Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.  Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. © Copyright 2010 - 2026  All rights reserved. Daniel 11 Explained (condensed ‘one page’ commentary) ‘Matthew 24’ Explained (must match Revelation) The ‘Seals’ Explained (Revelation timeline revealed) Seven Churches Explained (Past & Present Church Prophecy) Note: ‘Sitemap’ gives a complete list of all pages (by category). ‘Homepage’ shows timelines + summary. Current Events from Daniel 11 (matching the Middle East) The Abomination (Daniel 11:31) done Recent Events ISIS - Saudi - Turkey (Daniel 11: 24-27) Final Events to the Abomination (Daniel 11: 28-30) Shiites re-take Persia + America’s Role Begins (Daniel 11: 21-23) soon done done Related page: Salvation to Maturity (a simply guide) Written: 02-22-2026 Rapture 2026 (Why I Think the Rapture is Very Close) Introduction   Current events will come soon enough, but for those who are not as familiar with this website, let me bring everyone up to speed.    There have been many predictions about the rapture, through the years, using various criteria for support.  I have always said that it comes down to the Abomination that causes Desolation, from the Book of Daniel, since that’s exactly what Jesus said in Matthew 24:15.  Allow me to explain briefly.  Sure, there are Biblical prophecies that give additional signs, and I will address some of those, but the Abomination that causes Desolation is the ultimate final event that will happen before the rapture.  That is evident when Jesus tells Judea to flee immediately to the mountains without delay because “there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now – and never to be equaled again.”  (Matt 24:21)  From there, Jesus describes two different groups, the 144,000 Israelites (Jews) who are sealed but stay on earth through the Trumpets plagues, and the Christians who are immediately taken to Heaven for the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.  The signs in the sun, moon and stars, in Matt 24:29, during the rapture, are the same exact signs in the 6^th Seal.  During the 6th Seal, people are in the mountains who see Jesus in the sky (the Lamb) and mourn because they didn’t believe. (Rev 6:15-17)  At that point, Rev 7 describes two groups, which are the same two groups as in Matthew 24:22-31 (following the abomination).  The fact that there are two groups in Revelation 7 proves that there are two groups in Matthew 24:15-31.  It also proves that the 6^th Seal Rapture (Rev 6:12) happens when the abomination is set up in Matthew 24:15, which in turn directs people to the Book of Daniel.    The Abomination that causes Desolation is actually mentioned four times in the Book of Daniel (chapters 8, 9, 11, 12), but two of those (8 and 12) concern the timing of the post- rapture (Trumpet and Bowl plagues in Revelation).  I discuss all four of those instances on the abomination page, but this page is mainly for current events leading to the abomination. The 70^th Seven   Daniel 9:27 is the 70^th Seven, which is a prophecy about the Abomination being within a seven-year period that starts with a “confirmation of a covenant with many”.  By the way, the 70^th Seven is not connected to the other 69 Sevens because Daniel 9:26 jumps to the ‘end’ when it says, “The end will come like a flood … .”  (Other 69 Sevens explained) Daniel 9:27 - The 70^th Seven (NIV) “He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”   Briefly, the word ‘confirm’ implies that the ‘covenant’ (agreement or promise) already exists because it doesn’t say ‘make a covenant’ or ‘establish a covenant’.  Plus, Israel is not mentioned in this covenant because the same entity that confirms the covenant also sets up the Abomination and the “end that is decreed is poured out on him.”  I’m confident that the covenant was the JCPOA (Iranian nuclear agreement) and the confirmation was between Iran and the E3 (UK, France, and Germany) after Donald Trump unilaterally pulled the US out of the agreement in May-2018.  Iran’s confirmation lasted from May-2018 to Oct-2025, when the E3 chose to invoke the snapback sanctions, thus ending the JCPOA for good.  Thus, the duration of the confirmation was almost exactly 7-years.  Granted, the abomination didn’t happen within those seven years, like the verse says, but I still think the JCPOA was the ‘covenant with many’.  I just don’t think there will ever be another agreement that matches the verse any better, especially since Iran is the leader of the final empire, starting in Daniel 11:21, who ultimately sets up the abomination in Daniel 11:31.    Of course, I could be wrong because I’m just human, but I figure God just decided to extend the 70^th Seven a little bit, which He is allowed to do because He is God.  Jesus said, “It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night.” (Luke 12:38)  Could Jesus have been indicating that the 70^th Seven would be extended?  I don’t know, but He was definitely saying to keep watching even if His arrival was not when you first thought.  For the record, I don’t think the 70^th Seven will be extended much.  Current Events – Daniel 11:31   Last but not least, Daniel 11 is a complete list of empires from Daniel’s time until Armageddon (v45), with Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution fulfilling verse 21, and the Abomination being set up in verse 31.  I am confident that all the verses through verse 30  have already been fulfilled or satisfied.  Therefore, only the uprising in verse 31 is lacking before the abomination and rapture take place.  Daniel 11:31 (NIV) “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.”   As I’ve said many times, a person cannot procrastinate until they actually ‘see’ the abomination to be saved because all the events in this verse could happen very fast.  In other words, by the time a person saw the abomination on the news, it would be too late.  Post-trib false prophets deceive people into believing that they can wait, but that’s not true. In reality, that could cause millions of procrastinators to miss heaven.  Plus, contrary to popular belief, there is no second chance for gentiles during the post-rapture tribulation.  The only second chance is for the 144,000 Israelites (Jews), due to God’s promise to David. (2 Samuel 7:16)  They become priests during Jesus’ 1000-year reign on earth. (Rev 20:4-6)  The misconception about a second chance for gentiles comes from the old-school pre-tribs who mistakenly put the rapture in Rev 4 (before the crucifixion).  I explain everything fully on the homepage.  The bottom line is: The time to be saved is now, don’t wait.    The events in the above verse could happen very fast because I think the “temple fortress” is the Western Wall and the “daily sacrifice” is simply daily prayer at the Wall, which Jews are deeply devoted to.  If someone’s armed forces could somehow rise up to “desecrate” the Western Wall, it could “abolish” the daily prayer, at least temporarily, until they could clean the Wall, which would be difficult during an uprising.  Then, during the confusion and upheaval, someone will set up an “abomination,” which simply means something hated by God.  The Bible never says exactly what the abomination will be, but it will be something small enough to be transported and “set up” on or near the Temple Mount.  It’s not really important what it is because, like I said, the rapture will happen very quickly.  That means it’s important to watch for events leading to the abomination, such as the uprising in the same verse, not the abomination itself.   Of course, most uprisings are planned in secret, or happen spontaneously, which is probably why Paul wrote that the rapture would happen like a “thief in the night.”  Yet, Paul followed that statement by saying, “But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.” (1 Thess 5:4)  In other words, although we cannot pinpoint the exact day of Jesus’ return, the Bible gives us enough clues so we can pay attention to current events and not be surprised when it happens.  Current Events – The West Bank   Like I said, the biggest clue to the abomination is the uprising in the same verse, which will be a surprise to most, but not all. I have always said that the most likely source would be the West Bank, just because of its proximity to the Temple Mount.  The big question is: What circumstances could cause someone’s armed forces to rise up with vengeance and desecrate the Western Wall?  Current events might suggest that the circumstances are ripe.    Isreal’s far-right government recently passed a set of changes concerning the West Bank  that many are saying amount to de facto annexation.  On February 8, 2026, Defense Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced a series of security cabinet decisions that change ‘land registration’ and ‘property acquisition’ in the West Bank.  For one, it allows Jews to buy land anywhere in the West Bank, which was forbidden under Jordanian law.  It also requires all land to be publicly registered and ownership proven, which was previously classified, so Jews can buy land from the registered owners.  Personally, that reminds me of the Ottoman law of 1858, which also required land registration.  That law eventually led to the first modern Jewish settlement in 1878.  That started a 70-year period, spanning Seals 3-4, which led to Israeli independence in 1948.  So, this land registration and freedom to buy is a big deal.  I always said that annexation could be the issue that puts the Palestinians over the edge, and this “de facto” annexation is about as close as they can get.    The security cabinet decision also makes changes to some key religious sites in Hebron and Bethlehem of the West Bank.  Authority over building permits around the Tomb of the Patriarchs, believed to be the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, as well as Sarah, Rebecca and Leah, will be transferred from the PA to Israel.  The decision also creates “a dedicated municipal authority” responsible for cleaning and routine maintenance of Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem.  Although the new measures were passed by the security cabinet, rather than the full cabinet, reversal would involve “significant legal complexity.”    The Yesha Council, which represents settlement authorities in the West Bank, called the decisions among “the most significant decisions made by the State of Israel since its return to Judea and Samaria 58 years ago.” [the 6-day war]  They added that the decision “rectifies an injustice of many years and entrenches Israeli sovereignty on the ground, de facto.”    Of course, the Palestinians were furious.  PA President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the decisions, declaring them illegal and invalid, and demanded US and UN intervention.  Abbas’ office also “warned of the dangers” of transferring the authority of the holy sites.  Hamas went much farther, calling for Palestinians to launch a “rebellion across the West Bank and Jerusalem” and “escalation by all available means.”  Of course, a “rebellion” aimed at Jerusalem and the Temple Mount, perhaps desecrating the Western Wall to inflict maximum revenge, is exactly what we need to fulfill Daniel’s prophecy.  Hamas in Gaza   The war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas is technically in a ceasefire, per Trump’s 20-Point Peace Plan.  However, there are attacks and shootings across the yellow line, almost daily, and retaliatory bombings by Israel.  Hamas has refused to disarm, which is a key requirement in phase two of Trump’s plan.  Hamas said they never agreed to disarm, which according to signed agreements is absolutely true; they only signed a limited document agreeing to phase one, which concerned the return of hostages in exchange for a ceasefire and prisoner release.    Hamas controls about 50% of Gaza and Israel is chomping at the bit to go back in and disarm them by force.  Only Trump is holding them back because he’s not ready to give up on his 20-point plan.  He claims that Hamas agreed verbally to disarm, but I have a hard time believing anything that Trump says.  Besides, with something as important as disarming, an official document would be needed, signed by Hamas’ top leadership.  I think everyone but Trump knew that Hamas wouldn’t disarm, but Israel was only concerned about getting their hostages back.  Netanyahu knew that phase two would never happen, so he would eventually get the chance to start again and finish the job of destroying Hamas.  This time, Israel can be even more destructive because they don’t have to worry about the hostages.  It’s just a matter of time before the Gaza War starts again, and Hamas knows it.   That’s why it would not be surprising for Hamas to muster their forces from the West Bank and attack the Temple Mount and Western Wall.  If and when the Gaza War starts again, Hamas knows their days are numbered, so why not go out with a bang and set up something to score points with Allah?  Of course, God will see it as an abomination, which will start God’s “ending” in Revelation, which begins with the 6^th Seal Rapture, followed by the Trumpet and Bowl plagues.  War with Iran   If the situation with Hamas in the West Bank and Gaza wasn’t enough, all this is happening as the US and Israel is about to go to war with Iran.  Trump has moved two aircraft carrier groups to the region and numerous other aircraft.  War is almost inevitable because Trump has staked his reputation on getting a better deal than the JCPOA, which he withdrew the US from, even though Iran was in compliance.  The withdrawal was probably due to a combination of Netanyahu’s urging and the fact that Trump hates anything credited to Obama, good or bad.  As of this update, the US and Iran have had two meetings about a new deal, but it will never happen because the two sides are too far apart on the issues.  Netanyahu, who has met with Trump seven times in the last year, is insisting on a deal that completely eliminates Iran’s ability to enrich uranium, as well as curbing their ballistic missile program and relationships with their allies, which is ridiculous and Iran will never agree to it.  Of course, Netanyahu doesn’t care because he wants to go to war and take the US with him.  Even Trump has recently said that regime change would probably be the best.  Personally, I think Netanyahu has played into Trump’s ‘desire for grandeur’ and convinced him that if he defeats the current government of Iran, Israel’s greatest arch enemy, that he will go down in history as some kind of messiah figure.  Last I heard, Trump gave Iran 10-15 days to make a deal, which would put the deadline around the first week of March.  Iran has said that any attack on them would warrant retaliation against Israel or others.  Of course, that doesn’t really matter because Israel is eager to join anyway.  What would matter is if the retaliation included an attack on the Temple Mount and desecration of the Western Wall.  Other Timing Factors for 2026 The Blood Moon and Jewish holidays   Interestingly enough, Trump’s estimate of the first week in March for Iran’s deadline corresponds to a full, “blood moon” (lunar eclipse), March 3-4, which many people think could be an indication of Joel’s prophecy.  Joel 2:31 31 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.   The signs in the sun and moon indicate that the verse is referring to the 6^th Seal rapture, which will be ‘great’ for Christians and ‘dreadful’ for Jews and Muslims.  However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the rapture will definitely happen on a lunar eclipse because God could turn the moon red by some other means.  Yet, it’s worth mentioning because Trump is estimating that a war with Iran could happen around the same time.    Plus, the full, blood moon in March is also Israel’s holiday of Purim, which commemorates the defeat of ancient Persia (Esther 9:15-18), which is ironic because Iran is Persian.  Furthermore, the holiday of Purim is commemorated with feasts and joy, which has the potential to match the following where the prophet Amos prophesied that the 6^th Seal rapture would turn “religious feasts into mourning” and “singing into weeping.”  Amos 8: 8-10 8 "Will not the land tremble for this, and all who live in it mourn?  The whole land will rise like the Nile; it will be stirred up and then sink like the river of Egypt. 9 "In that day," declares the Sovereign LORD, "I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight.  10 I will turn your religious feasts into mourning and all your singing into weeping.   This prophecy is particularly interesting because the “land trembling” confirms the earthquake of the 6^th Seal, and then it describes a flood of water rising and falling like a tsunami, which agrees with Jesus’ prophecy: “nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.” (Luke 21:25)  Plus, if the earthquake of the 6^th Seal produces a tsunami, it would cause people to flee to higher ground (the mountains) whether they understood what the abomination was or not, thus fulfilling Jesus’ other prophecy.     It all sounds very promising, but I still can’t guarantee that the rapture will happen on the full blood moon in March (Purim) because no one can predict the exact day.  Whatever day it happens to be, the Jews will still be mourning when their next holiday came around.  I’m just pointing this out because I think the odds are raised with every prophecy that has the potential to be fulfilled.  I mean, personally, I think every full moon raises the odds a little because so many Biblical events happened on or near full moons (+/- 2 days).  For example, the Flood started and stopped near full moons.  The Exodus started and stopped on full moons.  Since Seal 1 was the resurrection, which was near a full moon, and Seals 6 & 7 happen together, then a 6^th Seal rapture on a full moon would make the Seals start and stop on full moons.  Based on history, I think that’s likely.  Then, a lunar eclipse (blood moon), which always happens on a full moon, raises the odds a little more.  Then, a Jewish holiday, especially one with feasts and joy, raises the odds again.  Yet, I would never say that the odds are 100% because only God knows the exact day.    To emphasize that I’m not trying to pick an exact day, there are other factors and days.  Ramadan is currently ongoing, which runs from new moon to new moon, so the full moon for Purim is directly in the middle of Ramadan.  Would that make an attack more likely or less likely?  I don’t know, but Trump is threatening to attack Iran during Ramadan, so it’s possible.  The full moon on March 3-4 is technically still in the winter, and Jesus said, “Pray that your flight will not take place in the winter …” (Matt 24:20)  Granted, that doesn’t mean it can’t take place in the winter, but it lowers the odds a bit.  The full moon on April 1-2 is the start of Passover, which is the first full moon of Spring.  Granted, it’s not a blood moon, but the odds are still good.  The full moon in May is another possibility.  It all depends on when Iran or Hamas decides to attack the Temple Mount and desecrate the Western Wall and set up the abomination.  It could even happen on a day when the moon is not full, because just as I would never say the odds are 100%, I would never say that the odds are 0% either.  How Will God Turn the Sun Dark?   Recall that the prophet Joel said, “The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.” (Joel 2:31)  Just as God could make the moon red without a lunar eclipse (although I’m not sure how), He could also darken the sun without a solar eclipse.  In fact, it’s physically impossible to have a lunar eclipse and solar eclipse at the same time because the former is during a full moon and the latter is during a new moon.    I’ve always considered one way that God could darken the sun during a full moon is with a dust storm.  In fact, I recently saw an article where that exact thing happened in Israel.  Starting around 3 AM on February 14, 2026, strong winds brought clouds of dust from North Africa and the Sahara, which lasted until noon or later.  They have a photo in the article showing how dark it was from the haze.  The winds were 35-40 mph, causing 8-foot waves, which could also account for Jesus’ prophecy concerning “the roaring and tossing of the sea.”  (Luke 21:25)  Imagine the dust and waves if the winds were even higher.  One interesting aspect of a dust storm is that the Health Ministry warned those with heart or lung conditions, the elderly, children, and pregnant women to avoid strenuous outdoor activity (such as fleeing to the mountains).  Therefore, a dust storm would not only turn the sun dark but would also account for Jesus’ prophecy: “How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!” (Matt 24:19)  Israel’s Far-right Government and Jewish Kabbalists prophecies   Several years ago, some Jewish prophecies became popular because they at least partially proved true.  I don’t generally pay attention to Jewish prophecies because how much could they know if they don’t believe Jesus was their Messiah?  Yet, as Moses once said, ‘You can tell if a prophecy is from God or not by waiting to see if it comes true.’ (Deut 18:22 - paraphrased)  Like I said, two of the prophecies partially came true, at the time, and could now point to 2026, so they deserve another look.  Prophecy #1 – Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri [1898(?) - 2006] "On the eve of the year 5780, the year of corrections, there will not be a government in Israel for an extended period and the various camps will quarrel much without a decision on either side, and then, on Rosh Hashanah [the Jewish new year] itself, they will fight in heaven, the holy side against the side of evil, and G-d and His entourage will decide between them."  Prophecy #2 – Rabbi Sasson Hai Shoshani (1867–1953) "There will come on the day that two ministers win the government in the land of Israel. Both their names will be Benjamin and neither of them will succeed in establishing their government or kingship.  On that day, know and understand that the King Messiah already stands at the doorway and on the Sabbath afterwards he will come and be revealed.  Understand this and remember it."   #1 - Kaduri had the correct year for Israel’s extended period with no government because the Hebrew year of 5780 corresponded to Sept 30, 2019 – Sept 18, 2020.  Elections were scheduled for Nov-2019, but the government fell early due to disagreements about ultra- orthodox military service and Netanyahu’s corruption charges.  Therefore, snap elections were held April 9, 2019, which was literally on the “eve of 5780.”  Yet, neither party could form a government.  They went to a second election, and then a third, but neither side could find a majority to form a government, which was unprecedented in Israeli history.   #2 - Shoshani had the names correct because the main candidates in the three consecutive elections were Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz, which were “two Benjamins.”  The elections were held April 9, 2019; Sept 17, 2019; and March 2, 2020, with no majority.  Finally, due to the covid emergency, they tried a unity government, but that only lasted from May-2020 to Dec-2020.  Another election was held on March 23, 2021, but again neither side could form a majority, so they tried a second unity government with Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, which only lasted from June-2021 to June 2022.  Thus, Israel had over three years where there was no lasting government because there was no majority coalition.    After that, the next election was Nov 1, 2022, but it was different because Netanyahu formed a majority by bringing in the most far-right parties led by Smotrich and Ben Gvir.  Even then, I knew it was going to be a gamechanger because it was the most far-right government in Israeli history.  Things started slow because a new government must pass a budget and assign cabinet positions, which required some changes for such a far-right group.  Then, disputes started between the government and judicial branch.  Therefore, the new government was just getting their footing when Hamas attacked on Oct 7, 2023, which made the Gaza War and hostages their main priority for the next two years.  Now, with Trump’s 20-Point Peace Plan, which started a ceasefire and brought the hostages home, the far-right government is trying to make up for lost time, such as passing the sweeping changes for the West Bank that I wrote about earlier.  In addition to those changes, in Dec-2025, they announced 11 new settlements in the West Bank, and legalized 8 illegal outposts, which were built without permission.  Smotrich said the announcement was aimed at blocking a Palestinian state.  I think Israel’s far-right government, which broke the correctly prophesied stalemate, was especially chosen by God to make the changes in the West Bank and Temple Mount like they have.  Yet, they are running out of time because the next election must come by Oct 27, 2026, or sooner, and current polls show that neither side would get a majority.    Getting back to the Jewish prophecies, Rabbi Shoshani, who had the names correct also wrote, “On that day, know and understand that the King Messiah already stands at the doorway and on the Sabbath afterwards he will come and be revealed.”  Well, the “Sabbath afterwards” could be interpreted as a 7-year period or the 7^th year.  So, in addition to this government running out of time in 2026, the 7^th year since the prophecies began, in April-2019, also points to Spring-2026.    Of course, some people are bound to notice that Kaduri mentions Rosh Hashanah, but that is in context of “God deciding between them,” which could have been one of the elections or something.  People always predict the rapture on Rosh Hashanah, every year, because it’s the Feast of Trumpets, but that’s not the same as the “trumpet call of God.” (1 Thess 4:16)  Personally, I always have an issue with Rosh Hashanah because it naturally falls on a new moon, which can’t be seen because it’s black.  To me, if the rapture was going to be during the High Holidays, in the fall, it would be more likely on the Feast of Tabernacles, two weeks later, which is a full moon and mentioned in Zech 14:16-19.  I just had to mention Rosh Hashanah because it was in Kaduri’s prophecy.  I still think Spring-2026 is more likely, but no one really knows for sure, so all we can do is wait and see.   Jesus said, “It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.”  (Luke 12:37)   Praise Jesus.   Related page: Daniel 11 Explained (condensed ‘one page’ commentary)