Israel – The Final Seven Years. Understanding This is Understanding the “End-Times”

Many end times watchers are focused upon Israel, for that is where it all happens in the final seven years upon the earth. Studying this state is so telling, as you lay the scriptures right next to the TV and watch things all play out in real time. So, what’s next? What shall we all be looking for?

It all starts with Israel signing a 7-year peace agreement. With other nations. Let’s take a look at that scripture:

Daniel 9:27 (KJV)

“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week:
and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease,
and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate,
even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”

Let’s break that down:

• “He” – Refers to the Antichrist, a future world leader.
• “Confirm the covenant with many” – He makes or strengthens a treaty or agreement, likely involving Israel and surrounding nations.
• “For one week” – In prophetic language, one week = seven years (each “day” representing a year).
• “In the midst of the week” – At 3½ years, he breaks the agreement.
• “Cause the sacrifice… to cease” – This implies the Jewish Temple has been rebuilt and sacrifices resumed. The Antichrist halts worship and sets up the abomination of desolation (also referenced in Matthew 24:15).

So, when this happens, one of the people that make this agreement possible will be the antichrist. The identifying factors are that it will be for the period of 7 years, and, it will allow the temple to be built upon the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. If you are waiting and watching for this to occur, you will have no problem, as many Christian writers including myself will blast this announcement all over social media.

Again, Israel is the hub where the antichrist will set up camp. He will perform many “miracles” and will appear that he is the solution to many of the world problems. Many people will be drawn to him, as his characteristics will be well thought of.

This peace agreement will likely be a two-state solution.

Zechariah 14:2 – A City Divided; A Nation Invaded

“For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle… and half of the city shall go forth into captivity…”
— Zechariah 14:2

This passage confirms that Jerusalem will be divided, likely as part of that final peace agreement. But it doesn’t bring peace—it brings war. Nations will gather to attack. Chaos will erupt. And in the midst of betrayal and destruction, God will rise to defend His covenant and His people.

Remember, Israel is God’s Nation.

Israel is unquestionably God’s chosen nation. The Bible refers to Israel as God’s inheritance, His people, and the apple of His eye. Below are key verses from the KJV that affirm this truth:

1. Israel is God’s Chosen People

“For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God:
the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself,
above all people that are upon the face of the earth.”
— Deuteronomy 7:6, KJV

God chose Israel out of all the nations—not because of their greatness, but because of His love and covenant with Abraham (see Deuteronomy 7:7–8).

2. The Apple of God’s Eye

“For thus saith the Lord of hosts; He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.”
— Zechariah 2:8, KJV

This shows how personally God takes any attack or mistreatment of Israel. They are deeply precious to Him.

Understanding God’s love for the state of Israel is important in understanding the end times. Because of God’s love for Israel… You guessed it… Satan wants to destroy all of it!

Revelation 12 – Satan’s War Against Israel

“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun… and she being with child cried, travailing in birth…”
— Revelation 12:1–2, KJV

• The “woman” represents Israel (compare with Genesis 37:9–11).
• The “child” is Jesus Christ, born from Israel.

“And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon…
And the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered,
for to devour her child as soon as it was born.”
— Revelation 12:3–4, KJV

• The “dragon” is Satan (see v. 9).
• Satan tried to destroy Jesus at His birth (through Herod), but failed.

“And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth,
he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.”
— Revelation 12:13, KJV

• After failing to destroy Christ, Satan turns his fury toward Israel.

“And the woman fled into the wilderness… where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time…”
— Revelation 12:6 & 14, KJV

• This refers to the 3½-year Great Tribulation, when Israel must flee (compare with Matthew 24:15–21).
• God protects a remnant, but Satan tries to annihilate her.

Is the bigger picture of the end-times starting to all make sense now? Satan is coming down to earth as the antichrist, and his mission…DESTROY anything that means something to God. Land, as well as people. One last push, but God is not having any part of it, and we all know how this ends… right?

Ok…Back to the happenings in Israel.

The two witnesses (also known as the two prophets) will appear during the Tribulation period, particularly in the first half of the 7-year Tribulation. Their mission is specifically to preach repentance and proclaim God’s message, primarily focusing on Israel and the unbelieving world, but with a special emphasis on the Jewish people.

The Two Witnesses in Revelation

“And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.”
— Revelation 11:3, KJV

• The two witnesses will prophesy for 1,260 days, which is 3½ years, coinciding with the first half of the Tribulation.
• “Clothed in sackcloth” signifies their role of mourning, warning, and calling for repentance.

Their Mission

“These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.”
— Revelation 11:4, KJV

• This description ties them to Zechariah 4:3, where the olive trees are symbolic of God’s anointed servants.
• The candlesticks represent that they are witnesses of God’s truth, bearing His message to the world, especially to Israel.

The Miracles and Power of the Two Witnesses

“If any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies…”
— Revelation 11:5, KJV

• The two witnesses will have the power to perform miracles, including calling down fire from heaven to defend themselves and judgment upon their enemies.

“These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues…”
— Revelation 11:6, KJV

• Their power mirrors the miracles of Elijah and Moses. This suggests that the two witnesses may be either Elijah and Moses or two other individuals with a similar anointing, but their role is unmistakably to deliver God’s judgment.

The Death and Resurrection of the Two Witnesses

“And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.”
— Revelation 11:7, KJV

• After their 1,260 days of ministry, the Antichrist (the Beast) will kill the two witnesses. This marks the end of their mission.

“And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and a half…”
— Revelation 11:9, KJV

• The world will be astonished as their dead bodies lie in the street, and everyone will see this event—likely a reference to global media coverage in modern times.

“And after three days and a half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet…”
— Revelation 11:11, KJV

• The two witnesses will be resurrected and ascend to heaven in the sight of their enemies, confirming God’s power and judgment.

The Two Witnesses’ Assignment

• Their primary mission is to call people to repentance, proclaim God’s truth, and warn of the coming judgment during the Tribulation.
• Though their ministry is not exclusively to the Jews, their work will certainly impact Israel. Given their powerful testimony and the Jewish audience’s familiarity with figures like Moses and Elijah, the two witnesses will likely have a significant role in awakening the Jewish people to the truth about God and the coming Messiah.

Remember, the Jewish people are waiting for the FIRST coming of the Messiah. According to the Bible (KJV and contextually across Scripture), many Jewish people will initially receive the Antichrist as their long-awaited Messiah, tragically mistaking him for the promised deliverer. Jesus Himself foretold this in the Gospels, and it aligns with prophetic passages in both the Old and New Testaments.

Here’s the biblical basis:

Jesus’ Prophetic Warning

“I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not:
if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.”
— John 5:43, KJV

Jesus was speaking to the Jewish leaders and lamenting their rejection of Him. He then prophetically warned that another—coming in his own name—would be accepted. This “another” is widely understood by scholars to be the Antichrist.

The Jewish people will realize that the Antichrist is not their Messiah at the midpoint of the seven-year tribulation, when he commits the “abomination of desolation”—an event that shatters their trust in him and opens their eyes to the truth.

Here’s how the Bible explains when and how this happens:

1. Mid-Tribulation Betrayal (3½ Years In)

“And in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease,
and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate…”
— Daniel 9:27, KJV

• “One week” = 7 years. “Midst of the week” = 3½ years.
• The Antichrist stops Temple worship and sets up an abomination—likely an image of himself, demanding to be worshiped.

2. Jesus Warned This Would Happen

“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation,
spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place…
Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains.”
— Matthew 24:15–16, KJV

• This is a turning point.
• Jesus warned that when this happens, the Jews in Judea must flee immediately.

Explanation:

• “Abomination of desolation” refers to the Antichrist defiling the Jewish Temple—likely by declaring himself to be God and demanding worship (see 2 Thessalonians 2:3–4).
• This happens 3½ years into the Tribulation, and it marks the start of the Great Tribulation, the most intense period of persecution and judgment.
• Jesus warns those living in Judea (modern-day southern Israel) to flee immediately—no time to gather belongings.

Let’s read some more about the urgency of the Jewish people fleeing to the mountains:

“Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house:
Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.”
— Matthew 24:17–18, KJV

“But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time…”
— Matthew 24:20–21, KJV

• Jesus emphasizes how urgent and dangerous this moment will be.
• This is the time when the Antichrist unleashes full persecution against the Jewish people (see Revelation 12).

Where Will They Flee?

Many scholars believe the Jews will flee to the wilderness region of Petra (in modern-day Jordan) based on:

“And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God,
that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.”
— Revelation 12:6, KJV

• “The woman” = Israel.
• “A thousand two hundred and threescore days” = 3½ years, the second half of the Tribulation.
• God will protect and provide for the Jewish remnant during this time.

So, like the Israelites escaping from Egypt under the leadership of Moses, God kept them safe by parting the Red Sea. At this time when the Jewish people flee to the mountains, God has given them this promise of protection:

Protection in the Wilderness

“And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.”
— Revelation 12:6, KJV

• “The woman” in this verse represents Israel.
• “The wilderness” refers to a place of safety where they will be nourished and protected.
• The time period of 1,260 days (3½ years) refers to the second half of the Tribulation.

God’s Promise of Protection

“And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the face of the serpent.”
— Revelation 12:14, KJV

• This verse emphasizes that God will provide divine protection for Israel during the Tribulation. The “wings of a great eagle” symbolize God’s protective care.
• “Time, times, and half a time” again refers to 3½ years, during which God will protect them from the Antichrist and his forces.

Additional Assurance from Scripture

“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper;
and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.”
— Isaiah 54:17, KJV

• This promise is often quoted as a reminder that God is a strong defender of Israel—no matter the threat.

With the Jewish people safe, under God’s care, the 3.5-year mark is the time that God unleashes His 7 Bowls of wrath upon the entire Earth.

The antichrist has been busy getting people to take the “Mark of the Beast.” This will not be a naive token that people receive. People will know that if they accept this mark, they are pledging their entire devotion to following satan. Let’s learn more about this.

The Bible makes it clear that taking the Mark of the Beast is a deliberate and damning act of worship and submission to Satan and his system.

The Mark of the Beast

The Mark of the Beast is mentioned primarily in the book of Revelation, and it is associated with the Antichrist‘s rise to power and control during the Tribulation period. Here’s what the Bible says about it:

Revelation 13:16-17 (KJV)

“And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”

• “He causeth all”—The Antichrist will compel everyone to take the mark.
• The mark will be on the right hand or the forehead, symbols of work and thought.
• The mark will serve as a means of economic control, preventing people from buying or selling unless they have it.

Revelation 13:18 (KJV)

“Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.”

• The number 666 is famously linked to the Antichrist and the Mark of the Beast. The number 666 is a symbol of imperfection, fallenness, and rebellion against God.
• This number serves as a sign of allegiance to the Antichrist‘s system, as opposed to God’s kingdom.

The Spiritual Consequences of Taking the Mark

The Mark of the Beast is not just a physical mark—it is a spiritual commitment. It represents a choice to follow Satan and reject Christ, and the Bible warns of severe consequences for those who take it.

Revelation 14:9-11 (KJV)

“And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice,
If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”

• Taking the Mark of the Beast is equivalent to worshiping the Antichrist.
• Those who take the mark will face God’s wrath, including eternal torment in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10).
• The severity of this punishment shows the eternal nature of the spiritual commitment made by taking the mark—rejecting God and choosing Satan’s system.

Revelation 16:2 (KJV)

“And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.”

• Those who receive the mark will be afflicted with a painful sore as part of God’s judgment during the bowl judgments (Revelation 16).

Taking the Mark: A Commitment to Satan’s System

• Taking the mark signifies that a person is rejecting Christ and submitting to Satan’s authority.
• It will be a public declaration of allegiance to the Antichrist and Satan’s global empire during the Tribulation.
• This act is seen as the ultimate spiritual rebellion against God and will result in eternal separation from Him.

So, you might wonder, how is the antichrist going to get to everyone to give them this mark. It actually will be easier that you are imagining right now. For you and me, and everyone else living upon the earth, if a person does not take this mark, they will not be able to have a job, withdraw money from the bank, but food or any necessary items, pay their electric bill, and so on. People will need this mark to do all of these things.

If you truly do not understand the commitment that you will be making, I believe many people will be an easy target for satan to draw them in and get their commitment of worship. People will be using uneducated logic by saying, “I have to get the mark so that I can keep my job, and feed my family.”

So, what about You and Me? What is our plan? Our plan is for us to decide right now… TODAY… that we will never take the mark of the beast… No Matter What.

The easiest solution would be that God would rapture all of His children off of the earth before the mark of the beast is mandatory. I feel that is very much a possibility. But if that doesn’t happen, what would our plan be? This is a question that you need to answer for yourself. I invite you to include God through prayer as you put together a plan.

Me personally, I have asked God to allow me to stay for the entire 7-year Tribulation Period. Jesus died for me, and I plan on fighting for His team to the very end of my life. My decision has already been made. I do not fear death. The world will be ending for everyone in 7 years’ time. If I were to die a year or two sooner, that’s all good for me. Death is just the turning of a page into a new Eternal Life, filled with everything that you have dreamed of.

But in my heart of hearts, I keep feeling that this will not be my fate. God has rescued me when I was near death, lying on a frozen mountain lost for a considerable amount of time. If not the rapture, I feel strongly that God will watch over His children. Flee to the mountains? I’m not certain how He will do this but my trust in him is 100%. I am on His team, and He knows what’s to come and has made a plan which includes you and me.

Well, that is Israel in the final 7 years here on earth. I hope that you have learned something today. I appreciate you spending some time with me as we study the end times together. My commitment to you is that I will always have something prepared Each Day for us to learn from.

My prayer is that you will think of someone who could also benefit from these writings, and encourage them to subscribe to my blog at www.riverwilde.blog . Knowledge is such a powerful tool. The more you know, the easier it is to see through to the very end, as well as preparing for any speed bumps along the way. God be with you.