Why are there so many strange interpretations of prophecy? For example, why do so many fierce literalists maintain that Mystery Babylon will be the seat of a new world order rising out of the sands on the site in Iraq where Babylon once stood? Why do so many believe Israel will one day bull doze the sacred shrine of Islam, the Dome of the Rock, to rebuild its temple on the Temple Mount? (Several hundred million Arabs in the surrounding area might have something to say about that.)

I believe it is because they have done what the Bible never does. They have wrenched prophecy from its historical moorings and like an untethered hot air balloon their fantastic interpretations soar and travel along the winds of their fancy. This is not to say that they do not have scriptural reasons for their interpretations. They do. In some cases an impressive amount, while in others the connections are as tenuous a spider thread being used to anchor an aircraft carrier. But whether or not their scriptural justification has many citations or few, the end result is the same: once history is decoupled from prophecy any interpretation is possible.

This is because of the elastic nature of their source material. Prophecy is typically delivered in images that are open to many interpretations. But these interpretations, when limited by history, are not only limited they are also focused in a way that supports the truth. Prophecy should be limited and interpreted in the light of history because they are one. Prophecy is merely history stated in advance by a sovereign God.

The case of the end times is particularly instructive. Daniel states that the fourth kingdom, Rome, will be at war with the saints of God and will be in existence until the kingdom of God is established. Revelation updates this and describes the Great Beast, Rome, in ways that mirrored the then living Emperor Domitian who used to execute those who refused to sacrifice to his image, and who used to demand being referred to as "our Lord and God." This is the historical setting of the prophecy of the end times. It is between the saints, now Christians and clearly described as such in Revelation, and Rome. It is not between the Jews and Rome, or the Jews and Assyria, or the Jews an anyone else. They rejected Jesus and, as the parables, indicated, heir kingdom was given to another people who honored the Son.

Does this mean God no longer loves the Jews? Some may see this as being suggested by the above, but I don't. I believe their will be a dramatic conversion of Jews to Christianity before the end times arrives as the apostle Paul foretold. However, I do not think there will be a rebuilding of the Temple on the Temple Mount. If there is to be another abomination of the desolators occupying the holy place it will likely be in a Christian temple like St. Peter's basilica in Rome. But it may not be. After all, this prophecy that Jesus restated after its fulfillment by Antiochus Epiphanes was later fulfilled by Rome in the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD by the Roman general Titus.

Once we remove the end times prophecy from the historical parameters set by God's prophets and apostles, we end up developing scenarios that make no sense when viewed at from a secular-historical perspective, or from a prophetic-historical point of view. In my book, The Template of Time: Our Destiny Decoded, I show how Rome and its prophesied conflict with the saints has perfectly unfolded on a grid of dates and what that suggests for our time when this history is viewed in the light of prophecy.

"Where are we headed? When will we get there?" The template offers forecasts that are now being realized. It forecast the removal of Mubarak and the rising of a militarily aggressive anti-Israeli state in Syria and Egypt. The Egypt part of the forecast is stunningly accurate and the Syrian forecast will likely be a result of the Arab Spring of unrest now going on. What else does it forecast? My website offers some of the suggestons of time, while the book reserves the main story line that people cannot yet see. Europe is the main event, and this should become clear in ten years if not sooner.

Grace and peace,

Tom 

I wonder if this rift between Israel/Netanyahu and President Obama is real. It very well may be, but let's look at the way Obama's persona has changed over the last year or so. This may offer clues as to what is going on behind the curtain.

He has shown the world he is far tougher than most people imagined. His numerous drone strikes against militants using Pakistan as a sanctuary are not the actions of a pacifist. His surge in Afghanistan is not the work of a timid man who is averse to using the nation's military might. The assassination of Osama, the terrorist who bore a name uncomfortably close to his own, showed that whatever character flaws he may have, a lack of courage is not one of them.

I mention this because he is facing a real problem in Iran. Their influence is spreading across the Middle East. Egypt once slammed the door in their face and now the door is open. Bahrain, home of the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, is a majority Shi'ite country ruled by a Sunni monarchy, and the people are being stirred up by Iran, or by Iranian sympathizers in their midst. Iraq is perhaps the most worrisome country of all because it may soon fall into the Iranian orbit and follow Iran's lead.

That said, Iran seems to be going through a bit of a power struggle between Khameini, the top banana, and Ahmadinejad, the second banana. They are also struggling to keep the lid on unrest so they may not be as much of a threat to others until they gain stability at home. But even if their situation remains unstable, they are still steadily moving toward becoming a nuclear power. This is something both Israel and the Sunni Arab world believe would be a disaster. It could be that President Obama is starting to believe the same thing.

Obama reached out his hand to Iran in an attempt to establish some sort of diplomatic relationship, however feeble it might have been initially. But the Iranians used this as a propaganda moment, proudly spitting on his hand and showing their people how Iran will always stand up against the Great Satan. If there is one thing I've noticed about Obama, his Chicago-political nature is not one to allow any insult go unpunished. He doesn't respond to political opponents, he ridicules them and attempts to grind their face in the earth. Conflict is not something he shies away from.

Therefore, I would not be surprised to find out later that this very public spat was a ruse, a bit of deception used to get Iran to believe the U.S. and Israel would never unite against them to destroy their nuclear capability. In 1979 (1978--4 cubed-31I) Iran struck against the U.S. and held  its diplomatic staff hostage for 444 days. We are now entering the new direction phase of this sequence. The year 2011 or 2012 (2010--4 cubed-31N) should see this Iranian-American conflict move in a new direction, or receive a new impulse of historical energy, and I would not be surprised if it was directed against their nuclear program.

Grace and peace,

Tom 

Though Israel and Syria have been hostile toward each other for, it seems like, the beginning of time, but not since 1973 has there been a serious border incident as there has been today. According to the template, this is likely one small step toward a conflict it suggest will occur around the year 2010.

The following quote comes from my book, The Template of Time: Our Destiny Decoded:

"In 2007 Israel invaded Syria's air space to destroy what is believed to have been a nuclear facility under construction. This new impulse should culminate in a broader conflict with Syria around 2010." (p. 189).

This conflict has not yet achieved its culmination, but it is clearly moving toward this fulfillment. Why is this happening now? Why didn't border conflicts happen in 1984 or 1994 or 2007 after Syria was attacked? It is because history follows a template, designed by God and found in His Word and proof of this is found by the prospective evidence that is now occurring. The Mubarak prediction is particularly noteworthy, because the template not only suggested this would occur but that Mubarak's exit would be followed by a virulently anti-Israeli regime. With the Muslim Brotherhood set to make big gains in their upcoming elections does anyone believe this not to be true?

The Template of Time looked backward at history and discovered a pattern that was and is very consistent. This pattern suggested future outcomes. If the template was real, then these future outcomes should come true and provide us with prospective evidence of its reality. That is what we are now beginning to witness.

Stay tuned. The larger issues of history have yet to enter our view.

Grace and peace,

Tom

While President Assad butchers his citizenry have you noticed how silent the USA has been on the subject? President Obama was quick to abandon President Mubarak who was positively gentle in his confrontation of mass protest, so why is he wearing kid gloves when dealing with Syria?

My guess is he realizes now what a mess has been made in Egypt. The Template of Time forecast a regime change in Egypt that would allow a virulently anti-Israel regime to take over and that is where Egypt is headed. It will not be a surprise to see a Muslim Brotherhood takeover of the country by democratic vote. The last thing the U.S., or Israel, wants is for this likely scenario to be followed by a new regime in Syria that is even more hostile to Israel. Will that happen? It certainly may, but the template points to the following: regardless of who is in power, Syria will also tack hard toward an anti-Israel sentiment. This could happen with Assad in power or out of power. Whereas, in the case of Egypt, it required replacing Mubarak for an anti-Israeli Egyptian regime to enter the equation.

Yemen, Qatar, Bahrain

I still believe that Saleh will be forced out of power in Yemen. The template strongly suggests this. He has, however, shown how a cunning street-fighter can hang on against all odds. Gaddafi is another example of this. After the fact, once he is out of power, people will say this forecast was obvious, but as the drama unfolds it is anything but obvious.

This will particularly be true of the situation in Bahrain. The template forecasts a Shi'ite regime taking hold of the island nation. But at this moment all looks perfectly under control. Saudi tanks are on the island to protect the current regime and the unrest is now minimal. But the template does not rely momentary fluctuations of a political situation. It looks at the big events that preceded this day and declares that these events point to a certain outcome. For this reason, whether or not a forecast appears obvious is irrelevant. What is at take is whether or not history fits this pattern of time and right now N. Africa and the Middle East are unfolding on this template with the same precision as the preceding 2,000 years.

Qatar is often forgotten. The template does forecast a change in leadership in this small nation.

Grace and peace,

Tom

China and the U.S. started an economic dialogue between its top officials in 2006, during the Bush administration. Obama made it even more important by adding the political element in 2009. This points to an outcome that quite frankly looks unlikely: an economic breakthrough agreement that will change the relationship between the USA and China.

It looks unlikely because at the dialogue that just took place we have Secretary of State Hillary Clinton finally pointing to China's abuse of its citizens human rights. Up until now the Obama administration has been tight-lipped about this, even as the abuses mounted. And the economic deals made at this dialogue, though welcome, were hardly transformational. China continues to resist raising the valuation of the yuan and the U.S. continues to insist that this is hurting our economy.

In other words, what the template suggests will occur--a breakthrough economic agreement--looks less and less likely to occur. Is the template off on this point? It is certainly possible. Even in my book I assert that I cannot imagine being always right in what amounts to forecasts of chaos (the quadrillion-variable flow of history). But time will tell. I still believe we will be surprised on both the economic front, resolution of the Taiwan issue, a move toward democracy by China and a reining in of the People's Liberation Army.

Until then,

Grace and peace,

Tom

Our ally in the war on terror is gleefully receiving our >$ 1 billion per annum while collecting rent from the assorted terrorists it houses. Not a bad business so long as you can keep the deep pocketed donor bamboozled. Now, after finding out Osama was a guest in the hotel Pakistan for five years, it just could be that Uncle Sam is starting to have misgivings about its erstwhile friend. Let's hope so.


One of the things that surprised me this year was the uprising in N. Africa and elsewhere. Egypt wasn't a surprise, however, because I figured something of that sort would be necessary to unseat Mubarak. Egypt's radical tilt toward an anti-Israeli position is likewise no surprise. But what I have expected to occur, and now may finally happen, is similar unrest in Pakistan. The floods that have left millions homeless is one destabilizing event, but this embarrassment of their military is another. Pakistan's military seemed to be one of the most competent institution in this politically befuddled country. Now it has shown itself to be among the most incompetent, or the most deceptive, of Pakistan's societal pillars. Either way, one can expect change within its ranks.


It would not be a surprise if some of its younger officers launched a power struggle that ultimately resulted in them taking control of the country. The Template of Time forecasts some sort of . As it states on page 196, "conservative forces, probably military, will seize power around 2010." (This means the years 2011-2013 are in play with 2011 and 2012 being the more likely years.)   


Will the template again be right? Time will tell.


Grace and peace,


Tom

First, congratulations to the U.S. Special Operations unit that executed the al-Qaeda terrorist chieftain named Osama bin Laden. For ten years he has been on the loose, but the time arrived for his exiting this world and he has gone, like we all will, to meet his maker. However, I have this sneaking suspicion that the reality of hell will not approximate his fantasy of dozens of virgins awaiting to fulfill his lusts. Now that I've unburdened myself of those warm sentiments, onto Israel.


The reason why I believed Mubarak would be removed from office (forecast in my book The Template of Time; see p. 191) was because the template strongly suggested Israel would be at war with both Syria and Egypt in the near future (c. 2010-2013, with 2011 and 2012 being the most likely dates). Now that Mubarak is gone, Egypt is rapidly moving toward conflict with Israel. Note the following actions:


1. Mubarak virtually blockaded the Gaza Strip and, along with Israel, patrolled its shores to prevent arms from being smuggled in by sea. The new regime is opening its border to Gaza.


2. Mubarak kept Iran at arms length. The new regime is opening up diplomatic relations with Iran.


3. Mubarak viewed the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood as a hostile and illegal force. Under the new regime the Muslim Brotherhood is now legal and set to make big gains in the coming elections due to the fact that they are politically organized while the people who overthrew Mubarak are not.


4. Mubarak would never move to strengthen Hamas' hand, but the new regime has brokered a deal uniting Hamas (the ruling party in Gaza) and Fatah (the ruling party in the West Bank). These two Palestinian factions were previously hostile toward one another. In fact, Fatah was ousted from its rule over Gaza by Hamas. This unity is not viewed favorably by Israel. Netanyahu, Israel's Prime Minister, told Abbas, the leader of the Palestinians on the West Bank, that they need to choose between peace with Israel or peace with Hamas. 


Well, Mr. Netanyahu, they have made their choice. Not surprisingly, with the strategic shifts in power rocking the Middle East, and threatening the tenuous peace existing there between the Arab nations and Israel, Netanyahu is now flying to the USA to meet with political leaders in the U.S. It is not certain that he has secured a meeting with President Obama (based on public reports).


I was enjoying lunch the other day with a friend I have known now for many years. He is a Jewish atheist who I always enjoy meeting because he's a delightful guy and we have such spirited debates. He now concedes that my forecast for a conflict between Israel and the surrounding nations appears inevitable, but he cannot bring himself to admit that I made this forecast using a template based on Biblical time-cycles and important dates from the life of Jesus. He thinks I was able to see this because of my secular knowledge of history.


I responded, "How could I have seen Mubarak being ousted when no one else was saying he would be?" His answer, "Because he was so old. It was likely." Then I asked, "How could this be unfolding on the dates forecast by the template if the template did not exist?" "Conflict was likely, and the dates are coincidental." 


He has never explained how the previous 2,000 years coincidentally followed this pattern as well. What my friend is guilty of is tautological thinking. "This template can't exist because it can't exist." The facts supporting its existence are summarily dismissed because facts can't support what doesn't exist. There is a reason why his mental filter is so sensitively attuned to rejecting the possibility of the Template of Time's existence. If it does exist, then his atheistic worldview would crumble before the fact that history is not random but the sovereign outworking of God's plan. 


I will continue to pray for my friend, because I do not want the words I have shared with him to be used against him when he stands before the throne of judgment and God says, "But I sent my servant Tom Payne, your friend, to share with you the news of Jesus Christ and still you rejected my offer of salvation through the Son of God. You are therfore found guilty." My friend, like bin Laden, myself, and everyone else, will one day have to stand in front of his Maker and either be accepted into the kingdom of perfect peace or exiled into the world of his choosing, a world apart from God. Pray that he, his wife and family, and everyone you know personally, may receive the mercy that is available to all through a faith in Jesus.


Grace and peace,


Tom


 

The Wall Street Journal carries an article this morning that posits how a pragmatic Israel supports the continuation of the brutal Assad regime. Before reacting to this with accusations of how this Zionist state is the incarnation of evil--as some people believe--I think it might be helpful to try and view the situation from the standpoint of the people who are living in this troubled state.

Israel is in a tough bind right now. Their arch-enemy, Iran, is expanding its influence throughout the region. It is stirring the pot in Bahrain, is improving relations with its Shi'ite brothers in Iraq, and has long been a military ally of Syria. The fear is this: if Assad falls, then will the next person in power be someone anointed by Iran and, therefore, even more overtly hostile toward Israel and its interests? The conclusion they've drawn is Syria would tilt even further against Israel should Assad fall and I think their conclusion is right.

The Template of Time strongly suggests Israel and Syria will be at war this year or in the following years (2012-2013), with the likelihood being the years of 2011-2012. This is because the historical movement of conflict, the Yom Kippur War in 1973 (1974--180-11I, 110-18I), received a new impulse of historical energy exactly when the template forecast it would. This was Israel's conflict with Syria's proxy army, Hezbollah, in 2006 (2006--180-11N, 110-18N), and its bombing of Syria's nuclear facilities in 2007. This points to a larger, more destructive war between the two nations as this sequence achieves its culmination around the year 2010 (2010--180-11C, 110-18C; or, since this year has passed, 2011-2013).

President Assad may be overthrown, or Iran's support for his regime could keep him in power. Either way, Iran's influence over Syria increases, as does the potential for conflict with Israel.

Less clear is Egypt's involvement in this conflict since the new direction phase c. 2006 was not as pronounced. However, since Israel invaded Sinai in 2008, and was at war with Hamas, the involvement of Egyptian citizens and Hamas in a conflict with Israel is likely. This then could lead to the Egyptian army becoming a part of the conflict as the situation deteriorates.

The bottom line: Israel will likely be involved in a two or three front war in the next 12-24 months. What a nightmare the Middle East has been and will be.

Grace and peace,

Tom

One of the many forecasts that are strongly suggested (meaning, more likely to occur) is the outbreak of a wave of terrorism across Europe, with the UK and Spain receiving an exceptionally large dose of it. The USA will suffer from homegrown terror cells. Russia will be on the receiving end of terrorist acts from its Muslim population and Israel will be constantly attacked by Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestinian terror cells. That's the grim forecast and the timing of these terrorist events is now, or in the years following (2012-2013).

It could be that one of the first shots of this new age of terror was just fired in Morocco, where a cafe frequented by foreign tourists was hit by a terrorist's bomb. There were 14 people killed and 20 wounded and sadly, this I feel is just the beginning. The attacks will ultimately migrate across the Mediterranean and occur on European soil.

It makes no sense; it is a manifestation of irrational hatred. What can one do? Pray for the salvation of the lost is one thing, because Jesus is the only answer that works and endures. People who are born again receive a new heart with new affections, and one of them is a love that comes from God. Only Jesus, through the mighty power of His saving grace, can rid the world of this irrational fanaticism. Come quickly Lord.

Grace and peace,

Tom 

Yemen's leader, President Saleh, negotiated an agreement allowing him to step down, but it failed to satisfy those demanding his ouster. They were not happy about the little clause that gave him amnesty for any and all crimes he may or may not have committed. So Yemen is back in a ferment of protest. Whatever, the case Saleh has said he will step down by 2013 and this confirms the Template's prediction. However, I believe it will likely be this year.

As for Bahrain, everything seemed so quiet after the Saudi tanks rumbled over the causeway to support the Sunni regime that is in power. Now we are reading how the Bahrainian government has proof that Iran is busily training insurgents and rebels, through their Hezbollah proxy, to overthrow the existing regime (see WSJ , 4-25-2011). The Template of Time believes these accusations are true because it is forecasting the overthrow of this Sunni government and its replacement by a Shi'ite, pro-Iranian government either in 2011, or 2012-2013.

The one person who originally seemed most likely to be overthrown, Gadhaffi-Qadafi-Khadaffi (remember when he was virtually surrounded by successful rebel forces?) now appears to be relatively secure in a divided Libya. The template does not forecast his removal from power. It could happen, but there is nothing I see on the template projecting this outcome.

Finally, Qatar is virtually out of the news. Yet the template forecasts a change in leadership for this country. To see what is forecasted for these countries and others like the UAE and Kuwait in the Forecasts section of this website.

Grace and peace,

Tom