Fight for Joy! Blog
Where Jesus Changes Everything
“I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all my good pleasure’” (Isaiah 46:9-10). People continue to ask questions about the future as never before. It is no wonder. Even if people do not have a thorough understanding of the Bible as God’s Word, they at least suspect it to be. Furthermore, most have heard or read about certain prophetic events about which the Bible has predicted that current events cause them to wonder if we really are living near the end of the age. One of the primary proofs of the authenticity of the Bible as God’s Word is fulfilled prophecy. God has declared “the end from the beginning” in such a way that we know what to expect and know when it has come to pass. Jesus, for example, fulfilled over 300 prophecies during His First Coming. There are nearly three times as many prophecies concerning His Second Coming, and we can expect those prophecies to be fulfilled just as literally as those concerning His First Coming were. One thing we have to be careful about is avoiding newspaper exegesis. In other words, we must not be guilty of reading or watching the news and concluding a particular prophecy has been fulfilled. However, when one studies the prophecies concerning Christ’s Second Coming, it is not difficult to see prophetic trends occurring today that indicate the end of the age might very well be near. Most of the prophecy to be fulfilled prior to the Second Coming won’t occur in a vacuum. God will have, over a number of years, set the stage for the final fulfillment of all prophecy. So then, what are these prophetic trends that continued to pick up steam throughout 2007?
I believe there are five trends that occurred (or continued occurring) during 2007. Two of them occurred for the first time in history. First of all, Jewish immigration to Israel continued just as it has since the late nineteenth century. Biblical prophecy tells us that in the end-times God would bring the Jewish people back to the land and re-establish the Nation of Israel. The Bible says He will bring them back in stages and in unbelief (Ezekiel 36-37). This continues to this day and what made 2007 unique is that for the first time in over 2000 years there are more Jews living in Israel than anywhere else in the world. Secondly, there is the alignment of the nations. God’s Word clearly spells out for us what the alignment of the nations would look like in the last days (Daniel 2, 7; Ezekiel 38, 39). Everything is not in place but most of it is and the rest is getting there quickly. There is the rise of the European super-state, out of which the Antichrist will one day come (Daniel 9). We do not yet see Europe in its final prophesied form of ten kingdoms but history has taught us that change can take place quickly. Therefore, we believe the prophecies of Scripture that one day, perhaps soon, Europe will take on its final form. Other nations, Iran in particular, but including other likeminded nations are being armed by Russia and will one day participate in an all out attack on Israel to destroy her (Ezekiel 38, 39). Current events lead some to believe this battle may be on the near horizon. Thirdly, there is the anticipation of peace. It seems in the Middle East there has been one peace proposal after another in recent years. Each one of these so called peace proposal that involves Israel has been one-sided in favor of Israel’s enemies it seems. But one day, a strong man will arise from within Europe who will finally be able to enforce one of these covenants (Daniel 9:27). Prophecy will indeed be fulfilled! Fourthly, there is the addiction of world leaders concerning Jerusalem and for the first time in history the Israeli government is actually entertaining thoughts of a divided Jerusalem (Zechariah 12). Finally, there is the preparation from within Israel to rebuild the Temple (Ezekiel 40-46; Daniel 9; Matthew 24; 2 Thessalonians 2; Revelation 11). You won’t hear much about these preparations on the evening news. But many of the Temple instruments have been made and many are studying for the priesthood. The Sanhedrin was recently reconvened after more than 1500 years. Clearly, God is setting the stage for the fulfillment of prophecy. 2007 was an exciting year. 2008 promises to be even more exciting. God’s Word is true. Its prophecies are being fulfilled and soon, perhaps today, Jesus will return for His Church. Are you ready to meet the Lord in the air? If not, your time may be running out. “So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress” (Daniel 9:25). I cannot even begin to recount the times I have talked to people of other religions who claim their so called sacred writings are the Word of God. I have had these discussions with Mormons, Hindus, Muslims, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Gnostics and many others. Each time I have always issued the same challenge: Prove it! The Bible has proven itself over and over again to be the Word of God. It is clearly of Divine origin. It is supported by over 5000 ancient manuscripts, pieces of manuscripts and fragments of manuscripts. The sixty-six books of the Bible were written by forty different authors over a period of 1500 to 2000 years, in three different languages, on three different continents. Yet its message is unique and each book compliments the other. Furthermore, archeological discoveries have proven the cities, peoples and events chronicled in the Bible are right on target. One group (the fastest growing cult in America), for example, has searched North, South and Central America in vain to find one shred of archeological evidence to support their so called sacred writings, which they claim to be “another testament of Jesus Christ.” Give me a break! The same can be said for the writings of Hinduism, Islam, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Gnostics and many others.
I could list one reason after another as to why the sixty-six books of the Bible constitute the Word of God. However, the most compelling reason I point to that proves once and for all the Divine origin of the Bible is the accuracy of fulfilled biblical prophecy. The Hebrew prophets had to meet a very stringent requirement—100 percent accuracy, 100 percent of the time—no exceptions! I could point to any number of fulfilled prophecies, but the one that always strikes me as amazing beyond compare is one found in Daniel 9:24-27. Daniel was praying, interceding on behalf of the Hebrew people and seeking God’s plan for their future when the angel Gabriel showed up and in four verses of scripture gave him the entire future of God’s chosen people. Only verse 27 awaits fulfillment. The most amazing part of this prophecy is verse 25. Without getting into all the language and word studies necessary to fully understand this verse, it basically says from the time a decree is given to “restore and rebuild Jerusalem” until the Triumphal Entry and rejection of Jesus (see Luke 19:37-40) there would be 483 years, or 173,880 days. We know this decree was issued by Artaxerxes on March 14, 445 B.C. We know Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey on April 6, 32 A.D. If you do the math (using a 360 day Hebrew/prophetic calendar), adding the time between March 14 and April 6 and the leap years, you arrive at exactly 483 years to the day. How’s that for 100 percent accuracy, 100 percent of the time! No other book that claims to be the Word of God even comes close. The Bible is clearly the Word of God as it has proven itself to be of Divine origin over and over again. Why people continue to reject it is beyond me, other than they “loved the darkness rather than the Light” (John 3:19) It has all come to pass, exactly as the Bible predicted. However, verse 27 still remains unfulfilled. But there is no cause for alarm! Verse 26 clearly says there will be an interval between the fulfillment of the first 483 years and the final seven years of this prophecy. Verse 27 deals with this final seven years. The Bible doesn’t tell us how long this interval will be. But it does tell us the events of this final seven years mentioned in verse 27. In fact, this is the most documented time in Scripture. It is dealt with in Matthew 24-25, Luke 21, Revelation 6-19, and a few other places as well. These passages outline the time period leading up to and including this seven year period, which the Bible describes as “the time of Jacob’s trouble,” and “The Tribulation,” with the final three and one half years being described as “The Great Tribulation.” Well, chew on this awhile: For the first time in 1,600 years, there exists a modern version of the ancient Roman Empire, “partly strong and partly weak,” as Daniel predicted in chapter two. There exists, for the first time since before Daniel was born, a nation called “Israel.” Neither of these existed until this generation. Israel was reborn in one day in 1948 (see Isaiah 66:7-9). The Benelux Treaty that began the modern movement for the reunification of Europe was signed in 1948. Also in 1948, Bell Laboratories introduced the transistor, an invention which marked the beginning of the computer age. Daniel further predicted the increase of knowledge—probably the best description of our modern age. All these things, the Bible says, would be a reality when the time came for the fulfillment of Daniel 9:27. Again, we have greater evidence to the Divine origin of the Bible as the Word of God, to the exclusion of all others. What is this telling you and me? First of all, God’s Word is true. Secondly, its message about salvation by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8) is true as well. Jesus is the only way (John 14) to salvation. And finally, He is coming again—first, in the air for His Church at the Rapture (see 1 Thess. 4:13-18), and then literally to this earth at the Second Coming (see Acts 1:9-11). The question is: Are you ready? If Jesus came for His Church today, would you be caught up with all the saints of all the ages or would you be left behind? That is a question everyone must answer personally. “So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention” (2 Peter 1:19). “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place” (Matthew 24:34). It has always amazed me what some people will believe. Some people will believe the predictions of Nostradamus, whose so called ‘prophecies’ are so vague, they can be made to fit nearly any circumstance. Not only that, one could assign any number of interpretations to his predictions. Such is not the case when it comes to the prophecies of the Bible. Unlike the prophecies of Nostradamus and other self-proclaimed prophets, the biblical prophets did not issue vague and general predictions that could be adjusted to any situation. Biblical prophecy is detailed. Furthermore, biblical prophecy is not open to a multitude of interpretations. As the Bible says, it is “sure, to which [we] do well to pay attention.” Take, for example, the predictions of the Hebrew prophet Ezekiel. His prophecies are amazing beyond compare. Written over 2500 years ago, they pinpoint a specific time, place and precise historic conditions of a future world disaster.
Ezekiel chapters 36 through 39 contain one of the most amazing series of prophecies in the entire Bible. These chapters are famous prophecies that foretell the scattering of the Jewish people and their return to the Holy Land after centuries of exile. They further tell of the rebirth of the Nation of Israel and her struggle for survival. Finally, they foretell the rise of a Russian – Arab alliance to annihilate Israel during earth’s last days. Let’s walk through this together: Ezekiel prophesied (1) The Jews would be driven from their land for a very long period of time – they were. (2) The Jews would survive as a distinct people – they have. (3) Their land would be confiscated by the surrounding nations – it was. (4) These nations would be descended from Esau and Ishmael – They are. (5) The people would have a perpetual hatred of the Jews – They have and still do! (6) The land of Israel would become an utter desolation and not respond to the agricultural efforts of the usurpers – it did and it didn’t. (7) Against all odds, the Jews would return and become a nation – They did. (8) The land would miraculously respond to them and flourish – It has. (9) The Arab nations would conduct an unending war against the Israelites – they have and continue to do so. (10) Israel would survive all assaults and prosper – You guessed it, they have and continue to do so! (11) A confederation of the Russians and Iranians will lead all the surrounding Moslem nations to attack Israel in an all out effort to annihilate her – Newsflash! This is exactly where we are today. Just turn on the news or pick up a newspaper. Russia is busy building a military alliance with Iran. Iran is busy building military alliances with other like-minded Moslem nations in the Middle East and North Africa. The most astounding part of this prophecy is when it would take place. Ezekiel carefully pinpoints the exact time – a specific generation: “After many days you will be summoned; in the latter years you will come into the land that is restored from the sword, whose inhabitants have been gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel which have been a continual waste; but its people were brought out from the nations, and they are living securely, all of them” (Ezekiel 38:8). This is absolutely astounding. Everything except this final invasion is already a matter of history. It has come to pass, exactly as the Bible predicted. And now the final pieces of the puzzle seem to be moving rapidly into place. Iran is moving quickly into the leadership role of the Islamic Fundamentalist bent on Israel’s destruction. And they are doing so with a full-blown nuclear weapons development program, which Russia seems quite willing to assist in. This should be no surprise as Russia has been arming the Moslem nations for years. No matter how the world seeks to solve the Arab-Israeli problem, there is no way to satisfy the deeply ingrained religious issues that are at the very heart of both Islam and Judaism over possession of Jerusalem – the cup that causes all the surrounding Moslem nations to become intoxicated (see Zechariah 12:2-3). However, Ezekiel predicts Israel will miraculously survive all attempts to drive her into the sea. Furthermore, Ezekiel predicts God Himself will step in when this final invasion takes place. It will be obvious to all – Israel and the world – that God intervened on behalf of His chosen people – the Jews. So nothing in Ezekiel’s prophecy is out of line with what we see happening in the Middle East today. The evening news is nothing more than a foretaste of the coming fulfillment of this awesome prophecy, a prophecy which was given for a precise generation – this generation. And Jesus said: “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place” (Matt. 24:34). I believe we are living on the very threshold of the Rapture of the Church, after which the Great Tribulation will follow, leading up to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to this earth. All of this proves the trustworthiness of Scripture. Are you ready? Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24). In other words, all who believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin—all those who trust Him as Savior and Lord—pass out of judgment into eternal life, will be caught up in the Rapture of the Church, and avoid the judgment of the Great Tribulation. Are you ready to meet the Lord in the air? If not, your time is running out. “They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ but there is no peace”(Jeremiah 6:14). “While they are saying, ‘Peace and safety!’ then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:3). In a special address he gave recently, President Bush announced the formation of yet another Middle East peace conference to address the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict. This is just more of the same. One has to wonder when our leaders will learn that there will be no peace in that part of the world, or any part of the world for that matter, until Jesus returns. Furthermore, the pseudo-peace that is coming won’t be brokered by the United States. The Bible makes it overwhelmingly clear that it will be one of European origin that brokers a false peace between Israel and her neighbors. And on a side note—something no one seems to notice—every single time the United States has pressured Israel to give up more “land for peace”, a major disaster has struck the United States—every single time! It’s like, either we can’t learn or we won’t. But this one might be slightly different. How so? Only God knows, but it could be the beginning of a shift between the U.S. as peace broker to one of Europe as peace broker. In fact, I think that shift has already begun. Remember, the Bible says it will be a European “prince” who will “make a firm covenant with the many for [seven years]” (Daniel 9:26-27). The word make used here can be better translated make strong or cause to prevail. In other words, it’s not a new peace treaty this ‘prince’ makes but a confirmation of one already in existence. This ‘prince’, whoever he might be, will finally cause this seven year peace covenant to prevail, where other world leaders have failed.
On Monday, July 25, 2007, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair assumed his ‘limited’ duties as Special Peace Envoy for the so-called Middle East ‘Quartet’ that consists of the European Union, UN, Russia and the United States. His mandate is limited to helping the Palestinians develop and promote institutions and their economy toward their dream of an independent Palestinian State living ‘in peace’ alongside Israel. Can I smoke some of this weed too? Sorry, I get a little sarcastic at times. Anyway, this limited mandate isn’t setting too well with the leaders of the EU, who see themselves as the rightful leaders of the Middle East peace process. In fact, they are calling for Mr. Blair to take on more direct role of mediation, something generally reserved for the U.S. Furthermore, the EU is calling for the abandonment of the Road Map for peace and a return to the original plan and principles contained with the seven year (I’m not kidding) plan known as the Oslo Accords. Why is this so amazing? As ridiculous as it sounds, this is pretty much in line with the way the Bible outlined the peace process described by the biblical prophets in the last days, or dare I say, the last of the last days. Daniel 11:39 says it will be based upon the concept of “Land for Peace”: “He will…parcel out land for a price.” Jeremiah 6:14 tells us this process will be totally one-sided in nature and leave Israel completely vulnerable: “They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ but there is no peace.” It will center on the city of Jerusalem—who will own it—and will be imposed by a global coalition: “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.” Daniel 9:26-27 says it will be brokered by a European—a descendent of the people who destroyed Jerusalem in A.D. 70, the Romans—and will be based on a pre-existing seven-year agreement: “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week” (week here means seven years). There is only one seven-year plan on the books right now and that is the Oslo Accords brokered in 1993—an agreement which collapsed when Arafat went home and started his little intifada (or uprising—or better yet, cry-baby fit). I am not saying Tony Blair is the long awaited antichrist. More than likely, he is not (see Daniel 11:37). However, his role will most likely be to set the stage for Europe to replace the United States as the primary Middle East peace broker. Such a move will put the EU in control of the process, which in turn will set the stage for the antichrist—exactly as the Bible predicted –with astonishing accuracy—over 2500 years ago. But wait, it gets better! At some point before this agreement is ‘confirmed’, the Bible tells those of us who are believers: “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” (1 Thess. 4:15-17). With everything going on in the world of peacemaking these days, one has to wonder just how close we are to the Rapture of the Church. I believe we are mind-bogglingly close! Are you ready to meet the Lord in the air? If not, your time is quickly running out “They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ but there is no peace”(Jeremiah 6:14). “While they are saying, ‘Peace and safety!’ then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:3). In a special address he gave recently, President Bush announced the formation of yet another Middle East peace conference to address the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict. This is just more of the same. One has to wonder when our leaders will learn that there will be no peace in that part of the world, or any part of the world for that matter, until Jesus returns. Furthermore, the pseudo-peace that is coming won’t be brokered by the United States. The Bible makes it overwhelmingly clear that it will be one of European origin that brokers a false peace between Israel and her neighbors. And on a side note—something no one seems to notice—every single time the United States has pressured Israel to give up more “land for peace”, a major disaster has struck the United States—every single time! It’s like, either we can’t learn or we won’t. But this one might be slightly different. How so? Only God knows, but it could be the beginning of a shift between the U.S. as peace broker to one of Europe as peace broker. In fact, I think that shift has already begun. Remember, the Bible says it will be a European “prince” who will “make a firm covenant with the many for [seven years]” (Daniel 9:26-27). The word make used here can be better translated make strong or cause to prevail. In other words, it’s not a new peace treaty this ‘prince’ makes but a confirmation of one already in existence. This ‘prince’, whoever he might be, will finally cause this seven year peace covenant to prevail, where other world leaders have failed.
On Monday, July 25, 2007, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair assumed his ‘limited’ duties as Special Peace Envoy for the so-called Middle East ‘Quartet’ that consists of the European Union, UN, Russia and the United States. His mandate is limited to helping the Palestinians develop and promote institutions and their economy toward their dream of an independent Palestinian State living ‘in peace’ alongside Israel. Can I smoke some of this weed too? Sorry, I get a little sarcastic at times. Anyway, this limited mandate isn’t setting too well with the leaders of the EU, who see themselves as the rightful leaders of the Middle East peace process. In fact, they are calling for Mr. Blair to take on more direct role of mediation, something generally reserved for the U.S. Furthermore, the EU is calling for the abandonment of the Road Map for peace and a return to the original plan and principles contained with the seven year (I’m not kidding) plan known as the Oslo Accords. Why is this so amazing? As ridiculous as it sounds, this is pretty much in line with the way the Bible outlined the peace process described by the biblical prophets in the last days, or dare I say, the last of the last days. Daniel 11:39 says it will be based upon the concept of “Land for Peace”: “He will…parcel out land for a price.” Jeremiah 6:14 tells us this process will be totally one-sided in nature and leave Israel completely vulnerable: “They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ but there is no peace.” It will center on the city of Jerusalem—who will own it—and will be imposed by a global coalition: “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.” Daniel 9:26-27 says it will be brokered by a European—a descendent of the people who destroyed Jerusalem in A.D. 70, the Romans—and will be based on a pre-existing seven-year agreement: “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week” (week here means seven years). There is only one seven-year plan on the books right now and that is the Oslo Accords brokered in 1993—an agreement which collapsed when Arafat went home and started his little intifada (or uprising—or better yet, cry-baby fit). I am not saying Tony Blair is the long awaited antichrist. More than likely, he is not (see Daniel 11:37). However, his role will most likely be to set the stage for Europe to replace the United States as the primary Middle East peace broker. Such a move will put the EU in control of the process, which in turn will set the stage for the antichrist—exactly as the Bible predicted –with astonishing accuracy—over 2500 years ago. But wait, it gets better! At some point before this agreement is ‘confirmed’, the Bible tells those of us who are believers: “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” (1 Thess. 4:15-17). With everything going on in the world of peacemaking these days, one has to wonder just how close we are to the Rapture of the Church. I believe we are mind-bogglingly close! Are you ready to meet the Lord in the air? If not, your time is quickly running out "I shall magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations; and they will know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 38:23). “So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19). Tensions continue to climb higher and higher in the Middle East. Wars and rumors of wars continue to make the headlines. Many Middle East experts are predicting another Arab-Israeli war sometime this summer. Many people are wondering just what in the world is going on.
Thankfully, for Christians, God has already given us all the information we need to make sense out of the times in which we live. In fact, a 2500 year old prophecy found in Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 provide us with real-time intelligence as to what is unfolding in that area of the world. What has come to be known by many Bible scholars as the War of Gog and Magog – A Russian military alliance with Iran and other Middle Eastern and North African countries to annihilate Israel during the earth’s last days – seems to be rapidly taking shape. In this war, Ezekiel says the world will witness a supernatural judgment of Israel’s enemies and a spiritual awakening unlike any other seen in history. Many, particularly those who don’t hold to a literal interpretation of holy scripture, believe all this is mere coincidence. However, we must remember that prophecy is “sure, to which [we] do well to pay attention” (2 Pet. 1:19). God has clearly said, through the prophet Ezekiel, “I shall magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations” (38:23). We can be sure this prophecy will be fulfilled. Our sureness is based on the truthfulness and faithfulness of God. What He says, He does. Ezekiel chapters 36 and 37 are prime examples of this. Nearly all of the prophecies contained within these two chapters have been literally fulfilled in the 20th Century. Ezekiel 36 and 37 are famous chapters that foretell the return of the Jews to the Holy Land after centuries of exile. This began in the late 19th Century and continues to this day. It further tells of the rebirth of the Nation of Israel. This happened on May 14, 1948 – A nation in a day (see Isaiah 66:7-9). It prophecies the rebuilding of the ancient ruins of Israel and the re-blossoming of desolate desert lands to produce abundant food, fruit and foliage. It also tells of the formation of an exceedingly great army – something that Israel’s enemies began to discover shortly after Israel became a nation again in 1948. They discovered it again in 1967 and 1973. The tiny Nation of Israel has developed an exceedingly great army, probably the best in the region and perhaps the world. The accuracy of the prophecies of Ezekiel 36 and 37 having come true in our lifetime raises an intriguing question. If these prophecies have largely come true during our lifetime, isn’t it possible that Ezekiel 38 and 39 will soon come true as well? The answer is yes! It is very possible and highly probable that the events we see unfolding in the Middle East today are setting the stage for the War of Gog and Magog. Of all the countries listed as part of this Russian-Persian alliance, three are conspicuously absent from the list – Egypt, Iraq and Syria. Egypt signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1979 and Iraq is now so engrossed in its own internal struggles that it would be unlikely to join such a coalition. However, the wild card here seems to be Syria. It is no secret that Syria loathes Israel and would jump at any chance to destroy her. In fact the war drums seem to be beating louder and louder for war between Israel and Syria, perhaps as early as this summer. So where is the Syrian nation in Ezekiel’s list? For the answer to that question we need only look to the prophet Isaiah. In Isaiah 17:1, the Bible says, “The oracle concerning Damascus. Behold, Damascus is about to be removed from being a city and will become a fallen ruin.” Nothing like this has ever happened in human history. In fact, Damascus is the oldest, continually inhabited city in the world. Could it be that something happens to take Syria out of the picture? One only need follow the evening news to figure that out. Therefore, I conclude with this question: What if the end is closer than you think? "I shall magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations; and they will know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 38:23). “So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19). Tensions continue to climb higher and higher in the Middle East. Wars and rumors of wars continue to make the headlines. Many Middle East experts are predicting another Arab-Israeli war sometime this summer. Many people are wondering just what in the world is going on.
Thankfully, for Christians, God has already given us all the information we need to make sense out of the times in which we live. In fact, a 2500 year old prophecy found in Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 provide us with real-time intelligence as to what is unfolding in that area of the world. What has come to be known by many Bible scholars as the War of Gog and Magog – A Russian military alliance with Iran and other Middle Eastern and North African countries to annihilate Israel during the earth’s last days – seems to be rapidly taking shape. In this war, Ezekiel says the world will witness a supernatural judgment of Israel’s enemies and a spiritual awakening unlike any other seen in history. Many, particularly those who don’t hold to a literal interpretation of holy scripture, believe all this is mere coincidence. However, we must remember that prophecy is “sure, to which [we] do well to pay attention” (2 Pet. 1:19). God has clearly said, through the prophet Ezekiel, “I shall magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations” (38:23). We can be sure this prophecy will be fulfilled. Our sureness is based on the truthfulness and faithfulness of God. What He says, He does. Ezekiel chapters 36 and 37 are prime examples of this. Nearly all of the prophecies contained within these two chapters have been literally fulfilled in the 20th Century. Ezekiel 36 and 37 are famous chapters that foretell the return of the Jews to the Holy Land after centuries of exile. This began in the late 19th Century and continues to this day. It further tells of the rebirth of the Nation of Israel. This happened on May 14, 1948 – A nation in a day (see Isaiah 66:7-9). It prophecies the rebuilding of the ancient ruins of Israel and the re-blossoming of desolate desert lands to produce abundant food, fruit and foliage. It also tells of the formation of an exceedingly great army – something that Israel’s enemies began to discover shortly after Israel became a nation again in 1948. They discovered it again in 1967 and 1973. The tiny Nation of Israel has developed an exceedingly great army, probably the best in the region and perhaps the world. The accuracy of the prophecies of Ezekiel 36 and 37 having come true in our lifetime raises an intriguing question. If these prophecies have largely come true during our lifetime, isn’t it possible that Ezekiel 38 and 39 will soon come true as well? The answer is yes! It is very possible and highly probable that the events we see unfolding in the Middle East today are setting the stage for the War of Gog and Magog. Of all the countries listed as part of this Russian-Persian alliance, three are conspicuously absent from the list – Egypt, Iraq and Syria. Egypt signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1979 and Iraq is now so engrossed in its own internal struggles that it would be unlikely to join such a coalition. However, the wild card here seems to be Syria. It is no secret that Syria loathes Israel and would jump at any chance to destroy her. In fact the war drums seem to be beating louder and louder for war between Israel and Syria, perhaps as early as this summer. So where is the Syrian nation in Ezekiel’s list? For the answer to that question we need only look to the prophet Isaiah. In Isaiah 17:1, the Bible says, “The oracle concerning Damascus. Behold, Damascus is about to be removed from being a city and will become a fallen ruin.” Nothing like this has ever happened in human history. In fact, Damascus is the oldest, continually inhabited city in the world. Could it be that something happens to take Syria out of the picture? One only need follow the evening news to figure that out. Therefore, I conclude with this question: What if the end is closer than you think? A major publisher has announced a new Bible translation that is sure to be well received by many mainline protestant denominations and even in some Roman Catholic circles. The new translation will be called The Amillennial Replacement Theology Version of the Holy Bible. This new translation has been developed to better meet the needs of the many mainline denominations that hold to an Amillennial interpretation of the end-times and believe the promises of God to Israel have been reassigned to the Church. The translation committee was made up of several scholars and their work spanned several years. The first step in developing this new translation, according to one scholar, was determining once and for all that the word everlasting, used in five of the six covenants found in Scripture, did not really mean everlasting in the sense of eternal or endless. Rather, the word could be better translated as being provisional or passing. Furthermore, many of the scholars on the committee questioned whether the word everlasting actually appeared in the original documents, and if so, a more figurative interpretation was probably in order. Additionally, some on the committee suggested that these everlasting covenants, if they indeed are everlasting, ultimately applied to the Church.
Many passages, mostly from the Old Testament, were determined to be either not a part of the original manuscripts or irrelevant for today. In order to make this translation of the Bible read better and maintain its integrity to Amillennialism and Replacement Theology, the translators completely omitted these many passages. Those passages omitted are listed and categorized as follows: (1) Those passages referring to a future re-gathering, restoration and Nationhood of Israel: Genesis 15:18; 28:10-15; 35:9-12; Deuteronomy 30:3-5; Isaiah 27:12-13; 35:1-2; 41:18-20; 43:5-6; 51:3; 66:7-8; Jeremiah 16:14-15; 23:3-6; 32:36-37, 44; Ezekiel 4:3-6; 11:17; 20:34; 34:13; 36:8-11, 24, 33-35; 37:10-22; Joel 2:22; Amos 9:11-15; Micah 7:8-11; Zechariah 8:7-8. (2) Those passages referring to the preservation of Israel: Genesis 15:5; Leviticus 26:3, 7-8, 44; Isaiah 49:13-18; 66:22; Jeremiah 30:11; 31:10, 35-36; 32:36-37; 46:28; Zechariah 8:13. (3) Those passages referring to the worldwide impact of the Jewish people: Genesis 12:2-3; 28:10-15; Deuteronomy 28:64; Isaiah 27:6; 42:1-9; 49:6; Matthew 24:14; Luke 21:13. It should be noted that Genesis 12:2-3 is found within the notes section suggesting this promise was possibly directed to the Church rather than Israel. (4) Those passages referring to the Nation of Israel and the end-times were also omitted or explained in the notes section as applying to the Church. It should also be noted that a lengthy section of notes addressed the current presence of the Jewish nation in the Middle East. The conclusion reached was the modern Nation of Israel is nothing more than an “accident of history” and has no bearing on Old Testament prophecy, the Church and God’s plan for the ages. (5) Some notable New Testament passages were either omitted or further explained in the notes section. For example, passages such as John 14:2-3; 1 Corinthians 1:51-53; and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 were omitted and included an explanation in the notes section that these passages were either added by the early Church or self-proclaimed scholars in the late 1700’s or early 1800’s, who taught that all end-times prophecy should be read for its literal, plain-sense meaning. (6) The Book of Revelation was included in its entirety. However, the introductory section as well as the notes section indicated much of the prophecy of the book has already been fulfilled, mostly in A.D. 70. The remaining parts of the book are best understood as allegorical and having no major prophetic significance for today. The final assessment of the translation committee was that prophecy concerning the First Advent of Jesus should be interpreted as literally true. However, those prophecies dealing with the Second Coming are better interpreted in a more spiritualized symbolical understanding. In other words, Second Coming Prophecy does not literally mean what it says. Surely, this translation will help in providing the Church a better understanding of God’s plan for the ages. Well, obviously there is no such translation in existence or in the works. My point has simply been to demonstrate what is at stake when we spiritualize scripture rather than letting it say what it means and mean what it says. God does not have a speech impediment. He has clearly revealed His plan for the ages, involving both Israel and the Church. It’s not hard to understand. It’s just hard to believe. However, if you will believe it, you will understand it. God’s Word is literally true and its prophecies will be literally fulfilled. "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…but all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs” (Matthew 24:6, 8). Shortly before He was crucified, Jesus told His disciples that as the End of the Age approached, the world would experience an increase of various signs (see Matthew 24), one of which was wars and rumors of wars. We know that He meant an increase as he compared these things to birth pangs. Current events in our world, in the Middle East, and Israel in particular, show just how true Bible prophecy has become. We are definitely seeing an increase in both number and severity of events in the Middle East. These events are moving at a rapid pace. However, as mentioned in a previous article, although it is impossible and foolish to try and interpret prophecy to fit every headline, it is not impossible to see these events as trends that are setting the stage for what the Bible describes as the final act of history. Notice again what Jesus said: “for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.” In other words, these things “must take place,” in order to set the stage for what the Bible describes as God’s final dealings with Israel and the world, leading up to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Not since the Six-Day War of 1967 have so many different nations been talking about and preparing for war. Amazingly, a majority of these nations are located in the Middle East and nearly all of them have one common thread that ties them all together—hatred of Israel. Rarely does a day go by without some major news story out of the Middle East. Furthermore, one nation in particular has been forthright about its hatred for and desire for the destruction of Israel. That nation is Iran. They are feverishly pursuing nuclear weapons. Additionally, they are acquiring weapons and making military pacts with other likeminded nations. All of this might seem irrelevant were it not for a 2500 year old prophecy found in Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39. This prophecy is absolutely amazing. What makes it so amazing is it has always seemed like an utter impossibility—until now. Ezekiel was able to look down the corridors of time and see nations not yet in existence, and alliances not yet formed. In doing so, he foretold the rise of a Russian military alliance with Iran and other Middle Eastern countries to annihilate Israel during the end-times. This prophecy is known by most Bible scholars as the War of Gog and Magog. Gog is a term meaning prince or leader whereas Magog is the area known as modern day Russia and republics of the former Soviet Union. Gog is described as a dictator who will hatch an “evil plan” (see Ezek. 38:10). Through the prophet Ezekiel, God says to this dictator: “Be prepared, and prepare yourself, you and all your companies that are assembled about you, and be a guard for them. After many days you will be summoned; in the latter years you will come into the land that is restored from the sword (Israel)…to the mountains of Israel…” (Ezek. 38:7-8). At the top of the list of countries Ezekiel says will be a part of this coalition of nations is Persia, which is modern day Iran. In light of Ezekiel’s amazing prophecy the evening news starts to make a little more sense. And it should be no surprise that now, after a lengthy delay, Russian President Putin has decided to deliver nuclear fuel rods to Iran to power up the Bushier reactor. It should also not be surprising to learn that part of that “deal” required Iran to contract and pay for $765 million more in Russian arms for Syria. These “wars and rumors of wars” are putting the finishing touches on setting the stage for the War of Gog and Magog that Ezekiel prophesied over 2500 years ago. And when the time is right, a Moslem coalition led by Iran and armed by Russia, including countries from Central Asia, North Africa and Eastern Europe, will storm into Israel from the north over the Golan Heights (Ezek. 38:5-6, 8). And the Bible says God will use this event to reveal Himself to the world as Israel’s protector by utterly destroying the attackers (Ezek. 39:2-4). How close are we to this event? Only God knows. But current events seem to indicate this battle is on the horizon. What does all this mean? It means that God’s Word is true. Furthermore, it means Jesus is coming soon for His Church. Are you ready to meet the Lord in the air? If not, your time is running out. “Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation’” (2 Peter 3:3-4). Does it really matter what you believe about the end times? Does it really make any difference? It certainly does! What we believe about Bible prophecy determines the way we live. Furthermore, what we believe about Bible prophecy determines our level of expectedness and hope so far as the return of Christ to this earth is concerned.
I have to be honest. I never heard too much about the Second Coming of Christ when I was growing up. I don’t think the problem was being in a church that didn’t believe it. I’m sure it did. I believe the problem was the pastors didn’t think it was all that important to preach. After all, most people believe prophecy is either boring or too far beyond our grasp to understand. Both positions are just plain dumb. It is anything but boring and it is within our grasp to understand, because we have the Holy Spirit living on the inside of us. One third of the Bible, properly understood is prophecy. God wants us to study it, understand it, and believe it. One thing he definitely wants His children to know and believe is that Jesus Christ is coming back to this earth, and that His return is very soon! Most people, albeit most Christians, either don’t believe this or if they do believe it, they certainly don’t show it. They believe time has continued to come and go and they are blind to the fact we are living in the last of the last days. When I attended Mississippi College, I had the privilege of studying Revelation under someone who had studied the book for years. I was excited until I realized the professor’s take on the book was, for the most part, unscriptural. I think he probably believed Jesus was coming back again someday. But there was no imminency to Christ’s return. In fact, he poked fun at those who believe in the imminent return of Christ. Furthermore, this professor believed God had washed His hands of the Jewish people because of their rejection of the Messiah. He didn’t believe in a literal thousand year reign of Christ on this earth, as the Bible prophesies will happen. His problem wasn’t that he wasn’t a follower of Christ – he most certainly was. His problem was he had ascribed to a belief known as amillennialism, which taught that all prophecy concerning Israel, the last days and the Second Coming, was for the most part, symbolic. This has always amazed me, considering the fact that all prophecy concerning Christ’s First Advent was fulfilled literally. In fact, all prophecy that has been fulfilled has been literally fulfilled. How could it be that God has now switched to a spiritualized symbolic method of fulfilling prophecy? Now granted, there is symbolism in Scripture. But that symbolism always points to something literal. If it’s a symbol, interpret it as such. But once that symbol is interpreted, literally believe it. In order to arrive at such a belief system, one has to do a few things. First of all, in order to be an almillenialist, one would have to believe in Replacement Theology. Replacement Theology teaches that God has replaced Israel with the Church (apparently everlasting covenants aren’t really everlasting). In other words, the promises to Israel have been reassigned to the Church. No wonder the holocaust was so easy for Hitler to pull off. Secondly, one would have to believe there will be no Great Tribulation, that Satan was bound at the Cross (if this is true, he must have been bound with a very long chain), there will not be two resurrections as the Bible clearly says will happen, and there will be no new heaven and new earth, just heaven. And there could certainly be no hope of an imminent return of Christ at any moment. Amillennialism is based solely upon spiritualizing Scripture. Spiritualizing Scripture means that the Bible does not mean what it says. Theological liberals love to spiritualize Scripture. This should be no surprise. The surprise comes when theological conservatives fall prey to it. Those who do, in effect say that the Bible means what it says unless it is talking about the Second Coming of Christ! The view was developed around A.D. 400 by St. Augustine. It was a major departure from the premillennial view that had been the orthodox view up to that time. Nowadays, those holding to this view try to say the premillennial view, which would include the Rapture of the Church and a final seven year Tribulation period, was developed in the late 19th century by John Darby. Nothing could be further from the truth. He may have further developed what the early church believed, but he didn’t invent it. Let’s stop playing games with God’s Word. Let’s allow it to mean what it says. Bible prophecy isn’t hard to understand. It’s just hard to believe. But if you will believe it, you will understand it. If we believe in a literal fulfillment of all prophecy, especially those prophecies concerning the return of the Lord, we will yearn for His return. If we fail to believe in a literal fulfillment, then we will run the risk of scoffing. |
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