During the past century every major conflict, that has suddenly erupted in the Middle East and its environs, has caused countless numbers of men and women to once again suddenly become very religious, and to flock back to local churches in droves.  To at least some extend, this has been happening in the past, and now, because of a basic misunderstanding of the coming of Christ.  Those who rush back into a better relationship with Christ, at the first sign of a major conflict in the Middle East zone, may well be expecting that the conflict will continue, and eventually end in the final Battle of Armageddon.  They associate the return of Christ only with what is called the Second Advent.  However, there is a coming of Christ for the saved, which occurs before the Lord’s Advent.  The following Scriptures describe the Second Advent of Christ, which occurs when He comes to end the final Battle of Armageddon.

[7] Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.Revelation 1:7

[10] And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. Zechariah 12:10

[25] And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; [26] Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. [27] And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Luke 21:25-27

If I believed that the Second Advent and the catching out of the saved were the same event, then I also would think that, each time a conflict broke out in the Middle East area, it might continue until it ended with the Battle of Armageddon.  However, we find that, after the blowing of the seventh trump in the Book of Revelation, there is a massive heavenly judgment for rewards being ministered to all types of believers from all ages, and we also discover that, at this time of pre-advent judgment, we are still four chapters, and six vials, away from Armageddon.

[15] And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. [18] And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. Revelation 11:15,18

[16] And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. Revelation 16:16

[10] For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. II Corinthians 5:10

So, if God’s prophets, saints, and those that fear his name, are in heaven being judged by God for rewards, then they had to be “caught out” by Christ before the Battle of Armageddon, which occurs when the last of seven vials is poured out.

[16] And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. [17] And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. [18] And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. Revelation 16:16-18

Therefore, the following Scriptures refer, not to the Second Advent, but to a “catching out” that occurred earlier, and which is described in the following Scriptures:

[51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. I Corinthians 15:51,52

[16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. [18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words. I Thessalonians 4:16-18

So why have I gone to all this trouble to establish there are two comings of Christ between now and the beginning of His Millennial Reign?  There MUST be, BEFORE He comes, a period of what seems, to the world and Israel, to be a genuine peace.  Before Christ came for His children, two things had to happen:

2. There would have to be, what seemed to be, a genuine peace with the nations around Israel.  This will occur soon!

[3] For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. [4] But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. I Thessalonians 5:3,4

As soon as the current conflict is ended in Afghanistan, the events I outlined in Prophecy Update Number 42 will begin to come into play, and a false peace that appears to be genuine will occur within two years.  I believe it will occur next year.  There has been no peace between Israel and her Islamic neighbors, within and without, for some 53 years, only terror and bitter hatred.  The terrorist acts will suddenly cease, and the sheer shock from it will, within months, lead Israel to believe it is real, and will continue.  After a brief period of time, both Israel and the U.S. will feel a sense of deliverance from terror, and a feeling of safety will settle over them.  Those who always get religious, when they fear the return of Christ is near, will again abandon trying to restore fellowship with God, and the western world powers will all settle back for a long winter’s nap.  It is at this time that the words of Jesus, concerning the time he comes for his children, will be fulfilled.