It’s all about the Timing – part 3

Let’s take a look at where we left off in our previous installment, comparing what Peter said at Caesarea Philippi and the inscriptions which are inside the Dome of the Rock:

Peter: “You are the (long awaited) Messiah, the Son of the living God,” circa AD 30.

Dome: “You are just a messenger, the son of Mary, NOT the son of God,” circa AD 660.

These two diametrically opposed statements—one by an over eager Jewish fisherman, the other by the (now) powerful Islamic umma representing 1 1/2 billion souls—are nothing less than the fundamental maxims representing the two sides of a cosmic war, a war that is currently more spiritual in nature than physical. However, the time is coming soon—and already is happening on a limited basis—when the spiritual battles will overflow into the physical realm. And it won’t be pretty when it happens.

With the veil torn around AD 30 and the Temple’s destruction in AD 70, Satan wasted no time in moving in to set up his own kingdom on Mount Moriah and continued his efforts to eliminate the nation of Israel—the apple of God’s eye. He still has no intention of giving up that physical and spiritual real-estate without a fight. “No Trespassing” signs have been put up all over the place, as we have seen in the inscriptions inside the Dome of the Rock. From the beginning, he has overestimated his ability to thwart YHWH’s plans, believing that he can keep the Most High from reclaiming rightful ownership and moving back in.

Think about it this way: the Son himself will soon dwell in the same physical space where the words are written, “Allah has no son.” Not only will “the LORD…reign over them in Mount Zion from now on and forever (Micah 4:7),” he will live there. Of course, the Dome will have been destroyed by then.

You might be asking, “But how will all of this happen?” The simple answer that scripture gives us: with the use of extreme force. If that’s not the answer you expected, then read on.

The prophet Zechariah tells us that “the LORD will appear over them, and His arrow will go forth like lightning“ and “on that day…will set out to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.“ Isaiah tells us that it will be a literal bloodbath: “Who is this coming…with crimson-stained garments? Who is this robed in splendor, marching in the greatness of His strength? ‘It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.'”

In other words, Jesus the Son is going to use violence to get back his turf and save Israel. That is exactly what his disciples expected the Messiah to do when Peter said that Jesus was the promised Messiah of God in Caesarea Philippi. They had the right idea; they were just wrong about the timing. By at least a couple of millennia.

Much will happen between now and Satan’s eviction and complete destruction. Diplomatic crises and wars will come and go. Agreements will be made and will be broken. Covenants will be reinforced and sacrifices stopped. Some of these things are already in motion, but it’s all about God’s timing as to when they will occur.

However, we do know this for certain: the outcome of the war between Caesarea Philippi and the Dome of the Rock is already decided. Future history is already set into motion. And already determined.

Stay tuned, and we’ll find out how it all unfolds from our front row seats.