Israel is God's prophetic time clock. Jesus can return for his church at any time, but his direct work of judgment and rulership as King of Israel has at least 9 specific prophetic markers.
1. The regathering of Israel to Jerusalem after being scattered around the world. Deut.28:63-67; Ezekiel 36:22-24.
2. Israel will be a political burden to the world. Zechariah 12:1-3.
3. Russian-Islamic alliance will invade Israel. Ezekiel 38-39.
4. There will be a dramatic increase in natural disasters. Matthew 24:6-8.
5. Israel will sign a peace treaty with the world's last and most powerful dictator. 2Thess. 2:1-8.
6. A new Jewish worship temple will be constructed. 2Thess.2:4.
7. The peace treaty is broken by desecrating the temple.
2Thess.2:3-6.
8. The final holocaust, the Battle of Armageddon. Rev.16:9-16; Joel 3:2,13; Zech.12:2-11.
9. King Jesus returns as Judge of the nations and Savior of Israel. Matt.25:31-46; Rev.19.
Markers 4 through 8 will occur during a 7 year period called the tribulation or the time of Jacob's trouble. I believe the church will be raptured before those events but I would never cause division because of that view. What should unify Christians is the reality of the return of Jesus Christ to earth and His victory over war, death and sorrow. The Prince of Peace is right on time!
