There are some areas of prophecy we can be sure we have the right interpretation.  But even in these areas we are usually left with one major difficulty: WHEN!  We are certain Israel and Jerusalem will be besieged by their enemies, but WHEN?

Zechariah 12:2

[2] Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.

We also know that Jerusalem will fall to her enemies, but that Israel will not be cut off from it forever, for a remnant will one day return, but WHEN?

Zechariah 14:1,2

[1] Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. [2] For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

We also know that only one-third of Israel’s Jewish population will make it to a place of safety when attacked by her enemies, and that the rest will perish, but WHEN?

Zechariah 13:8

[8] And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.

We also know that the surviving third will flee to a location of safety prepared by God and called “the wilderness,” where they will survive the final 1260 days of the Tribulation Period, but WHEN?

Revelation 12:6

[6] 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.

We also know that God will bring this remnant through these 3 and ½ prophetic years, and then dwell among them in His 1000 year reign on this earth, but WHEN?   

Zechariah 13:9

[9] And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.

We also know that when the remnant calls on His name in the wilderness, God will hear and begin to fight for them toward the end of the Tribulation Period, but WHEN?

Zechariah 14:3 + 12:3

[3] Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. [3] And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

We also know that God wins the battle of Armageddon, that the destruction ceases, that Jerusalem is restored, and what happens to those who fought against Jerusalem, but WHEN?

Zechariah 14:11,12

[11] And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited. [12] 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.

I would say that the most important thing we know is this:  None of the things we have thus far described will begin to take place until a false peace comes to the Middle East.  It will be followed by the sudden destruction events afore outlined.  But WHEN will the false peace come?  In our first Prophecy Update Number 1 of 2001, I stated: “Eventually there will be some form of peace between the Palestinians and Israel.  It may be a ‘forced’ peace, but the end result will be an enclosed Palestinian State within the borders of Israel.  This will create an impossible situation for Israel.  There is no worse military position that to have an enemy within while being attacked from without.  I believe it is quite likely that, by the time the year 2003 rolls around, there will have been numerous meetings behind closed doors between the leaders of Iran, Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Libya, Sudan, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Lebanon, and Afghanistan.  I believe that these meetings will eventually result in a consolidated plan to lure Israel into a sense of false security.” These meetings have been, are being, and will continue to be held, such that I believe it will lead to a false peace in Israel this year.  Once this false peace is put into place, then the WHEN of all the other prophetic events will fall into place thereafter.

I Thessalonians 5:3,4

[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 know the “they” refers primarily to Israel.  However, it would also apply to all on the earth in unbelief, but Paul has Israel in mind.   

Romans 10:1 + 11,20,25

[1] Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. [20] Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: [25] For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.

All the “WHENS” are tied to when PEACE comes to Israel!

Ezekiel 38:10-14

[10] Thus saith the Lord God; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: [11] And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, [12] To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land. [13] Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil? [14] Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord God; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it?