Prophetic Prospective Daily Devotional

This fourth chapter of Micah is packed full of prophetic passages that are precursors to the predicted events in the "last days" prophecies of this ancient Jewish prophet.

We have already looked at three trends that will be prevalent leading up to the time of the Second Coming of Christ. The first trend we discussed was found in verses 1 and 2. This passage alerted us to the "arrangements for the Temple" that would be very evident as we approach the return of Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

"Anticipation of Peace," the focus of verses 3-5 will cause the world, in particular the Middle East, to look for someone who will bring "peace" to the region. "Aliya of the Jews" returning to the land of their forefathers is another of the trends that indicate that the world is nearing the time described in Bible prophecy as the "last days". Verses 6 and 7 foretell how this will happen as Jews make their way "back home". This actually has been happening for the last 100 years.

Today in our devotional reading, the extended portion, we see that the prophet Micah pre-wrote history some 2,500 years ago. Verses 11-13 reveal how, "many nations" will gather against the Jews in the last days.

The "alignment of nations" against Israel will happen at the beginning of the seven year period of time known as the "Tribulation" or also referred to as the "Time of Jacob's Trouble", Jeremiah 30:7.

Daniel 11:40-45, Ezekiel 38, and Psalms 83 reveal the alignment of nations that try to destroy the Jewish state in the first of the seven years most likely the first six months of that time of judgment. The Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, will intercede and destroy most of those nations described by the prophets, Ezekiel 39:1-6.

There will also be a "gathering of many nations" at the end of the seven years. The "many nations gathering" against Israel at the end of the seven years takes place in the last six months with the "Kings of the East", Revelation 16:12, coming into Jerusalem for a major war.

China will be a part of the "Kings of the East". In fact, all of the nations of the world will join together to try to stop Jesus from returning to Jerusalem, Zechariah 14:1-4.

The revelation of these four major trends, "arrangements" for the temple, "anticipation" of peace, "aliyah" (immigration) of the Jews and "alignment" of the nations against Israel are all prevalent today – an indication that the Lord's return is getting closer and closer.

Remember, seven years before Jesus comes to earth, He comes in the clouds and calls Christians into the heavenlies to be with Him forever. That event, the Rapture, could happen today. Even so come Lord Jesus.