Saturday, January 30, 2016

When All of These Things Happen, Look Up Part 11


Jesus instructed His disciples to "watch" (Matthew 24:42) and always "be ready" (verse 44). Watch what? Not global events, but themselves. Peter said: "Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you" (2 Peter 3:14-15). That is what it means to watch and be ready. Are you watching? Are you ready?

Hey Gang:  In the last blog, we looked at war and rumors of war as in a world context.  In this blog which I will title Sign Eight, I will restrict my comments to the “apple of God’s eye”- the center of what is happening in our world today – Israel.  To set the stage for this we need to turn to a book that was written between 520 and 489 B.C., the Book of Zechariah, which, I believe, was designed by God for this very hour.  

In verse two and three of Chapter Twelve, God gives us a perfect description of what is happening in our world at the moment.  Notice: “Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against Judah”.   Notice; “they will become like a cup that causes reeling”  (Zech. 12:2).

It is reported that a very large percentage of the business considered in the United Nations centers on Israel.  Unfortunately, the United Nations is largely controlled by the Arab Nations; therefore, most of the actions are prejudicial against Israel.  In a recent meeting of the UN they passed seven resolutions condemning Israel for their savage treatment of the terrorist who were trying to kill them; nothing about ISIS or Iran or Russia.  

In verse three, God continued painting a picture that has appeared loud and clear since Israel became a nation again on May 14, 1948: “It will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured.  And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it”.   All the nations?  Yes, tragically all, even the United States that has been Israel’s friend and support for many years has, under this President, turned against the “apple of God’s eye”. 

Notice, I did not say their “savior” for only God can be their Savior.  In verse eight we read: “In that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants lf Jerusalem, and the one who is feeble among them in that day will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the Lord before them”.   I like that promise that even “the feeble among them in that day will be like David”.    At 82 one tends to be a wee bit feeble.

We need to look at one other verse before getting into the subject of current wars and rumors of war and how it effects God’s chosen people and land.  It is found in Psalm 83:3 and clearly states the intent of the sons of Ishmael’s heart in past, present and future.  You need to read the entire Psalm, but here I am going to restrict our reading to verse 3 and 4:  “They make shrewd plans against Your people, and conspire together against Your treasured ones, They have said, “Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation that the name of Israel be remembered no more.”  

For most of my growing up years it was the general agreement on the part of many Bible Prophecy guru’s that the next great event to come is the Gog – Magog War of Ezekiel 38-39.   I fell in line with this teaching and belief until one day a light went on in my head.  The light – does it not seem odd that if Gog-Magog is the next big event in our world why are there no current neighbors that butt up against Israel listed in the confederacy of Gog?

The Scripture tells me that God is going to put a hook into the jaws of the prince of Rosh, Meshach and Tubal and will bring them out splendidly attired horse and horsemen with shield and buckler and swords in hand.  Where are the tanks, and missiles, the jet fighters and bombers, the foot soldiers with their modern devices of destruction and killing?  Now many would argue that God is using symbolic language here and did not have such words for this modern killing devices.  To that I say “hogwash”.  Read on.

My dear mentor, Jessie, would say, don’t try and put words into God’s mouth.  If the Word says horse, horseman, buckle and shield and sword, that is precisely what he means! That did not make a lot of sense to me until a few years back when I first learned about the power grid and how hostile nations were seeking ways to attack the power grids of the countries they hoped to defeat.  Could that be another of those subtle signs of the times that few people know anything about.  If a nation can destroy another nations power grid, that nation would be without power.  My dear friends, everything in this world runs on power, including the armaments of the world.

Ezekiel 39:1 tells us: “Thus says the Lord God, “Behold I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal and I will turn you around, drive you on, take you up from the remotest parts of the north and bring you against the mountains of Israel”.   Now getting back to the question of why there were none of Israels’ neighbors mentioned in the Gog Magog confederacy.  Would Lebanon not have to be part of that confederacy since it is a huge menace waiting to blow its cork with Hezbollah, armed with a huge stockpile of missiles aimed at every city and hamlet in Israel ready to fire.  Is that not something to chew on?

Well my friends I have done it again – run out of space and time.  I pray you will alert me when you have had your fill of What’s Happening Man.  I am very biased and a firm believer that you can set the table for a non-believer to become a believer by showing them clearly that it is Jesus’ desire that none should be without understanding.

When you can take a prophecy out of the Word and lay it down beside the news article that states it has been fulfilled exactly as God said it would be it can open the eyes of the non-believer.    Next time, I will try and tie some knots and clarify the points that I have left dangling.

Blessings,


Gramps

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