The Battle of Gog and Magog_part 3

In part two we identified most of the nations led by Russia against Israel in the war of Gog and Magog: Russia, Turkey, Iran, Libya, Sudan, and others. Ezekiel 38:9 says –

"You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you."

There may be other nations and people that join with Russia in this attack that are not specifically named, but their purpose will be the same, to destroy Israel. While they may not like or trust each other, their hatred of Israel will join them together for this war.

While Israel is left alone to face this attack something strange happens. The world and even Israel will be amazed as God Himself gets involved. He causes even the natural elements of wind, fire, and hail to fall on the attackers. He will strike them with confusion so that 'every man's sword will be against his brother' much like the LORD did for Gideon (Judges 7:22). The KJV says only a sixth of Gog's armies will survive.

But God does not stop with the armies; He causes fire to fall on 'Magog and those who live in safety in the coastlands.' Is this fire nuclear or is it God's supernatural command of the elements? One thing is clear, the people of Magog will be judged for their anti-Israel and anti-God stance as well as their armies. Who the 'coastlands' represent is not as clear. Some believe this represents the lands of Gog's allies. But, I believe it represents those of the west who chose to let Israel face this threat alone, thinking they would be safe from the conflict. The word translated 'coastlands' can also be translated “continents”. Perhaps it represents a pre-emptive attack on the U.S. by Russia or Iranian terrorists to insure it does not get involved. One thing is certain; Israel will know the name of the LORD and the nations of the world will know that God is the holy One in Israel.

The people of Israel will burn the weapons of Gog's army for seven years.  The fuel value will be so great that the forests will not have to be used for fuel. Russia is reported to have been making weapons of compressed wood since the year 2000. Or is it just the fuel that they burn? There has been much speculation how this might happen, but whether the weapons are modern or ancient, they will be burned.

People will be burying Gog's army for seven months. Men will be continually employed to travel throughout the land looking for remains and marking their location for burial. It almost sounds as if they will be contaminated, which could suggest nuclear radiation. But, also in Judaism any dead body would represent contamination. A special place of burial called the Valley of Hamon Gog will be made on the east side of the Dead Sea, an area presently controlled by Jordan. So what happens to Jordan?

This war will usher in great changes in the world. For one, all the dispersed of Israel will be brought home.

"..I will now bring Jacob back from captivity and will have compassion on all the people of Israel ..." 39:25

There are yet millions of Jewish people living in others countries such as the United States, Russia, European countries and others of South America. The ‘Aliyah’, or return, has not yet been completed.

Another major change will be the breakdown of Radical Islam and I expect a great many Muslims will be turned towards the LORD. Israel’s borders will be extended; probably to include much of present day Jordan, much of Syria, and some of Southern Lebanon. This is the area promised by God to Abraham and it is the area controlled by Solomon during his reign.

No doubt the anti-Christ government in Europe will begin ascending after all; there is never a ‘power vacuum’ very long in the world of politics. According to the prophet Daniel and the revelator John it will begin with a ten nation structure that will give its power to the ‘beast’. He will make a seven year treaty with Israel and I expect the Jewish Temple will be rebuilt during this time. What is truly amazing is that when God so clearly shows His care for Israel in just a few years they will sign a 'covenant of death' with the anti-Christ (Isaiah 28:15 ; Daniel 9:27).

Many Bible scholars believe this war is about to break out. One of the signs is the sudden turning of Turkey against Israel. One of the confederates of Gog is listed as Beth Togarmah which has always been understood to be the area of Turkey. But, until recently Turkey has been friendly toward Israel, even trading with her. However, the new leader of Turkey has clearly turned against Israel in a bid to appease its more radical neighbors, such as Syria.

Another sign of the soon outbreak of this war is the tension growing between Iran and Israel. While the U.S. and other western nations threaten sanctions on Iran it continues to move ahead with its nuclear program and several analysts believe Iran will have a nuclear bomb by the end of the year. Russia, whom many believe is the Gog of Ezekiel, is also threatening the western nations not to levy sanctions against Iran. According to Koenig's White House Report, they are continuing to supply sensitive information to Syria, Hezbollah, and Iran as they did during the Lebanon war:

"The Russians are building a port in Tartus, Syria, along the Mediterranean Sea. According to The Jerusalem Post, during the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah War, the Russians translated Israeli troops' cell phone conversations with their families and passed their location and deployment information on to the Syrians — who transferred that information to Hezbollah on the front lines, who were awaiting the Israelis' arrival. Most of the Israeli deaths can be attributed to these actions"

In the light of these points, we have Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State, giving away to the Russians sensitive data on our nuclear armaments and missile defense system. President Obama has indicated personally and through diplomatic channels that if Israel doesn't do what he wants, they can forget U.S. help. Of interest is the fact that Ezekiel doesn't seem to include the U.S. in any defense of Israel.

This prophesy is not only a warning to Russia and the Islamic nations but also to those western nations who should stand with Israel, but don’t. God has allowed us all to see the outcome – all that is required is that we believe Him!

The Battle of Gog and Magog_part 2

Following is a link for an on line Bible. The quotes for this study are taken mostly from the KJV and the NIV. You may use this link to bring up Ezekiel 38 and 39. Bible Gateway on the Web

 

(Continuation of Battle of Gog_1)

Rocket fired from Lebanon

Some believe the event that forces Russia's hand is an outbreak of hostilities between Syria and Israel. Syria continues to arm Hezbollah and build up its forces on the northern Israeli border trying to provoke an attack. Isaiah prophesied a Destruction of Damascus, Syria which has not yet happened.

"See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins." - Isaiah 17:1

Considering the strong ties Russia has with Syria, this would certainly be like 'hooks in their jaws." Also a pre-emptive attack on Iran by Israel could also set off this war. As early as 2007 Israel was seeking an all-clear from Washington for just such an attack. Now, four years later and perhaps just one year from Iran testing a nuclear bomb, Israel may launch such a strike without U.S. approval. They see an Iran with a nuclear bomb as a threat to their national life.

Ezekiel reveals that Israel will once again be a nation back in their land, as we see today. God calls this event an 'ensign to the nations'.

“And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” Isaiah 11:12

When Russia moves, its armies will be “like a storm, like a cloud covering the land”. Most people today do not realize that Russia was the first nation to use paratroops. Some have thought this is describing an airborne attack, which is a favorite scenario of Russia. It is the method they used in Hungary - first the paratroopers to secure airports and strategic positions, then the armored cavalry. When Stalin first introduced paratroops, some advisors observed that they looked “like clouds covering the sky.”

Ezekiel describes the weapons of this battle as shields, horses, swords, bows and arrows. Is this to be taken literally? Here are some possible explanations that have been offered. 1) Ezekiel is describing modern warfare in terms he understood. 2) Israel has developed a gamma ray weapon that destroys all transistorized machines, making mechanized travel impossible. 3) Because Israel is very mountainous, Russia will use horses to transport troops and equipment. It is known from a Reuters’ report that Russia has purchased large amounts of horses and bows since WWII. My feeling is that of the first option. Even in Vietnam we used cavalry units - they were called helicopter troops.

Before we get to the outcome of this war, let's examine Israel's strategic partners. Sheba, Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all her villages will say, "Have you come to plunder?" Sheba and Dedan are in the area of southern Arabia, where Saudi Arabia, Muscat, etc. are located. Saudi Arabia is already deeply concerned about any movements by Iran as they know Iran would like to take Medina and Mecca, Muslim holy cities, from Saudi control. They would be doubly suspicious of Iran’s bid to control the Mideast, although they wouldn’t worry much about Israel being eliminated.

There is good evidence that Tarshish is England. The KJV reads "Tarshish and all the young lions". England's national symbol is the lioness and her young lions would be her colonies. A number of considerations point to Great Britain as the Biblical Tarshish. Ezekiel 27:12 states that Tarshish was rich in "silver, iron, tin, and lead" minerals which Britain produces, and this source of tin was known to the Phoenicians as "Barath-anak", which means 'land of tin'. The Greeks interpret this name as Britain. Herodotus also alludes to the British Isles as the 'tin islands.'

Great Britain is proverbially "a nation of shop-keepers", which is perhaps where the allusion to "the merchants" of Tarshish comes from. Great Britain's royal standard is a mother lion, is on every imperial coat-of-arms and her coinage. This could explain her colonies being likened to 'young lions."

But, whoever they are, it is clear they do nothing but diplomatic talk. Much like the UN does all the time. In Israel, the UN is known as "the united nothing". Whenever they control a so-called “security zone” Muslim extremist, like the Hezbollah, seem at liberty to move in and out with UN blessings! And, if liberals are in charge of our Congress, it is doubtful they would do anything without first reading the polls to see which way the wind was blowing. Even a semi-conservative administration, such as George Bush's may refuse to get involved as they recently did concerning Iran. Obama certainly will not take a political chance against Russia and Iran. There is also a possibility that our economy could collapse thus stopping us from any involvement.

Israel, who is largely a secular state, will be left to face the coming onslaught alone. Russia and all the Islamic forces will be advancing on the mountains of Israel. Israel will be facing extinction. But, at this point, God begins to show the world once again that He is control of history. With great earthquakes, torrents of rain, great hailstones, and burning sulfur God will attack. He will strike them with confusion so that 'every man's sword will be against his brother' much like the LORD did for Gideon (Judges 7:22). The KJV says only a sixth of Gog's armies will survive.

(More of this prophesy to be continued in Gog_3)

The Battle of Gog and Magog_part 1

 

2500 years ago the prophet Ezekiel forecast a great battle against Israel by a leader from the 'uttermost' North named Gog. Gog is the leader of Magog. He is also called the chief prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. These events are to happen 'after many days' and 'in future years.' Most students of Bible prophesy understand these phrases to point to an end time scenario, especially since they haven't happened yet.

To most people, names like Gog, Magog, Meshech, and Tubal are meaningless, but scholars have studied them for hundreds of years and they actually have fairly clear meanings. In this study, I will use the most common understandings, although some of them do have various interpretations.

 Gog is a term for a leader, either a personal name or a spiritual being such as Daniel's prince of Persia. It is important to note that God is against Gog and you don’t want to be for someone God is against!

Magog was one of Noah's grandsons and is found in the Table of Nations listed in Genesis 10.  Josephus, the Jewish historian from the first century, equates them with the Scythians which moved into what is now southern Russia. Wilhelm Gesenius, author of the foundational Hebrew Lexicon in the 1800's, also equated Magog with Russia. Also, Russia is the only country to the 'uttermost north' of Israel.

Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal have also been linked to Russia. Rosh is said to be a name for Russia (Hebrew Lexicon of Brown, Driver, and Briggs) or it could mean 'head', however Israeli newspapers commonly use the name Rosh when referring to Russia even today. Meshech is most often equated with Moscow and Tubal is equated with Tobalsk. These identifications were made long before Russia ever became a super power.

The confederates of Gog are listed as Persia, Cush, Put, Gomer, and Beth Togarmah and "many nations with you."

‘Persia’ is easy to identify as it was called this until recently changing its name to Iran. ‘Cush’ represents the upper Nile region and has long been equated with Sudan and Ethiopia. ‘Put’ historically is Libya. Ancient archers from Phut were elements of the Egyptian armies coming from the area of modern Libya.

‘Beth Togarmah’ means house of Togarmah. Most scholars agree that they come from the area of Turkey and Armenia. ‘Gomer’ is harder to locate but many believe is refers to Germany. During WW1 Germany was known as Gomer land. It could also refer to a region north of the Black Sea which is controlled by Russia. If the first is true, then we will see Germany increasingly becoming anti-Semetic.

After many years, Gog is told to gather his forces together and take command of them. Many believe this is what Russia is doing right now. In 1982, Israel made a pre-emptive strike into Lebanon uncovering stockpiles of weapons and documents which proved Russia was ready to attack later that year. This is documented in the book Magog 1982 - Canceled by David Allen Lewis.

Once again, we see Russia building ties with Iran, Syria, Libya and other radical Islamic states. Putin announced that "Russia is determined to enhance cooperation with the Islamic world." Silly American diplomats have handcuffed themselves by joining with the so-called Quartet (Russia, EU, UN, and U.S.) to try and solve the Mideast problems when Mideast turmoil is to the advantage of at least half of the Quartet! But, as usual the nations of the world fail to take into account God’s feelings on the issue. God says "I will turn you around and put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army." Two things are clear: 1) God is in charge of the situation, and 2) something will happen to force Russia's hand.

(To be continued in Gog, part two)

We Must Choose - Blessing or Curse

If you are Christian, you have to rise up and protest the treatment our President is giving our ally, Israel. He is demanding that Israel give up half of Jerusalem for the sake of peace with terrorists! He is demanding that Israel negotiate with Hamas who recently stated -

“Jihad is its path and death for the sake of Allah is the most exalted wish.”

Their answer to diplomatic initiatives is the following-

“ ... the so-called peaceful solutions to the Palestinian problem, contradict Hamas’ ideological position. Giving up any part whatsoever of Palestine is like giving up part of [the Muslim] faith …. There is no solution to the Palestinian problem except jihad. Regarding the international initiatives, suggestions and conferences, they are an empty waste of time and complete nonsense.”

The United States is giving $500 million a year to support the Palestinian Authority who has just recently joined with Hamas, a proven terrorist organization. And President Obama is further giving millions of our tax dollars to Hamas refugee’s right here in the U.S.! All of this in face of the clear Scriptural admonition about the land of Israel —

'The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are strangers and sojourners with Me. – Leviticus 25:23

Israel doesn’t have the moral right to go back to pre-1967 borders (Samara and Judea) or give up half of Jerusalem! The land isn’t theirs to give—it belongs to God and the Jews are just tenants in it!

Because Israel depends on us to be a source of military hardware and parts, Obama is threatening Israel with a cut-off if they don’t go along with him. He also is threatening them to not veto the upcoming Palestinian petition for statehood in the UN. All of this from an administration who actively backed the takeover of Egypt by the Muslim Brotherhood, who recently rebuffed a United States offer to negotiate with them, saying “If you want diplomatic relations with us, first stop your support of Israel!” We seem to be quick to back Libyan rebels with armament and weapons and  fighting their battles for them, even though they are past and current supporters of Al-Qaida! It makes me wonder if the information I received, from a source I cannot reveal, isn’t true after all –

Obama is reportedly to have told a high ranking Muslim government official, “Give me Osama and I’ll deliver Israel to you.”

Scripture is very clear – God will bless those who bless Abraham and his posterity but, He will curse those who curse them. If we love our country we had better pray that its leaders reverse their present course and we had better let the text of those prayers be heard by Washington as well as by God.

The Ministry of the Prophet

Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. – Amos 3:7

We know God is at work because Jesus said, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." (John 5:17). Amos said the Lord GOD reveals what He is doing to His prophets. So, the question is, “Who are His prophets?”

Paul reveals that when Jesus was resurrected He gave ministries to the Church.

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: - Ephesians 4:11, 12 (emphasis added)

These gifts to the Church from Jesus have never been rescinded, the ministry of the Church is not yet finished, and the saints are not yet perfected, therefore there is still a need for prophets.

In the Church today we hear of pastors and teachers and even evangelists but, we seldom ever hear of apostles or prophets. Why is that? Did they mysteriously pass away like many claim the gifts of the Holy Spirit were just for another day? Or perhaps, we should be questioning those church leaders who claim to have the authority to pick and chose certain gifts or ministries from listings contained in the same verse as being relevant and others, from the same verse, as not being relevant. I notice the gifts and ministries they usually reject are those who challenge their control. After all, the gifts of the Holy Spirit were poured out on ALL the body, not just the pastors.

And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. – Acts 2:17, 18

The list of candidates for the Holy Spirit to work through seems to include everyone in the body of Christ. The problem for those who want to control is stated by Paul when he was listing the gifts of the Holy Spirit -

But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. – 1 Corinthians 12:11

The Holy Spirit seems to have the strange idea that as Christ’s empowerment to the Church He should be the one to set the agenda, not man.

Now as a pastor, I understand the pressure to control. It often comes from human intellect trying to get all the programs of the church packed into a one or two hour service. After all, if you are blessed with church growth you likely will have to hold several services each Sunday morning. And if you have more than fifty in your service, to let everyone speak or have a part would end in pandemonium – even though that seems to be what Scripture teaches.

How is it then brethren? Whenever you come together, each has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. - 1 Corinthians 14:26

This Scripture does not say that everyone in the Body has to fulfill all these operations of the Spirit, but that room should be made for all these ministries to come forth, as the Holy Spirit wills, to edify the Body.

There are several possible answers to this seeming problem that keeps the modern church from acting like the original church.

• 1.   One, perhaps the 1 – 2 hour service is not what God wants. Perhaps He wants His Body to meet for longer periods at a time.
• 2.   Two, perhaps the frequency of meeting needs to increase as Scripture indicates – “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:46, 47).
• 3.   Three, maybe when church numbers reach an unworkable size a new fellowship needs to be formed. After all, this would not only multiply the members of the Body, but also the leaders and the 5-fold ministry Paul talked about (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers).

As we approach the end of the age, I believe the Holy Spirit is remolding the Church of Jesus Christ into one that can better function in the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The kingdom of Satan is more powerful even now than mere human intellect can cope with. What will it be like when the devil is cast down to earth, as Revelation 12:17 reveals –

“the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

By that time the Church must be clothed in the heavenly armor of the Holy Spirit and equipped with spiritual weapons given only by the Holy Spirit. And, we must be experienced in their use before that time comes! We absolutely need the 5-fold ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers now in the Church.

I began this article with a verse from Amos –

Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. – Amos 3:7

While I believe there are prophets among us, they are mostly not recognized nor received. What is a prophet? He is one who hears from God and delivers the message to man. It can be a word of encouragement in the battles of life or it can be a word of chastisement and correction as God often chastises those whom He loves. The message can also be one of revelation foretelling what God is about to do, as it was in Amos.

There is the office of Prophet, given only to a select few, but there is also the gift of prophesy, given to many in the Body of Christ. Jesus reveals –

Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. – John 15:15 (emphasis added)

The Body of Christ is to know what the Father is doing because Jesus has called us friends and wants us to know what the Father is doing. That is exactly why one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophesy.

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. – John 14:26

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. – John 16:13

Not only will the ministry of the Holy Spirit remind us and teach us all things, He will show us things to come!

When Paul was teaching the Corinthian church about the gifts of the Holy Spirit he said –

Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. … But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. – 1 Corinthians 14:1, 3

Jesus wants us to know what the Father is doing and the Father wants us to know what He is doing so we can join with Him in doing it! He has given us the job of “wrestling with principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this age, and even spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). We can speak God’s word into situations and see them change for the better. This is the work of the prophet.<

Proclaiming Truth

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,  against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. – Ephesians 6:10-13

Real Christianity is not anemic, and it doesn’t shy away from political topics! Satan loves it when he can convince the Christian Church that it shouldn’t be involved in politics because that leaves the field to him, so to speak. But the true church of Jesus Christ is and should be the beacon of truth in every area of life!

Sarah Palin is hated by the left because she speaks a little truth as she recently explained to Sean Hannity -

“If we were really domestic terrorists, shoot, President Obama would be wanting to pal around with us wouldn’t he? I mean he didn’t have a problem with palling around with Bill Ayers back in the day when he kicked off his political career in Bill Ayers apartment, and shaking hands with Chavez and saying he doesn’t need any preconditions with meeting dictators or wanting to read US Miranda rights to alleged suspected foreign terrorists. No if we were real domestic terrorists I think President Obama wouldn’t have a problem with us.”

It is true that Bill Ayers is a self-confessed terrorist and it is true the President Obama fellowshipped with him even announcing the start of his political career in Ayres’ apartment. It is true that Obama attended the Reverend Wright’s church for many years and listened to much ‘terrorist-like’ rhetoric against the United States, Jews, and white people. It is true that left-leaning media and even some political appointees and elected have called the Tea Party ‘domestic terrorists’. So why is Sarah Palin hated so much for simply speaking the truth? Isaiah explains it -

Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.  So truth fails, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. Then the LORD saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no justice. He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; and His own righteousness, it sustained Him.  For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak. – Isaiah 59:14-17

It is because there is no love of the truth and also because the truth exposes to the light what many would rather remain hidden. God sees this and He doesn’t like it! So He will put on righteousness like a breastplate to protect His heart, the helmet of salvation for thought life, the garments of vengeance for His clothing, and He was clad with zeal as a cloak. Wait a minute! Isn’t this how we are to react? Ephesians 6:13 says –

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

It then goes on to list our armaments and guess what – they are like God’s! Only to help us, He sends us the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, to fight with. Church don’t be like the Israelites who stayed in their tents when Goliath was on the field, be like David who challenged evil in the Name of the LORD! When you stand up for God, He will stand for you, even though all you have is five smooth stones!

However, we need to understand that we are not just fighting flesh and blood, but the spiritual wickedness that is behind them.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. – 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

We have the power to wrestle against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. So why should the true Church shy away from speaking the truth about homosexuality (it is an abomination to God), or about abortion (he who promotes the killing of these little ones would better off being cast into the sea with a mill stone around his neck), or lying (no liar will inherit the kingdom of God), or stealing (no thief will inherit the kingdom of God and any politician who takes money for one purpose, such as Social Security, and uses it for another is a thief). I could go on for the list is almost endless. I will just finish with this – anyone who knowingly votes for those who practice or support the above is also guilty of them!

Some will say I’m being legalistic or too harsh but God’s truth is brutal when cutting the flesh (the flesh is any attitude, thought, or action that is worldly and not of God) in our lives, in fact He even advises to crucify it (the flesh). The alternative is too terrible to contemplate.

The coming of the lawless one (antichrist) is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. – 2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10

Failure to love truth (search for it and embrace it) can cost you your life eternally, which of course is Satan’s goal for us all.

It should not be just a few, like Sarah Palin, who speak the truth. The truth, on every issue, should be proclaimed from every pulpit in the land, held up an illuminated by the Word of God.

Daniel's 70 Week Prophesy_part 3

In the last edition we studied the 2^nd section of Daniel’s 70 week prophesy and learned how it accurately predicted the exact date of first coming of Jesus, the Messiah.

In the 1^st and 2^nd sections of Daniel’s 70 week prophesy, 69 of the 70 weeks are fulfilled leaving us with 1 remaining week. But, we also learned that with the Messiah being ‘cut off’ a period of 2000 years begins in which the Jews are also ‘cut off’ from their capital Jerusalem and their country Israel (I will explain later why a 2000 year period is indicated). Jesus also prophesied of this time:

“"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near… they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” – Luke 21:20-24.

Jesus was speaking of the time when the armies of Rome surrounded the city of Jerusalem to destroy it. He warned those who would listen to flee Jerusalem and He warned that Jerusalem would be under Gentile domination until the end when ‘the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

The prophet Daniel introduces this period of time by saying “… and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined” – Daniel 9:26ff. The prophet Hosea also gives us a clue concerning this length of time –

Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. Hosea 6:1-3

The Apostle Peter helps us to interpret this passage by telling us that one day with the Lord is as 1000 years (2 Peter 3:8). The Hosea passage is saying God has ‘torn’ them for two days (2000 years) but then He will heal them and they shall return to the Lord. But, before this ‘healing’ the 3^rd section of Daniel’s 70 week prophesies will come to pass.

And he shall confirm the (or a) covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate (or desolator).  Daniel 9:27

The ‘he’ in this verse is the Roman prince that is referred to earlier:

“and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary” – Daniel 9:26

We know this ‘prince’ will be connected in some way with Rome because it was the Romans that destroyed Jerusalem. When he comes on the scene it will be to confirm a 7 year covenant with many in Israel. While the King James Version translates “confirm the covenant”, the text actually says “confirm a covenant”, in other words another treaty of peace. And it is important to notice that this treaty is made with many, in other words, not all in Israel agree to it.

So this is the setting in which the 3^rd section of Daniel’s 70 week prophesy begins. A 2000 year period of suffering for the Jews is coming to an end. They have come back to their land of Israel and they are in control of Jerusalem. The promise of peace is at last visible. But, instead there is one war after another and it looks like all the nations of the earth will turn against them.

Isaiah 11:14, Psalm 83, and Ezekiel 38 & 39 describe the constant wars they have had and are expecting in the short 63 years the returned nation of Israel has existed. Furthermore the threat of Zechariah 14, otherwise known as Armageddon is starring them in the face. While some in Israel will begin looking to the LORD for help, many will look to man for the promise of peace.

This will be the political situation that ushers in the ‘man of sin’ the Apostle Paul warned about (2 Thessalonians 2:3). He will come offering a way out of the constant turmoil and war the Jews have been living under. He will suggest a seven year peace treaty that even allows for the Jews to rebuild their Temple and begin once again their sacrificial system of offerings. Many in Israel will see this as an answer to their problems and embrace it with joy. This covenant will be touted as the solution to the Mideast turmoil and worldwide economic upheaval. But not all in Israel will buy into to it and when he later tries to set up his own statue in the Temple the Jews will revolt and he will break the treaty, stopping the sacrifices and offerings. As Jesus prophesied –

Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by the Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whosoever reads, let him understand) – Matthew 24:15

This will begin the 3½ years of ‘great tribulation’ Jesus warned about –

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. – Matthew 24:21

Revelation 12 and 13 also describe this time period in great detail. It will be worst time of testing the world has ever seen and Jesus said unless this time had been shortened not even the elect would survive. But, the elect do survive and even overcome this antichrist beast.

…until the end that is decreed is poured out on him. – Daniel 9:27ff

Daniel declares that this desolator will come to an end and that the judgment of God will be poured out upon him.

Revelation reveals to us how we can overcome this beast and win even though he will appear to have all the power.

They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. – Revelation 12:11 (emphasis added)

The angel Gabriel gives Daniel an outline of history that is to come for his people. Two parts of it have happened just as he said and the third part is being prepared to happen even now. I believe we are privileged to live during its fulfillment. But to overcome we must know by personal experience what the blood of Jesus Christ has done for us and its power over Satan. We must not only know about the blood of the Lamb but, we must openly declare it to a lost world. That means we must be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. Before Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit fell on them, the disciples were hiding from the Pharisees, but after being filled with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost they were boldly declaring the blood of the Lamb even at the risk of their own lives. They were transformed into over comers.

Friend, that same Holy Spirit is offered to you. As Peter preached that Pentecost day –

The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." Acts 2:39

The promise of the Holy Spirit has never been withdrawn and He comes with all His gifts, just as at the first. All you have to do is obey the call of the Lord and ask. Jesus said, “Ask and you shall receive.” And Jesus doesn’t lie.