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Shortly after, the start of the current Palestinian Intifada, we declared that it marked the beginning of the prophetic period of 42 months mentioned in Revelation 11:2. The Scripture says, "...the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months."

That Friday, September 28, 2000, Muslims exited the mosques and began to riot in the streets of the holy city, beginning what would be 3 and one half years of violence and terror in Jerusalem and throughout Israel and the "occupied" territories. More than 100 suicide bombings occurred in the Holy Land during that period, including numerous attacks in the Capitol itself.

We have mentioned these 42 months no less that 4 times in the pages of The Bible Guys, and declared them to have ended at the end of March, 2004.

One may argue, "But the fighting continues. I've seen the news. How can you say that the 42 months have ended, when the fighting has not stopped? It is obvious that nothing has changed." On the contrary. Something has most definitely changed.

Within days of the 42-month anniversary of the start of the Intifada, after years of showing great constraint, Israel made an extremely bold decision on March 22, 2004 when it targeted and killed the founder and leader of Hamas, Ahmed Yassin. Since Yassin's death, while there has been continued violence in the territories of the West Bank and Gaza, there have been no attacks in Israel proper.

The last attack in Israel was in Jerusalem on March 19, 2004, when Al-Aqsa terrorists mistakenly shot the son of a prominent Arab lawyer. The last "successful" attack in Israel was in the port city of Ashdod on March 14, in which dual suicide bombers killed 10 and wounded 16.

Less than a month after Yassin's death, Israel killed his successor, Abdel Aziz Rantisi. Israel's vice premier, Ehud Olmert, promised swift and severe response to any further attacks, declaring, "No terrorist can go home to sleep at night thinking they are immune. They are in our crosshairs ... and should run and hide from the Israeli forces who can get to them everywhere." The message was clear: "Jerusalem shall be trodden under foot no longer." Almost two months have passed, and that statement has held true.

The prophecy did not concern itself with all of the Middle East, nor even with all of the land of Israel. It said that the Gentiles would tread the Holy City under foot for 42 months. Just as the Lord revealed unto us, and prophesied by His servant John, that period began September 28, 2000, and ended at the end of March 2004.

Other Bible prophecies tell of a time yet future, when Jerusalem will be captured, but for now the violence will be kept out of the City.

The next verse in Rev. 11 prophesies the ministry of the two witnesses. Of them it is said, "their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom..." It is most incredible that just 1 1/2 months after the end of the 42-month sign, the first legal homosexual marriages are to occur in America, ushering in the modern Sodom. This fact serves as a sign that, indeed, we have truly just witnessed the end of the great sign in Israel, and should begin to look for the 1260 days of the ministry of the two witnesses to be manifested.

What I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. May the Lord give you understanding. Amen.

David M. McNabb
Editor & Bible Guy