Tag Archive for: prophesy

Introduction

There is an “end time” conflict in the works according to a very interesting and unique new Jewish prophesy. Likely escalating in the next two decades—it is said to be the prophesied epic biblical war of “Gog and Magog”. But the new Jewish prophetic text suggests it will not occur like most people think. It will not begin or end with the evangelical “rapture” or the Second Coming as many people imagine it. Nor has it anything to do with any kind of end of the world apocalypse or nuclear holocaust.  In fact, as the events unfold exactly as Ezekiel and other biblical and Islamic prophets foretold, and instead of Christ’s coming or a rapture— Jerusalem & Israel get attacked and ‘conquered’ by a short-lived radical Islamic Caliphate (a shadow of Christ’s crucifixion 2000 years earlier), hundreds of millions will slowly lose misplaced faith in western Christian and Islamic ideologies—paving the way for a major religious reformation and a new global religious movement. The following article will detail the prophesies of the Old Testament concerning the prophesied battle of Gog and Magog, and walk through the detailed additional information given in the 1996 modern Jewish revelation, The Book of Ben Kathryn (see Introduction to the Book of Ben Kathryn).

In summary, the prophecy seems to predict a coming drawn-out conflict that is said to begin by an Israeli (& American?) preemptive attack/war on biblical “ancient Assyrian” territory (ancient Assyria was headquartered in modern Mosul, Iraq and encompassed parts of modern Syria, Iraq, Iran and Turkey). Alough this attack/war may have been fulfilled in the 2003 American Iraqi invasion (see this documentary video for details), is still to be fulfilled by a particular Israeli strike on Iraq, Iran, Syria or the emerging Islamic State (largely headquartered in Mosul). This foolish pre-emptive conflict will then set in motion a series of Middle-Eastern wars which involve the heart of the Arab World, Russia and the United States. Although the U.S. is said to only play a minimal role in the apex of the coming war, the conflict will heavily involve Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt the U.N. and likely Iran, Russia & North Korea. Possibly an analog to WWII centered on the Middle East instead of Europe. But just as the period between the Napoleonic wars and the World-Wars politically transformed Europe— by the time the smoke clears, a new Middle Eastern coalition will emerge to destroy American & European global hegemony and transform the major players in the global political dynamic.

This war is said to be the Biblical sign of a 40 year “probation” and prophesied New Age—the sign that the End of the Times of the Gentiles has come and the beginning of Judah’s part in the Restoration of Israel & final age of the major cycle. As detailed in D&C 45, Matthew 25 (JST-M), Ezekiel 38-39, Daniel and the Book of Revelation, the Koran and many channeled texts, the year of roughly 2033 marks the coming of The Third Day (or final biblical period or dispensation two thousand years from Christ’s death, see Hosea 6:1–2) . The third day is said to mark the end of the Times of the Gentiles (~34 AD – 2034? AD) in which divinity has smiled upon the Gentile nations of Europe—and a beginning of a switch or return of that favor and power to the Semitic nations of the Middle East. And the age (often translated “time” in the Bible) is said to end the same way it started–with the martyrdom of God’s archetypal lamb (symbolized by Christ and the Nation of Israel as a portrayal of the world’s pacifists) by the false lamb or beast (violent, false fascist religion). The end of the age will mark a change in the seat of global military and monetary power, a change in the seat of western religion and culture and a major change in Christianity and Islamic thinking. As well as a change in the climate and a change in mankind’s spiritual proclivities. And a return to a period of of prophets, miracles and increased interaction between earth’s physical and spiritual dimensions.

Much like WWI & WWII catalyzed the collapse of colonial European monarchies, imperialism & Catholic domination–the coming period of destructive Middle Eastern war will catalyze the collapse of today’s Arab monarchies & Islamic ideological domination. And just as the radical, violent factions of Marxism and Nazism were crucial tools in dethroning the deeply ingrained, corrupted systems of the past–so too will the radical, violent factions of Jihadist Islam (Wahhabism, Al Qaeda, ISIL/ISIS) prove a horrible yet effective tool to breakup the deeply ingrained systems of the Middle East, and test the faltering western religious and political systems in order to pave the way for a new and upcoming global religious & political movement.

12 And my people who are a remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles, yea, in the midst of them as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he go through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.  13 Their hand shall be lifted up upon their adversaries, and all their enemies shall be cut off.  14 Yea, wo be unto the Gentiles except they repent; for it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Father, that… I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strongholds… Thy graven images I will also cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee, and thou shalt no more worship the works of thy hands. (3 Ne 21:12–14 quoting Micah 5:8–15, see also 3 Ne 20:16; Mormon 5:24; Ben Kathryn 66:2)

Who Is Gog & Magog and Why is it Important?

Gog and Magog are mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments, eight times in Ezekiel 38-39 and once in Revelation 20:18. It is also alluded to in the LDS Doctrine and Covenants and is referenced twice in the Book of Ben Kathryn.  Many have speculated about the identity of Gog and Magog, but the Book of Ben Kathryn adds an interesting modern prophetic perspective to the biblical term.

The Bible implies that Israel was to be made an archetype or symbol of how heaven leads mankind (1 Cor 10: 11. Ex 25:40, Heb 8:5). The Book of Ben Kathryn (BOBK) adds to this perspective suggesting that Israel, Judaism and Christianity were created to shape western culture and the world political dynamic. God was to do this by creating these organizations and then loosely leading them through a selected number of cosmic cycles or “times” (BOBK 38:15-19; 13:3). Three and a half millennia ago, Moses was given a prophetic or spiritual calendar meant to symbolize the events of the coming 3,000-4,000 year cycle (Lev 23, Deut 28:63–67; Lev 26:23–24). Early prophets like Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel used this calendar to prophesy that after the return from their Babylonian captivity, Israel would be destroyed more permanently and scattered among the ‘Nations’ or gentiles (Dan 9:24). This final age of latter-day captivity would last two “times”, cycles or dispensational ages (Hosea 6:1–2, Deut 4:27–31; Deut 28:49–52; Lev 26:18–28; Ezek 22:14–15; Romans 11:25). But on the third day (age/cycle), Israel’s dead body was to be revived by the spring rains to rise again and be resurrected for a final summer harvest. The grand sign of this coming national resurrection given by Ezekiel, was the war of Gog and Magog.

The references to this war in Ezekiel 38 & 39 come directly after Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones symbolizing the resurrection of the political nations of Judah & Israel and the reunification of the sticks of Judah and Joseph. In the following sections we’ll walk through the scriptures covering Gog and Magog and see how modern events may already be fulfilling this prophesy.

First off, the battle spoken of here, is most definitely an event still in the future. Starting in Ezekiel 38 the Lord says,

“2 …Son of man, turn and face Gog of the land of Magog, the prince who rules over the nations of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him.
3 Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord…
8 … A long time from now you will be called into action. In the distant future you will swoop down on the land of Israel, which will be enjoying peace after recovering from war and after its people have returned from many lands to the mountains of Israel.
9 You and all your allies—a vast and awesome army—will roll down on them like a storm and cover the land like a cloud…  (Ezekiel 38:2–9)

The reason why this is such an important event is not because it will involve all the nations of the world or become some type of end-time “battle of Armageddon”, but instead it is because this is the sign the the Lord has given as a global signal for the end of the Times of the Gentiles (and Daniel’s 70 weeks of Jerusalem being trodden down of the Nations) and the beginning of final restoration of Israel (Judah). As he says in Ezek 38:18–23 & Ezek 39:22–29,

“18 …When Gog invades the land of Israel, my fury will boil over!
19 In my jealousy and blazing anger, I promise a mighty shaking in the land of Israel on that day.
20 All living things—the fish in the sea, the birds of the sky, the animals of the field, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and all the people on earth—will quake in terror at my presence. Mountains will be thrown down; cliffs will crumble; walls will fall to the earth.
21 I will summon the sword against you on all the hills of Israel, says the Sovereign Lord. Your men will turn their swords against each other.
22 I will punish you and your armies with disease and bloodshed; I will send torrential rain, hailstones, fire, and burning sulfur!
23 In this way, I will show my greatness and holiness, and I will make myself known to all the nations of the world. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”

“22 And from that time on the people of Israel will know that I am the LORD their God.
23 The nations will then know why Israel was sent away to exile—it was punishment for sin, for they were unfaithful to their God. Therefore, I turned away from them and let their enemies destroy them.
24 I turned my face away and punished them because of their defilement and their sins.
25 So now, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will end the captivity of my people; I will have mercy on all Israel, for I jealously guard my holy reputation!
26 They will accept responsibility for their past shame and unfaithfulness after they come home to live in peace in their own land, with no one to bother them.
27 When I bring them home from the lands of their enemies, I will display my holiness among them for all the nations to see.
28 Then my people will know that I am the LORD their God, because I sent them away to exile and brought them home again. I will leave none of my people behind.
29 And I will never again turn my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit upon the people of Israel”. (NLT Ezek 39:22–29)

Daniel gets even more specific in prophesying about the restoration and destruction of Israel. While captive in Babylon around 540 BC, Daniel gave a timeline for when Israel would be restored as a nation, as well as their eventual annihilation and scattering, and regathering after a long period. Many have offered interpretations for how these symbolic “70 weeks” or 490 years fit into biblical prophecy, but as we’ll see in a moment, the Book of Ben Kathryn suggests that heaven is about to reveal the answer.

24 “Seventy weeks [hebdomads] are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint [dedicate] a most holy place. 25 Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. 26 And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. 27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.” (Daniel 9:24–27 NAS)

9 He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand. 11 And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. 13 But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.” (Daniel 12:9–13 NAS)

Paul in Romans, alludes to these Old Testament prophecies of God’s rejection of Judah for a biblical dispensation or “time” (as an archetype of all Middle Eastern peoples) . He does this by comparing Israel to an olive tree whose natural branches were to be broken off because of their wickedness, and wild branches symbolizing the Gentiles grafted in until the fullness (or full number of Daniel’s 70 week prophecy) be come in. In simpler terms, Paul predicts (like Ezekiel & Daniel before him) that Israel would destroyed and scattered for an entire biblical epoch called “the times of the Gentiles or Nations”. During that period of roughly 2000 years, Israel and the Middle East would cease to be Major world players and Europe/Rome would come to rule. But after the “fulness or end of the times of the Gentiles”, favor would be returned to the Semitic or Abrahamic people of the Middle East.

25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. (NIV Romans 11:25)

When Might These Things Happen?

The “Times” given in Biblical prophesy are poor translations of an ancient concept preserved in the Hindu Yuga, and the Mayan Baktun and even ancient Israeli religious calendar systems. To many ancient cultures the world was divided into cycles of time wherein the events of earth were governed by cosmic phenomena revolving around venus cycles and the procession of the equinoxes. The Biblical week, Sabbatical year and Jubilee fit into these mystical cosmic systems. The “weeks” or Hebdomads of Daniel’s famous “seventy week prophecy” found in Dan. 9 added up to make a complete “time” or age (see this article for an overview of Daniel’s seventy weeks prophecy). Ancient biblical prophesy predicted the end of the times or “age” of Israel for a period of roughly 2000 years and it’s subsequent renewal. (see my article on Comparative Cosmology for details, or this site for many insights on how Israeli, Hindu, Maya, Egyptian and Babylonian cosmology fit into biblical dates and the ancient cosmological worldview)

The Book of Ben Kathryn gives a lot of detail helpful in unraveling when the ancients predicted the ‘Times of the Gentiles’ and the war of Gog from Magog might happen, as well as who will be involved. In the modern Book of Ben Kathryn chapter 22, directly after speaking of Daniel’s 70th week of the Gentiles and the withdrawal of God’s spirit from them, we are given these verses (with allusions to Micah 5 we will discuss in a minute) where we are told that Israel is to be returned to 70 last years of captivity and whilst the land “trembleth even by reason of [military] boots” the “congregations of the nations [gentiles] shall be broken by the staff of Jacob.” Read carefully,

THUS saith the LORD thy God, in the year of the 70th hebdomad [week] of the Gentiles set thy face … and prophecy thou against them: Your times come to the full. The LORD God setteth ye a time to repent. (ie. the ‘fulness of the Gentiles’ has arrived)
2 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying: Set thee now a goodly vase before thee. Fill it with fine flowers, with delphiniums, roses, marigolds, wild flowers, and every beauteous flower thou canst find.
3 Prophecy unto the nations: For so is the LORD’s fulfillment. I set my ways and my laws to the purpose to which they were intended, and it nourisheth and causeth all beautiful things to grow and to sustain.
4 Empty now, my prophet, the vase of the goodly flowers. Prophecy unto the nations, unto my Bride, for so she fancieth herself: This is what ye call fulfillment; then smash it against a wall so that it shattereth.
5 Therefore thus saith the LORD God, so I do with thy fulfillment before me. So I make of thy fulfillment, and this shall be the end of thy fulfillment before me.
6 In the year of their 70th hebdomad, so set thy face against them and thus prophecy thou: In your probation ye shall traverse 40 miles. Your watchmen shall fall to the side of the road, the might of their camels collapse…
7 But as for the vase, this is mine oracle against it, saith the LORD. Thus saith the LORD: When thy probation shall be ended I shall smash thee against the wall, for empty thou shalt be, and a vase be of no value unless it is set to the purpose to which it is intended.
8 Bend now a little; give me some time of your minds. I set thee now a sign and a riddle: Ezra riseth of the nations [Gentiles], from a cold and inhospitable place, and again with nails my laws, my ways, and my fulfillment are raised up unto all nations, and my laws go forth.
9 Upon the outer door they be, proclaiming not what is within but what is not. So understand ye the prophecy of the 70 hebdomads of the Gentiles, for they who calleth themselves my watchmen have been of heavy ears, heavy eyes all these hebdomads since. (BOBK 21:1)

Here we have some fantastic assertions concerning Daniel’s 70 week prophecy. First we are told that at the beginning of Daniel’s 70’th week, God will send a prophet alive today, John Ben Kathryn, to prophesy against the Gentiles/Nations. Seemingly suggesting that he is one of the archetypal “two witnesses” mentioned in Revelation 11 that will work miracles in the eyes of the Nations. (We learn in chapters 1 & 3 that this prophecy was preemptively given 2006. But Ben Kathryn and his companion prophets are told not begin their ministry to “turn Israel” until around 2036. which will include incredible miracles like healing and even raising the dead.) We also see that the end of the Times of the Gentiles are marked by apostasy, where the Church has lost its efficacy in leading Western Culture to peace, justice and goodness (2 Thess 3:x). God will give the Gentiles a period of probation (likely 40 years alluded in v.6) after which war or some type of desolation shall be poured out (war of Gog & Magog).

Perhaps more importantly, we are given a riddle where Ezra is unmistakably made a parallel to Luther and the Christian Reformation. This “riddle” is monumental as it confirms the concept of dualism or parallelism in Daniel’s revelation. Elsewhere in the Book of Ben Kathryn, Christian eschatologist are chided for dispensationalist interpretations which suggest a 2000 year “gap” or silence in Biblical prophecy (see BK 23:5-6). Instead we see here that the dispensation of the Gentile Church is dualistically included in Daniel’s prophecy. We also see that Ezra’s decree to rebuild or “reform” Israel is the correct start of Daniel’s 70 weeks, NOT Cyrus/Darius decree to rebuild Jerusalem. This is a major theme in Ben Kathryn— the idea that Israel or the church is God’s focus in his prophesy and covenants, but Israel always focuses on the temporal aspect of things, namely the land. Jerusalem is a symbol of the people of Israel and the temple is a symbol of the religion. Thus daniel’s reference to “the streets and wall” is a dual references to both Ezra’s rebuilding the righteousness of Israel as well as Luther’s rebuilding the righteousness of Christianity in the reformation!

So Daniel’s 70 weeks spreads from Ezra’s reforms in Jerusalem in 454 BC to Christ’s entry into Jerusalem in 30 AD ALSO, dualistically represents Luther’s Christian Reformation of the mid 1500 spanning 490 years to around 2030.

Timeline summarizing the historical correlations or types between the times of Israel and the times of the Gentiles.

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Gog & Magog as a transformative war

The Book of Ben Kathryn suggests that this coming war of Gog and Magog, which will signal the ‘end of the times of the Nations or Gentiles’ will transform the global political dynamic. Sometime coinciding with the war, God will call leaders to restore Israel as an archetype of his raising of world leaders in the Middle East to lead global politics.

IN that day I shall set to me eight princes of my people. And upon them and my prophets shall my spirit come, to direct the ways again, and for a sign and a pillar unto Israel. They shall raise up my standard as aforetime, and my people shall look up and be healed.
2 Fear not, thou trembling land; for a great thing have I done in all the land. For, lo, I am returning this second time the captivity of my people Israel. Whilst the land trembleth, even by reason of boots, do I swell your borders and enlarge your house. My laws do go forth, amidst the up-cry they are heard in Judah and Jerusalem. Laud ye the LORD in his land! And tell ye the nations to repent at his doings.
3 And it shall be a hissing to the nations in that day, a source of offense, and as a shout of rejoicing is to him that seeketh solace. I shall gather the congregations against the house of Israel as one that gathereth an army to battle, and as one pulleth the bit in the foamy mouth. But I shall be jealous again for my people, Israel. And it shall come to pass in that day that the congregations of the nations shall be broken by the staff of Jacob. I have made it a double staff and a quartershaft, and Jacob shall vanquish his enemies; on the right and on the left shall the staff strike as unto the sting of behemoth’s tail; and in that day Israel shall know that it is I, the LORD, who is their righteousness, and that I have not changed from my purpose, for my purpose is spoken before the world was, and it shall be lauded after the world passeth away. (Book of Ben Kathryn/BK 22:1-3)

1 If any of the elders of Israel come before thee to prove thee if thou hast spoken in my name, or to say outright thou hast not spoken in my name, sit before them and say….
5 Because ye sought the land to take comfort in it, and because the heathen proclaimed to you that land was the jewel of my covenant, hear ye this word from the LORD: I appoint you to 70 years of captivity again, captivity and desolation in your own land, captivity which ye expounders of false laws could not extract because of your hard hearts, and because ye sought land and not the LORD. Because ye sought a god of your creation I have given you no place to call upon. (Book of Ben Kathryn/BOBK 63:5)

These verses reveal a few very important details concerning the attack of Gog and Magog and its timing. After referencing Both Daniel’s 70 week prophecy and Ezekiel’s prophecy of Gog and Magog (v.3 ), it says the Lord is appointing Israel 70 more years (captivity again) in its own land.  A major theme of the Book of Ben Kathryn is that Israel has been a captive puppet to the West since its founding. In chapter 65  we get the following statement, “Thou waitest like a fat child to be served of the nations, and they have only robbed thee, and now they hate thee. The same that delivereth thee from bondage art thou then in bondage to“. Israel has been in bondage for nearly 70 years since its founding in may 1948 (1948 + 70 =2018), and in relation to the coming battle which will place Israel in 70 more years of bondage in its own land to a foreign power.

Just as the 70 year Babylonian captivity, and the 70 year Roman oppression were based on the seventy sabbatical years that Israel failed to observe (forming the backdrop of Ezek 4:5), modern Israel is about to get one last seventy year captivity for the same reason. And it is prophesied and biblically foreshadowed, all for the express purpose of proving to mankind that unified higher dimensional beings (God) are guiding human evolution by creating highly symbolic geopolitical divisions which expose our weaknesses and self-righteousness, and then healing those division as we learn what true love and harmony are.

Notice the allusions to Ezekiel used in the above chapters of the Book of Ben Kathryn. At the end of the Times of the Gentiles (Daniel’s 70th week/hebdomad), the nations will be gathered to battle “as one pulleth the bit in the foamy mouth”. Exactly as Ezekiel said, he “will turn you around and put hooks in your jaws to lead you out with your whole army” (Ezek 38:4). Notice also the references to Micah 5.

“5 When the Assyrians invade our land and break through our defenses,
we will appoint seven [shepherds] to watch over us, eight princes to lead us.
6 They will rule Assyria with drawn swords and enter the gates of the land of Nimrod.
He will rescue us from the Assyrians when they pour over the borders to invade our land.” (Micah 5:5–6. NLT Translation: King James translation is very poor here)

These “eight principal men” (Micah) or “eight princes” were mentioned in Ben Kathryn 22:1. The shepherds are also mentioned by Ben Kathryn three chapters earlier in 19:6. (In a minute we’ll get to the modern interpretations and how these seven prophets come to rule Assyria and the Gentiles with the sword of the Word of the Lord). Notice they are called on the scene at the time when the Assyrian (ISIS) shall be led as an animal with the armies of the Nations to attack Israel. The Lord through Ben Kathryn links this Assyrian attack with Gog as he further explains the returned “captivity of my people” spoken of in the aforementioned verses. He speaks to Israel in chapter 66,

” 2 Ye turn aside your faces from the merchandise of Gog, and the affliction of the maidens of Magog (fn-2), in that they are caused to be made harlots. Therefore I have turned my face away from thine indenturing to America, and thou shalt be indentured for a season as the harlots of Magog, the merchandise of Gog and Damascus. But thy bed shall not cause thee to earn thy redemption. I, the LORD, shall redeem thee. I shall redeem thee from the indenture wherewith the maidens of Magog have been indentured, for thou lovest thy whoredoms and seekest not to be free of them. I shall smite Damascus in battle, for it is the head of a serpent that doth coil through Tyre and Zidon, Berytus, and unto Aleppo. Its tongue dangleth out, and the venom on its tip is Amman.” (Book of Ben Kathryn 66:2)

So modern Israel is told that in the same way that they are currently “merchandise” or puppets to the United States government, after the coming war they will be indentured or captive to some extent to “Gog and Damascus” (ISIS? or a Russian/Syrian coalition?). The “serpent” mentioned here is a coalition made up of Arabs overtaking Syria (sounding a lot like the Jihadist Islamic militant groups Hezbollah or ISIS, but possibly a more benign group of simple Sunni Arab states), the group is said to contain strong factions in at least Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Ezekiel 38:2 suggests that Gog is the leader of Magog which is a land encompassing the nations of Meshech and Tubal who are in turn trading partners with Tyre (Ezek 27:13). Each of these ancient locations is archetypal, with the Book of Ben Kathryn comparing the ancient Phoenician trading hubs of Tyre & Sidon to Modern America (BK 26) and Gog & Magog to the Middle East & possibly Russia. The true ancient location of Magog is hotly debated, but most believe it to be an allusion to the modern nations which occupy the southern shores of the Caspian & Black Seas. This would include the Modern Nations of Iran, Turkey or possibly Russia. However, the key to the fulfillment of the prophecy does not hinge on properly identifying Gog as much as knowing he is but the leader of a confederacy who will attack and captivate Israel, which is in league with factions from, “Damascus, Egypt, Persia (Iran), Lydia (Turkey), and Libya (North Africa)” (Ezekiel 30:5).

Given all the evidence it seems likely that all these prophecies are suggesting that a Modern Gog (likely based in Syria), the leader of a group is going to be caused by Israel’s God (per Ezek 38:2–8) to attack, maim and occupy Israel (see BK 44:8-9, 20:15-16). The attack will come unexpectedly in the middle of a greater conflict occurring elsewhere (BK 63:4-5). The effects of this conflict, which WILL NOT bring about the rapture or end-time tribulation or second coming of Christ (as so many Millennialists suppose), but will instead indirectly lead to the gradual fall of the West’s global hegemony and the advent of restored Israel (Judah) as described by the Bible and book of Ben Kathryn and detailed in my article “Prophesy in the book of Ben Kathryn“.  The importance of this prophecy lies in it being a prophetic signal a monumental shift in global religious and political power.

  THUS saith the LORD God; And it shall come to pass in the days after the fullness of the nations [fullness of the Gentiles] hath come in, that they will no more say: “Last days;” and no more shall it be heard.
11 Tribulation, great tribulation— my soul is in tribulation at the bleat of their words. I cannot bear them. Last days, last days are a mockery. I don’t wish to hear them. Your days have been long. Full of days hast thou been, O Heshbon. Ammon still remaineth, and Moab’s wastes are still not arid. Have ye been removed except by judgment so that another may take your place in an arid time to come? So shall thy preaching foretell thine own removal. Thy days have been as full as the former days, prosperous Heshbon. Whose last days do thy seers see? Say no more “last day,” but come unto the LORD, the Great God, the God of the horn of Judah, the Redeemer of Jacob. Behold how Jacob was a trickle ye flicked with your toe, and now he is a torrent.
12 Tribulation shall vanish with your days and the bleat of your ignorance; but Judah shall be set aright…
15 What use is there in speaking to man? His ways are set. His path leadeth to destruction. Upon a horse, with a switchback, doth he set the gallop to his end. Take ye heed, O ye of Samaria, and hearken unto this oracle: ye shall not go down to Megiddo. Nor shall the LORD overturn you with a mighty battle. You set the tempo to your end, and it cometh as a snare in an unexpected place, without honour and without chance to draw the sword.
16 Look off to the north, ye caravaneers of Heshbon. Set up camp. Raise your pulpit and set it to the north. The Assyrian watcheth from the heights as a predator. The Palestinian lurketh in the clefts. Judgment cometh from behind you and not from the desolate realm. They have passed Jordan before you, because your eyes were laggard on the camp of your neighbour, upon the desolate places. They are within your camp, and ye are cut off first.
17 (The oracle for an end of time) Thus saith the LORD unto the nations: An end, an end cometh. The time hath returned. Now hath the time of your hebdomads [weeks] come to fruition before me. Say not, From whence cometh destruction?— ye are within the seething pot. Your congregations saw false visions in the desert sand, and your house is laid desolate. Your retreat is also stalked. I set ye now to the time of your probation. Hear ye the word of the LORD: My mercy setteth ye a time. Shout it aloud, and from the rooftops let this message go forth! Get ye to repentance! Cast off your ways, O foolish people, and harden not your hearts. Put aside your uncleanness, your vanities, and your cold self-seeking hearts, and I shall lead you yonder Jordan where dwelleth Sharon’s fertile plain and Jezreel’s cultivated fields.
20 The end of the oracle: For when the Israelite shall smite the Assyrian, ye shall know your watchmen looked amiss and led you astray. The LORD shall cause an end of time upon the nations, upon their congregations; and their watchmen shall be no more.(BK 20:1,)

In fact, apart from destruction in Jerusalem and partial loss of sovereignty, it appears that this invasion will actually be a good thing for Israel, and will mostly affect the surrounding nations. Its religious nature will serve to break down religious fundamentalism. And after being stripped of it’s self-righteous leadership, Israel is told it will prosper in this captivity! During the surrounding tumult, “whilst the land trembleth, even by reason of boots, do I swell your borders and enlarge your house. My laws do go forth, amidst the up-cry…”  As “swords fall.. and borders are redrawn in blood” (BK 22:1-3), Israel will be enlightened as prophets  and Islamic social reformers start a new movement which will culminate in the rebuilding of the Temple and the eventual unification of Ephraim and Judah— archetypes and foreshadows of Christianity and Islam and the Middle East and Europe.

A Spiritual Awakening

The “seven shepherds and eight princes of men” already mentioned, are discussed further in the book of Ben Kathryn chapter 19 & 22. Here the Lord compares his people to sheep whom he led to seasonal pastures (the Gentile Nations of Europe & the Middle East), and how the Lord will fire his hired seasonal shepherds & princes (Gentile Christianity/Islam & Western politicians) and raise up new prophets/leaders (a Restorational Judaism/Islam & powerful Middle East) to lead them back to their original pastures and patch up their sheepcotes…

5 …Doth not a shepherd take his sheep to seasonal grass, and when the season turneth yet again doth he not take them to the old pastures and the old cotes to graze? Behold as the sheep graze he mendeth the cotes and then leadeth them into safety. Or seeing a fire come to the seasonal grass, will he not hasten, especially when seeing that the old grass groweth ready?
6 Therefore thus prophecy thou unto thy brethren, the children of Israel, So am I a shepherd unto Israel, saith the LORD, and so shall I do. Follow my paths and come to my sheepcote, for my shepherds have gathered speckled sheep. But I will not mix ye, saith the LORD. I shall sack my shepherds and scatter their speckled beasts. And from my pure sheep I shall raise me up seven shepherds. For from sheep born of another pasture, of the seasonal grounds, shall I speak unto this people and lead my people back, counsel them, govern them, and restore them to the old cotes. (Book of Ben Kathryn 19:5-6. See allusions to Micah 5:5 & Zechariah 11-13))

IN that day I shall set to me eight princes of my people. And upon them and my prophets shall my spirit come, to direct the ways again, and for a sign and a pillar unto Israel. They shall raise up my standard as aforetime, and my people shall look up and be healed. (BK 22:1)

Where Christ called twelve apostles himself, and “seven stars” through Paul (see Rev 1:20) who were commissioned to work miracles and begin the Christian Movement—The Jewish prophet Ben Kathryn is instructed in his personal notes to call “seven prophets” and “eight mighty men” who will be given power in their old age to do miracles in the eyes of the nations in order to begin the coming Messianic Movement. (Note this act is meant to be an archetype for a greater group of shepherds and princes or religious and political leaders who will lead Israel out of Assyrian captivity. Also, LDS people might be interested in the symbolic relationship to the mission of the 7 presidents of the 70 from D&C 107:95–96.)

The seven shepherds and eight princes or mighty men of Micah 5:5 and Ben Kathryn 19 & 22 stand in contrast to the Antichrist in the prophecies of Daniel, Revelation and elsewhere in the New Testament. As explained in my article on confusion surrounding the LDS view of Apostasy, and Parallels between the Times of Israel and the Times of the Gentiles the antichrist is also a title or archetype. Identifying an individual associated with this prophesied figure is virtually meaningless, because the title is meant to point people’s minds to the degenerate anti-Christian condition of the ruling “Christian” Western World (their inability to turn the other cheek and actually practice the Christian heritage they profess). When the anti-Christian mindset defiles the temple and sits on the throne (in other words it takes over the church and becomes the predominant political policy), it will lead to the west’s downfall and the end of western global power. This is the meaning of the “abomination of desolation” mentioned throughout scripture.

THUS saith the LORD thy God, in the year of the 70th hebdomad [week] of the Gentiles…
2 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying: Set thee now a goodly vase before thee. Fill it with fine flowers, with delphiniums, roses, marigolds, wild flowers, and every beauteous flower thou canst find.
3 Prophecy unto the nations: For so is the LORD’s fulfillment. I set my ways and my laws to the purpose to which they were intended, and it nourisheth and causeth all beautiful things to grow and to sustain.
4 Empty now, my prophet, the vase of the goodly flowers. Prophecy unto the nations, unto my Bride, for so she fancieth herself: This is what ye call fulfillment; then smash it against a wall so that it shattereth.
5 Therefore thus saith the LORD God, so I do with thy fulfillment before me. So I make of thy fulfillment, and this shall be the end of thy fulfillment before me.
6 In the year of their 70th hebdomad, so set thy face against them and thus prophecy thou: In your probation ye shall traverse 40 miles. Your watchmen shall fall to the side of the road, the might of their camels collapse, the burden of their loads dropped aside; and ye shall leave their parched bones… (BK 21:1-6)

5 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, That day I shall make it a day of rebuke. I shall cause the Gentiles to know their abominations, for their prophets speak but what the congregations want to hear. As a dart that whistleth forth shall always find a target, so a mouth that speaketh deceitfully shall always find an ear that delighteth in deceit.

After this lengthy conflict of Gog and Magog (involving much of the Middle East), the 70 year captivity (within the Caliphate this war temporarily creates- perhaps led by Turkey) and the restoration of the nation of Israel (under a new Messianic Religious movement largely founded by John Ben Kathryn & the “seven shepherds”), the world will know that the biblical prophecies of the final battles of the Times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. As Ezekiel says in Ezek 38:17, the world will be asking when the archetypal attack on Jerusalem takes place “Are you the one I was talking about long ago, when I announced through Israel’s prophets that in the future I would bring you against my people?” (Ezek 38:17). And when Israel is not rescued by the second coming as so many Gentile Christians believe, and the miracle-working prophets prophesy against western christianity, western Christians will realize that they “prophesied amiss”. Instead the war will affect the western world far more than anticipated and the modern nation of Israel will be miraculously saved from regional destruction as they are absorbed into a new empire for “70 years more captivity” (BOBK 63:5). But after this captivity, the nation will be restored, the Aaronic jewish temple will eventually be rebuilt, a proper sacrifice made (D&C 13:1, 84:31-33) and the people of Israel will take the place of Rome and the Christian faith/Catholic Church as the social and religious mecca of the Eurasian world (BK 46:11; D&C 133:13; 109:62-67). At that point the world will realize that the reference in the Book of Revelation to “Armageddon” was a type or allusion to a battle occurring in Megiddo long ago (see Ben Kathryn 20:15, as well as many articles like this one). Likewise the world will see that Ezekiel’s prophecy of “Gog and Magog” was fulfilled with amazing detail over 2600 years after it was given.  And as Daniel dualistically prophesied, the war marked the Full end of the Times or Dispensation of the Gentiles and the beginning of the restored “age of Israel” and their final dispensation of symbolic history. D&C 45 also expands on this prophecy, specifying that the gathering of Israel to Jerusalem will not occur until after the Time of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

24 And this I have told you concerning Jerusalem; and when that day shall come, shall a remnant be scattered among all nations;
25 But they shall be gathered again; but they shall remain until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
26 And in that day shall be heard of wars and rumors of wars, and the whole earth shall be in commotion, and men’s hearts shall fail them…
27 And the love of men shall wax cold, and iniquity shall abound.
29 …and they turn their hearts from me because of the precepts of men.
30 And in that generation shall the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
31 And there shall be men standing in that generation, that shall not pass until they shall see an overflowing scourge; for a desolating sickness shall cover the land. (D&C 45:24–31)

Christ made clear that part of his “coming” would be metaphorical (He being a living symbol of Israel) when he said “destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again” (John 2:19), which was of course an allusion to Hosea 6:2; “After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.” When Israel is restored; their temple cleansed and the Word of God issues forth from it to heal the Nations (Isa 2:3, Micah 4:2, Ezek 47:8), most of the scriptures which modern Christians interpret as “Christ’s end-time second coming” will have been fulfilled, and the fear of “end-times” eschatology will fade away for a season. The final dispensation of the Fulness of Times will be begun for both Ephraim & Judah (ancient symbols of Modern Christian and Islamic nations).

“THUS saith the LORD God; And it shall come to pass in the days after the fullness of the nation’s hath come in, that they will no more say: “Last days;” and no more shall it be heard. But they who walk in my paths shall be gird with a pap of iron, and my words shall be written thereon. Upon my word shall they engrave “sandal,” and they shall say of my name: “Mine identify and mine honour.” (Book of Ben Kathryn 20:1)

Higher beings saw long ago that mankind was nearing the age of industrialization and globalization.  In preparation, Israel was created and destined to give birth the the world’s most powerful and influential religions and cultures. Israel was created as a symbol of mankind for mankind. From this fledgling runt of a nation would spring Christianity, Islam and the cultures destined to take over the world. From the struggle caused by Israel’s dualities, the western world would become strong and powerful. Hidden within its scripture and history is the wisdom and love of the Gods. In the final age, when man is brought into brotherhood with the Higher Beings that guide us, God will heal the divisions and dualities He has caused, and show us our error and the wisdom gained from hard fought experience.

7 See, I have given thee these things, which thou dost not wish to hear, both symbol and meaning, that it may be a blessing and a weight upon thee. But thou shalt bear it. I shall give ye that house again, and it shall be a memorial to your ways and a light unto my ways that ye depart not from my ways again, to abominate before me.
8 Behold why I have made such symbols: that at thy corrupting of them, thy heart may be revealed, and the evil known for what it is, made manifest to all mankind.
LO and behold, I create a new day. I mend the rend between thee and the nations. I heal the injured and I broadcast wheat in the charred soil. (BOBK 60:7-8, 61:1)

Fear Not

It is easy to be frightened of the political unrest in the world today–especially the unrest caused by radical Islam. But the promises of the Bible, Book of Mormon and the prophesies in the Book of Ben Kathryn paint a hopeful picture!  All this unrest serves only to encourage human political and religious progression. Just as the future seemed dim for the “northern barbarians” of Rome’s time (Germanic Tribes) before their mass conversion to Christianity and the rule of Law during the first five centuries after Christ, it may seem dim when looking at what the ‘west’ sees as ‘barbaric’ or backward practices of many radical Islamic countries.  But there are groups which have been watching over and guiding western culture since the days of Abraham–and they have set up the Judeo-Islamic-Christian Faith’s for the sole purpose of letting us know that we are not alone in the world. We all have a right to self-determination, but God is distantly guiding the evolution and progression of human history.  Both Islam and Christianity are about to be slowly transitioned into a more peaceful, intelligent, unified global religious movement. A movement which will eventually absorb Hindu and Buddhist religions — and finally unify with the divinely instituted Chinese and Shamanistic traditions as well.

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Conclusion

In conclusion I will try and summarize my interpretation of all of these scriptures in a timeline of what will go down over the next 70-200 years. (many of these things have already come to pass since first writing this)

-The world will not end, nor will 1/3 of it die, or any other overblown apocalyptic end-world type interpretation of the book of Revelation. The Book is highly symbolic and full of dualisms (things that are designed to be broad & symbolic enough to have multiple major fulfillments while teaching the same moral lesson).
-All events will have had roughly historic analogs (solar flares/solar max, polar wandering, WWI/WWII, etc… life goes on).
-The United States will continue to pressure the nation of Israel into disarmament (65:3), with the underlying pledge that we will protect them from Arab aggression (66:19).
-America will continue to bankrupt itself in the process of trying to police the world & support retiring baby boomers. (65:9)
-Afterwards, America / Israel will follow the new precedence of “pre-emptive war” by striking neighboring Syria, Iraq (Mosul) or Iran? [text says Assyria, which could be Syria, Iraq Turkey or Iran] (20:20)
-Syria/Iraq/Iran or a group associated with it (IS), and likely centered near Mosul or ancient Assyrian terretory, will have been plotting with neighboring Arab groups to attack Israel. Israel’s attack will give them the impetus and regional Arab support to carry out their plans of mass destruction against Israel. (12:4 44:8, 66:1-3)
-The destruction in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv (Damascus, Syria, Iraq and many other parts of the Middle East as well) will lead many of apostate Christianity to believe Armageddon is here and Christ is coming. When their preconceived notions of the Second Coming are not met, many will lose faith in western Christianity and Christian scripture (16:1-3, 16:9-10,12).  There is very little detail given to suggest the length of this war. It could be large and short like WWI, or it could be punctuated and drawn out much like the wars of the last few decades.
-The war will destabilize the entire region, leading eventually to the necessity of Turkey and Egypt militarizing to both fight and make peace (redrawing borders and creating some kind of regional political power), and eventually take the place of the United States, Russia and the E.U as the regional hegemon (66:4-5)
-At some point during the 70 year period of conflict an Islamic State/Arab empire geographically similar to the Ottoman Caliphate will emerge to challenge the European Union as a regional power. (66:4-5)  Likely a radical group like ISIS early on in the conflict, and probably not lasting too long–evolving into something more politically responsible like an Arab State Union.
-Much like the LDS Church within the U.S., Israel is to be brought into captivity one last time (by this new Islamic or Arab Empire). During this 70 year captivity God will begin the Gathering of His People to Israel. (63:1,5; 64:5-6)  [All of this being symbolic of events occurring in the earth’s spiritual realms, and archetypal of larger social and political movements occurring apart from religion or sectarianism].
-During this 70 year captivity, God will raise up scores of prophets to Israel, eventually causing a massive conversion of tens of millions of Jews & Arabs to this new Messianic movement. (22:2-3).
-It’s also important to note that the text hints that ‘Israel’ is/will be a type of what happens to the West in general. So just as ‘Israel’ is to become ‘captive one last time. So to will the West be ‘captive’ during this period to its own increasingly socialist governments (ie. Just like the Russians were ruled by the Soviet Socialists for almost exactly 70 years, and just like Israel was a puppet to the west for 70 years)
-At the end of this 70 year captivity, Israel will again become an independent nation, the Temple will be rebuilt, and Jerusalem will become the new “Rome” in the ensuing wholesale cultural conversion of the region. This regional religious transformation will exceed even the cultural conversion of the Roman Empire regions of the first four centuries to Christianity. It may follow a similar growth time frame. (5:4-5, 46:11, etc.)

However, there are also many questions these scenario poses, which I don’t care to speculate on. Such as, are all these wars the same event? Is the attack by Syria the same as Gog/Magog and will they be coincident with this possible solar flare/solar max? Is the latter & former rain mentioned in both TBOBK and the Bible an allusion to two events roughly 40 years apart (as typified by other biblical dates & prophesies). How does it relate to the plague mentioned in D&C 45, Zechariah & TBOBK? Is the D&C plague the same as the “bug” mentioned in BOBK? Will the Middle Eastern Conflict be one large short lived war like WWI, or will it be many separate more spread out conflicts such as the recent middle eastern conflicts.

My hunch is that all these events will not be one short, dramatic event as most end-time predictions, but will be a significant, drawn-out conflict somewhat like the wars of the last few decades, which shapes the global religious and political power structures to an extent as great as the European renaissance and colonialism.