Jerusalem Compassed with Armies

As I read Epicenter, it seems that the world events around us are setting the stage for the fulfillment of end-time prophecies.  I wonder,”How could I have not noticed this before?” Then I remember what the Lord God said to Daniel:

But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” Daniel 12:4

How can we look around without acknowledging this is occurring today?

If you read several authors who are Biblical scholars, and if you are discerning, you may very well reach the conclusion that we are near the end. We know we are approaching the end.

Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven. Psalm 119:89

Reggie Lisemby, Executive Servant of “The Star of Hope“, recently wrote an article explaining that the War of Armageddon is NOT the Battle of Gog and Magog. How exactly this fits with Christ words concerning the end times and what several others have written!

Jesus stated that :

“When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. ” Luke 21:20

What is the desolation of Jerusalem? In Daniel 12: 13-17 we learn:

For the king of the north (Russia) shall return and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, (Could this mean the former USSR?),and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches…and take the most fenced cities and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand..and he shall stand in the glorious land…He shall also set his face to enter with the the strength of his whole kingdom…and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him.

Rather than quote the entire chapter, let us move on toward the end…

And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the scantuary of strength and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. vs 31

Hence, the desolation of Jerusalem.

As a child I thought that verse 21 of Luke 21 pertained to the entire world although it plainly says Judea.

“Then let them which are in Judea 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.” Luke 21:21

It seems to me that is going to happen in the near future, but no one knows for sure and the apostles called their time the “last days.” The author of Epicenter reminds us that there has been oil discovered in Israel.  I will not go into the MANY prophecies that this fulfills. It is outlined in the book. If you have not read the book or seen the DVD, I urge you to do so.