It appears so. This past Sunday "Iran and Syria signed a mutual defense agreement...." We live in a time where we daily can look at the headlines and see the fulfillment of scripture, and it appears the birth pangs are getting closer and more frequent! Many theologians state that Psalm 83 describes the next war that must take place with Israel, in order to get Israel to fit the description spelled out in Ezek. 38:11, a land of unwalled villages living at peace and dwelling securely.
Isaiah 17:1 is another prophecy that has not taken place yet, and many believe it will occur in the war between Israel and her neighbors. This seems fitting, especially in light of this new information, that Iran and Syria have just made a defense pact. It has been known for some time that Damascus, Syria's capital, is headquarters to some of the terrorist networks in Israel. This pact of sworn defense with Iran just makes fulfillment of Is. 17:1 alot more likely.
You can hear the Savior coming!
for coverage of news article, go to http://www.israeltoday.co.il/default.aspx?tabid=178&nid=20166.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Global Government Out to Squash Evangelicals?
We can see in the news the truth about Politicians agendas, and the goal they are moving towards.
Truth about Homosexual Marriage
The DC Election Board has refused an initiative to put the marriage issue before voters. Alan Wisdom of the Institute on Religion & Democracy tells OneNewsNow the city council was offered amendments to protect religious groups, but opted to reject them.
"We at the Institute are warning that this really shows the trajectory of same-sex marriage," notes Wisdom. "The initial appeal is for tolerance, but ultimately same-sex marriage becomes tyranny that is imposed upon Christians and others who support traditional marriage, and they are forced in various ways to accept same-sex marriage."
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=777794
Women bear Brunt of Climate Change
According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), birth control and access to family-planning facilities can be a valuable weapon in the fight against supposed "climate change." The UNFPA sites overpopulation as one of the factors in the earth's "capacity to adjust" to climate change.
In an article published on GMANews.tv, a representative from the Philippines notes that climate change could affect women the worst, as women in that country might be driven into the sex trade as climate change reduces income from farming and fishing. The Fund uses this scenario to justify its call for the distribution of birth control and its call to slow population growth.
...
Taylor contends the U.N. Population Fund is trying to link its radical agenda to alleged climate change only to gain support from environmentalists...
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=781330
There is one ponit I disagree with Taylor on. The UN is taking it's direction from the 'Tibetan Master,' Djhwal Kuhl, the spirit guide who dictated through Alice Bailey for the global agenda at the U.N. in the early 1900s. Their goal is to exterminate Christianity, and reduce global population significantly, in honor of "mother earth," who in their worldview, is part of god, as we all are (thanks Shirley Maclaine & Oprah Winfrey).
Asher, the spirit guide of John Randolph Price, informed John that 2 billion people must be exterminated, in order for humanity to be able to make it's societal "spiritual evolutionary leap" in order to save humanity. But the fallen angels, the deceivers, do not know the day nor the hour, but only the LORD Himself. Asher guessed that this 'mass execution' would take place Dec. 31st, 1986.
That was the spirit's first guess. And since then, those spirits have been working overtime to deceive and convert people to the New Age religion. The main belief of the New Age, is that God is all, and in all. This is known as Pantheism and Panentheism. Two of just many new age practices that have this underlying foundation of pantheism are Yoga, and Acupuncture. Both of these practices have the goal of 'realiging' your energies and restoring the 'connection' to your 'higher self,' which every good pantheist knows is god, the universal, into which we are all reabsorbed to become absolutely nothing after our final reincarnation.
But we know Him who is really in charge, and who has the final victory. Christ will catch away his saints... but in the meantime, we who know need to be preparing our friends and loved ones for the final end!
Truth about Homosexual Marriage
The DC Election Board has refused an initiative to put the marriage issue before voters. Alan Wisdom of the Institute on Religion & Democracy tells OneNewsNow the city council was offered amendments to protect religious groups, but opted to reject them.
"We at the Institute are warning that this really shows the trajectory of same-sex marriage," notes Wisdom. "The initial appeal is for tolerance, but ultimately same-sex marriage becomes tyranny that is imposed upon Christians and others who support traditional marriage, and they are forced in various ways to accept same-sex marriage."
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=777794
Women bear Brunt of Climate Change
According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), birth control and access to family-planning facilities can be a valuable weapon in the fight against supposed "climate change." The UNFPA sites overpopulation as one of the factors in the earth's "capacity to adjust" to climate change.
In an article published on GMANews.tv, a representative from the Philippines notes that climate change could affect women the worst, as women in that country might be driven into the sex trade as climate change reduces income from farming and fishing. The Fund uses this scenario to justify its call for the distribution of birth control and its call to slow population growth.
...
Taylor contends the U.N. Population Fund is trying to link its radical agenda to alleged climate change only to gain support from environmentalists...
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=781330
There is one ponit I disagree with Taylor on. The UN is taking it's direction from the 'Tibetan Master,' Djhwal Kuhl, the spirit guide who dictated through Alice Bailey for the global agenda at the U.N. in the early 1900s. Their goal is to exterminate Christianity, and reduce global population significantly, in honor of "mother earth," who in their worldview, is part of god, as we all are (thanks Shirley Maclaine & Oprah Winfrey).
Asher, the spirit guide of John Randolph Price, informed John that 2 billion people must be exterminated, in order for humanity to be able to make it's societal "spiritual evolutionary leap" in order to save humanity. But the fallen angels, the deceivers, do not know the day nor the hour, but only the LORD Himself. Asher guessed that this 'mass execution' would take place Dec. 31st, 1986.
That was the spirit's first guess. And since then, those spirits have been working overtime to deceive and convert people to the New Age religion. The main belief of the New Age, is that God is all, and in all. This is known as Pantheism and Panentheism. Two of just many new age practices that have this underlying foundation of pantheism are Yoga, and Acupuncture. Both of these practices have the goal of 'realiging' your energies and restoring the 'connection' to your 'higher self,' which every good pantheist knows is god, the universal, into which we are all reabsorbed to become absolutely nothing after our final reincarnation.
But we know Him who is really in charge, and who has the final victory. Christ will catch away his saints... but in the meantime, we who know need to be preparing our friends and loved ones for the final end!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Pop Culture Inspired by Satan?
I've come across a website that has horrified and disturbed both my wife and I. It's not an ungodly website, but in fact, a very godly one. It is an expose on pop culture movies and bands. You will see how Satan has worked and advanced his agenda in the popular culture, and through many people you love and appreciate, and in some cases, nearly worship (U2, Beach Boys, Elvis Pressley, Transformers, etc.)! But I warn you before you look into it. It's really disturbing and unreal!
It makes so much sense! But I've been so blind! I just looked up something about Jerry Lee Lewis (yes, he's featured on there), and on his page in Wikipedia, it says:
His mother enrolled him in Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, Texas, secure in the knowledge that her son would now be exclusively singing his songs to the Lord. But Lewis daringly played a boogie woogie rendition of "My God Is Real" at a church assembly that sent him packing the same night. Pearry Green, then president of the student body, related how during a talent show Lewis played some "worldly" music. The next morning, the dean of the school called both Lewis and Green into his office to expel them both. Lewis said that Green shouldn't be expelled because "he didn't know what I was going to do." Years later Green asked Lewis: "Are you still playing the devil's music?" Lewis replied "Yes, I am. But you know it's strange, the same music that they kicked me out of school for is the same kind of music they play in their churches today. The difference is, I know I am playing for the devil and they don't" [emphasis mine].
Go in God's graces,
Go to http://theater.goodfight.org.
p.s. try to alert all you know in Christ about this! And try to snatch sinners from the fire!
It makes so much sense! But I've been so blind! I just looked up something about Jerry Lee Lewis (yes, he's featured on there), and on his page in Wikipedia, it says:
His mother enrolled him in Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, Texas, secure in the knowledge that her son would now be exclusively singing his songs to the Lord. But Lewis daringly played a boogie woogie rendition of "My God Is Real" at a church assembly that sent him packing the same night. Pearry Green, then president of the student body, related how during a talent show Lewis played some "worldly" music. The next morning, the dean of the school called both Lewis and Green into his office to expel them both. Lewis said that Green shouldn't be expelled because "he didn't know what I was going to do." Years later Green asked Lewis: "Are you still playing the devil's music?" Lewis replied "Yes, I am. But you know it's strange, the same music that they kicked me out of school for is the same kind of music they play in their churches today. The difference is, I know I am playing for the devil and they don't" [emphasis mine].
Go in God's graces,
Go to http://theater.goodfight.org.
p.s. try to alert all you know in Christ about this! And try to snatch sinners from the fire!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Persecution Coming To American Christians?
You know, serving as a youth pastor, I got in trouble teaching the youth that they must prepare for coming persecution. Before beginning Youth Ministry, I read a book by Richard Wurmbrand, called Tortured For Christ, describing the persecution faced under Communism (i.e. Marxism, Obama's policies). In this book, he describes leading a group of young, new believers before they were baptized to the zoo. He took them to the lion cage, and told them that if they want to follow Christ, they must be willing to be thrown to the lions! Is this so hard to believe, that we consider Christian children "too young" to learn about such things?
I also orderered a video about a group of young people spending their summer smuggling Bible into a Communist nation. I wanted the American youth to see what real faith is all about.
Peter tells us "Everyone who wants to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (1 Ptr. 3:12). Jesus said "Whoever will not take up their cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me." (Mt. 10:38).
Looking at a news media, there was an article this morning describing discussions being held on a homosexual blog.
Pro-family activists have drawn attention to a disturbing exchange on a homosexual blog run by Joe Jervis of New York. The exchange takes place between individuals named Fritz and Tex in the comment section of a blog discussing the Maine homosexual marriage defeat and pro-family activists Matt Barber of Liberty Counsel and Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth about Homosexuality. LaBarbera says the two commentators discussed carrying out acts of terrorism against Christians.
"One guy [Fritz] sort of raises [the concept] and says, 'well, if Obama doesn't give us what we want, you are going to see a very real potential for violence' -- to quote his words...and then he says, 'well, that is not a good thing,'" LaBarbera reports. "Then another activist comes back and says, 'Well what's wrong with that?'"
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=760780
I know there are some people who feel it is okay to remain in sin after they have supposedly been saved. These people do not understand the true meaning of 1 Cor. 6:9-11 and 2 Cor 5:17. That when a person is saved, they are made spiritually alive, and now have God's word (His entire word, not just the parts that's easy to accept) written on their heart (Jer 31:33; Lev. 18:22).
When a person truly repents of their sins (rebellion against God's righteousness), and turns to the Lord, not only do they have a new relationship with God, but they have a new hatred for their sin! This isn't to say that a paerson doesn't struggle with temptations of past sin-habits. But they call sin for what it is and strive to walk in righteousness, and they confess their sins to brothers and sisters, and ask for help/accountability. If this hasn't happened in your life, you need to heed the apostle's admontion:
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? (2 Corinthians 13:5)
I also orderered a video about a group of young people spending their summer smuggling Bible into a Communist nation. I wanted the American youth to see what real faith is all about.
Peter tells us "Everyone who wants to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (1 Ptr. 3:12). Jesus said "Whoever will not take up their cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me." (Mt. 10:38).
Looking at a news media, there was an article this morning describing discussions being held on a homosexual blog.
Pro-family activists have drawn attention to a disturbing exchange on a homosexual blog run by Joe Jervis of New York. The exchange takes place between individuals named Fritz and Tex in the comment section of a blog discussing the Maine homosexual marriage defeat and pro-family activists Matt Barber of Liberty Counsel and Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth about Homosexuality. LaBarbera says the two commentators discussed carrying out acts of terrorism against Christians.
"One guy [Fritz] sort of raises [the concept] and says, 'well, if Obama doesn't give us what we want, you are going to see a very real potential for violence' -- to quote his words...and then he says, 'well, that is not a good thing,'" LaBarbera reports. "Then another activist comes back and says, 'Well what's wrong with that?'"
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=760780
I know there are some people who feel it is okay to remain in sin after they have supposedly been saved. These people do not understand the true meaning of 1 Cor. 6:9-11 and 2 Cor 5:17. That when a person is saved, they are made spiritually alive, and now have God's word (His entire word, not just the parts that's easy to accept) written on their heart (Jer 31:33; Lev. 18:22).
When a person truly repents of their sins (rebellion against God's righteousness), and turns to the Lord, not only do they have a new relationship with God, but they have a new hatred for their sin! This isn't to say that a paerson doesn't struggle with temptations of past sin-habits. But they call sin for what it is and strive to walk in righteousness, and they confess their sins to brothers and sisters, and ask for help/accountability. If this hasn't happened in your life, you need to heed the apostle's admontion:
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? (2 Corinthians 13:5)
Monday, October 26, 2009
Correction to my 'Immanency of Rapture/Muslim Attack' blog
I know that as the world governments install software to monitor blogs, talking about the soon return of our coming King endangers me to be considered a national threat... but I wanted to make some corrections that occurred to me a couple of weeks ago, but am only now getting to putting down.
First, let me recount a little of what I said...
Many think that the Rapture itself could happen, and cause catastrophic devastation, which would result in mass crime, looting, chaos, confusion… leading to martial law in the States, and effectively bring about the one world government spoken of in the book of Daniel. Another hypothesis is that we could come under attack by Russia, who has had her ships off the coast of Venezuela in S. America, or by N. Korea, who has threatened us with a nuclear attack for so much as “threatening” her. Or it could be a number of enemies to democracy and capitalism, seeking to bring down the U.S., but, that during these attacks we could be ‘caught up’ to be with the Lord forever.
If one has followed the news, we all know Iran has called for the destruction of Israel, whom it calls the little Satan. And these calls have not only continued, but probably intensified. And most media coverage of this is scant, and poorly represented. The reasons this Muslim nation wants to wipe Israel off the map, is that the Qur’an states that they resurrection of the dead won’t occur until Muslims fight and wipe out the nation of Jews. But the one in Islamic eschatology who is to do that is the Mahdi, their ‘savior,’ who won’t appear until there is a time of global chaos. Then the Mahdi, the ‘hidden imam’ who supposedly fell down a well a long time ago, will emerge, and set thing right, and rule from Jerusalem in ‘righteousness and peace.’
One thing that occurred to me after I had written this blog, is that it goes against what scripture teaches will happen. Scripture doens't teach that the church is taken or 'caught up' during an enemy attack, nor really does it lay down any conditions for the 'catching away' to occurr at all. But with the overall teaching of Old Testament scriptures on 'that day,' or 'the day of the Lord,' before that can happen, obviously the Antichrist has to be revealed, where he takes his seat in the temple. So the temple must be built. Okay... and we know that the Antichrist and false prophet cannot be revealed until the one who restrains them is taken out of the way(2 Thess. 2:7-8).
So before Antichrist is revealed the one restraining the man of lawlessness (Antichrist has other scriptural names) is removed. Most theologians think this is the Holy Spirit in the prescence of the true Catholic (Universal) Church. So this would indicate the catching away the inspired apostle writes about to the Thessalonians.
But since God's end-time plan focuses on the covenant promises made to Abraham, what must occur in Israel to have this take place? To be sure, they must have returned from diaspora, after their temple was destroyed in 70 AD, and the Jews later dispersed as their nation came under siege. God promised through the prophets that Israel would be brought back and have their forturnes restored after they had been scattered among the nations of the world. We saw (some of us did) this miracle take place in 1948, when this scattered nation was brought back from the dead, and their dead national language revived, in accordance to what we know most popularly as the story of the Valley of "t'em dead bones (Ezekiel 37)."
37:12 Therefore prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, O my people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel. 37:13 And ye shall know that I am Jehovah, when I have opened your graves, and caused you to come up out of your graves, O my people. 37:14 And I will put my Spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I will place you in your own land: and ye shall know that I, Jehovah, have spoken it and performed it, saith Jehovah.
Ezekiel 37:12-14
Now deciphering between the battle described in Zech 12, 14 and Ezekiel 38 is a little more difficult to figure out. But in Zech f12 & f14 describe the nations of the world, and the physical return of the Messiah, with his feet touching down on the Mt. of Olives (Zech 14:4). 'That Day' will be a day known only to the LORD, with day or night (v. 6), and the beginning of his millenial reign on earth. (This passage shows that Jesus' reign is not a long-period of time reign from heaven). The battle described here also speaks of all the nations of the world coming against Israel, and being judge by God in the valley of Armageddon, the war to end all wars where the LORD alone is triumphant, and His name alone reigns on earth (Zech 14:9).
Ezekiel 38 describes the battle known as the "Battle of Magog." In this chapter, certain nations are named (in Zech they are not) are all seen to be Islamic nations today (one of the main ones Iran~Persia). Verse 8 describes Israel as having been restored to the mountains of Israel, regathered from war, living in peace and safety. In this battle, the LORD also defends Israel, and decimates the enemy troops by pouring down torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him (Ezek 38:22). The result of this war, described in Ezekiel 39-48 is much different from the outcome, in fact, the prophet tells us that the clean-up of this battle will take seven months to bury all the carcasses there in the valley of Hamon Gog (Ezek. 39:12), and seven years to burn up all the weapons as fuel (39:9).
This doesn't fit Zechariah's prophecies, because Israel's eyes will be opened to recognize Jesus as their Messiah (Zech 12:10). This is not mentioned in Ezekiel's prophecy. Nor in Ezekiel do we ever see the LORD come to the earth, or for that matter, appear to mankind apart from the forces of 'mother nature' that He holds in complete control (sorry global warming advocates). If we continue to read Ezekiel in a chronological sequence after their restoration (Ezek 36, 37), the battle of Magog (chs. 38, 39) and the building of the temple (Ezekiel 40-48), then after this tremendous battle where the entire world sees the LORD defend and magnify His name through Israel, then next logical assumption is that the next step is for Israel, in a national movement back to the Old Covenant system, will rebuild their temple. And we know from news on Israel, that they are even now making preparations to build the temple.
So we can see that in and after the battle of Magog described by the prophet, God resumes dealing with His people Israel. And this is what I lost sight of in my "Immanency" blog. I believe because of the scriptural teachings that the rapture will occur shortly before or in the battle of Magog, and after the LORD has brought the Church to dwell with Him, He focuses His dealings again with the people of Israel.
I have some who object to me focusing too much on the return of the LORD, though I can't understand quite why, when our Lord promises blessing for those who read and keep the words of the prophecies of Revelation. Jesus did indeed say that no man will know the day or the hour (Mt. 24:36), but just prior to this He does tell us that we will know the season! 32"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it[d]is near, right at the door.... 42"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
We see from the signs the season is close. Are you ready to meet the Lord? Your good deeds cannot save you! "Our righteous acts are like filthy rags before the Lord" (Isaiah 64:6) You are saved by grace, through faith, and that not of yourself. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man shall boast" (Eph 2:8,9). If you have never trusted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, ask him to forgive you of your sins, and surrender your life to Him the best way you know how. The LORD knows your heart.
First, let me recount a little of what I said...
Many think that the Rapture itself could happen, and cause catastrophic devastation, which would result in mass crime, looting, chaos, confusion… leading to martial law in the States, and effectively bring about the one world government spoken of in the book of Daniel. Another hypothesis is that we could come under attack by Russia, who has had her ships off the coast of Venezuela in S. America, or by N. Korea, who has threatened us with a nuclear attack for so much as “threatening” her. Or it could be a number of enemies to democracy and capitalism, seeking to bring down the U.S., but, that during these attacks we could be ‘caught up’ to be with the Lord forever.
If one has followed the news, we all know Iran has called for the destruction of Israel, whom it calls the little Satan. And these calls have not only continued, but probably intensified. And most media coverage of this is scant, and poorly represented. The reasons this Muslim nation wants to wipe Israel off the map, is that the Qur’an states that they resurrection of the dead won’t occur until Muslims fight and wipe out the nation of Jews. But the one in Islamic eschatology who is to do that is the Mahdi, their ‘savior,’ who won’t appear until there is a time of global chaos. Then the Mahdi, the ‘hidden imam’ who supposedly fell down a well a long time ago, will emerge, and set thing right, and rule from Jerusalem in ‘righteousness and peace.’
One thing that occurred to me after I had written this blog, is that it goes against what scripture teaches will happen. Scripture doens't teach that the church is taken or 'caught up' during an enemy attack, nor really does it lay down any conditions for the 'catching away' to occurr at all. But with the overall teaching of Old Testament scriptures on 'that day,' or 'the day of the Lord,' before that can happen, obviously the Antichrist has to be revealed, where he takes his seat in the temple. So the temple must be built. Okay... and we know that the Antichrist and false prophet cannot be revealed until the one who restrains them is taken out of the way(2 Thess. 2:7-8).
So before Antichrist is revealed the one restraining the man of lawlessness (Antichrist has other scriptural names) is removed. Most theologians think this is the Holy Spirit in the prescence of the true Catholic (Universal) Church. So this would indicate the catching away the inspired apostle writes about to the Thessalonians.
But since God's end-time plan focuses on the covenant promises made to Abraham, what must occur in Israel to have this take place? To be sure, they must have returned from diaspora, after their temple was destroyed in 70 AD, and the Jews later dispersed as their nation came under siege. God promised through the prophets that Israel would be brought back and have their forturnes restored after they had been scattered among the nations of the world. We saw (some of us did) this miracle take place in 1948, when this scattered nation was brought back from the dead, and their dead national language revived, in accordance to what we know most popularly as the story of the Valley of "t'em dead bones (Ezekiel 37)."
37:12 Therefore prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, O my people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel. 37:13 And ye shall know that I am Jehovah, when I have opened your graves, and caused you to come up out of your graves, O my people. 37:14 And I will put my Spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I will place you in your own land: and ye shall know that I, Jehovah, have spoken it and performed it, saith Jehovah.
Ezekiel 37:12-14
Now deciphering between the battle described in Zech 12, 14 and Ezekiel 38 is a little more difficult to figure out. But in Zech f12 & f14 describe the nations of the world, and the physical return of the Messiah, with his feet touching down on the Mt. of Olives (Zech 14:4). 'That Day' will be a day known only to the LORD, with day or night (v. 6), and the beginning of his millenial reign on earth. (This passage shows that Jesus' reign is not a long-period of time reign from heaven). The battle described here also speaks of all the nations of the world coming against Israel, and being judge by God in the valley of Armageddon, the war to end all wars where the LORD alone is triumphant, and His name alone reigns on earth (Zech 14:9).
Ezekiel 38 describes the battle known as the "Battle of Magog." In this chapter, certain nations are named (in Zech they are not) are all seen to be Islamic nations today (one of the main ones Iran~Persia). Verse 8 describes Israel as having been restored to the mountains of Israel, regathered from war, living in peace and safety. In this battle, the LORD also defends Israel, and decimates the enemy troops by pouring down torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him (Ezek 38:22). The result of this war, described in Ezekiel 39-48 is much different from the outcome, in fact, the prophet tells us that the clean-up of this battle will take seven months to bury all the carcasses there in the valley of Hamon Gog (Ezek. 39:12), and seven years to burn up all the weapons as fuel (39:9).
This doesn't fit Zechariah's prophecies, because Israel's eyes will be opened to recognize Jesus as their Messiah (Zech 12:10). This is not mentioned in Ezekiel's prophecy. Nor in Ezekiel do we ever see the LORD come to the earth, or for that matter, appear to mankind apart from the forces of 'mother nature' that He holds in complete control (sorry global warming advocates). If we continue to read Ezekiel in a chronological sequence after their restoration (Ezek 36, 37), the battle of Magog (chs. 38, 39) and the building of the temple (Ezekiel 40-48), then after this tremendous battle where the entire world sees the LORD defend and magnify His name through Israel, then next logical assumption is that the next step is for Israel, in a national movement back to the Old Covenant system, will rebuild their temple. And we know from news on Israel, that they are even now making preparations to build the temple.
So we can see that in and after the battle of Magog described by the prophet, God resumes dealing with His people Israel. And this is what I lost sight of in my "Immanency" blog. I believe because of the scriptural teachings that the rapture will occur shortly before or in the battle of Magog, and after the LORD has brought the Church to dwell with Him, He focuses His dealings again with the people of Israel.
I have some who object to me focusing too much on the return of the LORD, though I can't understand quite why, when our Lord promises blessing for those who read and keep the words of the prophecies of Revelation. Jesus did indeed say that no man will know the day or the hour (Mt. 24:36), but just prior to this He does tell us that we will know the season! 32"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it[d]is near, right at the door.... 42"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
We see from the signs the season is close. Are you ready to meet the Lord? Your good deeds cannot save you! "Our righteous acts are like filthy rags before the Lord" (Isaiah 64:6) You are saved by grace, through faith, and that not of yourself. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man shall boast" (Eph 2:8,9). If you have never trusted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, ask him to forgive you of your sins, and surrender your life to Him the best way you know how. The LORD knows your heart.
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