Plucking the Eagle's Wings

2001 to 2008 and the Fullness of the Gentiles

the Jews to flee to the wilderness. These events are recorded in Revelation 13 and 14, and they will happen in the middle of the seven year tribulation period. This brings us to two issues; first, the time when the fullness of the Gentiles will be completed: and second. the time when Israel will be grafted back into the olive tree. When the Gentile church completes its mission to witness to all nations, then its assignment will be complete. The two witnesses in Revelation will ascertain the time when Israel will be grafted back into the natural olive tree. The Final Seven Years The final seven years of time, prior to the one thousand year reign of Christ, is called the great tribulation (Matthew 24:21). Jeremiah calls it the "time of Jacob's trouble" (Jeremiah 30:7). This phrase points to the incident where Jacob worked seven years for a wife and received Rachel's sister instead. He then worked another seven years until he received Rachel as his wife (Genesis 29). During the seven year tribulation, God will lift His blessing from the Gentiles and bring worldwide judgment against Gentile nations that are corrupt, sinful, and filled with unbelief. The judgments in the book of Revelation will occur at this time. Just as first century Israel was judged for shedding innocent blood and God turned to the Gentiles, in the future, the Gentiles will be judged for shedding innocent blood and God will turn back to Israel. According to the book of Revelation, there will also be a time when many Jews in Israel will become believers and accept Jesus as their Messiah. In fact, 144,000 men from the region of Israel's twelve tribes will be sealed and protected from the tribulation judgments (Revelation 7:4). Two mysterious men called two witnesses will lead these Jewish men. The Two Witnesses During the first forty-two months of the tribulation, two men known as the two witnesses will appear in Israel. John's apocalyptic vision tells of two men in Jerusalem who will have a following of 144,000 Jewish believers. Through supernatural power, they will shut up the heavens and cause a drought for forty-two months. They will call fire upon their enemies, and pronounce plagues upon unbelieving Gentile nations (Revelation 11:5-6).

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