假使易碎的黎巴嫩情況，聖經信徒詢問是，什麼是下一個步驟在進展到基督的王國？ 多長時間將需要？ 沒有58年的長期， 1948年在當前進展情況從以色列形成，是整個地意想不到的最輕微的疑義。 戲劇性事件一張長的名單到當前時間仍然留下我們離結束很遠。

• 4場沙漠戰爭由以色列贏取了1948-1973
• 黎巴嫩的臨時以色列入侵1982-2000
• 石投擲的intifada 1987-2005
• 自殺公共汽車或咖啡館轟炸1995-2005
• 以色列移居者回憶從Gaza 2006年
• 來自Gaza Hizb的巴勒斯坦火箭攻擊』阿拉來自南黎巴嫩的火箭攻擊2006年
• 以色列反應導致黎巴嫩戰爭2006年

這張名單特點是，從安靜的期間1973-1982在四場沙漠戰爭以後，以色列或阿拉伯交鋒得到更多&更加危險。 這聖經預言表明將介入以色列行動的一張建議的名單，在她可以達到勝利、和平和安全耶路撒冷王位為耶穌基督之前王朝。

• Gaza被採取和被合併到以色列裡
• 同樣西岸{
• 同樣南喬丹{預言
• 同樣北部喬丹{由
• 同樣南黎巴嫩{Obadiah
• 巴勒斯坦人「無剩餘的」 Obadiah
• 單獨以色列[去的美國] 艾賽爾63 [+/-]艾賽爾63 [63 ：1]誰是來自Edom的這， 在crimsoned服裝從Bozrah， 他是精采的在他的服裝， 前進在他的力量的偉大？ 「它是我，講話在正義， 強大保存。「 [2]為什麼是您的服裝紅色， 并且您的服裝喜歡在壓汁機踐踏的他的？ [3] 「我踐踏了單獨壓汁機， 并且從人民沒人是以我; 我踐踏了他們在我的憤怒 并且踐踏他們在我的憤怒; 在我的服裝洒的他們的命脈， 并且弄髒所有我的服裝。 [4]在天復仇在我的心臟， 并且我的年收兌來了。 [5]我看了，但幫助的沒人; 我是驚恐的，但維護的沒人; 如此我自己的胳膊帶來了我救世， 并且我的憤怒維護了我。 [6]我在我的憤怒踐踏了在人民下; I made them drunk in my wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth." [7]I will recount the steadfast love of the LORD, the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD has granted us, and the great goodness to the house of Israel that he has granted them according to his compassion, according to the abundance of his steadfast love. [8]For he said, "Surely they are my people, children who will not deal falsely." And he became their Savior. [9]In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. [10]But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit; therefore he turned to be their enemy, and himself fought against them. [11]Then he remembered the days of old, of Moses and his people. Where is he who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? Where is he who put in the midst of them his Holy Spirit, [12]who caused his glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses, who divided the waters before them to make for himself an everlasting name, [13]who led them through the depths? Like a horse in the desert, they did not stumble. [14]Like livestock that go down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD gave them rest. So you led your people, to make for yourself a glorious name. [15]Look down from heaven and see, from your holy and beautiful habitation. Where are your zeal and your might? The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion are held back from me. [16]For you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us; you, O LORD, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name. [17]O LORD, why do you make us wander from your ways and harden our heart, so that we fear you not? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your heritage. [18]Your holy people held possession for a little while; our adversaries have trampled down your sanctuary. [19]We have become like those over whom you have never ruled, like those who are not called by your name.
  
• All nations against Jerusalem Zechariah

The last action may be the UN reaction to the Israeli removal of all the Palestinians and the outcome is “The Lord will go forth and fight against those nations” Zech 14:3 [+/-]Zechariah 14:3 [3]Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. (ESV)
. After enormous changes, detailed in Zechariah 14 [+/-]Zechariah 14 [14:1]Behold, a day is coming for the LORD, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in your midst. [2]For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped. Half of the city shall go out into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. [3]Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. [4]On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward. [5]And you shall flee to the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. And you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. [6]On that day there shall be no light, cold, or frost. [7]And there shall be a unique day, which is known to the LORD, neither day nor night, but at evening time there shall be light. [8]On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea. It shall continue in summer as in winter. [9]And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day the LORD will be one and his name one. [10]The whole land shall be turned into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem. But Jerusalem shall remain aloft on its site from the Gate of Benjamin to the place of the former gate, to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king's winepresses. [11]And it shall be inhabited, for there shall never again be a decree of utter destruction. Jerusalem shall dwell in security. [12]And this shall be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the peoples that wage war against Jerusalem: their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths. [13]And on that day a great panic from the LORD shall fall on them, so that each will seize the hand of another, and the hand of the one will be raised against the hand of the other. [14]Even Judah will fight at Jerusalem. And the wealth of all the surrounding nations shall be collected, gold, silver, and garments in great abundance. [15]And a plague like this plague shall fall on the horses, the mules, the camels, the donkeys, and whatever beasts may be in those camps. [16]Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths. [17]And if any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, there will be no rain on them. [18]And if the family of Egypt does not go up and present themselves, then on them there shall be no rain; there shall be the plague with which the LORD afflicts the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Booths. [19]This shall be the punishment to Egypt and the punishment to all the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Booths. [20]And on that day there shall be inscribed on the bells of the horses, "Holy to the LORD." And the pots in the house of the LORD shall be as the bowls before the altar. [21]And every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holy to the LORD of hosts, so that all who sacrifice may come and take of them and boil the meat of the sacrifice in them. And there shall no longer be a trader in the house of the LORD of hosts on that day. (ESV)
, Jerusalem will then be a suitable location for Priest/King Jesus to proclaim his global rule.

HOW LONG TO COMPLETION?

If the first list of events has taken 58 years to achieve, how long will the second list take? Are we halfway through? Is there another 58 years ahead before Israel is a suitable place to establish the kingdom?

Yes, it is possible for it all to be over in one year. Anything is possible. But, given the time taken so far, do you think that is likely? No, not likely. For the whole mess to be cleaned up, for Israel to be deserted by all her supporters, for the Palestinians to be entirely removed, for all of Israel’s other enemies to be defeated, seems like the work of decades ahead. It is not the only timeframe but that is the most likely one.

The only addition to sovereign Israel to the present day is a small portion of Jerusalem added in 1967. All the extra territory, that God gave them in the 1967 war, Israel has refused to declare sovereign Israel because it contains too many Arabs.

Imagine the drama and outcry internationally when Israel changes its mind and is forced by military circumstances, to retake the areas it abandoned. and keep them as part of the rebuilt land.

So far Israel has made practically no move to do that. She has been in and out of Gaza and Lebanon several times but always intending eventually to withdraw which she has done. Obadiah states that sooner or later Israel will go in and stay. Next time? Maybe, maybe not. It looks like a long process ahead.

The good news is that Jesus may return tonight, immediately to gather his elect, both dead and living, and to commence the enormous task of sorting out the Middle East. These two actions - the continuing Israeli/Arab battle and the initial work of Jesus - may very well progress side-by-side, simultaneously.

What seems to be the very first actions Jesus performs on his return? Does Jesus first deal with the Arab attack on Israel? Apparently not. “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 [+/-]1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 [16]For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. [17]Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. (ESV)
.

Here are important details and a sequence of events.

• Jesus returns with voices, shouts & trumpets
• Resurrection of dead in Christ
• Eligible living caught up in the air
• They will ever be with “the Lord”.

The place of meeting is “in the air” and no further positive earthly location is given for the celebratory “marriage supper of the Lamb” Revelation 19:9 [+/-]Revelation 19:9 [9]And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are the true words of God." (ESV)
. Such a highly spiritually charged occasion could as easily take place “in the air” as on the earth’s surface.

Subsequently, the united host is seen in OT times Deuteronomy 33:2 [+/-]Deuteronomy 33:2 [2]He said, "The LORD came from Sinai and dawned from Seir upon us; he shone forth from Mount Paran; he came from the ten thousands of holy ones, with flaming fire at his right hand.
coming from Sinai, Seir and Mt Paran to give the Mosaic Law and, in a future time, Habakkuk 3:3 [+/-]Habakkuk 3:3 [3]God came from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. His splendor covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. Selah
is seen coming from Teman and Mt Paran to the Arab locations of Cushan and Midian to trample the nations in anger (v.12; see Isaiah 63 [+/-]Isaiah 63 [63:1]Who is this who comes from Edom, in crimsoned garments from Bozrah, he who is splendid in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength? "It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save." [2]Why is your apparel red, and your garments like his who treads in the winepress? [3]"I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with me; I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath; their lifeblood spattered on my garments, and stained all my apparel. [4]For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and my year of redemption had come. [5]I looked, but there was no one to help; I was appalled, but there was no one to uphold; so my own arm brought me salvation, and my wrath upheld me. [6]I trampled down the peoples in my anger; I made them drunk in my wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth." [7]I will recount the steadfast love of the LORD, the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD has granted us, and the great goodness to the house of Israel that he has granted them according to his compassion, according to the abundance of his steadfast love. [8]For he said, "Surely they are my people, children who will not deal falsely." And he became their Savior. [9]In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. [10]But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit; therefore he turned to be their enemy, and himself fought against them. [11]Then he remembered the days of old, of Moses and his people. Where is he who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? Where is he who put in the midst of them his Holy Spirit, [12]who caused his glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses, who divided the waters before them to make for himself an everlasting name, [13]who led them through the depths? Like a horse in the desert, they did not stumble. [14]Like livestock that go down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD gave them rest. So you led your people, to make for yourself a glorious name. [15]Look down from heaven and see, from your holy and beautiful habitation. Where are your zeal and your might? The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion are held back from me. [16]For you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us; you, O LORD, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name. [17]O LORD, why do you make us wander from your ways and harden our heart, so that we fear you not? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your heritage. [18]Your holy people held possession for a little while; our adversaries have trampled down your sanctuary. [19]We have become like those over whom you have never ruled, like those who are not called by your name.
). These places are where the Ishmailite Arabs camp around Israel’s border nowadays and cause grief, death and destruction. They will pay for it soon enough as these verses testify.

A very highly qualified Biblical scholar, John Thomas, schooled in Greek and Hebrew, history and archaeology, wrote in Eureka, “When the south is thus freed from the domination of ‘the house of Esau’ [Obadiah 1:18-21 [+/-]Obadiah 1:18-21 [18]The house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau stubble; they shall burn them and consume them, and there shall be no survivor for the house of Esau, for the LORD has spoken. [19]Those of the Negeb shall possess Mount Esau, and those of the Shephelah shall possess the land of the Philistines; they shall possess the land of Ephraim and the land of Samaria, and Benjamin shall possess Gilead. [20]The exiles of this host of the people of Israel shall possess the land of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath, and the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad shall possess the cities of the Negeb. [21]Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau, and the kingdom shall be the LORD's.
] the healing of Egypt will commence.” p.556, Vol 2. He is referring to Isaiah chapter 19. “The Lord will strike [or smite AV] Egypt. He will strike and heal it; they will return to the Lord and he will be entreated by them and heal them” v.21. John Thomas then proposes that Jesus and his companions move from Egypt towards Jerusalem, Jesus stands upon the Mount of Olives which splits in two, and challenges the gates to open which eventually they do.

Now the point to be made here is this. How long is the period between the first arrival of Jesus to gather the dead and living believers, in addition to his destruction of Arab harassment of Israel, and through the conversion of Egypt, to his eventual passage through the gates of Jerusalem? It could take decades.

The conversion of Egypt seems best to fit in a sequence before Jesus arrives in Jerusalem as there is no evidence that he leaves Jerusalem to go into Egypt later. The conversion of Egypt is no overnight event - Isaiah 19 [+/-]Isaiah 19 [19:1]An oracle concerning Egypt. Behold, the LORD is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them. [2]And I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians, and they will fight, each against another and each against his neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom; [3]and the spirit of the Egyptians within them will be emptied out, and I will confound their counsel; and they will inquire of the idols and the sorcerers, and the mediums and the necromancers; [4]and I will give over the Egyptians into the hand of a hard master, and a fierce king will rule over them, declares the Lord GOD of hosts. [5]And the waters of the sea will be dried up, and the river will be dry and parched, [6]and its canals will become foul, and the branches of Egypt's Nile will diminish and dry up, reeds and rushes will rot away. [7]There will be bare places by the Nile, on the brink of the Nile, and all that is sown by the Nile will be parched, will be driven away, and will be no more. [8]The fishermen will mourn and lament, all who cast a hook in the Nile; and they will languish who spread nets on the water. [9]The workers in combed flax will be in despair, and the weavers of white cotton. [10]Those who are the pillars of the land will be crushed, and all who work for pay will be grieved. [11]The princes of Zoan are utterly foolish; the wisest counselors of Pharaoh give stupid counsel. How can you say to Pharaoh, "I am a son of the wise, a son of ancient kings"? [12]Where then are your wise men? Let them tell you that they might know what the LORD of hosts has purposed against Egypt. [13]The princes of Zoan have become fools, and the princes of Memphis are deluded; those who are the cornerstones of her tribes have made Egypt stagger. [14]The LORD has mingled within her a spirit of confusion, and they will make Egypt stagger in all its deeds, as a drunken man staggers in his vomit. [15]And there will be nothing for Egypt that head or tail, palm branch or reed, may do. [16]In that day the Egyptians will be like women, and tremble with fear before the hand that the LORD of hosts shakes over them. [17]And the land of Judah will become a terror to the Egyptians. Everyone to whom it is mentioned will fear because of the purpose that the LORD of hosts has purposed against them. [18]In that day there will be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD of hosts. One of these will be called the City of Destruction. [19]In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the LORD at its border. [20]It will be a sign and a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry to the LORD because of oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and deliver them. [21]And the LORD will make himself known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians will know the LORD in that day and worship with sacrifice and offering, and they will make vows to the LORD and perform them. [22]And the LORD will strike Egypt, striking and healing, and they will return to the LORD, and he will listen to their pleas for mercy and heal them. [23]In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and Assyria will come into Egypt, and Egypt into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. [24]In that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, [25]whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, "Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance." (ESV)
details a process of smiting, healing, teaching, establishing locations for true worship of God, similar to that of Micah 5 [+/-]Micah 5 [5:1] Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops; siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek. [2] But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. [3]Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. [4]And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. [5]And he shall be their peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men; [6]they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod at its entrances; and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian when he comes into our land and treads within our border. [7]Then the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the LORD, like showers on the grass, which delay not for a man nor wait for the children of man. [8]And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among the flocks of sheep, which, when it goes through, treads down and tears in pieces, and there is none to deliver. [9]Your hand shall be lifted up over your adversaries, and all your enemies shall be cut off. [10]And in that day, declares the LORD, I will cut off your horses from among you and will destroy your chariots; [11]and I will cut off the cities of your land and throw down all your strongholds; [12]and I will cut off sorceries from your hand, and you shall have no more tellers of fortunes; [13]and I will cut off your carved images and your pillars from among you, and you shall bow down no more to the work of your hands; [14]and I will root out your Asherah images from among you and destroy your cities. [15]And in anger and wrath I will execute vengeance on the nations that did not obey.
for the conversion of Iraq.

The suggestion is that while Jesus and the redeemed are occupied in these activities, the Israeli/Palestinian confrontation continues, with Israel slowly reclaiming her ancient territories. The proposition is that the activities of Jesus and the redeemed in the south and in Egypt continue simultaneously with Israel’s battles for years or maybe 2 or 3 decades.

Now here is the next important point. When Jesus returns, maybe tonight, the continuing Holy Land battles, be they be years or decades, will not be worrysome or distressing to the redeemed because they will be with Jesus. He will be in charge and he will deal with Israel and her enemies at the right time.

The Middle East has just been through the second Lebanon war with Israel prepared to withdraw again. Hisb’Allah will not leave or disarm and questions remain, How long to next time? And will Israel be prepared to withdraw a third time? The Bible clearly foretells of a time when Greater Israel is achieved but with two great unknowns, How long? and, In what sequence of events? Only God knows and even Jesus, in the first century, said that he, Jesus, did not know.

All we can do is take the Bible prophecies at their word, without distortion, assemble all the myriad details given, and arrive at what seems to be a logical progression of facts, recognising that some of our conclusions may prove to be not entirely correct.

The final result, however, is certain. Jesus will rule the world in justice and equity. The world will finally settle into peace and tranquillity, no matter how long it takes.