When Kings go Forth to Battle…..
By Pastor F. M. Riley
“And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings
go forth to
battle….,” 2 Samuel 11:1.
This Scripture, like all the rest of God’s Word, was given by Divine
Inspiration, 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21. Therefore there
is a “time when kings go forth to battle…” [fight;
battle; wage war]. See Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. What “time”
is that?
This text is quite specific. The specified “time” in this
passage is “after the year was expired.” This would
then place the “time” specifically at the beginning
of a new year. There is only one place in God’s Word where the Lord Himself
declared when a year was to begin. “And the Lord spake unto Moses
and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, This month shall be unto
you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year
to you,” [the Jewish people] Exodus 12:1-2. The year
that the Lord Himself gave to the nation of Israel then began with the month
of Abib [Nisan] in the spring of the year, Exodus 13:4;
23:15; 34:18; Deuteronomy 16:1. It is then the month of Abib [Nisan]
in the spring of the year “when kings go forth to battle…”
History confirms this truth. With very few exceptions, kings throughout
human history have traditionally gone to war in the spring of the
year. It would be a stupid king that would send his troops into battle
in the dead of the winter, or even in late summer as winter was approaching.
So both Scripture and history confirm that spring is the “time
when kings go forth to battle….”
The
End of the Tribulation
Some readers will wonder why I am laboring this point. Just stay with me
and you will understand.
In Zechariah 14:3 the inspired prophet tells us, “Then
shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought
in the day of battle.”
In Revelation 19:11-21 we find the fulfillment of
Zechariah’s prophecy. In verse 11 we read, “And I saw
heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was
called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make
war.
Both of these passages, in context, refer to the end of the
seven year Tribulation period. This will be the time that the Lord Himself
goes forth to do battle against His enemies and the enemies of His people.
Since both Scripture and history confirm that spring is the “time
when kings go forth to battle…,” and our Lord is most certainly
the greatest of all kings [Psalm 24:7-10; Revelation 19:16],
then it should be obvious that the Lord’s going forth to battle will bring
the Tribulation to an end in the spring of the year.
The
Beginning of the Tribulation
Since the Tribulation will end in the spring of the year, then it
must also begin in the spring of the year. This is just a matter
of simple logic.
The years of the Tribulation are seven years of 360 days in each year, making
a total of
2520
days in the seven years. 360 x 7 = 2520. This figure is confirmed in the
Scriptures,
Revelation
11:3; 12:6.
That the seven years of the Tribulation set forth in Revelation 4
– 19 are years based
1
on
the calendar which the Lord gave to the Jews is also obvious when one carefully
studies
the Scriptures. In Daniel 9:24 it is specifically stated,
“Seventy weeks [of years] are determined upon thy people
[the Jews] and upon thy holy city…” [Jerusalem]. Subsequent
history reveals that 69 weeks [of years] of this prophecy were fulfilled.
The 69 weeks [483 years] came to an end the same day that Christ
rode the donkey into Jerusalem, Luke 19:28-44. What day was
that? It was the 10th day of Abib [Nisan] in the spring
of the year.
Since the first 483 years [69 weeks] were Jewish [prophetic]
years, then it should be obvious that the final 7 years [Daniel’s 70th
week] will also be Jewish [prophetic] years. And since the Jewish
year, on the calendar the Lord gave to Israel, both begins and ends
in the spring, it is then logical and reasonable to expect the 70th
week of Daniel’s prophecy [the Tribulation] to begin in the spring
of the year, and to end in the spring of the year at the very “time
when kings go forth to battle….” Glory!
The
Point
Folks, all true believers saved during this present “dispensation
of grace” will be resurrected and raptured to glory before
the Tribulation begins. This truth has been set forth so many times by
so many of God’s people right straight from the Word that I am not
taking the time to restate it or defend it. It is the “blessed hope”
[Titus 2:13] of God’s people and it stands!
I have demonstrated in this study that the Tribulation will begin and end
in the spring of the year. But what year?
Many serious and careful Bible students have been pointing out for months
that 2007 is the year for “the day of the Lord” [the
Tribulation] to begin. The writers setting forth this truth that have
posted their studies on the Five Doves website [Internet] over the
past few months are too numerous to list in this brief study. Look them
up for yourself. It is sufficient to say that many of God’s people [those
truly saved] in various nations all over the earth are convinced that
the terrible Tribulation will begin this year; 2007.
Based on what I consider to be sound Scriptural reasons, I heartily
agree!
I remind our readers that March 20th is when Spring begins
this year. As I write it is only 54 days away. It is interesting that
this year March 20th is also the first day of Abib [Nisan]
on the calendar that the Lord Himself gave to Israel.
Coincidence? I think not!
Please do not misunderstand me or misquote me. I am not saying that
the resurrection and rapture of God’s people is going to occur on March
20th. Don’t even suggest that I have said such a thing. I do
not know the day when the resurrection and rapture of God’s people is
going to occur, and make no claim to knowing such. What I have done in
this study is point out that the Tribulation both begins and ends in the
spring, and that many of God’s people, based on their own independent
studies of God’s Word, are expecting the Trib to begin during the spring
of 2007. If they are correct, then whatever day the Tribulation
begins this spring, the resurrection and rapture of God’s people
will occur before the Tribulation begins. Glory!
Conclusion
Oh, how close God’s people are to the reality of our “blessed hope,”
Titus 2:13. How very close we are to going “HOME,” Colossians
3:4. Beloved, there has never been a time previously when God’s
people should be so totally dedicated to the Lord, and so absorbed in living
for the Lord and seeking His will for our lives, 1 John 3:2-3. We
are
2
soon
going to meet our Savior face to face, Philippians 3:20-21;
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18. What then? Will we be able to meet Him
with joy and rejoicing? Or…..will we “be ashamed before Him at His
coming,” 1 John 2:27-28? Read Mark 13:34-37 again,
and take it to heart. Beloved, will we be able to claim the promise of
2 Timothy 4:8? Will we be able to hear our Savior say, “Well
done, thou good and faithful servant…..enter thou into the
joy of thy Lord,” Matthew 25:21? The choice is ours, and the time
to make that choice is NOW. The last opportunity to love and live for and
serve the Lord with our whole heart and life is NOW before us. What will
we do?
May the Lord bless His Word to the hearts of every reader is my prayer.
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the
which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall
melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall
be burned up.
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved,
what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy
conversation and godliness,” 2 Peter 3:10-11.
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This ministry is supported solely by freewill offerings. All comments,
questions, or correspondence should be addressed to: Last Call Gospel
Ministry, Pastor F. M. Riley, 3900 Clark Lane Lot 178, Columbia, MO 65202.
Our email address is: fmrglbd5@aol.com
.