THE PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE, ELAM, THE PSALM 83 WAR, THE MAGOG INVASION, AND THE TRIUBLATION
by Alan Yusko
The purpose of this article is to discuss coming prophetic events and their relation to each other. We have coming the pre-tribulation rapture of the Church. We have the Elam disaster and the Psalm 83 war. Around that time, there will rise to power a man called the antichrist. He will sign a 7 year peace covent with Israel which will begin the tribulation period or the 70th week of years in Daniel’s prophecy. When could the 7 year tribulation period start? Are there any clues? During the beginning of the 7 year tribulation, Israel will be at peace. Then the world will see the Magog invasion into Israel. The motives for the wars Psalm 83 and the Magog war are different. Those in the Psalm 83 war are the nations that border near Israel today. Psalm 83 has the motive of destroying Israel from existence. These nations seek to wipe Israel off the map and kill all the Jewish people. At the time of the Maygog war, the motivation is very different. In this war, the attacking armies have to goal of taking spoil and plundering the land of Israel.
We’ll start with the:
PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH.
This prophetic event could happen at any time. The rapture is an imminent prophectic event. This means no prophecy or Jewish feasts need to happen before the rapture. It is an imminent event. Today there are those who incorrectly teach that the rapture must happen during Rosh Hashanah. This is a Jewish feast which lasts 2 days. We are told that is when the rapture will occur. On the last trumpet of Rosh Hashanah. Well this is setting a date and a time for the rapture. This cannot be done as we are told to watch and be ready because we do not know the time the rapture will occur. We know the last trumpet of Rosh Hashanah occurs on the second day around a certain time. We can guess within 1 or 2 hours when that trumpet is blown. This is NOT the rapture sign. The rapture will be fast, unexpected, and sudden. We are told to watch and be ready because it could happen today.
Now the timing of the Psalm 83 war is either just before the rapture, during, or just after the rapture, but before the start of the 7 year covenant between Israel and the antichrist. I lean to the belief that the Psalm 83 war will occur after the rapture. I believe when millions of people disappear from earth, it will cause a great shock to those left behind. If the Psalm 83 war occurs after the rapture then it will help take away the shock of the rapture. The Psalm 83 war will involve nuclear weapons and nations being destroyed. This in itself will be very troubling to those left behind.
After the rapture of the Church there will be big changes on earth. Today the Holy Spirit is currently restraining evil in and through the Church. When the Church is removed, the Holy Spirit is still present. But the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit has been removed. Things will change drastically after the removal of the Holy Spirit’s restraint. At that time the demonic will be openly manifested on earth. These demons call themselves space aliens who are here to help the human race evolve to the next level. Deception will ramp up to its highest level. The antichrist will also be free to rise to power so he can one day sign that 7 year peace treaty with Israel. The antichrist will ascend to his position of world power around the time or after the Psalm 83 war. He will be free to be revealed and rise to power after the rapture.
A time interval will pass after the rapture to the beginning of the 7 year tribulation period. The rapture will not happen on one day and the 7 year tribulation begin on the next day. This time period could be months. I heard one prophecy teacher speculate it could even be years. Personally, I think it will be months. God is going to do a quick work in these last days. During this time there will be the Psalm 83 war and the antichrist will have enough time to rise to power in order to sign that 7 year peace treaty with Israel. The antichrist will be revealed and he will rise to world leadership. However, until the first judgment seal is opened in the 7 year tribulation, the antichrist cannot conquer. He will conquer the world with peace promises and deception. The rider of the white horse (antichrist) conquers with a bow and no arrows in the first seal judgment. This means deception is used and not military force.
THE PSALM 83 WAR,
The Psalm 83 war could start with the breaking of the bow of Elam. Elam used to exist in what is currently Iran. It is located in the south western part of Iran. Elam takes up about 1/5 of Iran today. Here is the prophecy about Elam which has not happened yet.
Jer 49:34-39
34 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying,
35 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might.
36 And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come.
37 For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, saith the LORD; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them:
38 And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the LORD.
39 But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the LORD.
These verses indicate that some kind of major disaster and/or invasion will occur in the land of Elam. The bow of Elam (their strength) will be broken. It will be such a major disaster and/or war, that the people will flee to all the nations on earth. Here is a possibility. The interesting thing is the big nuclear reactor in Iran is located in the land of Elam. What happens if there is a major earthquake and the nuclear reactor is destroyed and leaks a massive amount of radioactive waste? It happened in Japan, it could also happen in Elam. Or maybe this will happen. The USA or Israel will attack and bomb to pieces the nuclear reactor. Israel is not going to let Iran get the ability to make nuclear weapons. Destroying the reactor would create a disaster in Elam. That also would definitely trigger the hostile nations to attack Israel. Or it could be some other disaster not related to the nuclear plant. For example, Japan had a major nuclear leak disaster. Japan is dying from radiation poisoning and I do not see the Japanese people leaving their radioactive island. The radioactive waste will surely kill all of them. Why don’t they flee the land? Right now the radioactive material is washing up on the west coast of North America from Alaska down to southern California. The disaster in Elam causing the people to flee could be radioactive or it could be something else. The disaster could also be some kind of an invasion. Verse 37 indicates that an invasion will occur from the enemies of Elam. God will send judgment on the land of Elam. Whatever happens, a disaster, or an invasion, or both, there is coming a major disaster in the land of Elam which will cause the people to flee the land. They will flee to the four corners of the earth. This disaster event could very well trigger the Psalm 83 war. The Elam prophecy could occur either before the Psalm 83 war, during, or after the war.
Next, there is the start of the Psalm 83 war by Israel’s hostile neighbours.
Psalm 83
1 A Song or Psalm of Asaph. Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.
2 For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.
3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.
4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
5 For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:
These verses show the attitude of the nations that will be attacking Israel. They have made their plans with the goal of cutting off the existence of the Jewish nation. These nations have the goal of making Israel cease to exist in the land. That is the current goal of the nations directly bordering Israel today. Gaza recently (2014) attacked Israel and they were put down. They are currently re-arming and getting ready to again attack Israel. The goal is not peaceful coexistence. They want Israel completely destroyed so the name will not be remembered any more. The enemies of Israel will accept nothing less but Israel’s complete destruction. Maps have recently been published where Israel is not in existence on the map. This is the goal these evil nations are seeking. Next, lets see who will be attacking Israel in the Psalm 83 war:
Psalm 83
6 The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;
7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8 Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah
Several nations and people are mentioned who will take part of the Psalm 83 war. Here is a list of who they could be:
– Ttabernacles of Edom = Southern Jordan and Palestinians
– The Ishmaelites = Saudi Arabia
– Moab = Central Jordan and Palestinian
– The Hagrites = Egypt
– Gebal = Hezbollah and North Lebanaon
– Ammon = Northern Jordan and Palestinians
– Amalek = Sinai
– Philistia = Gaza (Hamas)
– People of Tyre = Southern Lebanon (Hezbollah)
– Assyria = Syria and Iraq
These are all nations that currently closely border Israel. Another point is none of these nations are mentioned in the coming Ezekiel 38, 39 Magog war. We are seeing two different wars with different sets of nations in each war. The motive for war is also drastically different. The Psalm 83 war has the goal to completely destroy Israel. In the Magog war, the goal is to plunder the land and take a spoil.
Lets see what happens next to the Psalm 83 nations that will attack with the goal of destroying Israel.
Psalm 83
9 Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:
10 Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna:
12 Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.
13 O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.
14 As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;
15 So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.
16 Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD.
17 Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:
18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.
The attacking nations will lose terribly in this war. Notice verse 13 that makes them like stubble in the wind. Notice verse 14 where these nations will be burned up with fire. They will be persecuted with God’s tempest and fear the storm of judgment heaped upon them. Their faces will also be covered with shame and they will be confounded and troubled. The Psalm 83 war will be very destructive for all the nations seeking to destroy Israel. In fact, after the Psalm 83 war, the nations involved will be so destroyed that they will never again rise to attack Israel.
This will be a world changing war. Personally, I believe this war will be the end of Islam. Right now those in Islam have the common goal of seeing Israel destroyed. Horrible acts of terror have been carried out worldwide by the Islamics. But after the Islamic countries that attack Israel are destroyed in the Psalm 83 war, things will change. People in Islam around the world will realize that the God of the Bible is much stronger than Allah. I believe many will forsake Islam. Hopefully, many will accept the Lord Jesus after the Psalm 83 war.
Another thing that will happen as part of the Psalm 83 war is the complete destruction of the city of Damascus. This is one of the oldest lasting cities in the world today. But when this prophecy comes to pass, look at what will happen (and it has not happened yet).
Isaiah 17
1 The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.
What happens to Damascus sounds like a nuclear bomb which will reduce the city to rubble. A nuclear bomb today can easily reduce any city to rubble. So Damascus which currently exists as a city today, will be destroyed in fulfilment of this prophecy. In fact, all the Psalm 83 nations that attack Israel will be destroyed. They will never again rise to power to threaten Israel. Another result of Israel’s victory in the Psalm 83 war, is that the borders of Israel will greatly increase. They will not get all the land promised to Abraham, but their current boarders will grow quite a bit.
The Psalm 83 war will be the destruction of the nations attacking Israel. No longer will they be coveting or illegally occupying Israel’s land. It is God’s land and He has promised and given it to Israel.
AFTER PSALM 83
I would expect the antichrist to come to the front in the world scene during or after the Psalm 83 war. It make take a few months to rise to power. Perhaps at this time the antichrist will receive the fatal shot to the head. It may take a month or so but he will recover and resume his position of world power. The antichrist will be loved and considered to be their Messiah by Israel (at first). He will be in power so he will have the authority to sign the 7 year peace deal with Israel. This 7 year peace covenant begins the final 7 years before the return of the Lord Jesus. This peace deal will allow Israel to dwell safely in their land. This is the condition needed for the Ezekiel 38, 39 Magog war! Israel will finally have the freedom to rebuild their temple as a result of this 7 year treaty with the antichrist. The temple will be rebuilt and the sacrifices will begin again.
… continued…
A diabolical centuries-old plan to enslave humanity and control the world is nearing completion.
(Marsha West – Christian Research Network) Dr. David F. Wells lamented that he has watched “with growing disbelief as the evangelical church has cheerfully plunged into astounding theological illiteracy.” How can a believer in Jesus Christ plunge into biblical illiteracy? In part, the blame can be laid squarely on Christian publishing houses for printing theological rubbish.
