Returning to Israel
May 20, 2023 – No. 39
Analysis and commentary on today’s prophetic events from author and biblical researcher – Dr. Christian Widener
Welcome to another End Times Berean Watchman Report!
Well, there has been no further progress towards restoring some form of sacrifices in Israel, as there was another missed opportunity for a Passover sacrifice this year. There were some attempts to do so, but with all of the protests, the terrorist violence, and the fact that Ramadan was being celebrated at the Temple Mount at the same time that the Jews wanted to celebrate Passover, it just didn’t happen. [Next year is a different story, though, because Ramadan will end on April 8th but the Passover won’t start until April 22nd.] Nevertheless, I am also still expecting that we could see a red heifer sacrifice later this year, or early next year.
I’ve been slow getting any news updates out to you on this because I have been preparing for a return trip to Israel with my whole family. We are leaving this Sunday, and will be there for one month! I’m super excited, but it has also been a real effort to get all of the planning and preparations done for the trip. I hope that you have all been keeping an eye on the news in Israel and, that with some help regarding things to watch for, are keeping abreast of events.
If you have been watching Israel, then you’ll know what a huge praise for us it is that just in time for our trip a cease fire was called and the end of Operation Shield and Arrow in Gaza against the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) was announced, and things have been mostly quiet for the past week. Prior to that, things were just continuing to escalate, and it was conceivable that it could have turned into an all-out war, which would have likely interfered with or completely prevented our trip. However, thank the Lord, it seems that a window has opened up for our trip. It reminds us that God is in control of events and means to us that He is indeed calling us to Israel at this present time.
Just a reminder, if you haven’t finished reading my latest book, Witnessing the End, make sure you do, or get a hold of a copy (available on Amazon or you can just download a free .pdf), and read it.
There is also a Spanish version now available on Amazon, ATESTIGUANDO EL FIN. With a special thanks to Lili Viola for making the translation. Thank you, Lili!
And while progress is slow, the Abraham Accords continue to be a thing the world is watching…
Although the Abraham Accords were first signed on in September of 2020, few considered that it might be more than just a precursor to the “confirmation of the covenant” mentioned by Daniel in chapter 9, verse 27 but instead could be the very thing that Daniel prophesied about. Nevertheless, these accords have demonstrated that they are no flash in the pan. And adding Saudi Arabia to the list would definitely add a lot of strength to the argument that these accords are not only good for peace, but are prophetically significant. Will Saudi Arabia soon confirm this covenant with the many…?
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/371601
What About the Four Horsemen?
Well, unfortunately, it still really does look like we are inexorably moving towards a World War III scenario that will bring War, Famine, and Pestilence together to bring about the death of the quarter of the earth that is prophesied in Revelation 6:8. I don’t want to sound all doom and gloom, but if we are in Tribulation, then this is what must happen, and it just means for believers that our redemption is drawing near (Luke 21:28). Thankfully, things largely remain more calm than most would imagine for a world war, but remember this present battle is being fought on many non-military fronts, like propaganda, politics, economics, cyber, etc. And somehow a global elite agenda is also in play to try and put the whole world under one government and one financial system. How will all that play out exactly? We don’t know, but I think we are watching it unfold before our eyes.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/22361266/russian-nuke-bombers-nato-border/
Final Thoughts
Please remember my family and I in your prayers, especially as we embark on this trip to Israel. I’ll be traveling with a church for the first two weeks, and then will be doing research for my third book, Finding Solomon, for the final two weeks, the Lord willing.
It’s a wild idea that we could actually be in the first part of Daniel’s seventieth week (or last seven years before God’s promised judgment and Christ’s return) but I still stand by it.
I’m reminded of the story of Elisha prophesying God’s deliverance of Samaria in 2 Kings chapter 7. If this new understanding of Daniel 9:24-27 is correct, and there really are two periods of 490 years, one for each visitation by Christ, then we can be sure that all these things will happen at their appointed time, whether we can see how it could happen before hand, or not.
Elisha replied, “Listen to the Lord’s message. This is what the Lord has said, ‘About this time tomorrow a seah of finely milled flour will sell for a shekel and two seahs of barley for a shekel at the gate of Samaria.’” An officer who was the king’s right-hand man responded to the prophet, “Look, even if the Lord made it rain by opening holes in the sky, could this happen so soon?” Elisha said, “Look, you will see it happen with your own eyes, but you will not eat any of the food!”
2 Kings 7:1-2 NET
While I’m in Israel this time, I’m going to do my best to get on the Temple Mount and actually make a video report about the decree of Sultan Suleiman, which is just sitting there pronouncing to the world his order to restore the Temple Mount plaza in 1537. That date is precisely 483 years before the Coronavirus pandemic and the Abraham Accords were signed in 2020. Remember that Daniel 9:25 specifically mentions that a plaza would be restored, and the most significant plaza (rechob) in Jerusalem is the Temple Mount. When Suleiman built this fountain (sabil) it was part of his total restoration of the Temple Mount. To me, that sufficiently establishes both the fact of Suleiman’s overall decree to rebuild Jerusalem and it also gives us the year of the decree. We’ll see very soon whether or not this is a reliable interpretation/inference.
“He has ordered the construction of this blessed Sabil, our Master, the Sultan, the greatest Sultan and the honourable Hakan, who rules the necks of the nations, the Sultan of the lands of Rum, the Arabs and Persians, the Sultan Sul̈eyman, son of Sultan Selim Khan, may Allah perpetuate his reign and his sultanate, On the date of Hijra of the Prophet at the beginning of Shaban the blessed in the year 943 (beginning of January, 1537). And blessings be upon Muhammed and upon his followers.”
Translation of the decree at the Sabil Bab el Atm on the Temple Mount, from Tütüncü. Turkish Jerusalem, 74.
When people really see and understand what I’m writing about regarding Daniel 9:24-27 and the reality of this decree, I think many will have a hard time calling it a coincidence, especially while we continue to see signs of the four horsemen. And if we are correctly in the time of Daniel’s prophecy, then we can be sure that things will continue to progress to demonstrate this. This would include an expectation to look for the Abomination of Desolation in less that 12 months. Honestly, I don’t know how exactly how that might play out, but you can be sure that I’ll be watching for it and will keep you posted how things turn out, whether I’m right or wrong.
May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen!
Christian Widener, PhD
EndTimesBerean.com
P.S. Feel free to reach out anytime with comments, suggestions, or questions. 🙂
christian@endtimesberean.com
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