there’s a religious system. And we believe that there’s going to be a one-world government, but where is the headquarters of this one world government. Well if the anti-Christ, this beast, It’s going to be the head of a one world government where the Bible says he goes to Jerusalem and establishes his palace in the holy mountain.

So that makes me think that it’s going to be in the land of Israel. So I just naturally think it’s not going to be somewhere else. It might be there. And then when you have the false prophet, now remember in the book of Revelation in chapter 13, saw one beast come up out of the sea. Well, that’s the political and then later on he says and I saw a beast come about of the land and that’s the prophet That tries to get everyone to worship the beast So they are together and the devil is behind both of them So they’re not turning I don’t believe on each other and so it’s not to me some particular religious group as much as it’s going to be these two beasts because they’re going to be cast into the lake of fire these two are two literal individuals that will be cast into the lake of fire.

So if that takes place then that means that the religious head also must be in Jerusalem because he’s trying to get everyone to worship the beast, the political head. So but it’s all taking place in the land of Israel and that when Israel sees what’s taking place the Bible says they are too free and so it’s it’s mentioned in several places here. Look down there in verse 4, where he says, and his feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall cleave and the mist thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley.

Half of the mountain shall be removed toward the north and half of it toward the south, so there’s going to be a great earthquake. And then he says in in verse five, and ye shall flee, in the middle part of verse five, a ye shall flee. And then when you read in the book of Matthew chapter 24 and verse 15, when ye shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing the holy place, then you which are in Judea flee until the mountains flee.

So I believe there’s connections to all of this and that all dovetails perfectly together. And you’ll notice where he says in verse two up there, and I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle them. The city shall be taken. I believe that it will fall. And then shall the Lord go forth and fight against those nations. And so this is what you have at the end when Christ comes forth and fights against those nations that had come against Jerusalem.

Now I believe that Jerusalem becoming the head of the political and the religious system It’s going to be the head of all religions. Whatever those religions may be, I’ve got my ideas. But these religions, the Bible says, she is like a woman that has gone a-horring after all the nations of the earth. Now, true, the Catholic Church is in every nation just about, and they are of the place in Rome, and so many people believe, so it’s got to be the Roman Catholic Church.

And it may be some connections, all of this. all these things will be feeding in together. But when you also have the nation of Israel, isn’t it also true that Israel has also been scattered upon the face of the earth in every nation? And God’s people have rebelled against the Lord. So why was Israel cast out of the land? Because of their rebellion. So God is going to pour out his judgment. The book of Revelation talks about the judgment of God upon his people.

So it’s going to be mainly the city of Jerusalem. Remember, he wept over the city of Jerusalem. And he says that you’re not going to see me until you say, blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. When he cometh right here in the name of the Lord, then Israel will be born, or as we say, saved, born in a day, and they will believe on the Lord. So these things are mentioned here. Now, look in Revelation chapter 14.

Revelation chapter 14. If what I’m teaching on tonight has elements of air, it’s not going to be the end of the world. It probably will not change somebody’s eternal destination. Now if I was talking about how a man gets to heaven, that would be a lot more critical. So when you come to things like prophecy, you have to have a little give and take and remember there’s a lot of good godly people that don’t always agree on everything concerning prophecy.

I would venture to say, doctors stand for the night didn’t agree on everything on prophecy. Maybe Dr. Hank Lindstrom and I don’t agree on everything on prophecy. But Hank and Ray right now say they’re in heaven. So they both agree with me now. I didn’t think I would catch that so fast. Y’all were just kind of like ready for that. But now look in Revelation in chapter 14. When he says, and there followed another angel saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen that great city because she made all nations drink of the wind of the wrath of her fornication.

Well, if this is something that happened, I believe it’s written here because of either something that happened before Christ or it has to be something that happens after the church age. This period of time right here is not the subject. Whatever happens here is not the goal of what happens here. This was promised because of what they did here before Christ ever came. The church age is going to be taken out of here. So I believe it’s something either before or what they’re doing during the tribulation period when the The prophet gets all religions and force them to worship the based on their guilt.

So he made a statement here about this great city that falls. But you’ll notice what he says in verse 20. And the wine press was trodden without the city and blood came out of the wine press even into the horses bridled by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs. almost 200 miles and this is talking about this great city. Is it talking about two different cities? Now if we understand from the Old Testament what happens to the nation of Israel and what happens to the Jerusalem, Jerusalem is going to be taken.

The temple is going to be destroyed. In the middle of the tribulation period he will cause the sacrifices and so forth to cease. There will be great persecution upon all the children of Israel, and they are to flee. So is it possible that this great nation, this great city is who they’re talking about? Look there in Revelation chapter 11, where you know that Jerusalem in verse 2 is where the temple is in verse 2 of chapter 11, but the cord which is without the temple leave out, measure it not, it’s given unto the Gentiles and the holy city, the holy city, what holy city do you think it’s referring to?

I believe it’s talking about Jerusalem. Shall they tread under foot three and a half years? And then these two prophets come along, the two witnesses, and the Bible talks about them and they have power. And the Bible says in verse 7, and when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that sent us out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, shall overcome them, and shall kill them and their dead body shall lie in the streets of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.”

Now I don’t believe Jesus was crucified in Egypt. I don’t believe he was crucified in Sodom and Gomorrah. I believe Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem, in Israel. But he says that great city and little by little, it seems like some of these are a reference to who the woman is, in which I want to refer to a little bit later. Look there in chapter 16. Chapter 16 of the book of Revelation. Now we know that he says in verse 16 about the place called Armageddon.

We know that that’s in the plains of Jezreel, which is where the tale is of McGeddon and a place called Armageddon. So it’s right northwest of Jerusalem. I’ve been there six times and I know that the place is real and it’s right there and it’s a great big old plain and that’s where many of the battles have taken place. And so he says here in Revelation, and chapter 16, verse 16 about Armageddon.

And we mentioned this morning about the Antichrist, the beast, the false prophet, the devil, is gonna try to get everybody to come to Jerusalem and the false prophet and the beast and the dragon mentioned in verse 13 says in verse 14, but they are the spirits of devils working miracles. So when the Bible says that even demons can work, miracles don’t believe that all miracles come from God. And verse 14, it goes into the kings of the earth and of the whole world to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

So we know that from the book of Zechariah chapter 12 and also in chapter 14, that God says he’s going to gather these nations together, but he is allowing the devil to do the dirty work, to do what he wants done. They’re going to come against him. See, there may be He won a Nile-aid Israel, but then God’s going to take care of them for picking on His kid. Now there’s a great battle that will take place. That’s mentioned in verse 16.

Then you get into verse 17 and 18. and there were voices and funders and lightning and great. Earthquake, such as was not since men were upon thee or so mighty an earthquake and so great. But it also talks about a great earthquake. When the Lord comes back in His feet, He’ll touch upon the Mount of Olives and it will cleave in the mist. And the Bible describes how there’s not going to be one mountain, one eye, everything’s going to be moved.

And even talking about the earth will rock to and fro like a drunk man upon the axis. A lot of bad stuff’s going to take place. But I still believe that Israel and Jerusalem is the key components of the seven-year tribulation period, because that’s the purpose of the tribulation period, it’s where God pours out His judgment upon Israel. And He’s going to use the nations to do His work, and then God’s going to come back just in the nick of time.

Because if He doesn’t, Israel will be annihilated. And the Bible says, and no flesh will be left alive. So I guess it’s possible they could annihilate the whole planet. But notice what he says. Then he says in verse 19, and the great city was divided into three parts. Cities of the nations fell. Great Babylon came into remembrance before God, to give it a hurry of the cup of the wind of the fiercestness of his wrath. That is also mentioned right there in verse 8 of Revelation chapter 14.

Same identical thing that’s mentioned. But the great city keeps going back, it’s like it’s got to take place there in Israel. Whoever this great city is. And so there’s a reason why I believe that. Now take your Bible-looking Revelation chapter 17. Revelation chapter 17. You notice what he says here when he talks about this, a woman, and who is this mystery Babylon the Great, the mother of harlitz and abominations of the earth? Now I do believe that in the beginning there was a place called Babylon and the power of Babylon and the religion and all the things that comes from that and there’s books been written about the two Babylon’s and because of the religion and because of the political and all this and how it can permeate and makes you know we have the same thing today as was way back there in the beginning.

I can’t get away from the idea that it’s about Israel, it’s about the Holy City. This is what I believe he’s talking about. But notice what he says in verse 18, and the woman which thou saw us is that great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth. Well if the Antichrist is going to rule over this earth, where does he rule from? I believe it’s in Jerusalem because that’s where he goes and it’s where he plants his palace in the holy mountain, and that’s the place of Palestine, where I believe that he’s going to go.

And so is it possible that the great city could be Jerusalem? Now I’m saying that, but my only proof or evidence is what I believe these scriptures are talking about. Now is it possible that when he tells them up there in verse 4 of chapter 18, And I heard another voice from heaven saying, come out of her, my people, that you be not partakers of her sins and that you receive not of her plagues. So is it possible that this is also similar to Matthew 24 when he says, and when you shall see the abomination of desolation in the temple, claiming himself that he is God?

He says, flee and get into the mountains, hide thy cells. Now go back now, just hold your place here because we’ll be coming back here. Look in chapter 12. In Revelation chapter 12, does the Bible say in the book of Revelation that this woman here could be the nation of Israel when it talks about there in verse 1, this great woman, and verse 2, being with child cried, travailing in birth, pain to be delivered, and when she did deliver a child, it was a son, and so there in verse 5 she brought forth a man child?

Well, is this the nation of Israel or is this Rome? Is it Australia? Is it Switzerland? I mean, where would it be? I would just assume that maybe this is talking about Israel. And she brought forth a man child who was to rule all nations with the rod of iron. Was Jesus a pro-Christ supposed to come into the world and set up a kingdom and rule this world and rule with a rod of iron? Now hold your place right here and look in chapter 19, the book of Revelation chapter 19.

Chapter 19, and notice in verse 11, in verse 11, where it says, and I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, he that sowed on him was called faithful and true, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and then on his head were in any crowns, and he had a name written that no man knew but he himself. Now this doesn’t sound like a lamb does it? Does this sound more like a lion to you?

Then he says here in verse 13, he was clothed with a vest or dipped in blood and his name is called the Word of God. You got any clue who this might be? And the armies which were in heaven, so it must be in heaven, followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, and out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword that with it he should smite the nations and he shall rule them with a rod of iron.

this what the Son was supposed to do that was to be born of the nation of Israel when he came the first time even though he was coming and he was going to be the Lamb and he was rejected and slaughtered and became the sacrifice for the sins of the world. So is Jesus supposed to come back again? And if he’s supposed to come back again, he come back in power and great glory. And this is when he’s coming back and he is going to rule.

And he’s going to rule with a rod of iron. Now go back to chapter 12. Revelation chapter 12. And notice what he says here in verse 5. To rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her child was caught up unto God and to his throne. Now between verse 5 and verse 6 is about a 2,000 year gap. a woman, now where all of a sudden we’ve gone from here, where the sun was taken up, and now we’re talking about in the tribulation period, when the woman is to flee into the wilderness, but see the first three and a half years she doesn’t have to, because there’s the peace treaty made, promise and safe, and protection, and prosperity, and everything, and the Pope beat us utopia upon the earth.

Well, it’s not gonna work out that way. And so there’s gonna be great judgment coming. and he makes this statement here in verse six. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she had they placed, prepared of God, that they should feed her there 8,203 score days or three and a half year. So Israel is gonna be fleeing, just like we read back there in the book of Zechariah in chapter 14, Israel was the flea. Just like we read over there in the book of Matthew 24 when the Antichrist takes over in the middle of the tribulation period, If it’s in the midst of that week, in the middle of that week, there’s only three and a half years left.

See, the scriptures has to dovetail. And I believe with this understanding, it fits. I believe it fits better. Now, a lot of prophecy books that I’ve read, I could say this, they don’t all agree with me. Or I could say, I don’t agree with some of them. But I don’t like to try to prove my point because I quote somebody else and say, Well, they agree with me and they agree with me. Yeah, but who are they? I don’t want somebody to say, well, I know it’s just true because the preacher said, no, it’s supposed to be the Bible said, and you’ll believe what it says.

Is it possible that I could be wrong on prophecy? Is it possible? Write that down. Write that down. You just got on my good side. But it is possible, not lightly, but it is possible because we don’t always see everything. We don’t have all the pieces of the puzzle. Oh, we’d love to. We’d love to speak with such authority that nobody would ever question. But I want people to question if they had a verse that disproves what I’m saying.

But I will say this, I have done my dead level best to study it as much as I possibly can. I don’t know how I can study it anymore. I’ve set up all night long, reading this sentence, sometimes thinking, now, where’s the problems? Words of things that would say, this can’t be this. Because when I look at the world situation, I would say, it can’t be. I mean, this has got to be America, but America was America existing back here?

No. But don’t I understand that, you know, he talked about the Little Horn, and that’s supposed to represent a new nation, a young nation? Well, I know that, but does that mean it’s got to be America? And so there’s people who got some good reasoning for thinking that America could be this beast, and I don’t know, it could be. But it’s where do they set up their headquarters? So that’s why I taught 40-something years ago that Jerusalem or Israel will have to be made an international city in order to allow the Jews, the Muslims, and Christianity to all have access to the Temple Mount.

So I don’t know when it’ll happen or even if it will, but according to my thinking, because of what has to take place, it’s just like coming to the conclusion the temple has to be built. Why do I believe the temple has to be built? Well, I’m trying to figure out how they can fulfill these scriptures without a temple. And it says, talk about measuring the temple. It’s given to the Gentiles for 42 months. And the sacrifices are going to stop.

I can’t see Israel just sacrificing outside, you know, it’s a place. And I believe the temple is going to be rebuilt because the Bible says it’s going to happen. So I kind of believe that. So I’m drawn an assumption, but I believe it’s based upon what the scripture says. So you hear in the book of Revelation and look down there now where he talks about this great tribulation is going to come upon the earth and he says, Whoa, whoa, whoa, to the inhabitants of the earth.

See what he says in verse 12, therefore rejoice you heavens and ye that dwell there, but woe to the inhabitants of the earth and obviously for the devil has come down unto you having great wrath because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. So he knows he’s only got a short time left three and a half years is all he got left to do all the dirty work he can do. And then he says here in verse 13, and when the dragon saw that he was cast into the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.

Who would this woman be? I can’t come up with nobody else except the nation of Israel. Israel is the woman. And from verse one of chapter 12 until this verse I believe this is the woman. Well if this is the woman and the devil hates the woman and he turns everybody in the world against the woman that try to destroy her, when I get to chapter 17 and it talks about this woman that rides this beast, is that somehow they have made temporary peace between and the devil doesn’t like the woman and the woman is being deceived maybe, but for the sake of peace, I believe Israel is at the point where they’ll do anything for the sake of peace.

And I don’t like that. I believe they’re willing to maybe even go to a two-state over there, which I believe Jose has talked about, do not part my land. And so it’s not to be done. Are you a new listener to Bibleline? Do you enjoy the teachings of Dr. Arnold? Well, if you’ve never contacted us before, we want to give you Dr. Arnold’s book, The Gospel Driven Man. Every day we receive many emails from folks who have questions about repentance and salvation, about faith in works, and about how to share the gospel with friends and loved ones.

This book, The Gospel Driven Man, covers all those topics, and we want all new listeners of Bibleline to receive a free copy. There’s no obligation, no donation necessary, simply call us at 1-800-576-3771 or write to us and request your free copy of the Gospel-Driven Man. The mailing address is 4811 George Road, Tampa, Florida, 33634. Again, don’t forget to include your mailing address, and God bless you and thank you for listening to Bibleline. Thanks for joining us on Bibleline. If you are in the area, we welcome you to visit us.

The address for Calvary Community Church is 4811 George Road, Tampa, Florida, 33634. And now, a closing thought from Pastor Arnold. Friend, one day it will happen. The trumpet will sound. And we will be changed. Caught up to meet the Lord in the air. So live today and every day. Believing that the Lord is coming soon, just keep looking up.