In John 8 we read how on one occasion Jesus was confronted by the scribes and Pharisees while he was teaching the people in the temple. They brought to him a woman who they claimed had been caught "in the very act" of adultery and asked him (in an attempt to test him so they might bring a charge against him) whether such a woman should be stoned to death in accordance with the law given by Moses. John tells us that " Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him about her, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her." (vv. 6-7)
I and many others have wondered why Jesus wrote on the ground in this situation and what he was writing. I cannot say with absolute certainty, but perhaps this situation is explained as a prophecy given in Jeremiah 17, where it states that the LORD (God) is the hope of all of Israel, and that all who turn away from Him shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the Lord. (v. 13)
This single verse in Jeremiah appears to support a notion that Jesus, as some say, was writing with his finger in the dirt the names of those accusers who were present, most likely the Pharisees, who were accusing the woman of the crime and essentially insisting that Jesus sentence her to death by stoning or they would bring charges against Jesus if he did not enforce the law of Moses.
However, as Jesus did often, he turned the tables on the accusers and brought their "wisdom" to nothing by giving them the perfect interpretation of Moses' commandment to stone such a woman by insisting that only those who had no sin could carry out the sentence. His interpretation of Moses was perfect in that it considered God's heart which is to give grace to the sinner who repents, as did the woman, and to resist the hypocrisy of sinful accusers who lack love for others and forgiveness. I believe that after being shamed by Jesus by having their names written in the earth by Jesus for all to see, they dropped their stones and left the scene.
How awesome is Jesus?
Stay humble, ask for forgiveness and freely forgive others.
Time is short. Repent, and prepare your heart for God.
2018 - True Believer
To check out my other blogs, please navigate through my Blog Archive
Concepts in Christianity & End-Time Revelation - - By True Believer
This Blogsite is dedicated to those seeking an answer to basic concepts of Christianity and recent revelation of end-time events.
Friday, April 13, 2018
Saturday, September 23, 2017
The Lord Jesus Will Be Our Entire Government
God has
been placing Is 33 upon my heart for the past 6 months or so. I have read it, and read it, and read
it, but was not sure why.
As we know, revelation of God’s
word for scriptures He wants us to read comes sometimes immediately, and
otherwise only after repeated reading and meditating and praying, or otherwise
we may still not be sure of what he’s trying to tell us.
Today
however, while reading Is 33 once again, verse 22 “jumped out” at me
immediately. I can’t
explain how it hasn’t happened during the past 25 or so times I’ve read it over
the past 6 months, but it happened today.
What I saw was, to me as someone having legal training, quite profound
and something that I had never considered in its entirety.
In that
one verse (Is 33:22), God gives greater detail regarding what is described in
less detail in Is 9:6 which says, in pertinent part, that “For unto us a child
is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder.” We’re all familiar with that verse in
Is 9, since it is often read on Christmas morning during Christian church
service. But, I had never
given more though as to what that “government” would be. So, in essence, Is 33:22 more fully
describes that which is somewhat cryptically stated in Is 9:6.
Simply
put, when Jesus returns to earth on the Mount of Olives on some future day
(Zech 14:4) and begins His millennium reign from Jerusalem, He will be the
world government. We, His
saints, will help Jesus implement and carry out His government, since we will
rule and reign with him during his 1,000 year reign (Rev 20:4). But, Jesus will be the de factor head
of all government on earth. Also, after Jesus returns there will only be one government on earth (Rev 11:15), which will be run by Jesus from
Jerusalem.
Jesus
will be the head of all three branches of government – judicial, legislative
and executive according to Is 33:22, which tells us that He will be our Judge (judicial branch), our Law Giver (legislative branch) and our King
(executive branch – head of state). He
will also be our Savior according to Is 33:22, which is something that no
earthly monarch, president, legislative body or judiciary could ever be.
How
wonderful is God to give us simple lessons from His word which give us another
small picture of His infinite glory and majesty. Jesus will be, forever, our righteous
king who reigns justly. As
Ps 89:14 tells us, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of God’s
throne.” Amen. Come Lord Jesus.
Time is short. Repent, and prepare your heart for God.
2017 - True Believer
To check out my other blogs, please navigate through my Blog Archive
Time is short. Repent, and prepare your heart for God.
2017 - True Believer
To check out my other blogs, please navigate through my Blog Archive
Friday, March 4, 2016
Abide in Christ & Bear Fruit -- A One-step Process that (by God's Grace) Produces (at least) Three Results
Many of us have read the words of Jesus in John 15:4-7,
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers, and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 But, if you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (ESV)
I have often wondered what all this means. How does one "abide in Jesus", and how do His words "abide in us?"
Today, the Holy Spirit gave me a simple, yet profound, understanding. The key to my understanding was found in a passage of the Book of Matthew (Chapt 21).
In Mat 21, Jesus is entering Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. He rides into Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives on a donkey. We all know this story. He overturns the money changers tables, chases out the sellers of doves, etc.
The next day while teaching in the temple, after being asked by the pharisees by what authority He has been doing the things, Jesus speaks the "parable of the tenants" to the pharisees (Mat 21:33-44). We also should all be familiar with this parable.
At the end of the parable, Jesus tells the pharisees that because of their (and the Jewish nation's) refusal to believe in Him (i.e., their refusal to believe His word and not allowing it to abide in them), "the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits." (Mat 21:43)
So, by combining these teachings recorded in Mat 21: 43 and John 15:4-7, Jesus has taught us that when His words "abide" in us (i.e., when we believe His word and it dwells within us): (1) we automatically abide in Him, (2) we will receive whatever we ask (according to His will), and (3) we will bear fruit.
So, in summary, a short but powerful lesson is revealed:
- Let the Word of God (remember, Jesus is the Word of God) abide in you by letting it control what you say, how you react to events, and what you do in any situation
- Do this, and you will automatically be abiding in Jesus and He in you, and you will bear much fruit
We must do this to "retrain" our carnal minds and emotions. It takes work -- every day. We must read the Word and allow it to abide in us. This is how we fulfill Rom 12:2, so that we "transform our mind" and not be "conformed to this world." We need to learn God's way of doing things.
Bottom line: As Paul said, "let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly (fully, in all occasions)." (Col 3:16) Do so, and you will indeed bear much fruit.
Time is short. Repent, and prepare your heart for God.
2016 - True Believer
To check out my other blogs, please navigate through my Blog Archive
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers, and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 But, if you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (ESV)
I have often wondered what all this means. How does one "abide in Jesus", and how do His words "abide in us?"
Today, the Holy Spirit gave me a simple, yet profound, understanding. The key to my understanding was found in a passage of the Book of Matthew (Chapt 21).
In Mat 21, Jesus is entering Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. He rides into Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives on a donkey. We all know this story. He overturns the money changers tables, chases out the sellers of doves, etc.
The next day while teaching in the temple, after being asked by the pharisees by what authority He has been doing the things, Jesus speaks the "parable of the tenants" to the pharisees (Mat 21:33-44). We also should all be familiar with this parable.
At the end of the parable, Jesus tells the pharisees that because of their (and the Jewish nation's) refusal to believe in Him (i.e., their refusal to believe His word and not allowing it to abide in them), "the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits." (Mat 21:43)
So, by combining these teachings recorded in Mat 21: 43 and John 15:4-7, Jesus has taught us that when His words "abide" in us (i.e., when we believe His word and it dwells within us): (1) we automatically abide in Him, (2) we will receive whatever we ask (according to His will), and (3) we will bear fruit.
So, in summary, a short but powerful lesson is revealed:
- Let the Word of God (remember, Jesus is the Word of God) abide in you by letting it control what you say, how you react to events, and what you do in any situation
- Do this, and you will automatically be abiding in Jesus and He in you, and you will bear much fruit
We must do this to "retrain" our carnal minds and emotions. It takes work -- every day. We must read the Word and allow it to abide in us. This is how we fulfill Rom 12:2, so that we "transform our mind" and not be "conformed to this world." We need to learn God's way of doing things.
Bottom line: As Paul said, "let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly (fully, in all occasions)." (Col 3:16) Do so, and you will indeed bear much fruit.
Time is short. Repent, and prepare your heart for God.
2016 - True Believer
To check out my other blogs, please navigate through my Blog Archive
Saturday, December 5, 2015
ISIS, Iran and Turkey -- Gog, Magog & The Primary Invaders of Israel in Ez 38 & 39?
[I originally published this blog on February 1, 2015. It was deleted. I am republishing it today with minor revisions, as its content is ever more so relevant as we appear to be approaching World War III.]
Much has been written about a future invasion and battle in the land of Israel described in Ez 38/39. I have studied this Biblical account for several years and have prayed for understanding and insight regarding the truth about the peoples and nations involved. In this blog, I express what I believe God has shown me. Although that which I write herein rubs against what is commonly taught on the subject, I give it to you so you may study it out for yourself and take it to God to confirm it.
The main actors in Ez 38/39 are commonly taught as being Russia, Iran, Turkey, Libya and Sudan (a large Islamic nation which is part of ancient Ethiopia. Ethiopia once included what is now Ethiopia, Somalia and much of Sudan). Most who teach this have set their minds to believe that the word translated as "Rosh" in Ez 38:2 is Russia. Without getting into great detail, I will say simply that I have read scholarly articles and books in regard to the translation of the word Rosh which appears in English translations of Ez38:2 adjacent to the Hebrew word "נְשִׂ֕יא" (pronounced "nshia") which is typically translated as "prince". I have come to the conclusion, based on the scholarly works which are quite well researched, that "prince of Rosh" is an incorrect interpretation in Ez 38:2. Rather, the word Rosh is grammatically structured in the Hebrew in Ez 38:2 to be a modifier to the word translated as "prince", such that these words should be translated together to indicate that Gog is the "chief prince" of Meshech and Tubal, not that Gog is the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal. Gog is not the leader of Russia. Magog is not Russia.
So, let us continue by accepting this conclusion based on the assumption that Gog is the chief prince, the main influencer, of Meshech and Tubal. I believe that although Ez 38/39 does not describe Russia as Magog, I believe that Russia is described in the Bible elsewhere as a force which will come into play in this event, but not under the influence of "Gog". But more on that later regarding Russia's role and the scriptures which describe Russia.
So, who are Meshech and Tubal, who is Gog, and where is the land of Magog?
As seen in the map above, Meshech and Tubal are ancient people groups which were located in what is now modern Turkey. The same teachers (typically on TV and those writing books) that teach that Rosh is Russia also teach that Meshech is Moscow and that Tubal is Tbilisi. Both of those cities are in Russia. Most likely, they teach this because those names in English sound like Moscow and Tubal. Such teachers may also try to make the case that Meshech was in the area of Russia near Moscow. This people group, however, migrated to that region long after they were originally located in what is now Turkey, as shown on the map above. I will spare you additionally detail, but my research leads to a conclusion that the map above is correct regarding these people groups, and that Meshech and Tubal refer to the people groups who once lived in the area of modern Turkey. Therefore, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal in today's world appears to be Obama. It is he who gives the orders to the West, and to NATO to which Turkey belongs. Turkey is the home and financial supply ground of ISIS.
Regarding Gog of the land of Magog (Ez 38:2), my conclusion is that Gog is the wicked spiritual force behind the coming anti-Christ, who will be an actual or spiritual "Assyrian" (i.e., likely, to be a follower of Islam). To illustrate the location of Meshech, Tubal and Magog, please refer to the map above which shows these ancient designations being being located in modern Turkey. These conclusions are detailed in my 3-part blog on the coming Assyrian anti-Christ. Please refer to these three blogs to gain full insight and analysis, based strictly on scripture, regarding why the coming anti-Christ will be "Assyrian", and what his attributes, intentions and activities will be. This blog also describes how the book of Amos discloses that Gog shall lead an army of invaders from the east against Israel, which are described as locusts (Muslims, for reasons given in the blog) which have as their leader King Gog. Is not the leader of the West the "chief prince", or leader, of ISIS? (To understand the intent of ISIS, which is to bring about WW III, please visit a Dec. 3, 2015 article which explains this thought.)
Most everyone agrees that the Persia, Cush (Sudan) and Put (Libya) described in Ez 38:5 refer to modern Iran, Sudan and Libya, which are all Muslim countries. Turkey also is a Muslim country. Russia is not a Muslim country, except for the southern Muslim provinces of Russia which include Chechnya. Thus, an Islamic leader would not hold much sway over Russia, but would indeed hold sway over Muslim countries such as Persia, Turkey, Sudan and Libya.
Let us visit Dan 11 to get more information on the Ez 38/39 invasion of the land of Israel.
In Daniel 11 God shows us through the writing of the prophet Daniel various individuals who will, in their own time in history, be a respective "King of the North" and "King of the South." Beginning in Dan 11:25-28, God shows us an end time "King of the North" (who I say is the coming Assyrian anti-Christ, as discussed in my 3-part blog referenced above) who will carry out various nefarious activities, including: (1) attacking the land of Israel and the "King of the South" (modern Egypt); (2) deceiving, defeating and then looting Egypt; and (3) returning later a second time to come against Egypt (Dan 11:29-30). He is stopped from invading Egypt a second time by ships from the west (Kittim - e.g., NATO, or its successor). Most likely, the first invasion of Egypt by the coming anti-Christ stuns and catches the west off guard, but the second attempted invasion of Egypt is thwarted by the west.
At the time of the end, the King of the North (the coming Assyrian anti-Christ) will be attacked by the King of the South (perhaps Egypt), but the King of the North will counter-attack and defeat the King of the South with the use of many ships, tanks and and soldiers (Dan 11:40-43) and carry away and firmly control various treasures of Egypt.
However, at that time, the King of the North will hear news of forces advancing to his rear from the north and to his flank from the east. This news will trouble him (Dan 11:44) He will go out to confront these forces, but will not prevail and will ultimately be destroyed at the time Jesus returns to defeat the armies surrounding Jerusalem who are about to destroy it. This will be the battle of Armageddon described in Rev 16:16 and Rev 19.
Those advancing forces from the north and east are coming to the land of Israel to stop the King of the North anti-Christ, since at that time, the headquarter of the King of the North anti-Christ will be located near Jerusalem. (Dan 11:45 ) China is obviously the force advancing from the east with its 200 million man army (Rev 9:16), and Russia is the force advancing from the north.
The motivation behind Russia and China coming to the region of Jerusalem is uncertain at this time, but the motivation may at least include a desire to stop and "put a lid" on the King of the North anti-Christ. The motivation will certainly be revealed to us in time. Do Russia and China also have a "bone to pick" with Israel? Perhaps they simply want to control the large natural gas fields off the coast of Gaza which may be coveted and then-controlled by the coming Assyrian anti-Christ, and to keep him from controlling the oil fields of the middle east? Time will tell.
So, where is the United States in all this?
I believe that at least by the time of the third confrontation between the King of the North Assyrian anti-Christ and the King of the South (although perhaps earlier), the United States has been relegated to being a non-world power through: (1) internal civil war; (2) a nuclear attack and/or invasion by Russia and China; (3) a catastrophic event (e.g., eruption of the large volcanic cauldron in Yellowstone Park in Wyoming, large earthquakes destroying California and/or the mid-west in the region of the New Madrid fault); or (4) a combination thereof. It seems clear that the United States, at the time of the Ez 38/39 battle, is not mentioned and must no longer be a world power. Thus, the anti-Christ will have little fear of invading Egypt, and Russia and China will have little fear of invading the land of Israel to confront the King of the North anti-Christ. (Read for yourself the prophecies of the destruction of an end times Babylon in Jer 50, Jer 51, Is 47, Rev 17/18, etc. These passages of scripture refer to a nation which is the spiritually daughter of the ancient Babylon of the Bible. A wicked nation which has turned from God and is destroyed. I believe the United States is this end times Babylon. It is not hard to see that, at present, the United States is being transformed into the end times Babylon which is doomed to destruction. See my blog on this subject, based on scripture.)
Turkey and Iran, at the time of the Ez 38/39 battle, are controlled and influenced by the Islamic Assyrian anti-Christ (Gog) from N. Iraq with his ISIS army (or whatever ISIS evolves into) to come against the land of Israel to destroy it. Incidentally, most of the atrocities being committed today by ISIS (e.g., beheadings and the horrific slaughter of civilians) started to occur in the region of N. Iraq, but are spreading throughout the middle east; the geographical location of wicked ancient Assyria (Magog) and its capital Nineveh. The motivation of these Muslim nations and people groups to invade and destroy Israel is simple -- hatred. They hate Israel and the God of Israel. They will be influenced and controlled by the satanically possessed (Rev 12) King of the North anti-Christ (i.e., Gog), who will skillfully use the religion of Islam to be his controlling mechanism to unite Turkey, Iran and the nations of Sudan and Libya to join in a Islamic coalition to invade and destroy Israel. This is the Ez 38/39 coalition. Egypt is not named as part of this coalition since by that time it will have been attacked and pillaged by the King of the North, as described in Dan 11.
Thus, in summary, we see that at the time of the battle of Ez 38/39 in the future: (1) Russia will be a player in the final battle of this age, the battle of Armageddon, although not described in Ez 38/39 as being lead by Gog, who is the coming Assyrian anti-Christ; (2) the battle of Armageddon of Rev 16:16 and Rev 19 is the same battle as the battle described in Ez 38/39, which coincides with the last actions of the King of the North anti-Christ described in Dan 11; and (3) at least by the time of the advance of the armies of Russia and China toward the land of Israel to confront the King of the North Islamic anti-Christ, the United States is out of the way and is no longer a world power capable of stopping the anti-Christ, Russia or China. (Incidentally, in late 2014 China overtook the United States as the world's largest economic power. Thus, America's downfall has begun.) After the United States becomes completely impotent as a world power, Russia will become the new military power of the world.
Time is short. Repent, and prepare your heart for God.
2015 - True Believer
To check out my other blogs, please navigate through my Blog Archive
Much has been written about a future invasion and battle in the land of Israel described in Ez 38/39. I have studied this Biblical account for several years and have prayed for understanding and insight regarding the truth about the peoples and nations involved. In this blog, I express what I believe God has shown me. Although that which I write herein rubs against what is commonly taught on the subject, I give it to you so you may study it out for yourself and take it to God to confirm it.
The main actors in Ez 38/39 are commonly taught as being Russia, Iran, Turkey, Libya and Sudan (a large Islamic nation which is part of ancient Ethiopia. Ethiopia once included what is now Ethiopia, Somalia and much of Sudan). Most who teach this have set their minds to believe that the word translated as "Rosh" in Ez 38:2 is Russia. Without getting into great detail, I will say simply that I have read scholarly articles and books in regard to the translation of the word Rosh which appears in English translations of Ez38:2 adjacent to the Hebrew word "נְשִׂ֕יא" (pronounced "nshia") which is typically translated as "prince". I have come to the conclusion, based on the scholarly works which are quite well researched, that "prince of Rosh" is an incorrect interpretation in Ez 38:2. Rather, the word Rosh is grammatically structured in the Hebrew in Ez 38:2 to be a modifier to the word translated as "prince", such that these words should be translated together to indicate that Gog is the "chief prince" of Meshech and Tubal, not that Gog is the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal. Gog is not the leader of Russia. Magog is not Russia.
So, let us continue by accepting this conclusion based on the assumption that Gog is the chief prince, the main influencer, of Meshech and Tubal. I believe that although Ez 38/39 does not describe Russia as Magog, I believe that Russia is described in the Bible elsewhere as a force which will come into play in this event, but not under the influence of "Gog". But more on that later regarding Russia's role and the scriptures which describe Russia.
So, who are Meshech and Tubal, who is Gog, and where is the land of Magog?
As seen in the map above, Meshech and Tubal are ancient people groups which were located in what is now modern Turkey. The same teachers (typically on TV and those writing books) that teach that Rosh is Russia also teach that Meshech is Moscow and that Tubal is Tbilisi. Both of those cities are in Russia. Most likely, they teach this because those names in English sound like Moscow and Tubal. Such teachers may also try to make the case that Meshech was in the area of Russia near Moscow. This people group, however, migrated to that region long after they were originally located in what is now Turkey, as shown on the map above. I will spare you additionally detail, but my research leads to a conclusion that the map above is correct regarding these people groups, and that Meshech and Tubal refer to the people groups who once lived in the area of modern Turkey. Therefore, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal in today's world appears to be Obama. It is he who gives the orders to the West, and to NATO to which Turkey belongs. Turkey is the home and financial supply ground of ISIS.
Regarding Gog of the land of Magog (Ez 38:2), my conclusion is that Gog is the wicked spiritual force behind the coming anti-Christ, who will be an actual or spiritual "Assyrian" (i.e., likely, to be a follower of Islam). To illustrate the location of Meshech, Tubal and Magog, please refer to the map above which shows these ancient designations being being located in modern Turkey. These conclusions are detailed in my 3-part blog on the coming Assyrian anti-Christ. Please refer to these three blogs to gain full insight and analysis, based strictly on scripture, regarding why the coming anti-Christ will be "Assyrian", and what his attributes, intentions and activities will be. This blog also describes how the book of Amos discloses that Gog shall lead an army of invaders from the east against Israel, which are described as locusts (Muslims, for reasons given in the blog) which have as their leader King Gog. Is not the leader of the West the "chief prince", or leader, of ISIS? (To understand the intent of ISIS, which is to bring about WW III, please visit a Dec. 3, 2015 article which explains this thought.)
Most everyone agrees that the Persia, Cush (Sudan) and Put (Libya) described in Ez 38:5 refer to modern Iran, Sudan and Libya, which are all Muslim countries. Turkey also is a Muslim country. Russia is not a Muslim country, except for the southern Muslim provinces of Russia which include Chechnya. Thus, an Islamic leader would not hold much sway over Russia, but would indeed hold sway over Muslim countries such as Persia, Turkey, Sudan and Libya.
Let us visit Dan 11 to get more information on the Ez 38/39 invasion of the land of Israel.
In Daniel 11 God shows us through the writing of the prophet Daniel various individuals who will, in their own time in history, be a respective "King of the North" and "King of the South." Beginning in Dan 11:25-28, God shows us an end time "King of the North" (who I say is the coming Assyrian anti-Christ, as discussed in my 3-part blog referenced above) who will carry out various nefarious activities, including: (1) attacking the land of Israel and the "King of the South" (modern Egypt); (2) deceiving, defeating and then looting Egypt; and (3) returning later a second time to come against Egypt (Dan 11:29-30). He is stopped from invading Egypt a second time by ships from the west (Kittim - e.g., NATO, or its successor). Most likely, the first invasion of Egypt by the coming anti-Christ stuns and catches the west off guard, but the second attempted invasion of Egypt is thwarted by the west.
At the time of the end, the King of the North (the coming Assyrian anti-Christ) will be attacked by the King of the South (perhaps Egypt), but the King of the North will counter-attack and defeat the King of the South with the use of many ships, tanks and and soldiers (Dan 11:40-43) and carry away and firmly control various treasures of Egypt.
However, at that time, the King of the North will hear news of forces advancing to his rear from the north and to his flank from the east. This news will trouble him (Dan 11:44) He will go out to confront these forces, but will not prevail and will ultimately be destroyed at the time Jesus returns to defeat the armies surrounding Jerusalem who are about to destroy it. This will be the battle of Armageddon described in Rev 16:16 and Rev 19.
Those advancing forces from the north and east are coming to the land of Israel to stop the King of the North anti-Christ, since at that time, the headquarter of the King of the North anti-Christ will be located near Jerusalem. (Dan 11:45 ) China is obviously the force advancing from the east with its 200 million man army (Rev 9:16), and Russia is the force advancing from the north.
The motivation behind Russia and China coming to the region of Jerusalem is uncertain at this time, but the motivation may at least include a desire to stop and "put a lid" on the King of the North anti-Christ. The motivation will certainly be revealed to us in time. Do Russia and China also have a "bone to pick" with Israel? Perhaps they simply want to control the large natural gas fields off the coast of Gaza which may be coveted and then-controlled by the coming Assyrian anti-Christ, and to keep him from controlling the oil fields of the middle east? Time will tell.
So, where is the United States in all this?
I believe that at least by the time of the third confrontation between the King of the North Assyrian anti-Christ and the King of the South (although perhaps earlier), the United States has been relegated to being a non-world power through: (1) internal civil war; (2) a nuclear attack and/or invasion by Russia and China; (3) a catastrophic event (e.g., eruption of the large volcanic cauldron in Yellowstone Park in Wyoming, large earthquakes destroying California and/or the mid-west in the region of the New Madrid fault); or (4) a combination thereof. It seems clear that the United States, at the time of the Ez 38/39 battle, is not mentioned and must no longer be a world power. Thus, the anti-Christ will have little fear of invading Egypt, and Russia and China will have little fear of invading the land of Israel to confront the King of the North anti-Christ. (Read for yourself the prophecies of the destruction of an end times Babylon in Jer 50, Jer 51, Is 47, Rev 17/18, etc. These passages of scripture refer to a nation which is the spiritually daughter of the ancient Babylon of the Bible. A wicked nation which has turned from God and is destroyed. I believe the United States is this end times Babylon. It is not hard to see that, at present, the United States is being transformed into the end times Babylon which is doomed to destruction. See my blog on this subject, based on scripture.)
Turkey and Iran, at the time of the Ez 38/39 battle, are controlled and influenced by the Islamic Assyrian anti-Christ (Gog) from N. Iraq with his ISIS army (or whatever ISIS evolves into) to come against the land of Israel to destroy it. Incidentally, most of the atrocities being committed today by ISIS (e.g., beheadings and the horrific slaughter of civilians) started to occur in the region of N. Iraq, but are spreading throughout the middle east; the geographical location of wicked ancient Assyria (Magog) and its capital Nineveh. The motivation of these Muslim nations and people groups to invade and destroy Israel is simple -- hatred. They hate Israel and the God of Israel. They will be influenced and controlled by the satanically possessed (Rev 12) King of the North anti-Christ (i.e., Gog), who will skillfully use the religion of Islam to be his controlling mechanism to unite Turkey, Iran and the nations of Sudan and Libya to join in a Islamic coalition to invade and destroy Israel. This is the Ez 38/39 coalition. Egypt is not named as part of this coalition since by that time it will have been attacked and pillaged by the King of the North, as described in Dan 11.
Thus, in summary, we see that at the time of the battle of Ez 38/39 in the future: (1) Russia will be a player in the final battle of this age, the battle of Armageddon, although not described in Ez 38/39 as being lead by Gog, who is the coming Assyrian anti-Christ; (2) the battle of Armageddon of Rev 16:16 and Rev 19 is the same battle as the battle described in Ez 38/39, which coincides with the last actions of the King of the North anti-Christ described in Dan 11; and (3) at least by the time of the advance of the armies of Russia and China toward the land of Israel to confront the King of the North Islamic anti-Christ, the United States is out of the way and is no longer a world power capable of stopping the anti-Christ, Russia or China. (Incidentally, in late 2014 China overtook the United States as the world's largest economic power. Thus, America's downfall has begun.) After the United States becomes completely impotent as a world power, Russia will become the new military power of the world.
Time is short. Repent, and prepare your heart for God.
2015 - True Believer
To check out my other blogs, please navigate through my Blog Archive
Friday, October 9, 2015
WW III To Begin Soon in Syria? -- What Does the Bible Tells Us?
The Bible, in Rev 9:13-15 tells us:
"Then the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, 'Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.' So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind."
In Syria today, we have ISIS fighters, Syrian soldiers, Russian planes and troops, Iranian troops, and soon...Chinese planes and troops. Additionally, the US and NATO said today that they are considering entering the fray by placing themselves between Russia and ISIS to "protect the moderate rebels." Exactly what is a moderate rebel? This is simply crazy. Can so many hostile enemies be in such a small geographic area without a major event unfolding?
Unless cooler heads prevail or God intervenes, I believe that we are witnessing the beginning of WW III, as predicted almost 2,000 years ago by John the Apostle as told to him by an angel sent by God to reveal the future of mankind.
If you study the image above of the location of the flow of the River Euphrates, you can easily see that this river, which is the Bible-predicted geographical "ground zero" for WW III, flows southward from Turkey through Syria. With the confluence of political and military powers assembling now in Syria for a showdown, can a hot war be far away? Only God knows when WW III will begin, but in the natural, the prelude to WW III appears to be forming before our eyes.
According to the Bible, during WW III one-third of mankind will be killed. Only a war which includes the use of nuclear weapons and/or bio-engineered disease weapons could accomplish this.
With a world population today of about 7.3 billion people, we are looking at the destruction of almost 2.4 billion people. No doubt, this destruction to mankind will be brought about in a matter of months, and not years (as in previous world wars).
We need to intervene through prayer to postpone this disaster and to ask for God's grace and mercy to do so.
Time is short. Repent, and prepare your heart for God.
2015 - True Believer
To check out my other blogs, please navigate through my Blog Archive
"Then the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, 'Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.' So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind."
In Syria today, we have ISIS fighters, Syrian soldiers, Russian planes and troops, Iranian troops, and soon...Chinese planes and troops. Additionally, the US and NATO said today that they are considering entering the fray by placing themselves between Russia and ISIS to "protect the moderate rebels." Exactly what is a moderate rebel? This is simply crazy. Can so many hostile enemies be in such a small geographic area without a major event unfolding?
Unless cooler heads prevail or God intervenes, I believe that we are witnessing the beginning of WW III, as predicted almost 2,000 years ago by John the Apostle as told to him by an angel sent by God to reveal the future of mankind.
If you study the image above of the location of the flow of the River Euphrates, you can easily see that this river, which is the Bible-predicted geographical "ground zero" for WW III, flows southward from Turkey through Syria. With the confluence of political and military powers assembling now in Syria for a showdown, can a hot war be far away? Only God knows when WW III will begin, but in the natural, the prelude to WW III appears to be forming before our eyes.
According to the Bible, during WW III one-third of mankind will be killed. Only a war which includes the use of nuclear weapons and/or bio-engineered disease weapons could accomplish this.
With a world population today of about 7.3 billion people, we are looking at the destruction of almost 2.4 billion people. No doubt, this destruction to mankind will be brought about in a matter of months, and not years (as in previous world wars).
We need to intervene through prayer to postpone this disaster and to ask for God's grace and mercy to do so.
Time is short. Repent, and prepare your heart for God.
2015 - True Believer
To check out my other blogs, please navigate through my Blog Archive
Saturday, August 15, 2015
The Two Interwoven Prophecies of Ez 38 & 39 -- The Gog/Magog Battles: Pre-Millenium and Post-Millenium
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So, I read and re-read Ez 38 over the past few weeks five or six times. I was beginning to think that perhaps I was simply hearing my own thoughts and was becoming fixated on this chapter. I consciously did not want to keep re-reading the same (I thought) familiar passages in Ez 38. So, I began to believe that it was my own thoughts that were having me go over this same ground again and again. I even asked God if I was really hearing Him, or whether it was simply me. I felt gently, yet firmly, prodded to read it once again -- which I did yesterday, reluctantly, out on my back porch during the afternoon of a beautiful summer day. What I finally saw in Ez 38 took me by complete surprise. Verses that I had read many, many times before somehow "jumped" up into my mind as something I should stop and ponder. This is how God deals with me when He wants to teach me something in His word. He may deal differently with you.
I previously believed that the battle described in Ez 38/39 was the "Battle of Armageddon", which will occur just before Jesus' return. I strongly believed that, based on my reading and studying Ez 38/39 -- until yesterday.
Yesterday, as I read through Ez 38 (and Ez 39, for good measure), the same familiar verses I had read previously numerous times took on a new meaning, and I was presented with a dilemma. These chapters speak of an invasion force coming against a land and people who live in safety. But, if this battle does occur, as I previously believed, not at the beginning of Daniel's 70th week (commonly referred to incorrectly as "the tribulation") as many believe and teach, but as part of the Battle of Armageddon just prior to Jesus' return, how could those in the land of Israel be living safely at that time? After all, the anti-Christ will at that time be persecuting severely Jews (and Christians too) beginning at the mid-point of Daniel's 70th week when he declares himself to be "god" and the abomination of desolation is set up, likely by him. (See, Dan 9: 27; Mat 24: 15-22) They (Jews and Christians) will be persecuted right up to the time of Jesus' return for 3 1/2 years.
I had never seen this rather sharp contradiction previously in Ez 38.
God then, as He does sometimes with me, asked me how to resolve this incongruity. Sometimes He makes me think about it to figure something out. Instantly, I remembered the description of a future battle of Gog and Magog which occurs at the end of Jesus' millennial reign, as described in Rev 20: 7-9. That battle is described as being quite short-lived, as God simply wipes out and destroys the invaders coming against Jerusalem by sending fire down on them from heaven. Not much of a battle, really.
Also, in Ez 39: 7 it describes that after this future battle God will not allow His name to ever be profaned again.
So, this presented another contradiction, since the final battle of Gog and Magog at the end of the millennial reign of Christ will most certainly involve the final rebellion against God. No doubt, during that final rebellion leading up to that final battle God's name will be profaned once again ... but for the last time forever.
Therefore, the scenario of Ez 38/39 describing a single "battle" as a single event which occurs just prior to Jesus' return at Armageddon fails for at least these two factors, which I had never before noticed. In summary, the two factors are: 1) that the people live in safety and not in persecution, and 2) that God's name will never again be profaned.
These two factors cannot be satisfied anytime prior to the end of the Christ's millennial reign, and yet, many other events described in Ez 38/39 appear to fit well as a description of the Battle of Armageddon just prior to Jesus' return.
So, this sparked the idea in me that perhaps the "battle" described in Ez 38/39 was actually two separate events -- two battles being described and interwoven through these passages. One battle occurring just prior to Christ's pre-millennial reign and the other at the end of the millennium reign. Could this be? I felt compelled to investigate further.
I felt inspired to go online and find the Septuagint version of Ez 38/39. After all, it was the version of the Old Testament in common usage when Jesus walked the earth (it is a Greek translation of the original Hebrew and Aramaic version of what we call the "Old Testament"). Perhaps there was something (hopefully) in the English version of the Septuagint online that would help me to resolve the riddle.
God reminded me, at almost the same time, how the millennium-end battle will end with fire coming down from heaven to defeat Gog and the armies with them, very quickly. Very decisive. No fighting required by those on the earth. Also, Ez 34:28 describes that when Jesus returns and gathers His people Israel to Himself, "they shall all dwell securely and none shall make them afraid." This confirms that the time of "security and safety" occurs during the millennium, which gives further evidence that Ez 38/39 also describes a millennial-end battle.
Well, low and behold. Every English version of Ez 39: 6 in various versions of the Bible that I have read to date says that God will send fire on Magog -- meaning the land of Magog, and not Gog. Indeed, many teach that the description of fire coming on Magog signals the destruction of Russia -- who those who teach this idea say Russia is the land being referred to as the land of Magog.
However, the Septuagint version of the Old Testament (which Jesus knew and read, since it was the prevalent version of the Old Testament when He walked the earth) translates Ez 39: 6 to say that God will send fire on Gog. This lines up perfectly with Rev 20: 7-9, discussed above, where God will destroy Gog and his armies the end of the Millennium with fire -- not the land of Magog. Wow! This understanding also frees up the timing of the first battle of Ez 38/39 so that it can take place ANYTIME prior to Jesus' return. Perhaps prior to Daniel's 70th week, perhaps during the 70th week, or perhaps at the time of the Battle of Armageddon immediately prior to Jesus' return.
So, I then felt further inspired to be sure and to again "analyze" Ez 38/39 verse by verse. I read carefully each single verse of Ez 38/39 of the Septuagint version, verse by verse, and coded each verse individually as referring to the "pre-millennium" time period or to the "millennium end" time period, or to "both".
I created two Word documents and simply copied and pasted every verse I coded into one, or both, of these two documents -- one document for "pre-millennium" verses and the other for "millennium-end" verses. I put each verse coded as "both" into both documents. I did not read either document until I had analyzed and moved each and every verse of Ez 38 and 39 into one or both of the two documents. What I read in each document after I finished this work was, quite frankly, God-given and amazing.
I have provided the text of each of the two documents below for your review. I had simply analyzed and sorted verse by verse, as I felt led by God.
When you read the two documents, you can see that the verses applicable to one time frame or the other, or both, which were indeed describing two separate events that were interwoven in Ez 38/39 read as separate and distinguishable events even though the verses are not all consecutive!
So, I believe God was fine-tuning my prior understanding of Ez 38/39 to show me that I had missed a few major points which were hiding in plain sight.
My conclusion: Ez 38/39 describes two battles involving Gog of the land of Magog. The first battle occurs any time prior to Jesus' return. The second battle occurs at the millennium-end just prior to the Great White Throne Judgement found in the Book of Revelation.
See for yourself, below. Let it bless you. God rewards those who seek Him. Praise be to God.
Ez 38/39 Pre-Millennium Prophecy
38:1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying
38:2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog, and the land of Magog, Rhos, prince of Mesoch and Thobel, and prophesy against him
38:3 and say to him, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, Rhos prince of Mesoch and Thobel
38:4 and I will gather thee, and all thine host, horses and horsemen, all wearing breast-plates, with a great multitude, shields and helmets and swords
38:5 Persians, and Ethiopians, and Libyans; all with helmets and shields
38:6 Gomer, and all belonging to him; the house of Thorgama,
from the end of the north, and all belonging to him; and many nations with thee
38:7 Be thou prepared, prepare thyself, thou, and all thy multitude that is assembled with thee, and thou shalt be to me for a guard
38:7 Be thou prepared, prepare thyself, thou, and all thy multitude that is assembled with thee, and thou shalt be to me for a guard
38:9 And thou shalt go up as rain, and shalt arrive as a
cloud to cover the land, and there shall be thou, and all that are about thee,
and many nations with thee
38:10 Thus saith the Lord God; It shall also come to pass in that day, that thoughts shall come up into thine heart, and thou shalt devise evil devices
38:10 Thus saith the Lord God; It shall also come to pass in that day, that thoughts shall come up into thine heart, and thou shalt devise evil devices
38:13 Sabba, and Daedan, and Carthaginian merchants, and all
their villages shall say to thee, Thou art come for plunder to take a prey, and
to get spoils: thou hast gathered thy multitude to take silver and gold, to
carry off property, to take spoils
38:15 and come out of thy place from the farthest north, and
many nations with thee? all of them mounted on horses, a great gathering, and a
large force?
38:16 And thou shalt come up upon my people Israel as a cloud to cover the land; it shall come to pass in the last days, that I will bring thee up upon my land, that all the nations may know me, when I am sanctified in thee before them
38:16 And thou shalt come up upon my people Israel as a cloud to cover the land; it shall come to pass in the last days, that I will bring thee up upon my land, that all the nations may know me, when I am sanctified in thee before them
38:17 Thus saith the Lord God, to Gog; Thou art [he]
concerning whom I spoke in former times, by the hand of my servants the
prophets of Israel, in those days and years, that I would bring thee up against
them
38:18 And it shall come to pass in that day, in the day when Gog shall come against the Land of Israel, saith the Lord God
38:19 [that] my wrath and my jealousy shall arise, I have spoken in the fire of mine anger, verily in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel
38:18 And it shall come to pass in that day, in the day when Gog shall come against the Land of Israel, saith the Lord God
38:19 [that] my wrath and my jealousy shall arise, I have spoken in the fire of mine anger, verily in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel
38:20 and the fish of the sea shall quake at the presence of
the Lord, and the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the field, and all
the reptiles that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are on the face of
the earth; and the mountains shall be rent, and the valleys shall fall, and
every wall on the land shall fall
38:21 And I will summon against it even every fear, saith the Lord: the sword of [every] man shall be against his brother
38:22 And I will judge him with pestilence, and blood, and sweeping rain, and hailstones; and I will rain upon him fire and brimstone, and upon all that are with him, and upon many nations with him
38:21 And I will summon against it even every fear, saith the Lord: the sword of [every] man shall be against his brother
38:22 And I will judge him with pestilence, and blood, and sweeping rain, and hailstones; and I will rain upon him fire and brimstone, and upon all that are with him, and upon many nations with him
38:23 And I will be magnified, and sanctified, and
glorified; and I will be known in the presence of many nations, and they shall
know that I am the Lord
39:1 And thou, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say,
Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, Rhos prince of Mesoch
and Thobel
39:2 and I will assemble thee, and guide thee, and raise
thee up on the extremity of the north, and I will bring thee up upon the
mountains of Israel
39:3 And I will destroy the bow out of thy left hand, and thine arrows out of thy right hand, and I will cast thee down on the mountains of Israel
39:4 and thou and all that belong to thee shall fall, and the nations that are with thee shall be given to multitudes of birds, [even] to every fowl, and I have given thee to all the wild beasts of the field to be devoured
39:5 Thou shalt fall on the face of the field: for I have spoken [it], saith the Lord
39:3 And I will destroy the bow out of thy left hand, and thine arrows out of thy right hand, and I will cast thee down on the mountains of Israel
39:4 and thou and all that belong to thee shall fall, and the nations that are with thee shall be given to multitudes of birds, [even] to every fowl, and I have given thee to all the wild beasts of the field to be devoured
39:5 Thou shalt fall on the face of the field: for I have spoken [it], saith the Lord
39:8 Behold it is come, and thou shalt know that it shall
be, saith the Lord God; this is the day concerning which I have spoken
39:9 And they that inhabit the cities of Israel shall come
forth, and make a fire with the arms, the shields and the spears, and bows and
arrows, and hand-staves, and lances, and they shall keep fire burning with them
for seven years
39:10 and they shall not take any wood out of the field, neither shall they cut any out of the forests, but they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall plunder those that plundered them, and spoil those that spoiled them, saith the Lord
39:10 and they shall not take any wood out of the field, neither shall they cut any out of the forests, but they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall plunder those that plundered them, and spoil those that spoiled them, saith the Lord
39:11 And it shall come to pass [that] in that day I will
give to Gog a place of renown, a tomb in Israel, the burial-place of them that
approach the sea: and they shall build round about the outlet of the valley,
and there they shall bury Gog and all his multitude: and [the place] shall then
be called the burial-place of Gog
39:12 And the house of Israel shall bury them, that the land may be cleansed in the space of seven months
39:13 Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a [place] of renown in the day wherein it was glorified, saith the Lord
39:12 And the house of Israel shall bury them, that the land may be cleansed in the space of seven months
39:13 Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a [place] of renown in the day wherein it was glorified, saith the Lord
39:14 And they shall appoint men continually to go over the
land, to bury them that have been left on the face of the earth, to cleanse it
after the space of seven months, and they shall seek [them] out
39:15 And every one that goes through the land, and sees a man's bone, shall set up a mark by it, until the buriers shall have buried it in the valley, the burial place of Gog
39:15 And every one that goes through the land, and sees a man's bone, shall set up a mark by it, until the buriers shall have buried it in the valley, the burial place of Gog
39:16 For the name of the city [shall be] Burial-place: so
shall the land be cleansed
39:17 And thou, son of man, say, Thus saith the Lord; Say to every winged bird, and to all the wild beasts of the field, Gather yourselves, and come; gather yourselves from all [places] round about to my sacrifice, which I have made for you, [even] a great sacrifice on the mountains of Israel, and ye shall eat flesh, and drink blood
39:17 And thou, son of man, say, Thus saith the Lord; Say to every winged bird, and to all the wild beasts of the field, Gather yourselves, and come; gather yourselves from all [places] round about to my sacrifice, which I have made for you, [even] a great sacrifice on the mountains of Israel, and ye shall eat flesh, and drink blood
39:18 Ye shall eat the flesh of mighty men, and ye shall
drink the blood of princes of the earth, rams, and calves and goats, and they
are all fatted calves
39:19 And ye shall eat fat till ye are full, and shall drink wine till ye are drunken, of my sacrifice which I have prepared for you
39:20 And ye shall be filled at my table, [eating] horse, and rider, and mighty man, and every warrior, saith the Lord
39:19 And ye shall eat fat till ye are full, and shall drink wine till ye are drunken, of my sacrifice which I have prepared for you
39:20 And ye shall be filled at my table, [eating] horse, and rider, and mighty man, and every warrior, saith the Lord
39:21 And I will set my glory among you, and all the nations
shall see my judgment which I have wrought, and my hand which I have brought
upon them
39:22 And the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God, from this day and onwards
39:23 And all the nations shall know that the house of Israel were led captive because of their sins, because they rebelled against me, and I turned away my face from them, and delivered them into the hands of their enemies, and they all fell by the sword
39:22 And the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God, from this day and onwards
39:23 And all the nations shall know that the house of Israel were led captive because of their sins, because they rebelled against me, and I turned away my face from them, and delivered them into the hands of their enemies, and they all fell by the sword
39:25 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Now will I turn back captivity in Jacob, and will have mercy on the house of Israel, and will be jealous for the sake of my holy name
39:26 And they shall bear their reproach, and the iniquity
which they committed when they dwelt upon their land in peace. Yet there shall
be none to terrify [them]
39:27 when I have brought them back from the nations, and
gathered them out of the countries of the nations: and I will be sanctified
among them in the presence of the nations
39:28 And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, hen
I have been manifested to them among the nations
39:29 And I will no more turn away my face from them, because I have poured out my wrath upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God
39:29 And I will no more turn away my face from them, because I have poured out my wrath upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God
Ez 38/39 Millennium-End Prophecy
38:1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying
38:2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog, and the land of Magog, Rhos, prince of Mesoch and Thobel, and prophesy against him
38:3 and say to him, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, Rhos prince of Mesoch and Thobel
38:4 and I will gather thee, and all thine host, horses and horsemen, all wearing breast-plates, with a great multitude, shields and helmets and swords
38:7 Be thou prepared, prepare thyself, thou, and all thy multitude
that is assembled with thee, and thou shalt be to me for a guard
38:8 He shall be prepared after many days, and he shall come
at the end of years, and shall come to a land that is brought back from the
sword, when [the people] are gathered from many nations against the land of
Israel, which was entirely desolate: and he is come forth out of the nations,
and they shall all dwell securely
38:9 And thou shalt go up as rain, and shalt arrive as a
cloud to cover the land, and there shall be thou, and all that are about thee,
and many nations with thee
38:10 Thus saith the Lord God; It shall also come to pass in that day, that thoughts shall come up into thine heart, and thou shalt devise evil devices
38:11 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the rejected land; I will come upon them that are at ease in tranquility, and dwelling in peace, all inhabiting a land in which there is no wall, nor bars, nor have they doors
38:10 Thus saith the Lord God; It shall also come to pass in that day, that thoughts shall come up into thine heart, and thou shalt devise evil devices
38:11 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the rejected land; I will come upon them that are at ease in tranquility, and dwelling in peace, all inhabiting a land in which there is no wall, nor bars, nor have they doors
38:12 to seize plunder, and to take their spoil; to turn my
hands against the desolate land that is [now] inhabited, and against a nation
that is gathered from many nations, that have acquired property, dwelling in
the midst of the land
38:14 Therefore prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog, Thus
saith the Lord; Wilt thou not arise in that day, when my people Israel are dwelling securely
38:18 And it shall come to pass in that day, in the day when
Gog shall come against the Land of Israel, saith the Lord God
38:19 [that] my wrath and my jealousy shall arise, I have spoken in the fire of mine anger, verily in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel
38:19 [that] my wrath and my jealousy shall arise, I have spoken in the fire of mine anger, verily in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel
39:1 And thou, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say,
Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, Rhos prince of Mesoch
and Thobel
39:7 And my holy name shall be known in the midst of my people Israel; and my holy name shall no more be profaned: and the nations shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy [One] in Israel
** Please share this message with others to bless them and let them know that God has everything under control. How amazing is He? Just trust in Him and watch what He will do for you.
Time is short. Repent, and prepare your heart for God.
2015 - True Believer
To check out my other blogs, please navigate through my Blog Archive
2015 - True Believer
To check out my other blogs, please navigate through my Blog Archive
Saturday, May 9, 2015
The Time of Trouble is at Hand -- Open Your Eyes and Prepare Your Heart
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Hear some of the many words God has spoken regarding what is coming, what you must do, and what you are promised by God if you believe He is God and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Ps 9:9 - The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
Ps 37:39 - The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord. He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
Ps 10:1 - Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
Ps 49:5-6 - Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me, those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?
Is 33:2 - O Lord, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble.
Ps 27: 4-6 - One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to pray/meditate in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His shelter. In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me. He shall set me high upon a rock. Now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle and I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
Jer 11:12-14 - Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry to the gods to whom they make offerings, but they cannot save them in the time of their trouble. For your gods have become as many as your cities, O Judah, and as many as the streets of Jerusalem are the altars you have set up to shame, altars to make offerings to Baal. “Therefore do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer on their behalf, for I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their trouble. (My comment: since God never changes, He has this in store for America, as well, for the same reasons Judah and Jerusalem turned from Him, and He will only protect those whom are His.)
Jer 14:7-9 - “Though our iniquities testify against us, act, O Lord, for your name's sake; for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against you. O you hope of Israel, its savior in time of trouble, why should you be like a stranger in the land, like a traveler who turns aside to tarry for a night? Why should you be like a man confused, like a mighty warrior who cannot save? Yet you, O Lord, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; do not leave us.”
Jer 15:11-12 - The Lord said, “Have I not set you free for their good? Have I not pleaded for you before the enemy in the time of trouble and in the time of distress? Can one break iron, iron from the north, and bronze?
Dan 12:1 - “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. There shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.
Job 38:22-23 - “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail, which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war?
Mat 24:36 - Concerning that day and hour, on one knows -- But you will know, and you must know the season in order to prepare your heart to get ready, in order to not be deceived and to be able to instruct others what time it is so they may know what to do.
Prepare your spirit. Prepare your family. Prepare your pantry. Prepare your wallet.
Fill yourself with the Word of God, so you may draw from it in the coming time of trouble.
Time is short. Repent, and prepare your heart for God.
2015 - True Believer
To check out my other blogs, please navigate through my Blog Archive
Saturday, January 17, 2015
Ez 23 -- A "Sister" Prophecy of Ez 38 & 39 Concerning Jerusalem
Many of you have no doubt never read about nor heard of a prophecy about a coming attack against Jerusalem given to us by God in plain sight, found in Ez 23. I have read Ez 23 previously, but never saw the connection to Ez 38, 39 -- until today when the Holy Spirit showed me that it is a prelude to what is written in Ez 38, 39 regarding the coming invasion and attack of the land of Israel, and specifically Jerusalem.
Ez 23 unlocks more of the feelings, thoughts and rationale behind why God has chosen to have Jerusalem surrounded and attacked in the "last days". This coming battle is described at length and in great detail in Ez 38, 39. I am sure that many of you are indeed familiar with those two famous chapters describing God's coming wrath against the hordes which will invade the land of Israel to destroy Jerusalem and to put an end to it.
A question, at least for me, has been WHY? I mean, why is God going to allow Jerusalem to be surrounded, attacked and nearly destroyed? Why will God allow 2/3 of the people in the land of Israel to be killed? (See, Zech 13) Why? Why? Why? A glimpse of God's reasons for the invasion is given in Ez 38, 39. However, God tells us more in Ez 23.
In Ez 23 God lays out in parable form (God loves parables, does He not?) how two daughters (i.e., the two houses of Israel) were born of the same mother (Jacob/Israel). These two daughters are called by God in Hebrew "Oholah" (the elder sister) and "Oholibah" (the younger sister), which loosely translated mean "her own house" and "my house is in her", respectively. These names are consistent with the names God gives to the two houses of Israel throughout the Old Testament. God tells us in Ez 23 that the elder daughter is Samaria (one of God's nicknames for the house of Israel -- the 10 northern tribes who "did their own thing") and the younger daughter is Jerusalem (God's temple, His house, was in Jerusalem).
Both of these daughters became harlots, where the many harlotries of the elder sister Oholah (Samaria) are described first. She lusted for the Assyrians and their idols, so God eventually gave her (10 norther tribes of Israel) over to her Assyrian lovers because of her disdain for God. She turned her back on God, so God in His anger, reluctantly, turned His back on her by giving her over to the Assyrians.
This event occurred historically in approximately 720 or so B.C.E. when the Assyrian army invaded the land of Samaria and took away captive to Assyria the 10 northern tribes of Israel. Thereafter, those 10 tribes (Oholah) were scattered throughout the Assyrian empire and among the gentile nations where they remain scattered today.
So, what about the younger harlot sister Oholibah (Jerusalem - representing the 2 southern tribes, including Judah)?? What has been, or will be, her fate?
When you read Ez 23: 22-27, you see a description of: (1) who is going to come against Jerusalem and invade her to attack her; (2) why she is being attacked; and lastly, (3) what will become of her.
In essence, those coming against her (Jerusalem - the younger harlot daughter) are described as an invading horde which includes Assyrians (i.e., the modern people groups which equate with the ancient Assyrian empire), which resembles those coming against her in Ez 38, 39. This is not the same group of invaders/attackers which will come someday soon against the land of Israel which is described as the Ps 83 war. Regarding Ez 38, 39, I have analyzed the scriptures carefully and have concluded (as have others) that these chapters describe a "last days" battle against the land of Israel and will feature the coming anti-Christ who will be from the peoples of ancient Assyria. I have written a 3-part blog in 2014 about the coming Assyrian anti-Christ and my reasoning, based on scripture. But I digress.
It appears from the context of Ez 23: 24-27 that those coming against the younger harlot sister Oholibah (Jerusalem) will punish her severely, burn her, strip her naked and plunder her. God tells us why -- because of His jealousy and wrath due to her many harlotries which she first learned in Egypt with her elder sister and never gave up. In fact, God says in Ez 23 that the harlotries of Jerusalem (Judah) were WORSE than those of her elder harlot sister Oholah (Samaria - 10 northern tribes). (Ez 23: 11)
I believe from the context of the entire chapter 23 of Ezekiel that Judah's captivity in Babylon (which occurred from about 586-516 B.C.E.) is spoken of, but IN ADDITION, it describes a coming attack on Jerusalem by hordes similar to those described in Ez 38, 39.
The key to this conclusion and analysis is God's description of the invaders and how they will come against her from all sides (Ez 23: 23-24), but also what God says will be the end result of His wrath, judgment and punishment of Jerusalem (Oholibah - the younger harlot sister). God says that He will "will make you [Judah - Jerusalem - Oholibah] cease your lewdness and your harlotry from the land of Egypt, so that you will not lift your eyes to them nor remember Egypt anymore." (Emphasis added). (Ez 23: 27)
In other words, God is punishing the younger sister Oholibah by giving her into the hand of her idol worshiping lovers (the invading and attacking Assyrians and those accompanying the Assyrians), but God will bring her back to Himself by redeeming her, pouring out His Spirit on her, and causing her to never turn from Him again.
The cleansing, forgiveness and purifying of Jerusalem will not occur until the Ez 38, 39 invasion. God tells us in Ez 39: 7, 21-29 that after the invading armies are destroyed He will set His glory in Jerusalem and that His name shall never be profaned again. Clearly, this will not occur until just before Jesus returns to save Jerusalem from the invading armies. (See Zech 12-14 and Rev 19). The house of Israel (both unfaithful sisters, Oholah and Oholibah) will know then, without a doubt, that Jesus is their Lord, Savior and God from that day forward - forever. (Ez 23: 7) This will not happen until this last great battle for Jerusalem occurs, as described in Ez 38, 39.
So, in conclusion, God gives us another view of His feelings, thoughts and intended actions in regard to the two beloved, yet very mischievous and promiscuous houses of Israel -- the daughters, Oholah (the elder harlot sister - Samaria, the 10 norther tribes of Israel, now disbursed throughout the world among the Gentiles) and Oholibah (the younger harlot sister who committed worse idolatry - Jerusalem (the tribe of Judah, and those of Israel associated with Judah) many of whom now occupy and live in the land of Israel today). Praise God!
Time is short. Repent, and prepare your heart for God.
2015 - True Believer
To check out my other blogs, please navigate through my Blog Archive
Ez 23 unlocks more of the feelings, thoughts and rationale behind why God has chosen to have Jerusalem surrounded and attacked in the "last days". This coming battle is described at length and in great detail in Ez 38, 39. I am sure that many of you are indeed familiar with those two famous chapters describing God's coming wrath against the hordes which will invade the land of Israel to destroy Jerusalem and to put an end to it.
A question, at least for me, has been WHY? I mean, why is God going to allow Jerusalem to be surrounded, attacked and nearly destroyed? Why will God allow 2/3 of the people in the land of Israel to be killed? (See, Zech 13) Why? Why? Why? A glimpse of God's reasons for the invasion is given in Ez 38, 39. However, God tells us more in Ez 23.
In Ez 23 God lays out in parable form (God loves parables, does He not?) how two daughters (i.e., the two houses of Israel) were born of the same mother (Jacob/Israel). These two daughters are called by God in Hebrew "Oholah" (the elder sister) and "Oholibah" (the younger sister), which loosely translated mean "her own house" and "my house is in her", respectively. These names are consistent with the names God gives to the two houses of Israel throughout the Old Testament. God tells us in Ez 23 that the elder daughter is Samaria (one of God's nicknames for the house of Israel -- the 10 northern tribes who "did their own thing") and the younger daughter is Jerusalem (God's temple, His house, was in Jerusalem).
Both of these daughters became harlots, where the many harlotries of the elder sister Oholah (Samaria) are described first. She lusted for the Assyrians and their idols, so God eventually gave her (10 norther tribes of Israel) over to her Assyrian lovers because of her disdain for God. She turned her back on God, so God in His anger, reluctantly, turned His back on her by giving her over to the Assyrians.
This event occurred historically in approximately 720 or so B.C.E. when the Assyrian army invaded the land of Samaria and took away captive to Assyria the 10 northern tribes of Israel. Thereafter, those 10 tribes (Oholah) were scattered throughout the Assyrian empire and among the gentile nations where they remain scattered today.
So, what about the younger harlot sister Oholibah (Jerusalem - representing the 2 southern tribes, including Judah)?? What has been, or will be, her fate?
When you read Ez 23: 22-27, you see a description of: (1) who is going to come against Jerusalem and invade her to attack her; (2) why she is being attacked; and lastly, (3) what will become of her.
In essence, those coming against her (Jerusalem - the younger harlot daughter) are described as an invading horde which includes Assyrians (i.e., the modern people groups which equate with the ancient Assyrian empire), which resembles those coming against her in Ez 38, 39. This is not the same group of invaders/attackers which will come someday soon against the land of Israel which is described as the Ps 83 war. Regarding Ez 38, 39, I have analyzed the scriptures carefully and have concluded (as have others) that these chapters describe a "last days" battle against the land of Israel and will feature the coming anti-Christ who will be from the peoples of ancient Assyria. I have written a 3-part blog in 2014 about the coming Assyrian anti-Christ and my reasoning, based on scripture. But I digress.
It appears from the context of Ez 23: 24-27 that those coming against the younger harlot sister Oholibah (Jerusalem) will punish her severely, burn her, strip her naked and plunder her. God tells us why -- because of His jealousy and wrath due to her many harlotries which she first learned in Egypt with her elder sister and never gave up. In fact, God says in Ez 23 that the harlotries of Jerusalem (Judah) were WORSE than those of her elder harlot sister Oholah (Samaria - 10 northern tribes). (Ez 23: 11)
I believe from the context of the entire chapter 23 of Ezekiel that Judah's captivity in Babylon (which occurred from about 586-516 B.C.E.) is spoken of, but IN ADDITION, it describes a coming attack on Jerusalem by hordes similar to those described in Ez 38, 39.
The key to this conclusion and analysis is God's description of the invaders and how they will come against her from all sides (Ez 23: 23-24), but also what God says will be the end result of His wrath, judgment and punishment of Jerusalem (Oholibah - the younger harlot sister). God says that He will "will make you [Judah - Jerusalem - Oholibah] cease your lewdness and your harlotry from the land of Egypt, so that you will not lift your eyes to them nor remember Egypt anymore." (Emphasis added). (Ez 23: 27)
In other words, God is punishing the younger sister Oholibah by giving her into the hand of her idol worshiping lovers (the invading and attacking Assyrians and those accompanying the Assyrians), but God will bring her back to Himself by redeeming her, pouring out His Spirit on her, and causing her to never turn from Him again.
The cleansing, forgiveness and purifying of Jerusalem will not occur until the Ez 38, 39 invasion. God tells us in Ez 39: 7, 21-29 that after the invading armies are destroyed He will set His glory in Jerusalem and that His name shall never be profaned again. Clearly, this will not occur until just before Jesus returns to save Jerusalem from the invading armies. (See Zech 12-14 and Rev 19). The house of Israel (both unfaithful sisters, Oholah and Oholibah) will know then, without a doubt, that Jesus is their Lord, Savior and God from that day forward - forever. (Ez 23: 7) This will not happen until this last great battle for Jerusalem occurs, as described in Ez 38, 39.
So, in conclusion, God gives us another view of His feelings, thoughts and intended actions in regard to the two beloved, yet very mischievous and promiscuous houses of Israel -- the daughters, Oholah (the elder harlot sister - Samaria, the 10 norther tribes of Israel, now disbursed throughout the world among the Gentiles) and Oholibah (the younger harlot sister who committed worse idolatry - Jerusalem (the tribe of Judah, and those of Israel associated with Judah) many of whom now occupy and live in the land of Israel today). Praise God!
Time is short. Repent, and prepare your heart for God.
2015 - True Believer
To check out my other blogs, please navigate through my Blog Archive
Friday, October 24, 2014
God is Judging America - Severe Judgement Coming Unless Repentance Comes Soon -- Repent & Prepare: Jerimiah 51:7-14 Being Fulfilled
I posted a first message on this subject, for the church of Christ to WAKE UP, in August 2013. The body of Christ, the church, must take this message to heart NOW, be sober-minded, and seek Him with contrite heart. Time is short for the church here in America. National elections will be held in two weeks. But, a political solution to the present situation in our nation is NOT the solution. God is our only solution.
Previously, I spoke of increased opposition to all things Christian occurring in this nation. There is increasing hatred of Christianity. This hatred is approaching critical mass; now permeating our society and government. This situation will continue, increase and not end any time soon without repentance.
The church of God, the body of Christ, consists of participants and believers. Participants attend church once a week (if that often), sing praises to God while at church, go home, go to work, go online, play video games, go shopping, and watch sports. GOD WANTS AND HONORS BELIEVERS, NOT PARTICIPANTS. Participants are like unpleasant smoke in His nostrils (Is 65: 5); a luke-warm substance He will spit out of His mouth. (Rev 3: 16)
A believer is one who sighs and cries/groans (Ez 9: 1-6) seeing all the abominations swirling around us in in America in our ever-darkening anti-Christian, secular society. A believer sees what is happening and prays intercessory prayers in the name of Jesus for forgiveness of our nation, and for forgiveness as individuals who have missed the mark in their own lives. Participants do not see the darkness and the changes coming upon us, or if they do notice, they shake their heads (at most) and think, "well, what can I do?" Participants are NOT believers. Which are you?
Are you shocked? Are you outraged? Do you have a clue?
The prevailing message in the church today spoken each Sunday by church leaders, both pastors and priests, is that God is love and that Jesus loves you. This is true, but we need more to grow spiritually. Some leaders are also preaching, falsely, that things will get better soon -- just hang in there. This is not true. No such thing will happen without repentance. Some are preaching the prosperity message of "just claim God's promises that He will make you rich, etc." This is nonsense.
Jesus said to seek FIRST the kingdom of God, and HIS righteousness, and then (and only then) everything you NEED (not everything you want/covet) will be given to you. (Mat 6: 33) The major part of seeking God and His kingdom is personal repentance. The body of Christ CANNOT change anything without this first step. In fact, judgment (separating believers from participants) will begin first, and I believe has begun, IN THE CHURCH and will intensify. (1 Pet 4: 17; Ez 14: 6)
Many of you may not believe this or want to hear this. WHY NOT? Could it be because you have been dumbed-down as a Christian through endless sermons on Sundays which never amount to much more than kindergarten basics for Christians? Such sermons are just "milk", as Paul said. (1 Cor 3: 2)
Do you have faith to survive Ebola? Do you have faith to survive a nuclear attack? Do you have faith to survive a famine with the power grid down and/or martial law in place? Do you have faith to survive tremendous civil unrest, accompanied and caused by food shortages, gasoline shortages, and ATM/bank cash shortages?
Is your heart ready for this? Because if it is not, PREPARE NOW.
You may wonder why or how God would judge us, America. After all, God helped establish America. Right?
Some years ago, I was taught by a great teacher of the bible that "God is not judging America" and that he will never judge America. His statement was based on his belief that God is not judging individuals these days, since all judgment and punishment for all sin had been placed upon Jesus (which it was). This teacher also tells us (correctly) that God's grace is upon each of us who have accepted Jesus as our Lord (master), Savior and Redeemer.
BUT, God is indeed judging NATIONS, including America. (See, Ps 9:17, God tells us that all nations that turn from Him will be sent to hell). God has been judging nations since nations have existed, including Israel who God likened to the "apple of His eye", and this is a pattern for any nation which once embraced God and His blessings and then turns a calloused eye to Him once prosperity in that nation causes complacency. God never changes.
Israel (which is an example for us, and for any nation) was constantly judged by God for straying from God. It is a sin, yes a sin, which God WILL NOT overlook forever. God does not change. He is merciful, He warns, He brings increasing judgments, He warns again, He even brings great prosperity after these warnings and judgements because it is the goodness of God that He uses to bring people, HIS people, to repentance.
This verse of scripture is often used as a tool in evangelism to bring a non-believer to accept Christ as Savior and Lord. (Rom 1:18 - 2: 11) But if you read the entire scripture cited here in its context in the Book of Romans, it tells us that God brings righteous judgment against all who live lives without concern for their sinning and without repentance -- whether they be a non-believer or a "participant" church member. A true believer knows this, and lives to be holy -- asking for forgiveness and repenting when they miss the mark. A believer seeks God DAILY and asks that He guide them and counsel them. A believer trusts in Him on a daily basis in order to live a life seeking God and relying on Him to get through anything that comes along at home, at work, or in traffic. Indeed, for such a person, God will guide them and get them THROUGH it. I do NOT say or intimate that God will make sure you never encounter trials or trouble. Jesus tells us that in the world we WILL have troubles, but we are to remember that He has overcome everything and will help us overcome as well -- if we trust in Him and follow Him. (John 16: 33)
If anyone reading this is unsure of God's heart toward any nation who turns from Him, your uncertainty should be gone. What God said regarding His judging such nations, as recorded by Old Testament prophets, is also for us today. God punishes, yesterday and today, all such nations. (See, also Ez 14: 12-20, regarding God's judgment on a land having persistent unfaithfulness toward Him.)
In Jer 18: 7-10, God speaks about any nation which sins against Him and the nation which does, or does not, repent of that sin. Beginning in verse 7 God speaks, "The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it." (Emphasis added)
So, how much more do you think it breaks God's heart to see a nation such as ours turn from Him, a nation that was ONCE UPON A TIME faithful to Him? A nation, similar to the nation of Israel, which He founded and blessed and has set apart to be a light to the rest of the world? We indeed have brought light to the world through our sharing of the Gospel, but now we are bringing darkness and death to the world through our sharing of liberal, ungodly moral conduct and values.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, unless we the church, believers and participants, humble ourselves, pray, seek His face and TURN from out wicked ways God has NO CHOICE but to judge our nation and to destroy it. He is just and must bring justice.
Read Jer 51: 7-14. This describes America's destruction, as does much of Jer 50 and 51. Read Rev 18. This describes America's destruction. So does Is 47. There are more scriptures also describing the coming destruction, but these portions of scripture give specific clarity. America IS the Mystery Babylon of Rev 18 and the "daughter of Babylon" of Is 47 and Jer 50 & 51.
However, 2 Chron 7: 14 also gives us a way out. It says that if God's people (the believing church, not the unbelieving ungodly secular individuals, some of whom are leaders of this nation) humble themselves, pray, seek His face and turn from our wicked ways, God will hear us from heaven, forgive our sins and HEAL OUR LAND!
Without the leadership of our nation participating in such repentance by acknowledging these wrong immoral activities, putting an end to them and requesting God's forgiveness, the church must "go it alone" and be strong in its repentance, seek Ps 91 protection, and request that our nation's leaders also acknowledge the need for a national repentance -- to save our nation. But, those of God's true church of believers, the Philadelphia church of Rev 3, are the only ones promised an escape from coming judgment. (Rev 3: 10) I am NOT talking about a mythical "pre-tribulation rapture" of the church. This is not Biblical nor promised by God. (See my blog regarding no pre-tribulation rapture, based on scripture which disproves such a myth.)
Jesus said that we should be watchful, vigilant, and "pray to escape the things that will come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man." (Luke 21: 36) It is the Philadelphia church of God, true believers who have chosen the narrow and difficult way to live a holy life free from sin and who repent who will be saved. An unrepentant nation or individual is doomed. A repentant church of believers (a group of called-out ones of God) will be saved.
Our once-great nation blessed by God Almighty is being scrutinized by the Almighty and is ripe for destruction. The stench of the immoral ungodly activities of those in our nation, and condoned by our nation's leadership, including many clergy, is clearly in His sight and is reaching, and one may argue has already reached, the breaking point.
In fact, God speaks about a nation, a nation which was once Godly, founded by God, which has turned from God and begun to worship idols. This nation, a spiritual Babylon, is America. God has begun the judgement of America with the fall of the World Trade Center twin towers on September 11, 2001. This is discussed at length by Jonathan Cahn in his book "The Harbinger", and refers to the Is 9: 10 prophecy regarding "the bricks have fallen, etc." and what it portends for America. If you are unfamiliar with that prophecy, please Google it and investigate for yourself.
In God's continued and increasing judgment, our economy was hit -- in September 2001 and again in September 2008. Unless we as a nation repent, we will be hit again and MUCH HARDER in September 2015.
Additionally, a part of the prophecy in Jer 51 of the spiritual Babylon which is America is being fulfilled. In Jer 51: 14, God tells us that he will fill up our nation with men as numerous as locusts who will "raise a shout" against us. This has begun. The open border in the southern United States has allowed numerous individuals to enter this nation, who are hell bent on one thing -- the destruction of America. Whether they come here to cause chaos through beheadings (we have already witnessed this in this nation), through suitcase nuke "dirty bombs", through diseases, through anarchy, etc., we indeed are being filled with people seeking to bring our nation to its knees and to destroy it.
Now, I can hear some of you thinking that I have gone too far -- that God will never judge our nation and that what I am saying is not only unpatriotic but blasphemous! Dear reader, I do not apologize for this message. But, I do want to edify and instruct you and not just pound my proverbial fist and lament over what I see happening in our nation today.
We as individual Christians and members of the Body of Christ are not powerless. In fact, Jesus only acts for us WHEN WE PRAY TO THE FATHER IN THE NAME OF JESUS that He help us. We need to pray, to speak to our pastors, to our priests, and to our lay leaders. Church leadership must shepherd their sheep to repentance and preparation of the heart -- NOW. Time to prepare, to change hearts, to change the future of our nation, is running out. Without repentance, God will give us what we deserve -- destruction of this nation and captivity for believer, participant and unbeliever alike. God will indeed bring a sword (via our own government, or a foreign instrumentality) against this nation -- against believer, participant and unbeliever alike.
I pray that you seriously consider this message and act accordingly. Your liberty and freedom to operate peaceably as a Christian in this nation is at risk. Your life on this earth and the lives of your family members and friends are at risk.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? IT IS TIME TO WAKE UP, PREPARE YOUR HEART, PRAY FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY, AND TO SEEK THE LORD WITH TRUE REPENTANCE (turning from your sinning ways).
Do this, and God will indeed hear you and help you if you seek Him with all your heart, ask for His forgiveness (which He will graciously give you) and REPENT.
Time is short.
2014 - True Believer
To check out my other blogs, please navigate through my Blog Archive
Previously, I spoke of increased opposition to all things Christian occurring in this nation. There is increasing hatred of Christianity. This hatred is approaching critical mass; now permeating our society and government. This situation will continue, increase and not end any time soon without repentance.
The church of God, the body of Christ, consists of participants and believers. Participants attend church once a week (if that often), sing praises to God while at church, go home, go to work, go online, play video games, go shopping, and watch sports. GOD WANTS AND HONORS BELIEVERS, NOT PARTICIPANTS. Participants are like unpleasant smoke in His nostrils (Is 65: 5); a luke-warm substance He will spit out of His mouth. (Rev 3: 16)
A believer is one who sighs and cries/groans (Ez 9: 1-6) seeing all the abominations swirling around us in in America in our ever-darkening anti-Christian, secular society. A believer sees what is happening and prays intercessory prayers in the name of Jesus for forgiveness of our nation, and for forgiveness as individuals who have missed the mark in their own lives. Participants do not see the darkness and the changes coming upon us, or if they do notice, they shake their heads (at most) and think, "well, what can I do?" Participants are NOT believers. Which are you?
Are you shocked? Are you outraged? Do you have a clue?
The prevailing message in the church today spoken each Sunday by church leaders, both pastors and priests, is that God is love and that Jesus loves you. This is true, but we need more to grow spiritually. Some leaders are also preaching, falsely, that things will get better soon -- just hang in there. This is not true. No such thing will happen without repentance. Some are preaching the prosperity message of "just claim God's promises that He will make you rich, etc." This is nonsense.
Jesus said to seek FIRST the kingdom of God, and HIS righteousness, and then (and only then) everything you NEED (not everything you want/covet) will be given to you. (Mat 6: 33) The major part of seeking God and His kingdom is personal repentance. The body of Christ CANNOT change anything without this first step. In fact, judgment (separating believers from participants) will begin first, and I believe has begun, IN THE CHURCH and will intensify. (1 Pet 4: 17; Ez 14: 6)
Many of you may not believe this or want to hear this. WHY NOT? Could it be because you have been dumbed-down as a Christian through endless sermons on Sundays which never amount to much more than kindergarten basics for Christians? Such sermons are just "milk", as Paul said. (1 Cor 3: 2)
Do you have faith to survive Ebola? Do you have faith to survive a nuclear attack? Do you have faith to survive a famine with the power grid down and/or martial law in place? Do you have faith to survive tremendous civil unrest, accompanied and caused by food shortages, gasoline shortages, and ATM/bank cash shortages?
Is your heart ready for this? Because if it is not, PREPARE NOW.
You may wonder why or how God would judge us, America. After all, God helped establish America. Right?
Some years ago, I was taught by a great teacher of the bible that "God is not judging America" and that he will never judge America. His statement was based on his belief that God is not judging individuals these days, since all judgment and punishment for all sin had been placed upon Jesus (which it was). This teacher also tells us (correctly) that God's grace is upon each of us who have accepted Jesus as our Lord (master), Savior and Redeemer.
BUT, God is indeed judging NATIONS, including America. (See, Ps 9:17, God tells us that all nations that turn from Him will be sent to hell). God has been judging nations since nations have existed, including Israel who God likened to the "apple of His eye", and this is a pattern for any nation which once embraced God and His blessings and then turns a calloused eye to Him once prosperity in that nation causes complacency. God never changes.
Israel (which is an example for us, and for any nation) was constantly judged by God for straying from God. It is a sin, yes a sin, which God WILL NOT overlook forever. God does not change. He is merciful, He warns, He brings increasing judgments, He warns again, He even brings great prosperity after these warnings and judgements because it is the goodness of God that He uses to bring people, HIS people, to repentance.
This verse of scripture is often used as a tool in evangelism to bring a non-believer to accept Christ as Savior and Lord. (Rom 1:18 - 2: 11) But if you read the entire scripture cited here in its context in the Book of Romans, it tells us that God brings righteous judgment against all who live lives without concern for their sinning and without repentance -- whether they be a non-believer or a "participant" church member. A true believer knows this, and lives to be holy -- asking for forgiveness and repenting when they miss the mark. A believer seeks God DAILY and asks that He guide them and counsel them. A believer trusts in Him on a daily basis in order to live a life seeking God and relying on Him to get through anything that comes along at home, at work, or in traffic. Indeed, for such a person, God will guide them and get them THROUGH it. I do NOT say or intimate that God will make sure you never encounter trials or trouble. Jesus tells us that in the world we WILL have troubles, but we are to remember that He has overcome everything and will help us overcome as well -- if we trust in Him and follow Him. (John 16: 33)
If anyone reading this is unsure of God's heart toward any nation who turns from Him, your uncertainty should be gone. What God said regarding His judging such nations, as recorded by Old Testament prophets, is also for us today. God punishes, yesterday and today, all such nations. (See, also Ez 14: 12-20, regarding God's judgment on a land having persistent unfaithfulness toward Him.)
In Jer 18: 7-10, God speaks about any nation which sins against Him and the nation which does, or does not, repent of that sin. Beginning in verse 7 God speaks, "The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it." (Emphasis added)
So, how much more do you think it breaks God's heart to see a nation such as ours turn from Him, a nation that was ONCE UPON A TIME faithful to Him? A nation, similar to the nation of Israel, which He founded and blessed and has set apart to be a light to the rest of the world? We indeed have brought light to the world through our sharing of the Gospel, but now we are bringing darkness and death to the world through our sharing of liberal, ungodly moral conduct and values.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, unless we the church, believers and participants, humble ourselves, pray, seek His face and TURN from out wicked ways God has NO CHOICE but to judge our nation and to destroy it. He is just and must bring justice.
Read Jer 51: 7-14. This describes America's destruction, as does much of Jer 50 and 51. Read Rev 18. This describes America's destruction. So does Is 47. There are more scriptures also describing the coming destruction, but these portions of scripture give specific clarity. America IS the Mystery Babylon of Rev 18 and the "daughter of Babylon" of Is 47 and Jer 50 & 51.
However, 2 Chron 7: 14 also gives us a way out. It says that if God's people (the believing church, not the unbelieving ungodly secular individuals, some of whom are leaders of this nation) humble themselves, pray, seek His face and turn from our wicked ways, God will hear us from heaven, forgive our sins and HEAL OUR LAND!
Without the leadership of our nation participating in such repentance by acknowledging these wrong immoral activities, putting an end to them and requesting God's forgiveness, the church must "go it alone" and be strong in its repentance, seek Ps 91 protection, and request that our nation's leaders also acknowledge the need for a national repentance -- to save our nation. But, those of God's true church of believers, the Philadelphia church of Rev 3, are the only ones promised an escape from coming judgment. (Rev 3: 10) I am NOT talking about a mythical "pre-tribulation rapture" of the church. This is not Biblical nor promised by God. (See my blog regarding no pre-tribulation rapture, based on scripture which disproves such a myth.)
Jesus said that we should be watchful, vigilant, and "pray to escape the things that will come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man." (Luke 21: 36) It is the Philadelphia church of God, true believers who have chosen the narrow and difficult way to live a holy life free from sin and who repent who will be saved. An unrepentant nation or individual is doomed. A repentant church of believers (a group of called-out ones of God) will be saved.
Our once-great nation blessed by God Almighty is being scrutinized by the Almighty and is ripe for destruction. The stench of the immoral ungodly activities of those in our nation, and condoned by our nation's leadership, including many clergy, is clearly in His sight and is reaching, and one may argue has already reached, the breaking point.
In fact, God speaks about a nation, a nation which was once Godly, founded by God, which has turned from God and begun to worship idols. This nation, a spiritual Babylon, is America. God has begun the judgement of America with the fall of the World Trade Center twin towers on September 11, 2001. This is discussed at length by Jonathan Cahn in his book "The Harbinger", and refers to the Is 9: 10 prophecy regarding "the bricks have fallen, etc." and what it portends for America. If you are unfamiliar with that prophecy, please Google it and investigate for yourself.
In God's continued and increasing judgment, our economy was hit -- in September 2001 and again in September 2008. Unless we as a nation repent, we will be hit again and MUCH HARDER in September 2015.
Additionally, a part of the prophecy in Jer 51 of the spiritual Babylon which is America is being fulfilled. In Jer 51: 14, God tells us that he will fill up our nation with men as numerous as locusts who will "raise a shout" against us. This has begun. The open border in the southern United States has allowed numerous individuals to enter this nation, who are hell bent on one thing -- the destruction of America. Whether they come here to cause chaos through beheadings (we have already witnessed this in this nation), through suitcase nuke "dirty bombs", through diseases, through anarchy, etc., we indeed are being filled with people seeking to bring our nation to its knees and to destroy it.
Now, I can hear some of you thinking that I have gone too far -- that God will never judge our nation and that what I am saying is not only unpatriotic but blasphemous! Dear reader, I do not apologize for this message. But, I do want to edify and instruct you and not just pound my proverbial fist and lament over what I see happening in our nation today.
We as individual Christians and members of the Body of Christ are not powerless. In fact, Jesus only acts for us WHEN WE PRAY TO THE FATHER IN THE NAME OF JESUS that He help us. We need to pray, to speak to our pastors, to our priests, and to our lay leaders. Church leadership must shepherd their sheep to repentance and preparation of the heart -- NOW. Time to prepare, to change hearts, to change the future of our nation, is running out. Without repentance, God will give us what we deserve -- destruction of this nation and captivity for believer, participant and unbeliever alike. God will indeed bring a sword (via our own government, or a foreign instrumentality) against this nation -- against believer, participant and unbeliever alike.
I pray that you seriously consider this message and act accordingly. Your liberty and freedom to operate peaceably as a Christian in this nation is at risk. Your life on this earth and the lives of your family members and friends are at risk.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? IT IS TIME TO WAKE UP, PREPARE YOUR HEART, PRAY FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY, AND TO SEEK THE LORD WITH TRUE REPENTANCE (turning from your sinning ways).
Do this, and God will indeed hear you and help you if you seek Him with all your heart, ask for His forgiveness (which He will graciously give you) and REPENT.
Time is short.
2014 - True Believer
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