12 Hours in the (Fast Approaching) Day of the Lord - Twilight
(we are living in critical days!)
In a Five Doves letter on 10 September I raised the question, Are there not 12 hours in the Day of the Lord? The link to the previous letter is below:
http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/sep2012/denish910.htm
The Night before the Day of the Lord
There are some important new aspects to the Day of the Lord, linked to President Obama’s forthcoming inauguration on 21 January 2013, that I would like to raise. My thoughts on the Day of the Lord arose from Jesus’ question in John 11:9 Are there not 12 hours in the day? In creation night comes before day, so I looked back at the most likely starting point - Rosh Hashanah 2001 (18 September), one week after the collapse of the Twin Towers. Jumping forward 12 prophetic/lunar years (360 days) brings you to 17 July 2013.
This date appeared to have little significance, until I realised that it was just one day after the 9th of Av (15-16 July) - the day of the destruction of the first and second temples. In Isaiah 13:6 we read:
Wail, for the day of the Lord is at hand; as destruction from the Almighty and Sufficient One [Shaddai] will it come!
Twilight (Two Lights) - Midway through the 12th Hour
(Australian and United States links)
If the above timeline for the night is correct, we are in the 12th hour (almost through the night!), and about midway through this 12th hour. So when is midway of the 12th hour/year? 18 January 2013 (180 days before 17 July 2013), just three days before President Obama’s inauguration! From an Australian perspective, 18 January 2013 marks exactly 10 years since the Canberra (Australia) bushfires, in which four people died and around 500 homes/buildings were destroyed.
· Australia (Oz) Day, the celebration of arrival of First Fleet in 1788), is on 26 January (225 years in 2013, and 8 days after the anniversary of the Canberra fires).
31/2 Years to 1 July 2016 (Canberra), 4 July 2016 (US) and 9 July 2016 (Oz)
(4 July 2016 - 240 years exactly since Independence!)
Having traced a possible timeline for the night and indicated a proximate starting date for the Day of the Lord, I looked ahead three and a half (prophetic or 360 day) years and the timeline fell on 1 July 2016 for the Canberra date, 9 July for the Australian date, and most importantly 4 July 2016 for the United States 240th celebration of Independence. So what could this all mean for the Church and for Israel? I would like to focus on Israel, including Psalm 83/Isaiah 17 (one day war - the seventh day of the six day war!). For us, the Rapture may or may not coincide with Israel’s timing and we need to be ready to be caught up at any time!
Three Days of Darkness in 2016? – Isaiah 60: 2-5 (Amplified)
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and dense darkness [all] peoples, but the Lord shall arise upon you [O Jerusalem], and His glory shall be seen on you. 3 And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. 4 Lift up your eyes round about you and see! They all gather themselves together, they come to you. Your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried and nursed in the arms.
5 Then you shall see and be radiant, and your heart shall thrill and tremble with joy [at the glorious deliverance] and be enlarged; because the abundant wealth of the [Dead] Sea shall be turned to you, unto you shall the nations come with their treasures.
Isaiah 60 clearly speaks of a time of darkness covering the whole Earth, but then an incredible turnaround in Israel’s fortunes as a nation. The whole chapter (Isaiah 60) is highly relevant, but the verses above highlight this great victory as a nation, that will place Israel in a winning position as a result of the Lord God’s intervention. Damascus will be no more, Israel’s borders will be extended and Israel will be able to secure agreement to rebuild the Temple.
Could three days of darkness cover the Earth in mid 2016, from (around) 1 July 2016 to 4 July 2016? This would fit (exactly) with 31/2 years to 1 July 2013, and three days of darkness to God’s judgment on the world, including the United States and Australia. In summary, mid July 2013 may be the time of the Psalm 83/Isaiah 17 war and also coincide with Israel’s victory in Isaiah 60. Look closely at what is said in Isaiah 17 - more than just for the nations surrounding Israel:
Isaiah 17: 12-14 12 Hark, the uproar of a multitude of peoples! They roar and thunder like the noise of the seas! Ah, the roar of nations! They roar like the roaring of rushing and mighty waters! 13 The nations will rush and roar like the rushing and roaring of many waters - but [God] will rebuke them, and they will flee far off and will be chased like chaff on the mountains before the wind, and like rolling thistledown or whirling dust of the stubble before the storm.
The one day: 14 At evening time, behold, terror! And before the morning, they [the terrorizing Assyrians] are not. This is the portion of those who strip us [the Jews] of what belongs to us, and the lot of those who rob us.
The United States link in Psalm 83 (verses 14 – 16)
14 As fire consumes the forest, and as the flame sets the mountains ablaze. 15 So pursue and afflict them with Your tempest and terrify them with Your tornado or hurricane. 16 Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek Your name, O Lord.
So is there a (judgment) link in Psalm 83 to the United States? In brief, yes! In the Amplified Bible (first published in 194 I think), the word tornado (terminology most associated with the US) is mentioned just once, and here in Psalm 83!). The word hurricane is mentioned just three times, in Deuteronomy 29:19, here in Psalm 83 and in Mark 4:37 (see below), speaking of a storm against the Church (or Israel).
And a furious storm of wind [of hurricane proportions] arose, and the waves kept beating into the boat, so that it was already becoming filled.
Why Judgment on the United States?
There are at least three aspects of the judgment of the Lord God on the United States (and other countries): two are immorality/wickedness and taking a strong international policy lead in dividing Israel and Jerusalem. Then third (Replacement theology in the Church) is less clear, and seemingly unlikely. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit and revival will bring strong growth, and (probably) wealth and influence to Churches. While this may start on the right track, the Antichrist spirit will permeate the Church and REPLACEMENT OR DOMINION theology (that the Church has replaced Israel) will become dominant. The remnant Church will strongly support Israel and a literal approach to the Word of God, including the blessed and yet to be fulfilled Book of Revelation, and be prepared through difficulties for Rapture as a loved and faithful Bride!
What this all may mean for us now
Simply put, we are living in critical days, weeks and months! The inauguration of Obama, midway through the 12th day of night, is a threshold that may shift the world and the Church into a time of greater economic, weather, social, military turmoil in coming months. Iran is likely to play a warlike, religious fuelled, role and Israel may experience peripheral damage in any regional conflict. But God will protect Israel! Isaiah 60 speaks of the Ships of Tarshish (probably Tartessus in Spain) coming first to Israel. This may be a reference to the United States - if so, this could herald a turning of Americans back to their true and deeply religious destiny without an election (which would not be due until November 2016!. Some prophets have seen both strong judgments coming on the United States, and a final turning back to God.
I personally believe that this next time period is for the preparation of the Church and Israel, albeit not the final seven years of Jacob’s trouble (after the Church is raptured). I have also come to understand, somewhat reluctantly, that the dead in Christ and the remnant Church will be raptured before the (much broader) body of Christ). Hence the importance of these imminent timelines. I would like to emphasise that my thoughts are just that, one of many timelines from other Doves (which I very much appreciate - in the multitude of counsellors there is wisdom!) that are CONVERGING as we approach the Christ-centred CLIMAX of HISTORY! We are in the twilight - the increasing struggle between two lights - the true Light of Christ and the light of Antichrist!
When these things begin to come to pass, we are told by Jesus to Look Up - our redemption draws near!
Denis Maranatha!