Understanding the days of judgment is imperative as we look to the heavens in confident anticipation of our deliverance from the oppression of the wicked. Throughout Scripture, we find many references where the Most High brought judgment on the inhabitants of the world. Now, we see end time signs happening on the earth and we also will see it happening in the heavens. As a result, we need to guard our hearts and minds against deceptive signs. In the prophecy about the last day signs in Matthew 24 and Luke 21, Messiah was responding to questions the disciples asked Him after He told them that the temple would be destroyed. They wanted to know: when the temple would be destroyed, what would be the sign of His coming and the end of the age. So, let’s dig a little deeper into the second question, what would be the sign of His coming. One thing that has to happen, is that the times of the Gentiles would come to an end. We can certainly see that happening now and it’s happening at an alarming rate. There is no denying that a shift is happening in the earth and these changes are not without violence. Democracy has essentially failed. Not only that, those who built powerful empires through exploitation, rape, murder, theft, and the enslavement of others see those empires crumbling. The Gentiles see the handwriting on the wall and when they realize that their world is falling apart, they look for the common enemy.
Now, let’s bring in Joel 3 again to see if there are additional details that we should be paying attention to in these last days. In verse 14, you will see that it is referring to what is called the ‘Day of the Lord’. It’s really a day of the Most High’s wrath against a certain group of people but a lot of Christians equate this day with the rapture. In verse 1, it says, “For behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall have turned the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem…”. We know that this is a last day prophecy or ‘end of time’ / ‘end of days’ prophecy. In Luke 21:20-22, it reads, “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea [the Judeans] flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her [speaking of Jerusalem] depart, and let not those who are in the country into her. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled”. We’re confirming that this is talking about the event that was to happen after the death, burial, and resurrection of Messiah. We’re also confirming that this is happening to the house of Judah and Jerusalem. The tribes are Judah, Benjamin, and Levi; they make up the house of Judah. They were told to flee as in to get away from Judea and leave Jerusalem because judgment would be coming to the land and the people who remained.
Continuing with Luke, verses 23-24, it reads, “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days. For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people [the house of Judah]. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations, And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled”. The wrath of the Most High came upon the house of Judah because they did not recognize the day of their visitation. They didn’t acknowledge Messiah and they called for Him to be put to death. Now we know that many of them did believe and they became his disciples and followers of the way. The people Messiah warned are those who are His followers. He warns them to get out of the land when they saw the signs. That is definitely the Most High’s mercy at work there. But even though they escaped the sword, the descendants of those who escaped still had to endure the wrath of the judgment that came and many were taken into captivity and scattered to the four corners. They were led into captivity and forced to serve gentile nations. We’re still waiting to see some pictures of those who say that they are us being led into captivity – anywhere. I encourage you to do a Google search and see what you come up with; see what the pictures show. If you find pictures of them, more than likely it will be between 1933 and 1945…but you won’t see them being scattered into all nations. Those are facts. It tells us Jerusalem would be trampled by Gentiles. Another race of people would be living in the land – when? – in the last days.
We’re talking about a last day prophecy, right? Joel 3:2 says, “I will also gather all the Gentiles and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel who have been dispersed among the Gentiles and these Gentiles have divided my land”. Let’s take a look at that word, ‘plead’ because some may think it’s talking about begging. He’s bringing them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat to be judged – enter into controversy with. So, this is plead in the legal sense. Accordingly, when YAH is said to plead with man, as in Isaiah 66:16, the meaning is that He states His side of the case and not at all that He supplicates man to repent. This is a judicial act. In verses 3 through 7 (of Joel 3), the Most High is presenting the case against the nations involved with dividing His land, stealing things from His temple, and selling His people into slavery. This would include the mistreatment of them. But european nations think He’s going to just let all of it go just because time has passed. If the Most High didn’t forget about it and he’s not letting it go, why should we. Here’s what you need to see, the judgment has already been pronounced; read verses 7 and 8. In verse 7, He’s talking about regathering the descendants of those who were taken into captivity. We’re talking about the tribe of Judah, Benjamin, and some of the Levites. They removed us far from our borders. This has nothing to do with the church. The entire chapter is telling you who He’s talking about. The church was not taken into captivity and sold to the four corners. So, how could the day of the Lord be about the rapture of the church? In verse 8, the punishment is that those nations will reap what they have sown.
Family, I need you to make sure that you understand these prophecies because if you listen to the theologians they’re only going to talk about the captivities of the House of Israel or the house of Judah that’s mentioned in the Old Testament, and they completely ignore Luke. They knew that this was to be a global captivity that occurred after the death, burial, and resurrection of Messiah. Why is it that no one talks about this captivity. Let’s look at some confirming words from the Book of Ezekiel 37:15-23 that ties in directly to Joel 3. In verses 21-23, it reads, “Then say to them, ‘Thus says the Most High: “Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations [this is telling us that the entire nation is away from the land. they are not living in the land or they’re not in their rightful place. where are they? They are living among the nations]. He says, wherever they have gone [He’s going to take the children from among the nations wherever they have gone] and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land”. Now, they want us to believe that this happened a little over 70 years ago. But listen to what He says, “I will make them one nation in the land.” If you listen to the people who say they are us, what do they call themselves. And when you ask them, “where are the other tribes”, they can’t tell you.
If we look at the signs that were listed in Matthew 24 and Luke 21, we see that Messiah identified those signs that were only the beginning of birth pangs. It’s the beginning of the tribulation period for His people. He told us that these things are only the beginning, not that these things listed wouldn’t continue. The reason He equates it with a woman in labor is because they get increasingly worse. Let’s confirm that by looking at Matthew 24:4-8. The disciples were not living in the time when they would see all these things. We’re the generation that’s seeing all of these things. We’re in a period now where we see the transition – the transitioning phase – where we’re seeing the end of one and the beginning of the other. Our tribulation ends and the judgment for those nations that afflicted us begins. It is extremely important for us to be able to differentiate between the times because Messiah gave us a warning. In Matthew 24:42-44, He told us to watch because we would not know the hour of His coming. This is why He told us to pay attention to these signs because these gentile nations are paying attention to what’s happening with us. They see that we’re waking up in greater numbers and they see how their nations are collapsing.
Be ready, because He’s coming at an hour you do not expect. What does that tell you? It will be very difficult to pinpoint the exact hour, so you have to remain in a state of watchfulness. Be steadfast in reading and studying the Word and looking at the prophecies and also looking at these signs to see how things are unfolding in the Earth. Again, the enemy is paying attention to these prophecies as well in order to deceive and confuse. They will present their false messiah when they think it’s time for the real One to appear. because he told us false christ will perform great signs and miracles and deceive many (Mark 13:22). This is telling us that the elect will not be deceived. How do we prevent deception? We need the Word. If we know truth, then we won’t fall for the lies and the deceptions. David said, “Thy word have I hid in my heart that I may not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11-16). We need to prepare our hearts now! The time to be ready is not the time to get ready. You should be fasting, praying, studying, meditating on the Word, spending time in YAH’s presence.
The only way to escape what’s coming, is to be in the right place – in the safety of the Father’s house. You have to hold on to His word. You have to get it in your heart so that you can recognize truth. It’s the truth that you know that will make you free. Learn more when you view the accompanying video, Understanding the Days of Judgement 2 | Guard Against Deceptive Signs.
