Seven Destinies for the End of Days

We have one or more of seven destinies during the time known as the Great Tribulation or Jacob’s Trouble. Some we can choose; others will simply come upon us.

Who is Jacob? Briefly, he is Abraham’s grandson whose name was changed to Israel. Afterwards, both names are used in the Bible. When “Jacob” is used, his lower nature is referenced. When “Israel” is used, his higher nature is highlighted.

Jacob’s Trouble is a period of time when all his descendants are in need of another face-to-face, with Yehovah.

And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. Genesis 32:30 KJV

And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.

And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. Ezekiel 20:35, 38 KJV

Please remember that there is discipline for a wayward believer but destruction for a defiant rebel. Just because someone escapes to Edom, Moab, and Ammon does not assure they can enter the Promised Land.

Now, look at the destinies.

1. MARK OF THE BEAST

If you take the mark, you voluntarily forfeit your soul. If you don’t take it, you voluntarily forfeit your life. Here are the results of a Biblical search on “mark of the beast”:

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. Revelation 13:17 KJV

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. Revelation 14:11 KJV

And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. Revelation 15:2 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. Revelation 16:2 KJV

And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. Revelation 19:20 KJV

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. Revelation 19:20 KJV

2. BEING CONQUERED

And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.

And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. Revelation 6:1-2 KJV

3. SWORD

And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.

And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. Revelation 6:3-4 KJV

4. BEASTS

And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.

And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. Revelation 6:7-8 KJV

5. PLAGUE

And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. Zechariah 14:12 KJV

Plagues come in many forms. Remember the ten plagues of Egypt? Most of those happen again and are listed in Revelation chapter sixteen. They are: grievous sores, water turning to blood, scorching fire, darkness, pain, miracle-working spirits of devils, a great earthquake, and hail.

6. MARTYRDOM

Some will actually choose this. Most will try to avoid it, but few will succeed.

And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. Revelation 6:9-11 KJV

7. ESCAPE

He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. Daniel 11:41 KJV

As you can see from the destinies listed above, everyone suffers. The whole world will be thrown into chaos. Even if one country should escape, it will not avoid the spillover effects from the great devastation of the others.

The three locations Daniel gives above are the only places of refuge the Bible mentions where anyone is safe from Antichrist.

When facing invasion from an outside enemy or threats from your own government, you must make a decision as to what to do. Will you stay and try to ride out the trouble in hopes of survival or victory—or choose to flee to a place of refuge, if you can? If you act early, you will have a better chance of survival. If you wait too long, you will face increasing constraints on travel and personal movement. It is a big decision. Either choice has lasting results.

ASSYRIAN INVASION

Before Assyria invaded the northern House of Israel, those who anticipated the assault went to Carthage in northern Egypt. Others traveled up toward the Black Sea. Even with three waves of Assyrian attacks, most of them did not escape. They died or were captured. It’s really hard to overcome normalcy bias. We all struggle with it: “Life has always been this way, and it will not change.”

BABYLONIAN INVASION

When the House of Judah was about to be overrun by Babylon, some went to Egypt. With the exception of a few poor people, the rest were killed or captured.

ROMAN DESTRUCTION

Before Rome destroyed the Temple, Yeshua warned his followers to escape to the refuge in the mountains.

When you see Jerusalem surrounded by soldiers, you will know that it will soon be destroyed.

If you are living in Judea at that time, run to the mountains. If you are in the city, leave it. And if you are out in the country, don’t go back into the city.

This time of punishment is what is written about in the Scriptures.

It will be an awful time for women who are expecting babies or nursing young children! Everywhere in the land people will suffer horribly and be punished.

Some of them will be killed by swords. Others will be carried off to foreign countries. Jerusalem will be overrun by foreign nations until their time comes to an end. Luke 21:20-24 CEV

Yeshua’s warning to “flee to the mountains” is still an alert for the last generation.

What happened when the Romans invaded Jerusalem?

• 1,100,000 were killed.
• 97,000 were taken captive.
• Not a single Jew was left in the city.
• The temple was destroyed.
• The city was renamed Aelia Capitolina.
• No Jew was allowed to reenter the city except one day a year: the anniversary of the fall and destruction of the temple, which is the Hebrew date, the ninth of Av. They were invited there to mourn their loss.

WORLD WAR TWO JEWRY

European Jews saw what was happening several years before the death camps. Many tried to escape and managed to find a home in surrounding countries, only to be caught when Hitler conquered those nations. As Chaim Weizmann famously said,

“The world is divided into two places for the Jews: where they cannot live and where they cannot go.”

By the time the danger was evident, the doors of the world were closed to Jews. Worldwide, only 320,000 were given visas to immigrate. The Dominican Republic and Shanghai were the only places that offered any hope beyond that.

This scenario could happen again to the Whole House of Israel.

Through His Word and prophets, Yehovah warns His people about coming destruction before it happens.

Who has eyes to see and ears to hear? Few see. Fewer still hear and do.

Make a plan now. You may not see how it is possible to act upon it today, but miracles still happen. Ask the Father for yours.

Al