Three and a half years

Well after my recent attempt to make a biblically informed prediction I'm a little trepidatious to embark on more. BJ is not the new PM of Brittain so that part of my analysis was clearly wrong, however Brexit happened and the feeling of flux in the waters of our little universe still seems eschatologically strong, so I may just indulge in a bit more of the same. Interpretation belongs to God of course, but I don't have a problem with making informed speculations as long as everyone knows that they are speculations and feel free to draw their own conclusions. 

Passages of Daniel and of Revelation are still vividly resonating in my mind with world events so I am jotting down a few thoughts here to get them out, as it were..

In the past I found the description of the final incarnation of the King of the North at the end of Daniel chapter 11 strangely similar to the two Small horns of chapters 7 and 8, to the point of wondering whether we (that is, Jehovah's witnesses) had got his identity the wrong way around since the two horns were clearly identified with the King of the South. But what if the characteristics that fit Russian demagoguery so well for the role of King of the North became current in the realm of the South, hence my belief that populist leaders will come to the fore in the US and UK at the time of the end, since these three political entities are the ones that face the final judgement and whose rule concludes not only with their own destruction but with that of all human government as described by Daniel in chapter 2:44. 

So far then world events looked like shaping up to conclude much as Daniel described. However Trump has slumped in the polls this week and Boris, tho technically promoted within the British government, is widely ridiculed in the press and looks much less likely to ever be PM. This raises a point about me and people like me, I want these prophecies fulfilled sooner rather than later, many Witnesses do, the thought that this system may drag on through another political cycle is daunting not to say depressing, and I am in danger of getting a fixed idea that these two characters have to be the ones, they may be, they may not be, but the more events follow a biblical pattern, in spite of Human perceptions, the stronger the prophetic narrative becomes and that is what is meant to happen.

Also, in the space between Brexit and Boris's withdrawal from the Tory leadership contest, it occurred to me that the horns of chapters 7 and 8 instead of being two ways of describing the rise of one political entity could be separate descriptions of two individual horns that would eventually combine to make one beast (the one described at Revelation 13:11-13). In the context of my current speculation, Boris might be horn one and Trump horn two, so I examined the differences between the two. The horn of chapter 7 with it's eyes and mouth speaking grandiose things seemed a clear candidate for Trump and the horn of Chapter 8 with its more direct decent from alexandrine empire building and more subtle approach to tyranny seemed to fit the UK. 

There was a problem however, the horns both have specific periods of influence (particularly over "the Holy ones") each period ending with judgement and the UK's period of 2300 evenings and mornings was either too long (if it is taken to mean 2300 full days) or too short (if you take it to mean 2300 evenings plus mornings, ie. 1150 days). The US horn has the more classic period of "time, times and half a time" that is three and a half years or 1260 days. A period which would also conclude with judgement. Initially I thought I may have got them the wrong way around and that Boris was the horn of chapter 7 and would take power 110 days before Trump (in my calculations I have adopted the 1150 days interpretation of 2300 evenings and mornings which may of course be wrong). However if Trump Is the horn of chapter 7 and takes power in November, then 110 days into his term the horn of chapter 8 will take power in UK (Boris, according to my fixed and slightly over-optimistic view). 

The two horns and the King of the North (who interestingly, does not have a prescribed period for his reign and has just been in power for some time when judgement happens) have something else in common; a deep hostility to "The Holy Ones". For non witnesses it is enough to say that the true religion becomes a target of these three Kings (this 3 and a half year period of harassment apparently fulfils at least two important functions, as an identifier of the true religion and to refine the faithful in preparation for the end) for us witnesses "The Holy Ones" means the Annointed remnant and those associated with them. 

The fact that 3 and a half years is also the length of Jesus ministry is also significant (the two periods being at the beginning and the conclusion of the prophetic "harvest" and being basically opposite experiences for those who want rule from Heaven not earth, but that is probably a subject for another time) but particularly it is linked with Daniel 12:7 where the same concept is described and also Revelation 11:2,3 where "42 months" and "1260 days" are used to describe a period when the Nations trample the courtyard of the Temple. The link between these bible passages is established in the "Daniel's Prophecy" book published by the Witnesses on page 294-295. The Daniel book places those events at the beginning of the 20th century and as pattern it fits the experiences of Jehovah's witnesses at that time. 

Reading the two horns, the King of the North and the sequence of events in Revelation seems to indicate than the "Time of the end" will also conclude with a three and a half year period of harassment at the hands of the three prominent "Kings" of the time.

There are a lot of "ifs " in this document but the point of it (for me at least) is that, if certain events unfold it is not necessarily the disaster it might feel like, but with prophetic context it will be comprehensible and navigable and ultimately something positive for humanity.

As a Witness it is apparent that the King of the North is already engaged in this persecution but the west, having for a long time now seemed to have championed religious tolerance, seems less likely to go down that path. If it does, Daniel indicates two crucial factors to be aware of: Sincerity of worship and a personal relationship with Jehovah. Two things consistently taught by the organisation.

Note. If the 110 days is right it would commence either from election or Inauguration Day.