Author: Joe

Prophecy Update 

What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?   James 4:1

Our text reveals that war begins in the heart and soul of the people. A war exists inside of each person as each navigates life. Because of the sin of Adam, God cursed all mankind.  Every person has a sin nature. This internal war breaks open in relationships resulting in quarrels and conflicts. What happens when the quarrels and conflicts happen on a national level?

The word ‘war’ appears 228 times in the Bible. Since the ‘last days’ is described as a time of war, I want to focus on the rising conflicts in the update. War is inevitable because of the fallen nature of mankind. Jesus said it like this:

“You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.” Matthew 24:6

First, let us deal with the touchy subject. Is God for war? The book of Numbers starts with the directive from God that each tribe is to choose men, 20 years old and older, to prepare for war. God was preparing His people for war in their future promised land. God told David that He trained his hands for war. God conducted a war on the Egyptians:

“Has any people heard the voice of God speaking from the midst of the fire, as you have heard it and survived? Or has a god tried to take for himself a nation from within another nation by trials, by sign and wonders and by war and by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm and by great terrors, as the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?” Deuteronomy 4:33-34

God describes the ten plagues as conducting war on the Egyptians. There are hundreds of verses like this in the Bible. God sends war, prepares for war, fights wars, and tells us to expect war! Many nations have experienced the wars God sent, the Egyptians, Assyrians, Syrians, Moabites, Edomite’s, Babylonians, and soon America! God prophesied this:

“Son of man, speak to the sons of your people and say to them, this is the word of the Lord—if I bring a sword upon a land [there is God taking responsibility for bringing war to a people] and the people of the land take one man from among them and make him their watchman and he sees the sword coming upon the land and he blows on the trumpet and warns the people, then he who hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, and a sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head.” Ezekiel 33:2

According to this verse, God sends war and people are responsible for their response. As a watchman on the wall, I want to make sure that everyone understands that war is coming to America. It is not a question of if it is coming, it is a question of when! The protective hand of God has been removed from cities like Portland and Seattle. The riots experienced in these cities represents asymmetrical warfare that China, Russia, and Iran are using against the United States of America.

Asymmetrical warfare is the tool used by nations against the United States in their total war campaigns to bring down the Trump Administration. God is a warrior and He sends wars by His own righteous hand. There is no such thing as a just war, because all wars include something of the judgment of God on the participants. All wars, even defensive wars, represent a judgment from God. This means that America needs repentance as part of their war planning! Only God can deliver us from the asymmetrical warfare we are experiencing.

“The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is his name.” Exodus 15:3

The Bible indicates that there will be an increase of wars and rumors of wars in the last days leading up to the Tribulation period. Since wars and rumors of wars have been happening for thousands of years, what makes this time so special? The increase of wars are directly tied to the increased ability to travel and send information. The fulfillment of these prophesies were not possible prior to the 20^th century. In fact, it has only been possible since the 1990’s.  

War with Russia

Russia has adopted an asymmetrical warfare plan called ‘Hybrid War.’ China is the model for the Russian change in war doctrine against America. Both China and Russia are together attacking America everyday through a variety of means, including computer hacking, stealing information, disinformation, lying, spying, infiltration, and recruiting. Some American citizens actively work for Russian and Chinese proxy groups. Chinese propaganda drives half of the governors of our country, which makes them traitors to the Constitution. A nation divided against itself cannot stand. If you are wondering why cities allow riots and destruction, look no farther than the asymmetrical warfare waged against the country. Why is it that all of these cities are run by Democrats?

“Hybrid war, is a set of activities below the level of conventional conflict. But Russia includes significant conventional conflict in its conception and execution of hybrid war. If the US continues to focus on deterring the kind of war Russia does not intend to fight while underestimating the role military force can and must play in preventing Moscow from accomplishing its aims through hybrid war, then the US will likely suffer serious strategic defeats even as its defense strategy technically succeeds. The Kremlin is even now waging a hybrid war against the United States. The Kremlin assesses that hybrid wars already dominate 21st century conflict and will continue to do so. The Kremlin believes it must adapt to win this struggle, profoundly shaping Russian military development and assessments of the future of war.”  understandingwar.org 

Russia has increasingly beefed up its air defense systems and information warfare abilities in Syria since 2016. The air defense systems include the ability to attack and destroy airplanes in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. This is significant for their eventual war with Israel. The Eastern Mediterranean is the source of Israeli gas fields that are coming on line to ship gas to Europe. It is important for Russia to have complete control of the Syrian air space for the future war with Israel. Another step towards this goal was accomplished this month.

Syria Warning Update: Syrian Regime Offensive on Idlib May Be Imminent. “Key Takeaway: Turkey may have agreed to cede control of territory in southern Idlib to pro-Assad forces in a meeting with Russia on September 16.  If the reports of a deal are true, a pro-Assad offensive is likely imminent. Turkish-backed opposition forces and al Qaeda linked elements may fight back against advancing Russian-backed regime forces even without Turkish support. Turkey is most likely to cede the territory south of the M4 highway, a zone in which Turkey had already agreed to allow Russian patrols in March but retained forces, including artillery units, that precluded a full regime takeover. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov expressed confidence that Turkey and Russia would succeed in “liberating” Idlib Province from terrorists in a press conference on September 7.”  iswresearch.org 

This also impacted American troops in eastern Syria. In fact, Russian and American troops have fought in the last few weeks.

US beefs up force protection in Syria after run-in with Russia. “The military has sent mechanized infantry and other new assets into Syria after a confrontation with Russian forces last month injured several U.S. troops. In a statement Friday, U.S. Central Command (Centcom) announced it had deployed Bradley Fighting Vehicles and Sentinel radar, as well as increased the frequency of fighter jet patrols over U.S. forces, in order “to help ensure the safety and security of coalition forces.” thehill.com 

One of the Russian goals in its war with the United States is to destroy the NATO alliance. I have written a lot on this subject the last few years. This has happened because the Europeans and the left in America are willing to do anything to appease evil. A fascinating article called “The ‘Nevertheless’ Club and the World” highlights this problem:

“In November 1938, a few days after Kristallnacht, the French ambassador to Berlin Robert Coulondre reported the event to Paris, describing the savagery in the heart of Europe, concluding that “nevertheless [néanmoins in French] one should understand German grievances against the Jews.” For the past few years, hosting the Islamic Republic’s Foreign Minister, Mohammed Javad Zarif, has developed into an annual ritual of the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). This year, however, CFR’s invitation to Zarif raised a storm of protest beyond the bubble in which American foreign policy junkies play games, indulge in fantasies, and address their principal task, which is fund-raising. What triggered the storm was the murder in a Tehran prison of Navid Afkari, a popular wrestling champion and a pro-democracy protester. The killing sent shock waves throughout Iran, including even among some elements of the Khomeinist establishment. The CFR director Richard Haas, a former State Department official, published this tweet:

“Like many others I condemn the execution of Navid Afkari. I also hold the view that human rights constitute an important dimension of US foreign policy. Nevertheless, I believe that CFR is correct to meet with Iran’s foreign minister.” gatestoneinstitute.org  

The CFR is one of the American groups that always adopts the views of our enemies. They appease the evil of China and Russia against the United States. When it comes to China and Russia, the neverthelesscrowd appeases all that those two countries are doing in the United States. It is disheartening to see that major news outlets adopt the views of our enemies and create confusion and hatred of our own country.

War with China

“China’s moves are so bold that the Pentagon has reoriented its entire worldview. Friction across the region is ripe for escalation — from the long-standing Chinese threats against Taiwan to the the U.S. freedom-of-navigation operations in the South and East China seas that so irritate the Chinese. And, of course, those seas are heavily trafficked by ships, both military and commercial, adding more potential for confrontations. Other triggers could include China’s land claims across the region, its growing economic might, shifting regional alliances and the ever-present tensions on the Korean peninsula. There’re also growing concerns about cyber warfare and space.”  dothaneagle.com 

“January 28, 2020 Charles Lieber, head of Harvard University’s chemistry department, is charged with lying about accepting money from the Chinese government while receiving $15 million in grants from US agencies. A pioneer in nanotechnology, Lieber is the highest-profile academic to be arrested in connection with Chinese-American technological rivalry. July 24, 2020 The Trump administration orders the closure of China’s consulate in Houston, “in order to protect American intellectual property and American’s (sic) private information,” alleging that the consulate is being used to coordinate industrial espionage against the US. China closes the American consulate in Chengdu in retaliation.” technologyreview.com 

Explain the Chinese spy, Sen. Feinstein. “Imagine if it emerged that the Republican chairman of the House or Senate intelligence committee had a Russian spy working on their staff. Think it would cause a political firestorm? Well, this month we learned that Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) had a Chinese spy on her staff who worked for her for about 20 years, was listed as an “office director” on payroll records and served as her driver when she was in San Francisco, all while reporting to China’s Ministry of State Security through China’s San Francisco Consulate.” washingtonpost.com   

The FBI arrests several Chinese spies a year; many more go undeterred in nefarious activity. Our country is over run by Russian and Chinese spies but there is no will to hunt them down and evict them.

Here Are 4 Potential Hotspots Where The Next World War Could Erupt At Any Time.

“China vs. USA:  China and the US are unquestionably at odds with one another. China has also increased its aggression against its Asian neighbors in the east, most notably Japan and Vietnam. Chinese friction with Japan is perhaps the most well known, and it centers around the Senkaku Islands (Diaoyu in China). Also, China is attempting to extend its borders in the South China Sea by creating artificial islands to stretch its maritime claims. The Chinese response to US sanctions has come in the form of traditional military tactics and preparing for “unrestricted warfare” with the United States. In other words, war with no rules.” zerohedge.com

Armenia against Azerbaijan, Turkey against Greece, and Russia against the Baltic States are potential wars brewing right now in significant ways. The Chinese military is so aggressive that the big three from Europe made a statement about China’s behavior. It is very signigicant because Europe has appeased China. Here is the quote:

“The Europe Big Three said China’s exercise of its alleged “historic rights” in the disputed waters does not align with international law. Britain, France and Germany, as states parties to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, urged that the integrity of the Convention needs to be upheld.” youtube.com 

What is so concerning to military planners is that China is openly talking about attacking the United States and declaring they will destroy us. This type of talk historically has led to open warfare. China is upset that Trump ordered the rapid military escalation of weapons on Guam, Wake Island, and Papua New Guinea. China ordered a simulation of the destruction of Guam. This escalation of war talk has not calmed down as of this week, but has intensified. As Christians we must recognize that there are just and unjust elements in every nation’s conduct of war. We must back the just elements of fighting, God always has a just reason for bringing war—will we be on His side?

Abraham Lincoln illustrated this in the second Inaugural Address:

“It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God’s assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men’s faces; but let us judge not that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered; that of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes. “Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!”(Matthew 18:7) If we shall suppose that American Slavery is one of those offences which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South, this terrible war, as the woe due to those by whom the offence came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a Living God always ascribe to Him?  ourdocuments.gov

America’s sins have led to the current troubles and internal war.  All of us are responsible, as Lincoln rightly observed during the Civil War. As such, we should determine to confess our sins and pray for the cleansing of our nation by Jesus’s blood. The nation is divided because we have forgotten God. If Trump wins the vote in November, we will see more conflict. Prepare for the conflict by praying with me for revival!   

“The LORD nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.”   

Psalms 33:10-12

God Cares About Nations

The Lord mentions ‘nations’ 643 times in the Scriptures. As I have meditated on many of the scriptures about nations, I am overwhelmed with God’s concern and leadership regarding nations. Our text, Psalm 33:10-12 highlights five things about nations:

1. Nations rebel against God and the LORD nullifies their counsel. Nullify means to frustrate, make ineffectual, and break. I am very happy that God does this with evil leaders and government philosophies. Consider the Fascist leadership of Nazi Germany; their hatred of God led to God destroying their nation. Consider the Communist leadership of the Soviet Union; God destroyed their nation! Do you not think that God can destroy the evil of socialism and communism in our own country?
2. When nations come up with evil plans, God will frustrate their plans. The word frustrate means to restrain, forbid, make averse, and discourage. I am watching God do this in California!
3. God has a plan when it comes to nations. God’s plan theologically is called the providence of God. Providence is the faithful care and guidance of all that God has created. When we see nations out of control morally, ethically, and spiritually, be sure that God has a plan. He is working out that plan in regards to evil.
4. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord”, in other words, God blesses nations who follow His will. Sometimes nations get it right, follow the Lord and base their decisions on the Word of God and leadership of the Spirit!
5. God has chosen some nations to be His inheritance.  Clearly, Israel  is one of those nations. Let us hope America is one of those nations. I hope America will repent, churches will preach the truth, and reformation will come.

When Jesus reiterated the truth that world history would be filled with wars and rumors of wars, He was showing His omniscient knowledge of the future.  The prophecies that Jesus made have to be global because they involve the whole world.  Consider this…In 1900 it took weeks to get information from New York to Asia. Today, information can go from New York to Beijing in seconds. Global conflicts are communicated almost instantly.  God is judging and sending punishment to nations as they grow further and further away from His will and revelation. The twentieth century technological advancements paralleled the rebellion required to cause wars and rumors of wars.  

Notice the surge of wars and rumors of wars over the last three weeks. God is sending His judgments leading to war.

China vs. India

India Test Fires ‘NextGen Hypersonic Weapon’ As Border Tensions With China Surge. “With a military standoff between India and China intensifying, the Indian military has decided to increase geopolitical instabilities in the region, on Monday, as it test-fired a new class of ultra-modern weapons that can travel at hypersonic speeds. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), an agency under the Indian Ministry of Defence, tasked with weapon development, released a statement Monday announcing it “successfully flight tested” a domestic hypersonic technology demonstrator vehicle (HSTDV) for the first-time.” zerohedge.com

Israel and the Middle East

Dubai official: Hamas can go to hell. “A high ranking official in the Dubai police department said on Tuesday that the UAE’s newly brokered peace deal with Israel was a positive step for regional stability and security and that Hamas can go to hell. Israel never threatened us. [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan has. Iran is threatening us, Lt. Gen. Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, deputy chief of the Dubai police, told Kuwaiti media outlet Diwan al-Mullah. The Turkish leader’s claims that he was the champion of the Palestinians is a sham, he continued. Tamim also questioned why it was necessary for a government to receive approval from the Palestinians before signing a peace treaty with Israel.” israelhayom.com

HEZBOLLAH, HAMAS CONSPIRE TO CONQUER JERUSALEM. “Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah met on Sunday with a Hamas delegation to Lebanon led by the terror group’s politburo head Ismail Haniyeh to discuss Arab countries’ normalization of relations with Israel, Hezbollah’s Al-Manar website reported. Haniyeh and Nasrallah emphasized the bond between Hezbollah and Hamas, which they said was based on “brotherhood, jihad, patience,” as well as a shared destiny. The two leaders stressed the stability of the “Axis of Resistance” (a political alliance between Iran, Syria and Hezbollah) in the face of “all forms of pressures and threats. The Hamas leader stressed that the Palestinian “right of return” was “sacred,” and said that Hezbollah’s rockets “are the main retaliation to draw the map of Palestine on [the] battlefield.” israel365news.com 

Taiwan vs. China

Eyeing China, Taiwan urges alliance against ‘aggressive actions’: “Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen called on Tuesday for an alliance of democracies to defend against “aggressive actions” and protect freedom, alluding to Chinese actions in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait as major threats to regional stability. China, which claims democratic Taiwan as its own, has ramped up its military activities around the island, as well as in the disputed East and South China Seas. Speaking in Taipei at a forum attended by top Taiwanese security officials and senior Western diplomats, Tsai said Taiwan stood at the forefront of defending democracy from “authoritarian aggression”.reuters.com

United States vs. China

Shutter the 31 People’s Liberation Army companies doing business here. “Yesterday, the Pentagon announced that there are now thirty-one “Chinese Communist military companies” doing business inside our country. These include the Chinese Communications Construction Company the U.S. sanctioned just last week. By law, every Chinese company operating overseas must steal technology, recruit spies, subvert its host government or otherwise serve the motherland if ordered to do so by the CCP. But those are among the main duties of the People’s Liberation Army. Why on earth are any of its front companies – let alone mainstays of China’s military industrial complex – allowed to do business here?  The answer is the same as why such companies are allowed to obtain money from U.S. investors via pension systems, indexes, A share trades, etc.: Some on Wall Street and in corporate board rooms are getting rich. The rest of us are getting hosed. This must end. Now.” centerforsecuritypolicy.org

China’s surprise, years in the planning: An EMP attack. “The coronavirus pandemic has exposed dangerous weaknesses in U.S. planning and preparation for civil defense protection and recovery, and those weaknesses surely have been noticed by our potential enemies: China, Russia, North Korea, Iran and international terrorists. The U.S. spent decades, and billions of dollars, supposedly preparing for biological warfare. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and the departments of Defense and Homeland Security are supposed to have contingency plans to protect the American people from lethal biological weapons such as anthrax and genetically engineered smallpox, which could have mortality rates of over 90 percent. But our defenders have not even been able to competently cope with COVID-19, which has a mortality rate under 1 percent. The virus that shut down a prosperous U.S. economy, self-inflicting the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Adversaries also have noticed the ongoing U.S. “cold civil war.” China, for example, has been planning to defeat the U.S. with an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) and cyber “Pearl Harbor” attack for a quarter-century. As I warned the Senate Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security in 2005, Chinese military writings — such as the following excerpt — make reference to U.S. vulnerability to EMP attacks: March 2020, a panel of China’s military experts threatened to punish U.S. Navy ships for challenging China’s illegal annexation of the South China Sea by making an EMP attack — one of the options they considered least provocative because the crew would be unharmed, but most effective because the ship would be disabled. Now three U.S. aircraft carriers are in the Pacific to challenge China’s aggression in the South China Sea.” thehill.com

Turkey vs. Greece and France

Turkey: War with Greece ‘just a matter of time’ “Head of Turkish National Movement Party Devlet Bahçeli has declared that war with Greece is “just a matter of time”, The New Khaleej reported on Friday. It is inconceivable to turn our backs on our historical interests in the Mediterranean and the Aegean, Bahçeli announced in a statement reported by the Arabic news website. It seems that Greece’s appetite and desire to be thrown into the sea has swelled again,” stressing that war in the Mediterranean and the Aegean is “just a matter of time”. He added: “Greece’s goal is to come again and occupy our lands from where we threw them out 98 years ago. We are facing a new invasion plan.” middleeastmonitor.com

Greece and Turkey went to blows just prior to World War One. “Balkan League, (1912–13), alliance of Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece, and Montenegro, which fought the First Balkan War against Turkey (1912–13). Ostensibly created to limit increasing Austrian power in the Balkans, the league was actually formed at the instigation of Russia in order to expel the Turks from the Balkans. The league members declared war on the Ottoman Empire in October 1912. The league was victorious, but it disintegrated when its members quarreled over the division of their territorial spoils in Macedonia. This dispute resulted in the Second Balkan War, against Bulgaria, in 1913 (see Balkan Wars).” britannica.com

The nations should be glad for the judgment of God. The reason for gladness should be righteousness. What happens when the nation is committed to unrighteousness? God demands that the nation act justly. When injustice reigns, be sure that God will send medicinal judgments. I have meditated on this verse for over 30 years.

“Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for You will judge the peoples with uprightness and guide the nations on the earth.” Psalm 67:4

Have you seen the eerie pictures coming out of California, Oregon, and Washington? Orange skies, filled with smoke, makes it look like the sky was painted for a nuclear disaster movie.

Several news reports are saying things like this:

TENS OF THOUSANDS FLEE CALIFORNIA AS WORST FIRES IN STATE HISTORY TURN SKIES ORANGE, FRIGHTENED RESIDENTS SAY LOOKS LIKE A LITERAL, GLOWING HELL. “The apocalyptic skies are due to light being filtered through smoke from California’s worst fire season on record, according to a regional air pollution control organization the Bay Area Air District. These smoke particles scatter blue light and only allow yellow-orange-red light to reach the surface, causing skies to look orange,” the Bay Area Air District said on Twitter.” nowtheendbegins.com

As bible believers who stand on the Bible, we believe that God is judging the world. We see what is taking place right now. The God of Heaven is preparing to assert Himself, once again, into His plan for the nations. As the Bible long ago foretold of the evil taking place, these are the days of prophecy, the days of Israel looking for a false peace treaty, of countries looking to destroy Israel and America, of the rise of the New World Order!

“For the nation and the kingdom which will not serve you will perish, and the nations will be utterly ruined.” Isaiah 60:12

A proper understanding of Israel is foundational to a proper understanding of the Rapture. God  made promises to Israel that include ruling the nations. The ruling of nations is directly connected to the kingdom of David! Israel failed at this directive by the sovereign plan of God.  This failure is highlighted in the Scriptures in two places: Amos 9:11-15 and Acts 15:16-17.  

“In that day I will raise up the fallen booth of David, and wall up its breaches; I will also raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old.” Amos 9:11

God uses the words ‘fallen booth’ as a term describing the House of David.  (2 Samuel 7:5, 11, 16) ‘House’ means kingdom or dynasty. The nation of Israel is to be a dynasty that will last forever.

“Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.” 2 Samuel 7:16

God will Restore the Fallen Booth

God is emphasizing in Amos 9:11 that the kingdom promised to David will dominate the world. That which had become a booth, a fallen kingdom, a collapsing dynasty, will rise and rule! God uses three verbs to describe the rise of Israel.

1. God says He will ‘wall up its breaches.’ That means that God is going to repair its walls. This means that one day God will set in order what was broken down. When Israel divided into the northern and southern kingdoms, it was a heartbreaking failure. God prophesied in Ezekiel 37: 15-28 that one day He will make the two kingdoms one again.
2. God says He will ‘raise up his ruins.’ God is raising up David from the ashes, meaning that Messiah Himself will rule and reign over the whole earth. Zechariah 14 highlights Messiah coming and being the king of the whole world, ruling from Jerusalem. Isaiah 2 teaches that one day all of the nations will stream to meet with the Jewish king of kings!
3. God says He will ‘rebuild it as in days of old.’ This is referring to the Temple and the land of Israel, all of her cities. Jeremiah 30-33 emphasizes this truth repeatedly. God especially highlights the rebuilding of the Temple in Zechariah.

Amos 9:11-12 quoted in Acts 15

‘After these things I will return, and I will rebuild the tabernacle of David which has fallen, and I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name,’ Acts 15:16-17

When James quoted Amos 9:11-12, it emphasized the coming reign of Messiah through Israel. (The translation James was reading was from the Dead Sea Scrolls.) Notice the emphasis on the “rest of mankind” (the Gentile nations) called by the Lord’s name. When the church completes its job bringing the gospel to every nation, then Israel will become a channel of blessing to the nations again. This brings me back to Isaiah 60:12. God is clear that all nations will be in a submissive relationship with Israel. In fact, Isaiah 60 emphasizes that the wealth of nations will be brought to Israel.

The Abrahamic Covenant gives Israel an exalted place in God’s program for the world. Genesis 12 promises that Israel will be a channel of blessing to “all peoples on earth.” Genesis 12:3

Israel is God’s servant nation to carry out His plan for all humanity. The church also has a job!

Mystery of the Church

The church is a mystery, meaning that it was unknown until Jesus revealed it and the Holy Spirit initiated its conception. There are at least 13 different mysteries listed in the New Testament. Here are the important ones about the church:

“Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past.” Romans 16:25

“that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Col.1:26-27

“that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel……. and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things.” Ephesians 3:3-6, 9

The Church’s Role in God’s Plan

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and be my witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and even to the remotest parts of the earth.” Acts 1:8

It is clear that the Church has a job to preach the good news of the gospel to all nations. When this responsibility is complete, three things will happen:

1. The end of the church age will begin a new phase in God’s plan. When the church finishes the job, Israel will become a channel of blessing again!

“This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14

“For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written,“The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will remove ungodliness from Jacob. This is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins.” (Romans 11:25-27)

The book of Revelation catalogues all God will do to make Israel a channel of blessing to the world; including the 144,000 witnesses from twelve tribes of Israel, the two witnesses, and Satan desecrating the Temple!

• The church will be removed so that Israel can be reestablished as the source of blessing to the world. The Rapture will usher in the false church of antichrist rising to deceive many!

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.” 1Thess.4:16-17

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons.” 1 Tim.4:1

• The nations of the world will reject all that God is doing through Israel. The prophets are very clear about the response of the nations.

“Alas! for that day is great, There is none like it; and it is the time of Jacob’s distress, But he will be saved from it. It shall come about on that day, declares the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off their neck and will tear off their bonds; and strangers will no longer make them their slaves.”  Jeremiah 30:7-8

‘For I am with you, declares the LORD, ‘to save you; for I will destroy completely all the nations where I have scattered you, only I will not destroy you completely. But I will chasten you justly and will by no means leave you unpunished.’ Jeremiah 30:11

“For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. Then I will enter into judgment with them there on behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; and they have divided up My land.” Joel 3:1-2

Timing of the Rapture

The rapture of the Church was not prophesied in the Old Testament. What was prophesied was a gap between times God carries out His plan for Israel.

Daniel 9:24-27 teaches us that there are two gaps. The first gap is between Jesus death/resurrection and the destruction of Jerusalem.

The second gap is between Jesus death/resurrection and the last week called the Tribulation. The purpose of the Tribulation is to reestablish Israel as the channel of blessing to the world and prepare the world for the second coming.

The New Testament is clear that we are looking for two things: a resurrection, which no one knows the day or hour, and the second coming, which is replete with signs and events clearly mapped out for us in scripture.  

All of the nations of the world will fight Jesus and resist all that He is doing on the earth. The book of Revelation catalogues all of this for us, but the prophets Zechariah and Isaiah give us specific details.

“Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle. In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south.” Zechariah 14:3-4

“For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not keep quiet, until her righteousness goes forth like brightness, and her salvation like a torch that is burning. The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; and you will be called by a new name which the mouth of the LORD will designate.” Isaiah 62:1-2

The rapture of the church is very near. One piece of evidence is the large number of nations coming against Israel. For instance, Iran is determined to destroy Israel and the world is very interested in helping Iran accomplish their goal. If it were not for the United States standing in the way, Israel would be in for a big war. Here is an article highlighting the world doing what God said would happen in the last days!

“Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that in light of Iran’s substantive breaches of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, (JCPOA, i.e., the Iran nuclear deal), the U.S. is triggering the so-called “snapback” clauses of UN Security Council Resolution 2231. Resolution 2231, passed in 2015, serves as the legal anchor to the JCPOA, which was itself an informal, unsigned agreement between Iran, the U.S., the EU, Russia, China, France, the U.K. and Germany.

Rather than respect 2231’s snapback clauses that the U.S. triggered last Thursday, Russia, China, the EU, the U.K., France and Germany responded to Pompeo’s announcement by claiming that the U.S. lacks the power to trigger the snapback sanctions because the Trump administration abandoned the JCPOA in 2018. For its part, the Obama administration viewed the Security Council as a means to weaken its political opponents. The purpose of Resolution 2231 was to subvert the Senate’s constitutional power to ratify treaties. As Henry Kissinger noted at the time, the JCPOA, which legitimized the greatest state sponsor of terrorism’s illicit nuclear weapons program, upended 70 years of U.S. nuclear non-proliferation efforts. Trumps commitment to preventing a rogue regime, which has pledged to annihilate Israel and aspires to destroy the United States, from acquiring the means to build a nuclear arsenal. Obviously, it is not the Trump administration that is behaving immorally.” carolineglick.com

I hope that you are getting ready for the rapture! Confess your sins, obey God, and believe all that the prophets have foretold. It is an exciting time to be alive, we are praying for you.

The importance of Israel in the end times far surpasses all other categories. God is making Israel the focus of world attention. Jerusalem is the epicenter of God’s plan for the end times. As God is focusing the world back on Israel, the world is rejecting Israel. The Abraham Accord signed between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) highlights the importance of Israel.  Division in the Islamic world over Israel foments tension predicted in the Bible.

The tension regarding the importance of Israel is summarized in the encounter Jesus had in John 4 with a Samaritan woman.

“Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus said to her, Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.” John 4:20-22

The Samaritan woman chose a different place to worship God; she was misinformed, not understanding the scriptures.  Jesus said that Jews worship what they know. What do they know? Why is salvation from the Jews?

God taught the way of salvation to us in three key words we learn from the Temple. The three key words are sacrifice, substitute, and satisfaction. God taught that the sacrifice had to be pure. The sacrifice had to be the substitute for man. God would be satisfied with the shed blood, nothing but the blood could atone for sin.

 “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.”

Lev.17:11

God gave us this description of the sacrifices to teach us how salvation is purchased.  

1. God is only satisfied with shed blood.
2. God gives it to us as a sacrifice of atonement.
3. The substitute sheds their blood and applies it to the one making the sacrifice.  
4. Salvation comes by making atonement for the soul of a person.

God uses economic terms to describe salvation. Redemption is one of those words. Redemption is a purchase, a price paid.

“And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Hebrews 9:22

This is the principle taught to us by God, without the shedding of blood, no one can be saved.

Here is how it works:

“being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;” Romans 3:24

Jesus paid the price for our salvation by being the substitute, the perfect sacrifice, and the only One that can satisfy God. He shed His blood so that forgiveness of sins can go to the whole world. This is explained in the following verse:

“whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;” Romans 3:25

Notice the important word – faith. Prior to Jesus’s death, God forgave sins when someone came to Temple to do sacrifices by faith. Jesus’s sacrifice was an eternal act meant to fulfill all of the promises inherent in the Temple.

God gave us a prophetic look at Jesus in the sacrificial system. The sacrifices are a picture of Jesus and His work offered in the Tabernacle and the Temple in Jerusalem. What Jews know, that unfortunately many Christians have failed to realize, is that God’s plan for the salvation of nations comes through Israel! The prophets foretold this work in many places. Isaiah 2-4 teaches us that Jesus will sit on a throne in Jerusalem and will judge the nations. Isaiah 24 teaches us that God will judge the whole world before Jesus comes back to set up His kingdom. Jeremiah 30-33 teaches us that God is so committed to the kingdom coming through Israel, that the sun and moon shining daily is proof of his promise!

For the last 2000 years, Christianity has been the channel of blessing to the world for personal salvation. The Church should teach the morals and ethics that can lead nations, but the job of the Church is to preach the good news of the Gospel. God’s intention is to use Israel to set up a kingdom to lead nations, not the Church. The Church has at times tried to take the place of Israel as the ruler and leader of nations. God did not give that job to the Church.

Understanding Jerusalem is the key to understanding God’s plan to bring in His kingdom through the nation of Israel. God is using Jerusalem to cause the nations to make a decision regarding Israel. He prophesied about it in Zechariah.

“The burden of the word of the LORD concerning Israel. Thus declares the LORD who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him, 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. 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.” Zechariah 12:1-3

As the channel of blessing, the Church has been fulfilling the Abrahamic covenant to bless all of the nations with salvation. Salvation came from the Jews, because Jesus, as the son of Abraham and the son of David, accomplished this salvation. Being the son of Abraham, Jesus fulfilled what He promised to all of the nations regarding salvation. Being the son of David means Jesus will lead all of the nations as their king.  

The Jews are still looking for the Messiah, the One who is a political leader. They missed Jesus as the Messiah who would bring salvation. Unfortunately, many Christians do not know that Jesus plans on coming back as King of Kings, a political leader who will lead all of the nations, Jerusalem being His capital city! Therefore, Israel prepares the world for Jesus to come and set up His kingdom! This is why we see so much tension and hatred of Israel. This hatred is growing in the Democratic Party.

“Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) is the vice presidential nominee.  While the progressive media refers to Harris as “a moderate,” since her election to the Senate in 2016, Harris has racked up one of the most radical voting records in the upper house. She supports revoking all limitations on abortions. She supports harsh limitations on the right to bear arms. She supports banning oil fracking and ending energy exploration on federal lands. Harris refused to speak at the AIPAC conference on any terms. Not only has Harris refused to condemn Reps. Omar and Tlaib for their repeated anti-Semitic statements. Harris warned the Jewish community against protesting Omar’s anti-Semitism saying “the spotlight being put on Congresswoman Omar may put her at risk.” The fact that Omar’s unbridled anti-Semitism was putting American Jews at risk apparently made no impression on Harris. Like Biden and the rest of her party, Harris supports renewing Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran which will put nuclear weapons and billions of dollars in the hands of Iran’s genocidal ayatollahs.” breakingisraelnews.com

It is not only the Democrats who support Iran over and against Israel, it is most of the world. When the Abraham Accords was signed on August 13^th, most of the world was aghast because they do not want Islamic nations making peace with Israel.

“The Abraham Accord, unveiled by US President Donald Trump on August 13, outlines bilateral agreements to exchange embassies and ambassadors between Israel and the UAE. The historic “Abraham Accord” unveiled on Thursday has been hailed a huge Bible prophecy moment. Normalization of diplomatic relations in the Holy Land marks a significant step towards the Rapture.” express.co.uk

A British news outlet, mentioning the rapture of the church is stunning. The article mocked the belief of the rapture, but it is a legitimate stand by Christians to link the two events. The reason why is that any peace deal with Israel from Muslim nations increases the likelihood of war which will bring in the antichrist. Islamic nations are divided over Israel as never before. When Egypt signed a peace deal with Israel in 1979, they assassinated the president, Anwar Sadat. When Jordan signed a peace deal with Israel in 1994 it was met with disapproval from the Islamic world.

“Jordan’s signing of a peace treaty with Israel, and other issues, were met with disdain by Syria’s president Hafez Al-Assad. The CIA handed the King a detailed report in December 1995 warning him of a Syrian plot to assassinate him and his brother Hassan.”wikipedia.org

“Israel and the United Arab Emirates agreed to a historic peace agreement, marking a stark shift in the Middle East and a critical foreign-policy victory for United States President Donald Trump. Nicknamed the Abraham Accords, the deal will see the full formalization of ties between the nations, including direct flights between the states, exchange of diplomats and embassies, security cooperation and an economic partnership. This historic diplomatic breakthrough will advance peace in the Middle East region and is a testament to the bold diplomacy and vision of the three leaders, President Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the U.A.E. Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan. All three countries face many common challenges and will mutually benefit from today’s historic achievement.” thetrumpet.com

This signing of the Abraham Accords is crying ‘peace, peace, when there is no peace’. This is especially true in the case of Iran and Turkey. Both of these countries are beside themselves over this peace deal. Both nations want war with Israel and are offended about any move to make peace with Israel.  Saudi Arabia knows that they need Israel in any war with Iran. The Iranians are causing Islamic nations to make overtures to Israel because the Israeli military is so strong. Israel can fight and defeat Iran, so nations want to have a good relationship with Israel for their own welfare.

“Abraham Accord Widens Rift between Iran, UAE. The United Arab Emirates on Sunday summoned the Iranian charge d’affaires to file a formal complaint in response to a vitriolic speech delivered the day before by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. In his televised address to the nation, the Iranian leader harshly condemned the Abraham Accord, signed the previous Thursday by the UAE and Israel in which the two countries agreed to normalize their diplomatic relations. According to Rouhani, the UAE committed a “huge mistake” and a “treacherous act” toward the Arab world by signing the pact with the Jewish state.”  themedialine.org

Turkey’s ruling AKP slams Israel-UAE deal as “political suicide” for Palestinians.  The Abraham Accord aims to destroy a two-state solution in the Israel-Palestine conflict, AKP spokesman Ömer Çelik said on Twitter. ahvalnews.com

Turkey is very upset at Israel and the UAE. Turkey wishes to reestablish the Ottoman Empire. This is the problem in the Islamic world. Islam teaches that there are only two territories in the world. They teach that there is the territory of Allah/Islam and the territory of war. Turkey wants to take over Israel and northern Africa because they have to reconquer territory they once controlled. The territory of Islam is not permitted to leave Islam, all true Muslims must fight to reconquer the territory. 

Multiple nations believe they are the leaders of Islam. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, and Turkey all believe that they are the leaders of Islam. This conflict has caused war among Muslims for centuries. Saudi Arabia will be the next one to make a move towards signing some kind of deal with Israel. Could it be that antichrist will use this false peace to bring in his peace deal?

The Abraham Accords teach that Jews, Christians, and Muslims all have Abraham as their father—this should bring peace. An Emirati woman wrote about this very thing:

“I see myself praying at the synagogue now being built in Abu Dhabi in the Abrahamic Family House along with a church and a mosque. These beautiful modern pieces of architecture will be near one another in the same compound, so that a Muslim like me can perform rituals in all three. And I would openly offer my heart and my soul to the roots of this Abrahamic friendship. There was for so long the mantra of “Israel is the enemy.” It was a mantra that people could not break out of and that they believed without proof. These people are now quiet. We need this change in the Arab world. It has taken so long to come. (Sara Al Nuaimi is an Emirati lady, a Muslim and a cultural activist based in Abu Dhabi) jewishpress.com

As Christians, we believe that there is only one way to heaven and that is through Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Jesus is the son of Abraham and the son of David. Our God is the God of the Old and New Testaments, not the Koran! Satan is setting up a lie to deceive the world. Are you ready for all of his lies and tricks? Stay close to the Lord our God and pray like never before.

This week I want to focus on the importance of Israel for the Christian. There is a movement called Christian Zionism. This movement began to have traction in the mid 1800’s. Three prominent pastors in the mid 1800’s, Charles Spurgeon, J.C. Ryle, and Horatious Bonar, taught that the promises of God regarding Israel were on the cusp of fulfillment. What is amazing is that they thought God was even then beginning to fulfill His promises to Israel. They believed that God promised to give the land of Israel to Jews in the last days so He could fulfill His plan for the world.

What these pastors saw was a renewal of scriptural teaching regarding the promises of God for His chosen people Israel. They saw God moving Jews back to the land. This movement was called Zionism. Zionism for Jews is simply the desire to return to their own land and have a nation of their own. God scattered Israel fulfilling His judgment, and now He was bringing them back.

‘Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, nor will I so abhor them as to destroy them, breaking My covenant with them; for I am the LORD their God. But I will remember for them the covenant with their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God. I am the LORD.” Leviticus 26:44-45

What I appreciate about these men is that they believed the scriptures despite growing up in churches that taught that God was done with Israel. They saw promises like this in Leviticus and believed God instead of church teaching that wrote off the Jews. God says that He will not reject His covenant people. Since the 1800’s Christian Zionism has grown in strength.

“From Balfour to Nikki Haley: A Century of Christian Zionist Support for Israel. Christian Zionism is a belief by Christians that the return of the Jews to their Holy Land and the restoration of the Land of Israel is a promise made by God and in accordance with Biblical prophecy. God promised to restore the Jewish people from their exile and good Christians need to help God fulfill his Biblical promise to the Jews, Oren explained to Breaking Israel News. The idea is that God does not lie. The most famous early Christian Zionist event occurred in 1881, when William Blackstone, author of “Jesus is Coming”, advocated for a Jewish state. He collected more than 400 signatures of prominent American leaders on a petition that was presented to then-President Benjamin Harrison. The petition called for the establishment of a Jewish state in the Holy Land.” cufi.org

God is a great and merciful God who worked both to move the hearts of Jews to return to the land and Christians to pray for their return.

“So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.” Romans 9:18

God was having mercy on the Jews and moving their hearts to return to the land. Christians who had love in their hearts, who loved what God loves, supported the Jews in their return. They also began missions to Jews to show them their Messiah – Jesus! At this time, many enemies of Christian Zionism arose as it is today.

“CONFRONTING CHRISTIAN ZIONISM, ISLAMOPHOBIA, AND ANTISEMITISM. Last month, I shared an image on Facebook of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar with the statement: “We Stand with Ilhan. Palestine will be free.” The powerful image centers Congresswoman Omar, a Black Somali-American Muslim woman in hijab, who has been targeted for her critique of the pro-Israel lobbyist group AIPAC. As a seminarian, I have begun to deconstruct my own Christian Zionist beliefs: I am learning that Ancient Israel was not a modern nation-state, the people of Judah were not the Christian colonizers of the Americas, and the salvation of the Israelites does not look like American intervention in the Middle East to protect fossil fuel companies.” presbypeacefellowship.org

This young seminarian has chosen to deny the promises of God and reject what God is doing on the earth at this time. I wish I could say that this is uncommon.  Unfortunately, it is not! This seminarian will be cursed according to Genesis 12:3.

“And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” Genesis 12:3

What do Christian Zionists believe?

1. God promised to bring Israel back into the land of Israel.  This is the beginning of the last days.  Amos 9:13-15
2. The world will oppose Israel returning to the land. Psalm 2, Joel 3
3. It is the obligation of the nations to support Israel in her return to the land. Jer.31:10
4. God’s covenant with Israel and the land is unconditional, unchanging and eternal. Genesis 17:7-8
5. According to the prophets of the Bible, we are living in the end times and we will see the nations fulfill Daniel 2, 7, and 9!
6. The Gog Magog prophecy is on the verge of fulfillment. Ezekiel 38-39.
7. God will fulfill the new covenant in Israel during the tribulation period. Romans 11:25-27, Jeremiah 31.

“Therefore behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when it will no longer be said, ‘As the LORD lives, who brought up the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt, but, ‘As the LORD lives, who brought up the sons of Israel from the land of the north and from all the countries where He had banished them.’ For I will restore them to their own land which I gave to their fathers. Behold, I am going to send for many fishermen,” declares the LORD, “and they will fish for them; and afterwards I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them from every mountain and every hill and from the clefts of the rocks.”  Jeremiah 16:14-16

God is telling us some important facts about Himself in this passage.

1. A day is coming when He will act.
2. He will cause people to say a new thing. He compares what He did in Egypt with what He will do in the future.
3. He says twice that He lives. In other words, He is the One who acts and no one can stop Him!
4. He will bring Jews back to the land of Israel from all over the world.
5. He will send both fisherman for His people and hunters. Why these two? Some will come willingly and some will have to come by force.

In 1864, Charles Spurgeon preached “The Restoration and Conversion of the Jews”, a sermon on Ezekiel 37:1-10.  This passage is about dead bones coming together and coming to life.

“He was talking about the people of Israel, and prophesying concerning them; and evidently the vision, according to God’s own interpretation of it, was concerning them, and them alone, for “these bones are the whole house of Israel.” It was not a vision concerning all men, nor, indeed, concerning any men as to the resurrection of the dead, but it had a direct and special bearing upon the Jewish people.  The meaning of our text, as opened up by the context, is most evidently, if words mean anything, first, that there shall be a political restoration of the Jews to their own land and to their own nationality; and then, secondly, there is in the text, and in the context, a most plain declaration, that there shall be a spiritual restoration, a conversion in fact, of the tribes of Israel.” spurgeon.org

Spurgeon was a Christian Zionist. He was very clear that the scriptures taught that God was going to bring Jews back to the land and he saw it happening in his day! Spurgeon depended on the context of the scripture to teach the scripture! This is why I, and many others, believe that the Bible teaches that God has a plan for Israel in the end times! Unfortunately, Christian Zionists are being called heretics for believing that God is restoring Israel.

“Christian Zionism: The New Heresy that Undermines Middle East Peace. At least one in four American Christians surveyed recently by Christianity Today magazine said that they believe it is their biblical responsibility to support the nation of Israel. Christian Zionism is pervasive within mainline American evangelical, charismatic and independent denominations including the Assemblies of God, Pentecostals and Southern Baptists, as well as many of the independent mega-churches. It is less prevalent within the historic denominations, which show a greater respect for the work of the United Nations, support for human rights, the rule of international law and empathy with the Palestinians. Christian Zionism as a modern theological and political movement embraces the most extreme ideological positions of Zionism. It has become deeply detrimental to a just peace between Palestine and Israel.” middleeastmonitor.com

J.C. Ryle was another preacher in the mid 1800’s who started a mission to reach Jews for Jesus. He was very passionate to remind Christians of their duties to the whole Word of God. He contemplated an imaginary conversation between a Jew and a Christian who did not believe the promises of God. I found it very enlightening.

“But suppose the Jew asks you if you take all the prophecies of the Old Testament in their simple literal meaning. Suppose he asks you if you believe in a literal personal advent of Messiah to reign over the earth in glory, a literal restoration of Judah and Israel to Palestine, a literal rebuilding and restoration of Zion and Jerusalem.  Suppose the unconverted Jew puts these questions to you, what answer are you prepared to make?  Will you dare to tell him that Old Testament prophecies of this kind are not to be taken in their plain literal sense?  Will you dare to tell him that the words Zion, Jerusalem, Jacob, Judah, Ephraim, Israel, do not mean what they seem to mean, but mean the Church of Christ?  Will you dare to tell him that the glorious kingdom and future blessedness of Zion, so often dwelt upon in prophecy, mean nothing more than the gradual Christianizing of the world by missionaries and gospel preaching?  Will you dare to tell him that you think it “carnal” to expect a literal rebuilding of Jerusalem, “carnal” to expect a literal coming of Messiah to reign?  Oh, reader, if you are a man of this mind, take care what you are doing!  I say again, take care.” middletownbiblechurch.org

I stand with Spurgeon and Ryle that the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Micah, Zephaniah, Zechariah, and Malachi all predict that the Jews will be restored to their land, restored as a favored nation, prosper economically, politically, militarily, and spiritually come to the Lord in an amazing salvation experience! Scripture is absolutely clear that God is moving to fulfill all of His promises to Israel!

I appeal to you Christian to consider the heart of God for His people Israel. Can you find it in your heart to love Israel as our God does? Listen to this verse:

“Is Ephraim My dear son? Is he a delightful child? Indeed, as often as I have spoken against him,

I certainly still remember him; Therefore My heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him,” declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 31:20

Does your heart yearn for Israel? Consider our brother Paul who said:

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them (Israel) is for their salvation.” Romans 10:1

Listen to the heart of our God in Romans 11.

“From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” Romans 11:28-29

It is very important for us to realize, Christian, that God loves Israel. He is even now fulfilling His promises. We are so privileged to live in the day that God is fulfilling prophecies written over 2000 years ago! Pray with me for the peace of Jerusalem, for God to give His land back to His people. If God keeps His promises to Israel, He will keep His promise to you! The Rapture of the church is right around the corner my friends, pray hard and be ready for His coming. Blessings to all of you!        www.joemaggelet.com

Prophecy Update: “One Word of Truth shall Outweigh the Whole World” 8/7/20

“So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

John 8:31-32

Last year I observed an amazing sight. I watched Russian President Vladimir Putin give a speech commemorating Alexander Solzhenitsyn on the date of his 100th birthday. The ceremony dedicated a statue in his honor in his hometown. How is it that Putin, the consummate KGB officer, would come to praise a man who did more to destroy the Soviet Union than anyone else did? Putin, who said that the fall of the Soviet Union was the greatest tragedy of the 20^th century, was praising the moral, spiritual, and bravest soldier against the Soviet empire.

Alexander Solzhenitsyn is one of my heroes! I read and consumed several of his books because he fought a fight I want to fight. His fight was against the devil and his schemes against truth, family, society, and salvation. I am rereading some of his works because of the communist uprising in our nation. Make no mistake about the desire of the left—it is to lie about everything! They are lying so that they can destroy the church and the United States of America. They are lying about the virus, the vaccine, about civil society, about Jesus, about the church, and about history. God used Solzhenitsyn to bring down the Soviet Union, let us pray that God will use us to stop America from becoming the Soviet Union!

“One word of truth shall outweigh the whole world.” Alexander Solzhenitsyn cited this Russian proverb in his 1970 Nobel Prize for Literature acceptance speech.  Solzhenitsyn brought the reality of Soviet oppression to the world’s attention through his writings, including a 300,000-word history of the slave labor camps, The Gulag Archipelago. In his undelivered acceptance speech, leaked to the world by friends, Solzhenitsyn defined the role of the author or artist as that of truth-teller against lies. In The Gulag Archipelago, Solzhenitsyn explained why the story had to be told: “When we neither punish nor reproach evildoers, we are not simply protecting their trivial old age, we are thereby ripping the foundations of justice from beneath new generations.” Solzhenitsyn inspired a generation of Russian citizens to stand up against the lies of their Soviet oppressors.

“The key to understanding Solzhenitsyn is Christianity – the Russian Orthodox faith that framed Solzhenitsyn’s worldview. Erickson argued that “in a day when secular humanism flourishes among the cultural and intellectual elite, he holds fast to traditional Christian beliefs.” In his famous 1978 Harvard University commencement address, “A World Split Apart,” Solzhenitsyn pointed to the moral and spiritual crisis in the West. He declared that America’s experiment with democracy was being undermined by secularism.” Christian Post

In his speech he said, “A decline in courage may be the most striking feature which an outside observer notices in the West in our days. Should one point out that from ancient times declining courage has been considered the beginning of the end? Such a tilt of freedom in the direction of evil has come about gradually, but it was evidently born primarily out of a humanistic and benevolent concept according to which there is no evil inherent to human nature.” American Rhetoric.

The left has separated American citizens from their Judeo Christian heritage. In doing this, they have attacked basic truths which make a nation great. Solzhenitsyn pointed out that one of these truths is original sin. To tell people that they are good, have no evil intent in their hearts, are not sinners, is to tell them that every bad thing that happens comes from some outside source. Solzhenitsyn condemned this false teaching. We must do the same! The communist movement we experience today is manifested in Black Lives Matter and Antifa.  These groups propagate the lie of the 1619 project.

“New York Times historical initiative, launched in 2019, sparks national conservative backlash. The 1619 Project started with an essay in The New York Times last August that brought renewed attention to a largely hidden history — the beginnings of American slavery more than 150 years before the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. Conservatives around the country, including prominent members of the Trump administration and several Republican senators, have adamantly condemned the project in recent weeks.” Atlanta Journal Constitution

Here is what the 1619 Project believes:

• ”American Capitalism Is Brutal. You Can Trace That to the Plantation.”
• ”Why Is Everyone Always Stealing Black Music?”
• ”How Segregation Caused Your Traffic Jam”
• ”Why Doesn’t America Have Universal Healthcare? One word: Race”
• ”Why American Prisons Owe Their Cruelty to Slavery” Atlanta Journal Constitution

“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44

“The ‘1619 Project’ Gets Schooled. The New York Times tries to rewrite U.S. history, but its falsehoods are exposed by surprising sources. So wrong in so many ways” is how Gordon Wood, the Pulitzer Prize-winning historian of the American Revolution, characterized the New York Times’s “1619 Project.” Wall Street Journal

The communist goal in writing the 1619 Project is to get people to fight against it. They want the fight, because they want to use it to destroy people. The media will be complicit in the destruction of the people.

“The Fight Over the 1619 Project Is Not About the Facts: it’s “a displacement of historical understanding by ideology.” The Atlantic

Their ideology comes from Satan who is the father of lies. The uprising started in Portland and Seattle. These two cities are ranked #4 and #7 as least churched and Christian cities in the nation! (San Francisco ranks #1 as least churched and Christian) Is it any wonder that Satan started the communist uprising in a place he already owns?

One of the goals of the 1619 Project is to blame Christianity for slavery. This will give them the right to destroy the church. We see this happening in California and Chicago.

“Pastor John MacArthur may face fine, arrest for holding indoor services: MacArthur said, ‘We will obey God rather than men.’  We’re going to be faithful to the Lord and we’re going to leave the results to Him. Whatever happens is going to be what He allows to happen. But He will be on our side because we will be obedient and faithful to His word. We will not bow to Caesar,” he added. “The Lord Jesus Christ is our king.”

“Officials from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health have threatened MacArthur with “repercussions such as fines and even possible arrest” if his church doesn’t comply with state orders, the Rev. Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, wrote on Facebook. Commenting on churches, including megachurches, that have chosen to shut down until January, MacArthur said, “I don’t have any way to understand that other than they don’t know what a church is and they don’t shepherd their people but that’s sad.” Christian Post

Satan does not have the power to attack the church in America unless the LORD gives Him permission to attack. It was the same with Job. When God gives Satan permission to attack, Christians are obligated to stand firm and witness to the Lord’s work among us! Jesus promised to never leave us or forsake us.

“Chicago pastor claims the mayor sent armed police in unmarked cars to bang on the church doors Sunday: It was ‘like the Soviet-styled KGB’ Chicago Pastor Courtney Lewis said he was in the middle of delivering a sermon to his congregation Sunday when he heard loud banging on the church doors. It was the police sent by the city’s Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot. “Like the Soviet-styled KGB they knocked on our locked doors,” Lewis said, noting that the church refused to let them in.” The Blaze.

“Alexis de Tocqueville pointed out that Americans seem oblivious to ‘first causes’ in history. He wrote, ‘Because Roman civilization perished through barbarian invasions, we are perhaps too much inclined to think that this is the only way a civilization can die … if the lights ever go out, they will fade little by little, as if of their own accord.’” C.S. Monitor.

Deception from the evil one has invaded our culture, society, morals, and church. The decay socially came from the push by Satan for people to obsess over self. The decay culturally came from the push by Satan to redefine education and history. The decay morally came from the push by Satan to advance immorality, idolatry, and abortion. The decay in the church came from the push by Satan to advance a worldly and fleshly view of God and the Bible. The decay our culture experiences mimics ancient Rome. Greece died, Rome died and even the Soviet Union died.  America is heading towards death as a nation.

‘Miseducating’: Illinois lawmaker calls for ‘abolishment of history classes’—“An Illinois state lawmaker and other local leaders on Sunday called on the state’s Board of Education to temporarily suspend all history teaching in schools until a new curriculum can be developed that doesn’t contribute to systemic racism and white privilege.” Washington Times.

Whether the goal is to defund the police or eliminate history classes, it is all designed by communists to encourage violence and raise up a scapegoat. The scapegoat is white people and especially Christians and Jews. This evil being propagated by elites will overthrow of the United States of America.

The greatest deception is the virus and vaccine narrative. “Veteran Virologist Slams Mainstream Media’s “Misinformation” About An Effective COVID Treatment. On Friday, July 31, in a column ostensibly dealing with health care “misinformation,” Washington Post media critic Margaret Sullivan opened by lambasting “fringe doctors spouting dangerous falsehoods about hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 wonder cure. Actually, it was Sullivan who was spouting dangerous falsehoods about this drug, something the Washington Post and much of the rest of the media have been doing since for months. On May 15, the Post offered a stark warning to any Americans who may have taken hope in a possible therapy for COVID-19.” Zerohedge.

Bill Gates and his merry crowd of population control dictators pushed a narrative that the coronavirus would kill 65 million people. They war-gamed the virus in New York last October at Event 201. When the virus shutdowns happened in March, we were told by Dr. Fauci that 2.2 million Americans were going to die from the virus. Less than 50,000 died! When they saw that corona virus killed less people than a bad flu bug, they had to lie. An example of further deception are death certificates indicating cause of death to be corona virus, when in reality it was something else.  This is done for financial benefits to the hospitals. How long will Americans put up with their liberties being stripped by liars and deceivers? Hard-hearted men, who do not respect truth, run America.

The masks show me that we are no longer the ‘Home of the Brave’, but the home of the fearful. The lockdowns, shutdowns, and masks show me that the spirit of the antichrist rules the land. I have to thank God for the sheriffs around the country who are standing up to the lies and deceit. There have been many stories regarding sheriffs defying state shutdown orders. Many sheriffs refuse to enforce mask orders because they are unconstitutional! The mask orders are a dry run for the mark of the beast. What the mask test revealed is that most Americans will go along and obey the fiction that masks actually protect you from a virus.

God sits in the heavens and laughs at the rebellion. He will send the rapture and judge the earth in the tribulation period. Are you ready for the rapture? Are you ready to go home to Jesus? I hear the four horsemen of the apocalypse riding and they are getting closer and closer. It means that we are going to see Jesus soon—this is BIG!  

Prophecy Update: Prophecy Smorgasbord                7/31/20

Jesus said, if they hated Me they will hate you!

If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. John 15:18

The hatred that we see exhibited today in America is part of the move towards global government. To bring down the United States, Satan desires to destroy and persecute Christianity.

You may have heard of the pastors in California defying the governor’s decree regarding churches. John MacArthur came out strong this week with a sermon that told the governor of California that Jesus is the Lord of the Church. Unfortunately, the United States Supreme Court has ruled against the church several times since the virus outbreak. “In a 5-4 Decision the United States Supreme Court has determined that California restricting church gatherings is not unconstitutional, and does not violate the “free exercise clause of the First Amendment. The Ninth Circuit Judges, regarding restrictions against churches regarding the free exercise of their religion, and more specifically, worship services, said, constitutional standards that would normally govern our review of a Free Exercise claim should not be applied.  The last time I checked, the First Amendment does not say, “Freedom of Religion, unless there’s a virus.” CanadaFreePress.com

“Supreme Court denies Nevada church’s appeal of attendance restriction amid coronavirus pandemic. Nevada has placed a 50-person cap on all places of worship, no matter the capacity of the building, as a part of the state’s coronavirus restrictions. But casinos, along with other businesses such as restaurants and movie theaters, may permit up to 50 percent capacity, allowing casinos to grant access to hundreds of patrons at a time.” FoxNews.com Christians are being harrassed all across the nation. My question for Christians is serious: Will you obey God or man?

Jesus said that lawlessness will prevail

 “And every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.” 1 John 4:3

The lawlessness enveloping the country is a result of the spirit of antichrist. Part of this lawlessness is the fact that whether in politics or in sports, the nation has adopted a globalist mentality. Anyone not going along with globalism, progressivism, and the New World Order needs to be isolated and eliminated.  The tower of Babel is the model for Satan. Satan is moving politicians, businesses, and sports teams to reject being American and embrace the New World Order. Satan has the goal of bringing down the United States because the One World Government cannot abide by free and independent Americans. One person standing up to the move towards globalism is Congressman Louis Gohmert.  Last week he confronted the Democrats and put a spotlight on their moves to tear down statues and rewrite history.

“Louie Gohmert Urges House to Ban Democratic Party for Supporting Slavery.  Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) introduced a privileged resolution on Thursday that calls upon Congress to ban the Democratic Party for supporting slavery and the Confederate States of America, Breitbart News has learned exclusively.” Breitbart.com Representative Gohmert quoted the 1860 democratic parties position on slavery.

“The Democratic Party platforms of 1840, 1844, 1848, 1852, and 1856 stated “that all efforts of the abolitionists, or others, made to induce Congress to interfere with questions of slavery . . . are calculated to lead to the most alarming and dangerous consequences; and that all such efforts have an inevitable tendency to diminish the happiness of the people and endanger the stability and permanency of the Union, and ought not to be countenanced by any friend of our political institutions.”

Gohmert went on to highlight these facts: “No Democrat in Congress supported the 14th Amendment, which gave full citizenship to freed slaves. It passed in 1868 with 94 percent Republican support and zero support from Democrats.”

No wonder the states Democrats control are attacking Christians and supporting rioters over free law-abiding citizens. Rep. Gohmert went on to say; “As outlined in the resolution, a great portion of the history of the Democratic Party is filled with racism and hatred. Since people are demanding we rid ourselves of the entities, symbols, and reminders of the repugnant aspects of our past, then the time has come for Democrats to acknowledge their party’s loathsome and bigoted past, and consider changing their party name to something that isn’t so blatantly and offensively tied to slavery, Jim Crow, discrimination, and the Ku Klux Klan.”

The progressive mentality comes from the spirit of antichrist, propagates violence, encourages rebellion, and wishes to overthrow the constitution of the United States. Sports is a big part of American culture and the left has done a good job of turning the NFL and NBA into globalist organizations. As the NFL and NBA make statements about social justice issues it becomes increasing clear that they are coming from the communist/Marxist worldview.  

This conflict between nationalism and globalism took center stage when players began kneeling during the playing of the national anthem. Former coach, Mike Ditka had a lot to say about it recently:

‘If you can’t respect our national anthem, get the he– out of the country’ The Chicago Bears legend and NFL Hall of Famer said he opposed players kneeling for the national anthem. “You don’t protest against the flag and you don’t protest against this country who’s given you the opportunities to make a living playing a sport that you never thought would happen,” Ditka told TMZ. “So, I don’t want to hear all the crap.” FoxNews.com

Lawlessness has reached the pro sports teams. The NFL and the NBA are actively supporting the New World Order. The NBA stands with the communist Chinese, refusing to let any team support the freedom loving people in Hong Kong. They have violated the first amendment; restricting free speech because they are afraid of the Chinese Communist Party.

“Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.” Matthew 24:12

“NBA afraid to stand against China because money talks. National Basketball Association finds itself in a standoff with the Chinese government over a tweet sent by a member of the Houston Rockets front office that was supportive of the anti-government protestors in Hong Kong. The NBA has also long snuggled up to China because it realizes the potential to make billions of dollars in a country that has a growing love of the sport of basketball.” LewistownSentinel.com

The compromises made with the Chinese brought condemnation from many including congress.

“US Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, sent a mass letter criticizing NBA commissioner Adam Silver and the league’s relationship with China. He asked why “Free Hong Kong” and other conservative messages weren’t a part of the league’s initiative to allow players to put a social justice statement on their uniforms in place of their names.” Deadline.com The response from the NBA and Adam Wojnarowski was strange for Americans who love this country!

“ESPN said an obscene tweet by star NBA reporter Adrian Wojnarowski to Republican US Senator from Missouri Josh Hawley was “completely unacceptable behavior” and promised internal discipline. On Friday, Hawley posted a screenshot Wojnarowski’s email on his Twitter feed, noting, “Don’t criticize #China or express support for law enforcement to @espn. It makes them real mad.”  

Let’s get this straight, supporting Hong Kong and our own police makes the NBA, ESPN, and China real mad so senator, stop supporting police and Hong Kong. Wow! “The company statement came after Wojnarowski tweeted “F**k you” to Hawley, who asked in a tweet and letter to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver why NBA players were not allowed to put “Free Hong Kong,” “Support Our Troops,” “Back The Blue” and other conservative statements on their shirts.”

In fact, the NBA said they approved 29 messages for players to put on their jerseys and none of them support the United States. One of them is “Group Economics” and this is proof that the NBA is serious about following an international rather than a national mentality. Since Donald Trump became President, the tension between those who want to stay an independent nation and those who want a global government has reached the tipping point. (Thursday night the NBA started their season. The league announced that they will allow the message, ‘freehongkong’ after the games started. This was an attempt to alieve themselves of all of the criticism.)

Defund the police movements across the country are evidence that we have entered the stage of collapse in the country. It is a great example of lawlessness!

Jesus said that Israel will be attacked

“Alas! for that day is great, there is none like it; and it is the time of Jacob’s distress, but he will be saved from it.” Jeremiah 30:7

The tensions rising in Israel are at epidemic levels. Iran suffered attacks every day for the past three weeks. They are beside themselves with rage towards Israel and the United States. Just this week, Israel attacked twice on their northern border.

“The Israeli military on Friday said its helicopters struck Syrian army targets in response to mortars fired toward the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Syria’s state news agency SANA quoted a military source as saying Israeli helicopters targeted three outposts in Syria’s southern Quneitra area with anti-tank guided missiles, causing two injuries and some forest fires. Tension rose this week along the Israel-Syria frontier after a fighter of the Iranian-backed Lebanese Shi’ite group Hezbollah was killed in an apparent Israeli strike on the edge of Damascus on Monday.” Reuters.com  Using F-16 and Apache helicopters, Israel attacked Syria this weekend killing military leaders from Iran and Hezbollah.

“Israel has reportedly conveyed to international officials that it doesn’t want Monday’s border altercation to descend into a war with Hezbollah terror group. The message also warned that if needed, Israel was ready to deal a “painful blow.” TimesofIsrael.com

“Washington offered to give Hamas $15 billion in aid if it would agree to disarm. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said Monday that his organization recently turned down a substantial aid package from the United States because it would have had to lay down its weapons.” IsraelHayom.com

“Erdogan’s vision: Uniting an ‘Army of Islam’ to destroy Israel in 10 days. An article in a Turkish paper with close ties to Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan exposes the regime’s desire to form an “Army of Islam” to attack and destroy the State of Israel. The article calls on the 57 member nations of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) throughout the Muslim world to join forces against the Israeli “occupiers” who would then be vastly outnumbered and unable to defend their country.” KehilaNews

God is moving the ball forward to fulfilling His promise to give all of the land back to Israel. The West Bank will soon see war and Israel will move in. This will fulfill the Word of the Lord and all of the social justice warriors will scream ‘unjust’. Is anything God accomplishes unjust? Believing the LORD and His prophetic Word is the right and privilege of all born-again Christian. Doing so will bring the condemnation and scorn from the false churches and social justice warriors. The same people who support the social justice message in America are the same people who want Israel destroyed! The battle lines are drawn.  Where will you stand?

Hatred of Jesus and His people, lawlessness pervading culture, and attacking Israel are the three key thoughts this week. The divisions in America will reveal the sheep from the goats. Trust in the promise Jesus made!

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” John 10:27-28

www.joemaggelet.com

Prophecy Update: The Temple                       July 24, 2020

After Israel won the Six-Day War in 1967, preparations to rebuild the Temple began. Two organizations have been at the forefront of this endeavor: The Temple Mount Faithful and The Temple Institute. Some Christians have been involved in this endeavor. Some Christians have rejected this endeavor. Why the disparity? This update will focus on the rebuilding of the Temple and why God wants this done.

Why is the third temple so important?

“The Hebrew prophets all proclaimed that in the last days, the exiles of Israel would return to the Promised Land and that the Temple would be rebuilt. “Then the nations will know that I the Lord make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.”  (Ezekiel 37:28) So many skeptics around the globe like to proclaim that God has rejected the People of Israel and that Israel has been rebirthed by man alone.  Yet, we find in Scripture that God never intended to reject His People forever: “You, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, Descendant of Abraham My friend, you whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its remotest parts and said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and not rejected you.”  (Isaiah 41:9)”

Israel exists because of the plan of God. As King David writes in Psalm 121:4, “He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” It is God’s plan that a Temple exist in Jerusalem. The original purpose of the Temple is for God to dwell with His people. 

Notice how God first dwelt with his people: Adam and Eve walked with God physically in the garden.

“They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.” Genesis 3:8

After the fall, God placed a separation between God and man. An angel with a flaming sword blocked access to the Garden of Eden. God wanted to dwell with His people physically and that is why He built the Temple.

“Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them.” Exodus 25:8

From the time of Moses until the Babylonian exile, God dwelt among His people. God left the Temple before King Nebuchadnezzar destroyed it in 586 BC.  After the return of the Jews to Jerusalem, God ordered His people to rebuild the Temple.

There are five parallels between the Second Temple and the Tribulation Temple.

1. God ordered Cyrus to send the people back to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple.

“Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying: “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.” Ezra 1:1-2

For some reason, the Jews think that they need permission from the nations to rebuild the Temple. Trump, Putin to rebuild Temple. “Sanhedrin to Trump-Putin: Fulfill Cyrus-like role in Jerusalem. Eyeing what appears to be a twice-in-history opportunity, the organization called the Sanhedrin has called on U.S. president-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to join forces and back the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem.” Strangely, President Trump did fulfill this role on May 14, 2018 when he declared Jerusalem the eternal, undivided capital of Israel. The Jews minted a coin with Cyrus and Trump next to each other. This leads us to the second parallel.

• God stirred up a remnant of people to rebuild the Temple.  Most Israelites remained in captivity in Babylon.  Jews settled into their new homes in Babylon, and over the years, many scattered eastward all the way to China. Most did not return to Israel.

“Then the heads of fathers’ households of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and the Levites arose, even everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up and rebuild the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.” Ezra 1:5

Today, small groups of people are concerned with building the Temple. God has stirred the hearts of some Evangelical Christians and Orthodox Jews to rebuild the Temple and pray for its completion. 1967 was the pivotal year for rebuilding the Temple because Israel captured Jerusalem. Two groups formed: Gershom Solomon formed the Temple Mount Faithful and Rabbi Yisrael Ariel founded The Temple Institute.  The Temple Institute prepared all of the articles for the Temple and trained the Levites in sacrifices. When they rebuild the Temple, very few will support it and understand its significance.

• The Temple was built in a time of conflict.

“So they set up the altar on its foundation, for they were terrified because of the peoples of the lands; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, burnt offerings morning and evening.” Ezra 3:3

Deadly riots on the temple mount. “After fringe Jewish group attempts to lay cornerstone for a “third temple” in 1990, Palestinians riot and Israeli police fire live bullets into the mob. On October 8, 1990, members of the “Temple Mount Faithful” fringe Jewish group set out to the Temple Mount, holy to both Jews and Muslims, in order to lay a cornerstone for the “third temple.” The rioting, death and injury that followed would set off a new round of violence, worldwide condemnation of Israel, and investigations on two sides of the globe.” In fact, the Temple Mount Faithful have been marching to the Temple Mount every year since 1970. Notice how they are called a fringe group.

• Abomination-of-desolation. “First fulfillment of the abomination of desolation: Daniel prophesied that a successor to one of Alexander the Great’s generals would set up an “abomination of desolation” (Daniel 11:31). The Greek ruler Antiochus Epiphanes was the “king of the North” who fulfilled this. He outlawed all forms of Jewish worship; and other practices, including circumcision, were forbidden on pain of death. Sacrifices were to be offered instead to various pagan deities. Then in 167 B.C. an altar to the Greek god Zeus was set up at God’s temple in Jerusalem. Swine, biblically unclean animals, were offered on this new altar, further desecrating the holy place.”

God tells us that the Temple will be desecrated in the end times.

“Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.

A Temple has to exist for Anti-Christ to desecrate it. It will be an abomination because the Temple is God’s Temple. I cannot understand how Christians say that the Tribulation Temple is Satan’s temple when God says it is His Temple. It also is not an abomination if it is not God’s temple!

• War came when Antiochus Epiphanes desecrated the Temple. The Maccabees are described for us in Daniel as those who know their God and display strength and take action. They fought and won back the Temple. When they went to purify the Temple, they only had enough oil to light the Menorah for one day, but it stayed lit for eight days. This is when the feast of Hanukkah was instituted.

“By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take action.” Daniel 11:32

The next Abomination of Desolation is going to bring the war of Armageddon.

Build the temple. “The Talmud mentions five things lacking in Zerubbabel’s Temple that were found in Solomon’s, that is, the ark, the sacred fire, the shekinah glory, the Holy Spirit, and the Urim and Thummim.” These conditions existed when Jesus came to the Temple. It is important for us to see that our Lord held a high view of the Temple.

Jesus first entered the Temple as a baby.

“And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” Luke 2:22-24

The first thing to note is that Jesus’ parents brought him to the Temple to fulfill the law of God. God sent Simeon to greet them and prophesy:

“And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, For my eyes have seen Your salvation, Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, and the glory of Your people Israel.” Luke 2:27, 30-32

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

Jesus was dedicated at the Temple and now God, Jesus in the flesh, dwelt among His people again.

What was Jesus’ attitude toward the Temple?  We learn about Jesus’ attitude towards the Temple when He was 12 years old. Every year it was the habit of the family to go up to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover. This particular time, Jesus stayed behind and was at the Temple for three days. His parents thought they had lost Jesus and searched for him and finally found him at the Temple.

“And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” Luke 2:49   Wow! Jesus wanted to be at the Temple because it was His Father’s house. This is high praise for the Temple.

Next, we see Jesus driving out the money-changers.

 “Jesus entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling, saying to them, “It is written, ‘AND MY HOUSE SHALL BE A HOUSE OF PRAYER,’ but you have made it a robber’s den.” Luke 19:45-46.

Jesus quoted from Isaiah 56:7 that the Temple was a house of prayer for all of the nations. That is a reason to have a Temple today!

Next, we see Jesus driving out the money changers with a whip and saying,

“and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business. His disciples remembered that it was written, “ZEAL FOR YOUR HOUSE WILL CONSUME ME.” John 2:16-17.   Jesus was zealous for the Temple.

There are two problems facing those who wish to rebuild: land and the red heifer. In order to rebuild the Temple, they will need a pure red heifer for the ritual purification. Everyone is excited about this one because in four weeks a pure red heifer can fulfill the requirements of Numbers 19. God will certainly raise up the red heifer when it is time to rebuild. Numbers 19 describes the law regarding the red heifer, used for ritual purification. When this problem is solved the second problem arises. Where do you build the temple? The answer to that question would require another lesson. Have a great weekend everyone and keep looking up!

The Temple – God Draws Near to His People – Part 1 (7-26-20) https://fccdl.in/NUn5VkBsLs?st=7

The Temple – Part 2 (8-02-20) https://fccdl.in/qMG56XF70s?st=7