ISRAEL, con’t part five

You may wonder why I am so intent on writing about Israel…mainly because God loves them and tells us to, then because since 1948 they have been in the right about their land. Yes, God gave it to them, it’s boundaries are laid out in many places in the Scripture, also Jews have lived in that area for 6,000 years along with Arabs. Their main dispersal was in 70 AD, but remnants have always been there. In 1948 the newly formed UN (previously was called the League of Nations) “partitioned” the land and offered the Arabs a section as well as the Jews. The Jews accepted, the Arabs said no! Now you tell me who are the “occupiers?” All of this recent history has gotten lost someplace…NO ONE in the general public seems to know the true story. God will not hold those guiltless who believe the lie!

Today I would like to talk about what is written in Ezekiel 37-39. God tells the prophet to write about Gog and Magog. He starts off with an oratory on bones…He asks the prophet is these dry bones can live? As Ezekiel watched the bones began to come together. God told the prophet He would put meat on their dry bones, cause them to stand up, a mighty army, and breathe life into them again. They stood up but were disheartened, hopeless. His answer is wonderful…” I will dig up your graves and bring you out alive O My people. Then I’ll take you straight to the land of Israel, and you will come to realize I am your God. I have said it, and I’ll do it!” ™

He told Ezekiel to cut two sticks and write on them, one for Joseph’s people and one for Judah’s. Then tie them together and make one stick. Tell the people I am making them one people and am calling them out of the nations to which I have exiled them.They shall be one people living in the land of Israel, their home, and they will live and thrive in the land and mountains of Israel and all the world will know that they are mine. Their land will bloom and be prosperous, and they will be free and they will be Mine!

Then God told Ezekiel to prophecy a time when a country from the far north will desire what they have and will invade them…the land of Gog and Magog…present day Russia. Joining with her will be Iran, Ethiopia, Jordan, and Syria. But…God will deal with them Himself and they will be defeated in the mountains of Israel. He will send an earthquake that will split the area, torrential rains, hail, lava flowing from the eruptions,..” I God will call for all out war against you O Gog, and you will know how great and holy I am …I will make myself known all over the world and never again will I let my  holy name be dragged in the mud!”

More next time…

Israel, con’t part five…reading Revelation

I don’t wish to comment on the early chapters of Revelation dealing with John’s letters to the various churches, at least not a this time. But I have been intrigued this time reading through, about the things God will bring about during the Tribulation. It’s only been a year since I read the entire book through but my goodness, how things have changed in a year and the happenings of the rest of the book are that much more probable. so here goes…

Chapter Five  gives us a beautiful picture of the Throne Room of God, we can only imagine! One is seated on the Throne and holding a scroll, thought to be the title deed to the earth. All around are Angels, various and unusual animals, 24 thrones circling the main Throne, with 24 white-robed Elders wearing golden crowns. There were thunders and lightening's, all sorts of gorgeous colors, the colors of precious jewels. The angels were of many differing sorts and would cry out,”Glory, Glory, Glory” and “Holy. Holy, Holy.” The Elders would respond by throwing their crowns before the Throne crying, “Worthy, Worthy, Worthy…”  The scroll in the hand of the One on the Throne was written on both sides and sealed with seven seals. But no one was present,worthy  to open the scroll, and John wept. Suddenly there appeared a Lamb, slaughtered but standing tall. The Lamb took the scroll from the One on the Throne and all those in the throne room fell down and worshipped and sang a new song to the Lamb and the One on the Throne. There were thousands times ten thousands all praising and glorifying the Lamb and the One. Then John says, “everyone” in Heaven, on Earth, in the Sea and under the Sea sang, “Worthy, Worthy, Worthy.” We can only imagine!!!!!

The Lamb took the scroll and tore open the first seal. One of the animals called out, “come out…” and out came a rider on a white horse carrying a bow, (no arrows) was given a victory garland and rode off conquering! A second animal cried, “come out…” out came a red horse to make war with the people of the earth, taking peace, and he was given a huge sword. A third animal cried, “come out…” out came a black horse carrying scales, to weigh the food, little for the poor and more than enough for the rich. A fourth animal cried, “come out…” and a colorless, sickly, pale horse came out, it’s rider was Death and Hades close behind. They were given the power to take 1/4th of the population by war, famine, and disease. A fifth animal cried, “come out…” I saw the souls of those killed for holding fast to their witness to the Word of God. They were under the altar and cried out to God, “How long O Lord until we are avenged???” They were each given a white robe and asked to be patient until their number was complete. The sixth seal brought forth a terrible earthquake, sun turning black as ink, moon all bloody, stars falling out of the sky, everyone running for cover, EVERYONE! All sought cover crying, “save us from the One who sits on the Throne and the Lamb for the day of their wrath has come!

What does all this mean???? It means all is in readiness for the playing out of this scenario. Think about the individual seals…peace…a treaty between Israel and the Palestinians would create a sense of peace would it not? But it wouldn’t last and there would be war, thus the red horse. The famine is here already, but it would get worse if there was a widespread war. Enough of a famine and deaths could reach extremely high levels.  In present third world countries there are people dying all the time, these tragedies would exaserbate the situation. More next time…

Israel, can't part 4

What will it mean if this anti-Semitism continues and/or gets worse? To me, it indicates one more time that we are definitely in the last days and moving rapidly toward Christ’s return for His bride!  In my opinion, when Israel became a nation in 1948, the scenario was “kicked off.” Old Testament prophecies began to come alive as Israel bloomed, prospered and began to make her mark in the world. US Presidents,Congressman,Senators and other important persons saw her as a force to be reckoned with and were very supportive of her democratic government, the ONLY nation in the Middle East that was democratic. That attitude continued for decades, President after President, just about all were supportive of this tiny nation thriving in the midst of her Arab neighbors…all were antagonistic and threatening. The world quickly began to forget that the “so-called” Palestinians had refused their own state, were NOT the original occupiers of the area, thousands of years ago both Arabs and Jews shared the land, and the more antagonistic toward God…pagans…were conquered by the Israelites at God’s instruction so as not to pollute the holiness God instilled in them as a pattern for living. Even God’s instruction to the Jews was at times harsh but it was always to keep down sin among His people. You may ask why God desired a group of people He called “His”…what purpose did He have in mind in calling Abraham out from his homeland and people, not even telling him where He was taking them????  Well, He wanted 1) a people, a group of people actually, that would love Him and obey Him, and be His very own people that He would love and care for eternally, 2) a people that would keep account of His instructions and preserve the writings, 3) a line of people that would remain pure that He could use to bring His Son into the world as Savior of all. In return He gave them a land, starting with Abraham, that would always be His/theirs. The key word here is “OBEY…” Of course they did not, He was constantly dealing with them in their sin, the whole of the Old Testament is full of the account, and much of the New. But, the Covenant He made with Abraham was unconditional since He knew they would not keep it, and unconditional is unconditional…then and now! He said “I will bless them that bless you and curse them that curse you,” then and now. He never breaks a promise…

 

If we go back to the book of Daniel, we’ll get a timeline of God’s dealing with Israel. All is accomplished with the exception of seven years. get out your study Bible and check it out, all but seven years. We Christians refer to that time period, as does the Apostle John in Revelation, as the Tribulation. Jesus Himself referred to it in Matthew 24-25, calling it a time when there would be such horrible events He would have to intervene at the end or none would survive, so terrible nothing in past history would compare and as you know, some pretty awful things have happened so it must be going to be too horrible to even contemplate. But it will come because God said so and He never changes His mind or breaks a promise.

Israel, con’t

A PRISONER SET FREE TO SING… A wonderful lady from the past, Madame Guyon, wrote lots of encouraging poems and other pieces of literature from her prison cell where she spent most of her life for her witness. Those were days when prison cells were usually holes in a wall, cold, dark, and yet she had incredible faith in her God to always be there with her…and He was! “ A little bird am I, shut out from the fields of air, And in my cage I sit and sing to Him who placed me there; Well pleased a prisoner to be, because, my God, it pleases Thee. Nought have I else to do; I sing the whole day long; And He whom most I love to please, Doth listen to my song; He caught and bound my wondering wing, But still He bends to hear me sing. My cage confines me round; Abroad I cannot fly; But though my wing is closely bound, my heart’s at liberty. My prison walls cannot control the flight, the freedom of my soul.” The presence of God hallows every place it touches…

ARE YOU PURE IN HEART?????

I read a devotional, “This Day With the Master” by Dr Dennis Kinlaw. He is a wonderful, Godly man who most days stirs my heart. Today I read this and his comments on I Thess 5:23-24…”We realize it is one thing to have our sins forgiven, and quite another matter to have our inner heart cleansed.” It has been my experience in 30 years of prison ministry, teaching and counseling inmates and interacting with the staff, that verse is entirely so and completely practical. Most of the time we believers concentrate on getting a person “saved.” Of course that is paramount, but it is also step one. MOST of the men I met in prison that had religious experience in the past, could remember a time when they had an experience with the Lord…but…here they were, addicted, friendless, family gone,no decent future ahead, sitting in prison. A question I get asked many,many times: what happened to me? Valid question. Most of us in the free world could ask the same thing. Years ago my friend and mentor, Chaplain David Wilson had me get acquainted with material by Dr David Seamanns, Healing For Damaged Emotions. He could not have given me a greater gift because I learned the answer to that question. It took much study and prayer. I developed what I call “think time.” I would hit a place in the material that really struck my heart. I needed to spend time meditating, pondering, thinking it through. It is a remarkable work, I once had the pleasure and privilege of meeting Dr Seamanns at his home, shortly before he moved on to Glory. He radiated love. His work radiated that same quality of love, and caring. You can tell he knew experientially what he was writing was true, needed, healing. Personally, I don’t think you can teach it until you have read and applied all that is in that work of love. Heart cleansing is a continuing process…theologically it is called sanctification. Scripture tells us to be ‘renewed in the ttitude of your mind…” and that sums it up. However, it is a life-long process and we individually must make a commitment to do it. Most are not willing to devote the time required, and most are never taught the need to cleanse our minds…our sin-riddled, ugly minds.Some even believe and/or are taught sanctification happens at salvation, we are saved and healed all at the same time. It is as if the Lord was the tooth fairy who tapped us on the head with a magic wand and whalah! Whole…it just doesn’t happen that way. We must read the Word, study it, memorize it, meditate on it and most important of all…apply it! A cleansed mind is not possible apart from applying the truths of God’s Word to our every day lives and all of our interaction with others. It is actually a life-long process. We need good, faithful, godly teachers, we need mentors that will walk along the path with us, We need someone we trust that we can and will be accountable to. When you get to the point where these things are part of your life each and every day…you will grow in grace and find yourself well long the road to a godly life. I wish you well!

Osama bin Laden

Been thinking a lot about what has gone on these last couple of days. I am satisfied that an enemy of our country is gone and out of any position of influence. However, I don’t think we have heard last of the incident, I don’t think the Arabs will leave it alone, and we may have some very ugly days ahead. We’ll see. I re-thought the matter of burying him at sea, probably the best  thing so as not to make it possible for him to be “worshipped.” I do believe he is dead..

I’ve heard the question raised as to whether or not it is proper to “rejoice” especially for Christian people…God loves everybody, they say.  True, that is why He makes the Gospel available to all sinners, either by words or by nature…and Christ’s sacrifice is sufficient for even UBL! I am pretty sure God is grieved when an unredeemed person dies, He knows their end and that it is permanent simple because of Who He is and what it cost Him to redeem. the “choice” is ours. He gave, we must receive.I have not had a sense of “happiness” over this, more like concern…what will this do within the Muslim/Arab community in retaliation, THAT concerns me a lot.

I have read and studied Scripture for almost 40 years, have especially spent time with prophecy and the history of Israel. Even made my own timeline so as to really “get” how things happened to God’s people, and when. We westerners wonder how the Arabs can be so vicious and ruthless…beheadings in brutal, painful ways, torture and so-called honor killings and many other atrocities. How can they do that and how can they treat women the way they do????  Even in Jesus day women were treated badly. He spoke up and to women, included them and raised them to a higher level than they had been allowed. If we go all the way back to Genesis and look at Jacob and Esau...there was great conflict between those brothers, and that conflict continues to this day.There are verses in Genesis that tell us those who eventually formed the Arab nations were “’wild men, “ always at odds with their brethren, brutal. In other words God says it is part of their nature, the majority unregenerate, sinful. That is why the on-going battle with the Jews is as fierce as it is, a family war so to speak. Not to say salvation is not available to them…it is. Each of us can believe and receive God’s gift or not…even Osama bin Laden.