The Christ in Prophecy Journal

Judgment in Jehoshaphat (Part 5 of 8)

Judgment in Jehoshaphat

The Timing of Jehoshaphat

This brings us to the timing of Jehoshaphat. When will the Judgment of Jehoshaphat most likely begin?

Some believe it will begin immediately after the Rapture of the Church. But I think that is a misconception. I believe there must be a gap between the Rapture and the beginning of the Tribulation.

I suspect that two major things will happen during this gap period:

  1. The Antichrist will rise to power in Europe.
  2. The War of Gog & Magog will occur.

Regarding the rise of the Antichrist, it is true that he will rise to power in Europe through diplomacy, intrigue, cleverness and the charismatic power of his personality. He will also have supernatural knowledge that will be supplied to him by Satan. But his ascension to the control of the revived Roman Empire will take some time.

And while that is going on, I think it is likely that the Russian invasion of Israel that is prophesied in Ezekiel 38 & 39 (the War of Gog & Magog) will take place.

Traditionally, this war has been placed at the beginning of the Tribulation, and for a good reason. Ezekiel declares it will take place at a time when Israel is living in peace, and the Tribulation is going to officially begin when the Antichrist makes a covenant with Israel that will guarantee its safety.

But the Ezekiel account also says that when the Gog & Magog War is over, the Jewish people will spend seven years burning the weapons from the battlefield. That raises a problem because the Jews are going to be evicted from their land in the middle of the Tribulation when they reject the Antichrist as God and he turns on them in wrath and seeks to annihilate them.

Thus, I have concluded — along with Ron Rhodes — that the War of Gog & Magog will most likely begin at least 3½ to 4 years before the Tribulation begins, during the gap between the Rapture and the beginning of the Tribulation.

This war will result in the destruction of the military power of the Russians and its Arab allies, including the non-Arab nation of Iran. Ezekiel says the armies will be totally destroyed by the Lord on the mountains of Israel.

Ezekiel further states that the Lord’s weapons of destruction will be torrential rains, hail, fire, brimstone, pestilence and a great earthquake — all of which will produce battlefield confusion that will cause the troops to end up killing each other (Ezekiel 38:19-22).

Incidentally, regarding the earthquake, Ezekiel says it will be a “great earthquake” that will shake the entire Middle Eastern area, “collapsing mountains and walls” (Ezekiel 38:19-20). I believe this earthquake will destroy the Dome of the Rock and pave the way for the Jews to rebuild their Temple.

Once the War of Gog & Magog is concluded, I believe the Antichrist will rush to fill the vacuum left in the Middle East by signing his treaty with Israel. And with that area peaceful, he will then launch his campaign to conquer the world.

That campaign will be the beginning of the Judgment of Jehoshaphat.

In the sixth part of our study of Armageddon, we will follow the Antichrist’s war campaign during the Tribulation.

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Dr. David Reagan

Dr. David Reagan is the Founder and Evangelist Emeritus of Lamb & Lion Ministries. He is a life-long Bible student, teacher, and preacher and he led over 45 pilgrimages to Israel. Dr. Reagan was the host of the radio then television program Christ in Prophecy for nearly 40 years.

5 CommentsLeave a Comment

  • Do you have a book from Judgment in Jehoshaphat? Very excellent the articles ever I read it. I will see you in July.

  • Loved this entire series! I also saw a potential gap between the rapture and the beginning of the shemitah cycle of 7 years of judgement (Dan.) even though the earliest of the church fathers taught the tribulation starts immediately after the saints are removed out of harms way(Dr. Ken Johnson Thd). This was because of the Gog/Magog war prophesies and the burning of weapons. When Jesus ascended the apostles were told He’d reappear in the same way as He left. Well He didn’t leave on a white horse accompanied by angels, church saints, and the Holy Spirit! He didn’t leave on a feast day when every single thing He has done (birth, circumcision,death, burial, & resurrection has been on a feast day (the appointed times). He left 10 days before Pentecost during the 40th day of the counting of the Omer. Always a shadow and a type. There is always a pattern to prophecy as well as 100% fulfillment. Totally unexpected. It wouldn’t surprise me if the believing are leaving 10 years before the final last day of judgement and wrath. But that specific year of the shemitah cycle when Joel’s prophecy (Jehoshaphat) takes place is a 7th year cycle because everyone is to be in attendance of all ages and genders. For 6 years of a shemitah cycle only men of a certain age have mandatory attendance. Jesus was cut off mid-week (middle of a shemitah cycle). He is owed 3.5 years! But I think perhaps that 3.5 years may come to pass at the final Armageddon war at the end of the millennium. There is something about that number 10 that perks up my curiosity. As we get closer to the time of our leaving I am sure it will be opened up to my understanding, and if not, well, He surely will open it after we are removed from harms way! Maranatha brethren.

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