Ezekiel 38 – God’s Plan

This past Sunday, I was able to preach on somethinkg I am passionate about. People world-wide are talking about the end of the world. People are talking about the Mayan prophecy of 2012, scientists of a global reverse of polarity coordinated with the sun's cycle of polarity reversal resulting in earthquakes, volcanoes, and the possible collapse of the earth's upper atmosphere. All these things are noteworthy, but how does God's own Word speak of these events? Ezekiel 36-37 speak of events that took place in 1948. It appears that todays geo-political events in the middle east are lining up with ch. 38. I didn't write out a sermon on paper, just an outline to go by. If you have a readable translation of God's word, it would be helpful to get the full effect of the outline.
May God bless you in seeking His Truth.

In Ezekiel 38 – we see names many of us are unfamiliar with, though some we know. These first appear in what is known as the
I. Table of Nations in Gen. 10:

Magog (Russia), Javan (Greece), Tubal and Meshech (Turkey and Central Asia) are sons of Noah’s son Japheth (Gen. 10:2)

Tarshish (England or Spain) is a son of Javan (maritime peoples ~ Gen 10:4)

Sheba, Dedan (Southern Arabia) (Gen 10:7)

A. The Sovereign LORD predicts He will bring them out. (v. 4)

B. Magog’s Allies - Perisa (Iraq & Iran), Cush (Ethiopia), Put (Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, North Africa) (v. 5)

C. invading a land gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel… now they all live in safety.(v.8)


II. Thoughts of Evil (vv. 10-13)

A. invade a peaceful unsuspecting people (v. 10)

B. plunder, loot and destroy (v. 12)

C. Friends or Foes? Question Israel’s allies, but do nothing about it (v. 13)


III. A Soon Reality?

A. when my people are living in safety (v. 14) – Leaders state that they want to sign Annapolis peace accord by 2008

B. confirmation of Russia (v. 15)

C. Magog and hordes like a cloud covering the land (v. 16)


IV. Yahweh’s Devastation

A. Anger aroused (v. 18)

B. Great earthquake –scientists now saying a major quake long overdue in Israel!

C. Chaos and Natural Disaster vv. 20-22

D. God’s glorification and magnification vv. 16, 23



V. Conclusions We Should Draw

A. Most Bible scholars assume this war happens at the beginning or before Daniel’s 70th week.

1. He (Satan~spiritual ruler in the 'heavens' 1 Jn 5:19) – will confirm a covenant for one ‘seven’ – 7 yr. peace treaty

2. Daniel 9:27 tells us there is a Temple in place and sacrifices have been resumed
- after war, Russia and Muslim nations are decimated, they will be in no position to refuse Israel their temple

B. In the 70th week, God returns his focus to Israel

1. The 70th week of Daniel begins God’s wrath on the world! Rev. 6 –Seal Judgments

2. In the middle of the week, Abomination of Desolation occurs (Dan. 9:27)

3. The Church is gone! “For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?”Rom. 11:15, 1 Thess 1:10; 2 Thess. 2:7

VI. HOW NOW SHOULD WE LIVE?

KNOW GOD!
A. knowing = obedience 2 Thess. 1:8,

B. hear & DO (knowing = doing) James 1:19-25

1. get rid of moral filth so prevalent

2. humbly ACCEPT the word planted in you

C. knowing = relationship (Jn. 17:3, Jn 15:5,6)

Blinded by Desire?

I just came across an article reporting on the rates of sexual promiscuity among universities in the UK. What's striking is that the article and the first lines state that those who have the most sexual partners have the worst results in sexual experience.

A survey from one of the country's top universities has revealed students who have the most sex get the worst results.

The online study published in the student magazine Varsity asked over a thousand members in various colleges at Cambridge University in depth about their sex lives.

It revealed students at poorly-performing colleges are more likely to be sleeping around.

And I think this is tied to the skyrocketing amount of depression, use of anti-derpresants and suicide in universites. Could all this scientific evidence lend to suggest that in fact we are not created for more than one sexual partner?

What irks me most about the article is that going on down through the article, the author obviously doesn't take this view. He goes on to celebrate the types and styles and locations of sexual perversion that is taking place.

The Bible clearly tells us that we were created for one life-long partner in marriage, to bring about and raise children who fear Yahweh and follow His ways, not their own.
"For this reason a man leaves his father and mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh (not twenty-three)." (Gen. 2:24)

to see the article, go to: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=510332&in_page_id=1770

Is Hillary in the Intrest of the US?

Inightfully candid conservative columnist Cal Thomas has written a column peircing into the inner workings of the "Clinton Machine". Way to go Cal!

Seeking to impose an unworkable plan on an unsuspecting public was bad enough, but the pain Hillarycare supporters were prepared to inflict on opponents demonstrates insensitivity in the extreme. A “confidential” memorandum written on May 26, 1993 by Sen. Jay Rockefeller, West Virginia Democrat, to Hillary Clinton was entitled “Health Care Reform Communications.” The Rockefeller memo suggests Hillary employ “classic opposition research” to attack critics who were excluded by the administration from Task Force deliberations and to “expose lifestyles, tactics and motives of lobbyists” to counter and overcome criticism. Rockefeller also suggested news organizations “are anxious and willing to receive guidance (from the Clinton administration) on how to time and shape the (news) coverage.” Rockefeller seems to accept the notion asserted for years by conservatives that the mainstream media are biased in favor of Democrats and their policies. For many, this will not be a revelation.

for full article, go to http://www.townhall.com/columnists/CalThomas/2008/01/22/ps_we_are_lying_to_you

Interesting now movie on ID...

I just read this, about this movie on Intelligent Design (ID) called "Expelled." It really seems to confront many of the issues being felt today in the scientific and academic community.

Here's the first paragraph to the article:

(CNSNews.com) - Intelligent design theory, or ID, is opening new doors of scientific research, particularly in cancer and other disease research, according to its adherents, but a new movie, "Expelled" starring Ben Stein explores how an "elitist scientific establishment" is apparently muzzling and smearing scientists who publicly discuss ID.

go here if you'd like the whle article, http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=/Nation/archive/200801/NAT20080117a.html

Meida are showing their true colors...

In these most expedient presidential primaries, I know my eyes have been opened to alot. Of course, I knew Fox News Channel was the only TV network to get truly conservative viewpoints, or on the internet. But I hope everyone is seeing that all the rest of the networks are biased in ways that are anti-American, anti-Judeo-Christian. It seems taht if the wrong party got in control, we're not all that far from a socialist (read: communist) tyranny in this once great nation!



The conservative watchdog group Culture and Media Institute argues that the American media seem to care more about the health and internal unity of the Democratic Party than they do the important issues facing voters during the presidential campaign.

...



The Culture and Media Institute (CMI) director also accuses the media of giving Obama a free pass when it comes to his political platform. He says Obama keeps talking about bringing a change to Washington, yet nobody in the media has questioned Obama as to what that change might be. "The media seem curiously incurious about the details [of that proposed change]," he remarks.

for full article, go to http://www.onenewsnow.com/2008/01/analyst_says_media_bias_transp.php

Scripture Promises

"LORD, Your testimonies are completely reliable; holiness is the beauty of Your house for all the days to come." (Psalm 93:5)

"The LORD will not forsake His people or abandon His heritage." (Ps. 94:14)

"You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory. (Ps. 73:24)

I'm sure everyone is familiar with the commercial of Hillary's at Christmas and all hte gifts she wants for Christmas (the enormously expensive gifts, I might add). Phyllis Schafly did an article, pointing oiut the most dangerous of these gifts is the universal pre-k!

When U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., showed television viewers the Christmas presents she wants to give us if she is elected president, her most important was universal pre-kindergarten, following closely after universal health care. Clinton was reminding us of her status as the grand dame of the ideology expressed in her favorite African slogan, "It takes a village to raise a child."

Indeed, there seem to be many busybodies who believe the village, i.e., government functionaries, should make major decisions about the upbringing of children, including what they are taught and how they are medicated. They may approach this incrementally, but their goal is always "universal."

...

Massachusetts has just started to require that all children in Medicaid, 460,000 kids, must be subjected annually to mental health screening in order to detect signs of possible mental illness, autism, or depression. One of the criteria on the questionnaire used to identify mental health problems is that the child is "seeming to have less fun."

And in this universal pre-k care system, it seems that the children are required a number of vaccinations regardless...

Parents believe that this New Jersey requirement is a major encroachment on parental rights to make medical and other decisions for their own children. Parents also cite the potential dangers of vaccines for some children.

And if the parents decide it's to dangerous for their children...

State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey intimidated parents with what he called "legal action." He arranged to have letters sent to all parents who were "out of compliance" demanding that they must attend a court hearing where they would receive a verbal reprimand and their children would be vaccinated, presumably forcibly.

for full article, see www.townhall.com

On Forgiveness

I came across this quote on Forgiveness and thought it was quite funny.

"In the Bible it says they asked Jesus how many times you should forgiven and he said 70 times 7. Well, I want you all to know that I'm keeping a chart." - Hillary Rodham Clinton

I'm sure that was said tongue-in-cheek, but in reality, it is not the spirit of Christ. In that phrase, what Jesus was implying is that we should always be willing to forgive someone who is truly repentant of their deed, when they ask us. That is God's heart for those who have beleived his witness, and placed their faith in the saving act of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins. When we place our faith in Jesus to forgive us, we are immediately forgiven of all sins, past, present and future, though when we sin daily, we should ask forgiveness, because the relationship with our Maker is hurt. Recently, in a book of the works of A.W. Tozer, I read that he came to faith after hearing a street preacher cry out, "If you need to be saved, call on God."

"If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved... For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:9,13

Megachurches targeted by Gay-Activist Group

This was posted in a pastor's email briefing sent out weekly by Focus on the Family. Megachurch members, beware! Pray for your leaders!!!


Under the guise of "America Family Outing," Soulforce, a gay-activist group, is recruiting same-sex couples with children to visit several evangelical megachurches this year to "initiate conversation" and "change hearts and minds." Some of the churches on the visit list are those pastored by Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, Joel Osteen, Harry Jackson and T.D. Jakes, reports CitizenLink. Caleb H. Price, gender issues analyst from Focus on the Family Action, said, "Soulforce claims to want one thing — dialogue — but, in reality, what they're trying to do is disseminate a false doctrine into the wider Body of Christ."

Ann Coulter had an interesting post on her site concerning the holiday of late, Kwanzaa. Here are a few excerpts:

It is a fact that Kwanzaa was invented in 1966 by a black radical FBI stooge, Ron Karenga, aka Dr. Maulana Karenga. Karenga was a founder of United Slaves, a violent nationalist rival to the Black Panthers and a dupe of the FBI.

In what was probably ultimately a foolish gamble, during the madness of the '60s the FBI encouraged the most extreme black nationalist organizations in order to discredit and split the left. The more preposterous the organization, the better. Using that criterion, Karenga's United Slaves was perfect. In the annals of the American '60s, Karenga was the Father Gapon, stooge of the czarist police.

...

Coincidentally, the seven principles of Kwanzaa are the very same seven principles of the Symbionese Liberation Army, another charming invention of the Worst Generation. In 1974, Patricia Hearst, kidnap victim-cum-SLA revolutionary, posed next to the banner of her alleged captors, a seven-headed cobra. Each snake head stood for one of the SLA's revolutionary principles: Umoja, Kujichagulia, Ujima, Ujamaa, Nia, Kuumba and Imani -- the exact same seven "principles" of Kwanzaa.


For teh full article, see www.anncoulter.com. This is certainly an interesting informative article on the 'history' of Kwanzaa. I know you have all been dying to know.

The Quran advocates Violence against Women!

Have you heard of the deaths of the two lovely young teenage girls in TX? Evidently their father killed them for being "too American." Robert Spencer writes an interesting article on them.

Over the next few days, as more details emerge about the murders of Amina and Sarah Said, we will see Islamic spokesmen on TV (Ibrahim Hooper is probably sitting for make-up as you read this) explaining that honor killing is a cultural practice that has nothing to do with Islam, and of course above all the one thing we must avoid doing in the aftermath of these murders is entertain for even a moment the possibility that Islamic attitudes and atmospherics had anything to do with the deaths of these girls.

And Alan Colmes will nod sagely and agree that Islamophobia is a terrible problem, and Sean Hannity will burble about the "hijacking of a great religion," and Glenn Beck will assure us that the Qur'an teaches nonviolence, and a splendid time is guaranteed for all. No one will dream of holding the American Muslim community accountable for aiding and abetting the creation of a culture of violence against women. Oh no. That would be "Islamophobic."

for the full article, go to: http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Printable.aspx?GUID=A14A51D8-99D1-4E73-B745-737EF04FAB9D

Huckabee responds well to survey of views on military social issues, says activist

Chad Groening
OneNewsNow.com
January 8, 2008


Elaine Donnelly, president of the Center for Military Readiness, says former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee responded well to a military survey sent to all the presidential candidates.

The survey covered a variety of social issues that affect the troops, and while the Center for Military Readiness will not endorse a presidential candidate, she did comment on Huckabee's response. "Governor Huckabee did provide very good answers to the questions that we asked," says Donnelly, who heads the military watchdog group. "Everything from women in combat, gays in the military, the CEDAW treaty, women on submarines. These are very important military social issues."

But Donnelly did find some contradictions in Huckabee's stance concerning homosexuals serving in the military. "A statement made to the Associated Press in April 2007 ... indicated that well ... [Huckabee's] not sure that being a homosexual should automatically disqualify [someone] from the military," she points out. "His campaign, however, said that he supports the law regarding homosexuals in the military."

Donnelly says the campaigns for both Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney did not answer surveys. As for Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) -- he sent a copy of a letter; and Fred Thompson responded to the question of homosexuals serving in the military with a statement, says Donnelly. However, she notes none of the Democratic candidates responded to her survey.

reported by OneNewsNow.com

Darwinians losing Intelligence?

I saw this article posted by the Family Research Council, and found it quite interesting, so I thought I'd share it.


Design Found, Intelligence Lacking in Latest Attack by Darwinians


The National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine have mounted yet another attack on the scientific theory of intelligent design, publishing an 89-page book titled Science, Evolution, and Creationism. The new publication falsely equates "intelligent design" (a scientific theory which infers the necessity for intelligent design from scientific evidence) with "creationism" (a term usually used for a theory of origins that begins with the Bible or some other religious text). It also lumps together concepts of microevolution within species (such as the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria), which are not controversial, with the more contested theory of macroevolution, which seeks to trace all existing forms of life to a common ancestor. It appears to dodge altogether the crucial question of how living things could have arisen from non-living things in the first place. It also slanders intelligent design as "unscientific" despite peer-reviewed articles on the concept and the credentials of 700 doctoral-level scientists who have publicly questioned Darwinism. Perhaps the biggest problem with the defenders of Darwinian evolution is that, ironically, they have reversed the roles in the supposed historical "war between science and religion," by declaring Darwinism to be inerrant dogma, and punishing its doubters by burning them at the academic stake.

Mounting Evidence for Intelligent Design Discovered in 2007

I found an article at www.christianpost.com exposing information about mounting evidence supporting intelligent design. Will the evolutionists not concede that their dogma is a religion?

By Katherine T. Phan
Christian Post Reporter
Tue, Jan. 01 2008 09:15 AM ET

From jellyfish fossil finds to the newly discovered function of the appendix, a science and technology watchdog group has released a list of some of the year's top news that reflect mounting evidence supporting intelligent design.

The Access Research Network – which reports on science, technology and society from an intelligent design perspective – recently released its "Top 10 Darwin and Design News Stories" list for 2007.

"Overall in 2007 I'd say we've observed a growing consternation running through many scientific disciplines over Darwinian explanations of the evidence that were once thought to be resolved long ago," said Kevin Wirth, ARN director of media relations.

Among the top stories the group considers a "growing burden" to Darwinists is the increasing level of complexity being discovered in small biological systems such as living cells and in early life history such as jellyfish. Newly uncovered jellyfish fossils in Utah were dated back 200 million years earlier than the oldest specimens of the modern jellyfish yet showed the same complexity as modern orders and families of jellyfish. These findings, according to ARN, challenge Darwin's molecule-to-man theory because they reveal that there was an insufficient amount of time for complex life to have developed only via the Darwinian principles of random mutations and natural selection.

Darwin's "Tree-of-Life" model was also hit hard in 2007 when a scientist at the National Center for Biotechnology Information published a paper claiming the tree pattern could not explain major transitions in biological evolution and instead proposed a "Biological Big Bang" model.

ARN executive director Dennis Wagner noted that science is still recovering from a whole generation of people who have been raised according to "Darwinian fairytales," such as the teaching that human and chimpanzee genetics only differ by 1 percent and that the appendix is a leftover evolutionary vestige.

"These are Darwinian 'arguments from ignorance' that continue to be discarded as scientists uncover the incredible design and purpose of biological systems," he said.

But the challenges to Darwinism have not been without opposition.

The group notes in its list that political and academic persecution against those who question the evolutionary theory has also been a hallmark for 2007.

"Our modern western culture is so ingrained in the naturalistic Darwinian creation story that those who challenge the story, even with scientific evidence in hand, are treated as outsiders and outcasts," observed Wagner.

He hopes that Ben Stein's documentary "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed," scheduled for release in early 2008, will serve as a "eye-opener" to Americans on the growing hostility toward individuals who have suggested alternative views to Darwinism.

The debate about origins is expected to heat up again significantly in 2008, Wirth said.
"I think we're beginning to see a growing trend overall that the sufficiency of Darwinian explanations to describe how life evolved is turning out to be substantially inadequate in a growing number of fields, particularly in the areas of genetics and molecular biology," he noted.
"I think it's becoming clear that Darwinism is on the verge of one of the greatest challenges it has faced in many decades."

On the Web: ARN's "Top 10 Darwin and Design News Stories" at www.arn.org/top10

Reliability of Voter Forums

I just finished watching the N.H. presidential forum, which I thought went very well. The candidates were very articulate, very "up on their numbers," to quote one of the Fox News Channel reporters. But then they showed the N.H. panel analysis. What got me is that the almost entire crowd pulled for Romney, when Romney did not stand as well, and was very vague in his responses. When showing the rating of the candidates speech, Romney's went up high when he was speaking of the need for change in Washington. But there was no plan, only the declaration of the need for change. One woman said in ciriticism of Mike Huckabee that she wanted a president and not a Baptist pastor. Most of the room raised their hands when asked who thought he identified to much with his faith (Come on, red state!). The thing is, Religion or faith in no way came up during the forum. Does this denote a previous bias against Huckabee, and does this also denote that if the people are biased against a particular individual, that these voter panel ratings are really reliable?

Incentive for political bias

Happy New Year to everyone! I hope you had a great Christmas holiday. I've been out and away for a bit, so that's part of the reason I was gone so long. Have any of you watched the Iowa caucus last night. I love how when Huckabee did well in the voting, it was attributed to the "rural evangelicals," but supposedly Huckabee won't have that going for him in the other states! They ought to come out and call the Christians hillbillys, for that's what they mean. Hey, I'm from the hills of NC, I'm a hillbilly! Nevermind the fact that I've got a 97 hr. Masters of Theology!

I don't mean to be saying the same thing over and over, but I guess I've had my eyes opened with Huckabee running for office and all the conservative broadcasters him. And they just don't stop. They keep harping about how he made all these pardons, when all you have to do is go to Huck's site, and see that every criminal in Arkansas is entitled to apply for a pardon, and Huckabee turned DOWN over 80% of them. Does Romney even carry out that part of his government role, or does he deal with that?

So back to the conservative broadcasters, you know, Rush, Hannity, Ingram, Coulter. I think it's interesting that they all work for Clear Channel. Guess who Clear Channel is owned by. It's owned by Bain Capital, and guess who owns Bain Capital. Who else but Mitt Romney! Hmmm... let's put two and two together. The reason all these talk-show hosts is because he pays their checks.