A. It was not my intent to “legitimize” the Mayan calendar or any other secular prediction as a kind of prophecy equivalent to Scripture.  I was only citing events that the secular world accepts as pointing to the nearness of what we see as the end times judgments preceding Lord’s return.  As I said in the article, talk about the coming end of the world is not just for Christians any more.

Table of contents for Living In Hard Times

1. From This Day On I Will Bless You
2. O You Of Little Faith
3. Where Your Treasure Is
4. Kingdom Dollars

A Bible Study by Jack Kelley

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matt. 6:19-20)

US dollars are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the United States government, not by the approximately 147 million ounces of gold in Fort Knox, like they used to be. (At $1,000 dollars per ounce that’s $147 billion worth. The latest reliable estimates put the total dollars in circulation or on deposit at $8.3 trillion, so even if the dollar was backed by gold there’s less than 2 cents worth of gold behind each one.)

So the value of a dollar is determined by how confident the rest of the world is in the stability of the US economy. China holds the largest amount of dollars in reserve, about 2 trillion, and has about $800 billion more in bonds they hold. China has let it be known that their confidence in the dollar has been shaken by the recent economic turmoil in the US. Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and others feel the same way. And recently the UN has joined China and others in calling for a new, more stable currency to replace the dollar in world markets. Rest assured, if these countries can find a way to replace the dollar they’ll do so, and the value of the dollar will decline even more rapidly.

They’ll do this because they know the US has recently been flooding the market with money that isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on and sooner or later it will trigger an inflationary spiral that will further erode the dollar’s value. In the current round of Economic Summit meetings other nations are insisting that the US agree to stop spending (printing money) and start saving. But they don’t believe our government is willing to exercise the necessary restraint to make this action effective. Therefore their choice is to do something and lose a little now or do nothing and lose a lot later.

Meanwhile, Back At Home …

At the same time experts in this country believe that unemployment will remain high for another year or so. They believe that many more homes, perhaps more than a million, will soon enter foreclosure. They know that the commercial real estate and credit card markets are still in trouble and could trigger another recession, even before we’re out of this one. Lately, I’ve been seeing more references to “recession part 2″ in financial commentaries as a possibility for 2010.

It’s also been reported that a new phenomenon, called Strategic Default or “walkaway”, has come on the financial scene. It involves home owners with good credit scores who are often current on their payments deciding to just walk away from their mortgage obligations. They do this because they don’t believe they’ll ever get back to an equity position in their home. According to the LA Times there were over 580,000 cases nationwide last year, more than double 2007’s total, and current indications are that this number is continuing to grow. (In California where the once booming market has gone bust, walkaways were 68 times higher in 2008 than in 2005.)

Because of all this uncertainty, some people look at converting their cash into other currencies, like Euros or Yen, to protect themselves against the possibility of the dollar’s sudden demise, but quickly realize those currencies are just as volatile.

Still others enter the gold and silver markets, not understanding that this is just a place to temporarily park assets until the economy improves. You can’t spend the coins you buy. No matter how much the gold in your five dollar gold piece is worth, your neighborhood grocer is only going to give you five buck’s worth of food for it. You have to find a buyer who’ll give you paper money for your gold before you can spend it. If the economy never rebounds, you might be out of luck.

Bible prophecy says the world will get to a point one day where people will labor all day just to make enough money to buy their food for the day. (Rev. 6:6) There won’t be any left over for rent, utilities, car payments, or anything else. This won’t happen because food is so scarce, but because money will be worth so little. Therefore, trying to save up enough to get you through those times is an exercise in futility. In periods of run away inflation, savers are penalized by the consistent decline in the value of their savings.

For example, it takes 12 of today’s dollars to equal the purchasing power one dollar had at the end of WW2, and over that time annual inflation averaged less than 4% per year. The dollar’s purchasing power could erode that significantly in a matter of months during a period of runaway inflation.

But my purpose here is not to present a seminar on economics. It’s to introduce the only investment strategy that can protect you against catastrophic loss if the bottom falls out from under us. It involves exchanging earthly dollars, that have steadily declined in value in both good times and bad, for Kingdom dollars that cannot decline in value, or be lost or stolen.

There are two goals in this strategy. The first is to comfortably survive the coming hard times in what’s left of this life (Surviving), and the second is to create wealth for the next one (Thriving). You can do both starting today.

Goal 1. Surviving

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matt. 6:25,33)

A couple of years ago, I started warning people to either voluntarily change the way they live or wait till they’re forced to change involuntarily. Since then many have been forced to significantly adjust their lifestyles, and many more are teetering on the brink. Yet I don’t hear stories of churches filling up with people seeking after the Lord’s righteousness.

If you survived the first round of financial turmoil unscathed, don’t think you’ll automatically be immune to the next one. I truly believe that the Lord is allowing every source of security to be systematically stripped from us until only He is left. Make it easy on yourself. Take the first step now. Seek His kingdom and His righteousness and begin to feel the burden of worry lifting from your back, and the smile returning to your face, as you let Him take responsibility for your well being. The Lord is the only one capable of carrying us through the difficulties yet to come.

Goal 2. Thriving

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (2 Cor. 9:6,8)

Waiting for the Lord to bless you before you start investing in His work is like waiting for a stove to give you heat before throwing in some wood. Sowing always precedes reaping, so start where you are. Recall how grateful you are that the Lord has saved you, and where you’d be heading had He not done so. Then express your gratitude by investing in His work. You don’t have to look around for an area of need. Just find a place where it’s obvious the Lord is already working and pitch in. Give gratefully and generously according to your ability. And remember, every time you do you’re exchanging earthly dollars for Kingdom dollars.

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. (2 Cor. 9:10)

Soon you’ll see other areas where you could help and you’ll find you have an increased ability as well. Where at first you only had a dollar to invest, you’ll see you now have two. Fight the tendency to hold some back and increase your giving instead, always with an attitude of gratitude. The main thing to remember here is that giving with the expectation of receiving isn’t being generous, it’s being greedy. (That’s the first fatal flaw in the so-called prosperity gospel.)

You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. (2 Cor. 9:11)

Most people worry that they’ll never be able to afford giving even 10% to the Lord. But people who follow this strategy in good faith eventually find themselves giving 30-40% and still have more than enough for themselves. If you work for a salary, it’s hard to imagine how this could work. But remember all money comes from the Lord, regardless of who signs your paycheck, and He has an unlimited amount. Show him you can be a good steward with what He’s giving you now and you’ll get an increase, because He promised that those who are faithful with a little will be given more. But for those who are not, even the little they have will be taken away from them. The evidence is all around us.

The first half of 2 Cor. 9:11 is so exciting to us that we forget the second half. Yes, we can be made rich in every way, but it’s so we can be generous on every occasion. And that’s prosperity gospel’s second fatal flaw. Wealth is not a gift to be wasted on indulgences for our personal benefit, it’s a trust to be administered for the benefit of others. Spending money we don’t have on things we don’t need is neither an expression of gratitude nor a demonstration of generosity. On the contrary, it’s evidence that if the Lord gave us more money, we’d just become greedier.

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

No matter how far upside down you are financially, you’re not beyond the Lord’s help. The very day you determine in your heart to abandon your self indulgent ways and begin to express your gratitude and demonstrate your generosity, He’ll go to work with you to help make the future different.

And remember, generosity is not a number, it’s a state of mind. It’s not how much you invest in His work that matters so much as the motive in your heart while you’re doing it. Remember the widow’s mite? (Luke 21:1-3)

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38)

The bottom line is that this investment strategy pays better than any other you can find. And it’s also unbeatable for overall security. The Lord’s bank can’t fail, inflation will never erode your earnings, and nothing can ever cause the value of your investment to decline. Also, we can see from the examples I’ve cited that your returns are payable both in this world and in the next. What other investment do you know of that can promise that?

And talk about safe. The value of Kingdom dollars is backed by the full faith and credit of the Almighty Himself. The value of earthly dollars is only backed by the full faith and credit of the US government. Are you OK with that?

“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (Luke 12:15)

The only condition the Lord imposes on this strategy is that we stop conforming to the patterns of this world and allow our minds to be transformed where it comes to our relationship with Him. (Romans 12:1-2) That means we start giving Him the final say in determining the direction of our lives, and expressing our gratitude for what He’s done for us by becoming a channel through which He can bless the world around us. When we do, we’ll discover that we feel more gratitude, demonstrate more generosity, and in turn we’ll experience greater returns. . We can’t lose. Selah 09-26-09

A. Yes the reference in Rev. 16 takes place during the bowl judgments also known as the Great Tribulation.  What’s happening today is the result of drought, poor water management, and one country’s disregard for the rights of downstream users. It has been a reoccurring problem for decades.  I first read a National Geographic article on this problem over 20 years ago.  While the current situation does not fulfill Rev. 16, it does show how such a thing could happen.

Perspective by Jack Kelley

Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world. (Luke 21:26)

I realize that the above verse is meant for the Great Tribulation, but it came to mind as I read some of the “news reports” that have come across my screen this week. Here’s a sample of what’s currently going around.

• The President and all of his men are lying through their teeth regarding the government’s health care proposal. They plan to take over the insurance industry, require everyone to enroll, and appoint bureaucrats we’ll never meet to determine the level of care we deserve.
• People will take to the streets this fall in rebellion against the government’s attempt to make flu shots mandatory.
• The coming commercial real estate and credit card melt downs will be the worst yet.
• By mid fall the talking heads on Sunday news shows will be openly using the word “depression” to describe our economic condition.
• In a move to replace the dollar, banks will close for a few days soon to prepare for issuing new currency. When they reopen everyone will discover that the new currency is only worth 8-16 cents on the dollar.
• The National Guard is recruiting people they can train to become internment/resettlement specialists, perhaps to man the internment camps that are being constructed across the country.
• The government is working on a way to implement “preventive detention” programs to lock people up in advance for crimes they might commit.

These are just the reports I received from sources I have always believed to be credible. I won’t even mention the ones I get from the “wing nuts” out there. I have no idea whether any of these claims are true. And that’s part of the problem. I don’t think there’s one single unbiased information source left in this country. Everyone’s pushing some kind of agenda. The middle ground seems to have totally eroded away, and people on both sides are becoming just plain mean to anyone who disagrees with them. This polarization of opinions has effectively put an end to any meaningful discussion.

As a result, a growing number of people believe that the government is trying to pull a fast one on us and they’re upset. And when it seems like all the government does is attack those who criticize them, it makes people even more suspicious.

And that’s what made me think of Luke 21:26. They say our greatest fear is the fear of the unknown and right now there’s a lot that’s unknown. So let’s take a moment to review what we can know and focus on that.

We Know This

The first thing we know is that historically, God has always taken issue with those in leadership positions when their plans have run contrary to the welfare of His children. He had the Prophet Micah explain this in no uncertain terms.

Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it. They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. They defraud a man of his home, a fellowman of his inheritance.

Therefore, the LORD says, “I am planning disaster against this people, from which you cannot save yourselves. You will no longer walk proudly, for it will be a time of calamity. (Micah 2:1-3)

Obviously Micah was speaking to Israel, but the parallels with current events are striking, and Paul did say that everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. (Romans 15:4) According to some, the biggest transfer of wealth in history has just taken place. Before this is over many will have had their homes and property seized and many more will have been defrauded of their inheritance.

But wait a minute, you say, fraud implies a dishonest intent. Indeed it does. Does any body believe the current financial meltdown, decades in the making, just snuck up on us? Were the best financial minds alive today all taken by surprise? Did those in the know suffer the loss of half their assets too? Where did all the money go?

On one day last week a panel of economists declared that the recession is over, and a major bank reported paying over $3 billion in bonuses to its senior staff. The next day we learned that retail sales for July had plunged unexpectedly and a record number of new unemployment applications had been filed. And the recession that’s supposed to be over won’t show us any solid proof of its demise until the middle of 2010. Are you feeling a little like a mushroom? (Kept in the dark and fed a bunch of manure?)

In effect the Lord had Micah tell the leaders of Israel, “You’re lying in bed at night devising new schemes for defrauding my people? Fine. I’m lying in bed at night devising ways to punish you.” Who does history say won that contest? If it’s going on again, who will win this one?

And We Know This

So if we’re being victimized, the leaders responsible for doing it will get theirs. But the Lord has a message for the victims too, and that’s the second thing we know. There are many versions of this message, and we’ve covered some of them before. King David wrote this one.

Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.

Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.(Psalm 37:1-4)

When evil men prosper, it doesn’t have to be at our expense. The Lord has unlimited resources and by trusting in Him our heart’s desires can be fulfilled regardless of what others do. We start by trusting in him (we yield our lives to Him) and doing good (literally, we’re pleasant and agreeable toward Him). We dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture (we abide in Him and let Him provide for us). We also delight ourselves in Him (we let Him pamper us). As we do He gives us the desires of our heart (answers our prayers and petitions). Are you out of work, or worried that you soon will be? Are you losing your home or other assets? It might be a great opportunity to turn your life over to the Lord, and let Him do all the things He’s always wanted to do for you. Remember, Jesus said, “I have come that they might have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10) Still OK financially? Do it anyway.

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret-it leads only to evil.

For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. (Psalm 37:5-9)

We need only commit our hearts to Him and trust Him to do this. Even if it seems like wicked men are prevailing against us, we’re to be patient and not get angry or lose hope. We can afford to be like the first century Christians who joyfully accepted the confiscation of their property, because they knew that they themselves had better and lasting possessions. Like them, we should not throw away our confidence; it will be richly rewarded. We need to persevere so that when we have done the will of God, we will receive what he has promised. (Hebrews 10:34-36)

Remember when Pharaoh’s army had the Israelites trapped between the mountains and the Red Sea? The people felt betrayed and were terrified. They demanded that Moses explain how he had gotten them into such a mess.

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.” (Exodus 14:13)

That’s still good advice. The Lord is not like us. He doesn’t change His mind or break His commitments. (Numbers 23:19) The promises of Psalm 37 are still more certain than the most ironclad agreement you could ever negotiate on Earth. You only have to trust Him.

That’s all we can do, and that’s all we need to do. We can’t trust our leaders, we can’t trust the experts, we can’t trust the media. We can only trust the Lord.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6) This we know. These are my thoughts on 08-15-09.

]]> http://gracethrufaith.com/my-thoughts/things-we-know/feed/ 0 http://gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bible-teacher/does-daniel-2-describe-concrete-and-rebar/ http://gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bible-teacher/does-daniel-2-describe-concrete-and-rebar/#comments Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:00:14 +0000 admin http://gracethrufaith.com/?p=10452 Q. I was recently leading a study of Daniel Ch. 2 and had a thought on which I would like your input.  The statue has very specific patterns in the materials.  From the head down, it’s decreasing in value (gold-silver-bronze-iron) while increasing in strength and are identified by their prominent use in the respective empires (Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greek, Roman) until I get to the feet and toes.  The feet and toes are iron mixed with clay.  It sounds to me like our modern use of concrete.

Concrete has impressive compressive strength but is brittle (no tensile strength) so iron rebar is used.  This is how freeways, bridges, modern buildings and their foundations are built.  And identifying the base as concrete would be consistent with the increasing strength of the materials and their decreasing value.  Thank you for your thoughts on this as well as your service to the Lord.

A. The wording in Daniel 2:41-43 implies that the iron and clay do not mix, and do not combine to make each other stronger, but instead constitute a structural weakness. In addition, for generations the phrase “feet of clay” from Daniel 2 has been used to describe someone who gives the outward appearance of strength but has a hidden weakness that causes his downfall.  In your analogy the rebar in the concrete actually provides a hidden strength that prevents destruction.

There will be a weakness in the End Times coalition represented by the feet of the statue that will prevent if from becoming the unified body it’s intended to be.  Attempts to mix the Eastern (Arab) leg of the old Roman Empire with the Western (European) one will reveal this weakness.   We can already see hints of this in the form of periodic cultural clashes in various European countries.

A.  Psalm 139:16 says,

All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

This means He has always known how long we’re going to live.  But it doesn’t mean that He has decided what day we are going to die or how it will happen.  Knowing something will happen is not always the same as making it happen.

He also knew in advance all the things that will be happening in the world during that time.  In other words, He doesn’t have to react to the things that happen because He already knew they were going to happen and is prepared for them.  You can not take God by surprise.

A. I think this is a case of someone deciding the outcome first and then looking for a way to justify it.  But there is no Biblical justification for tying Isaiah 14 which was written in Hebrew together with Luke 10 which was written in Greek.   Besides, while Barak can mean lightning, bamah means high place, such as a stage or pagan altar.  The Hebrew word translated heaven in Isaiah 14:12-13 is shamayim, just like it is in Genesis 1:1 and 395 other paces in the Old Testament.  Jesus did not name the anti-Christ in Luke 10:18.

A. The current middle east wars are only part of prophecy to the extent that wars are among the birth pangs Jesus spoke of in Matt. 24:6-8. Our men and women in uniform don’t make policy but are called upon to risk their lives by enforcing it.  They deserve our respect and support.

250 Israeli Rabbis Sign Letter to Obama: “Hands off Jerusalem”

In a reference to the upcoming “nine days” which culminate in Tisha B’Av, the rabbis tell US Pres. Obama that “during these days, in which the Jewish people mourn the destruction of Jerusalem and mark the disgraceful memory of its destroyers, we are certain that you, Mr. Barack Obama, do not want to enter that disreputable list of those who raise their hand to strike Jerusalem and those who live in it.”

The rabbinical letter ends with a clear request: “If you, Mr. Obama, wish to leave any chance at all for peace and quiet in the Middle East, take your hands off the Holy City of Jerusalem right now!”

Two hundred and fifty rabbis have signed the appeal, and efforts are being made to collect the signatures of every rabbi in Israel before the letter is sent to Washington. (Source: A7News)

Tisha B’Av is a particularly sad day for Jews.  Both the first and Second Temples were destroyed on that day, and down through history a number of other religious and national catastrophes have occurred on the 9th of Av as well.   The nine days mentioned above refer to the first nine days of Av, a time of national mourning for these events that culminates on the 9th, Tisha B’Av.  This year Tisha B’Av falls on July 30 so the nine days of mourning began on July 22.

The chain of events that resulted in this letter began in 1948 when Jordan attacked the newly created state of Israel and captured the Eastern part of Jerusalem including the Temple Mount.  All of the city had been given to Israel by the UN.  19 years later Israel got it back in the 6 Day War and annexed it, reuniting the city.  Since then several hundred thousand Jews have made Eastern Jerusalem and its suburbs their home.  But the international community has never accepted the legality of the annexation.  It calls the neighborhoods they live in “settlements” and the so-called Road Map agreement forbids additional settlement construction until Jerusalem’s final status has been negotiated.  Will it remain undivided as Israel’s capitol, or will it be divided again with the Eastern part becoming the capitol of a future Palestinian state?

Israelis are united in their view that all of Jerusalem is legally theirs and it must never be divided again.  That’s why PM Netanyahu has flatly rejected the world’s demand that he deny permission for an empty building in East Jerusalem already under  Jewish ownership to be converted into apartments.  This construction project, financed by Miami Beach philanthropist Irving Moskowitz, is located mere yards from Israel’s national police headquarters and other government ministries, and only a few blocks from the country’s prestigious Hebrew University.

Here’s How It All Began

The Jewish claim to Jerusalem is over 3,000 years old.  While the Jews were still in the wilderness, God told them he was going to name a place for them to worship Him after they entered the Promised Land. (Deut. 12:5)  But it wasn’t until David was King, several hundred years later,  that God chose Jerusalem to be that place.

“Since the day I brought my people out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built for my Name to be there, nor have I chosen anyone to be the leader over my people Israel. But now I have chosen Jerusalem for my Name to be there, and I have chosen David to rule my people Israel.” (2 chronicles 6:5-6)

Once God had selected a location, Satan wanted it as well.  He had already duped Adam and Eve into forfeiting their dominion over earth to him.  But unless he has possession of Jerusalem, he doesn’t really have possession of Earth. Three times the Lord Himself called Satan the prince of this world (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11).  And Paul said he’s the god of this age (2 Cor. 4:4).  Satan needs Jerusalem to perfect his claim to planet Earth.  This is why the final battle for control of Earth will be fought over Jerusalem.

Jerusalem has no natural harbor. It isn’t situated astride any major trade route. Nor is it a gateway city. It’s not a banking or industrial or commercial or medical or hi-tech center. It has no natural resources. While it’s too hilly for an airport it doesn’t command any strategic high ground. It has nothing at all to commend it except for the fact the God chose it for Himself. And to Satan that makes it the most desirable piece of real estate on the planet.

Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians as part of God’s judgment against them for their idolatry, but even as He was sending them away He promised He’d bring them back.

This is what the LORD says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place.  For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:10-11)

He fulfilled this promise in what came to be known as the first regathering of Israel.  But even before the first one, God had Isaiah promise there would also be a second regathering, because once more Israel would be scattered and again Jerusalem would be destroyed. The second destruction began in 69-70 AD when Jerusalem was burned to the ground and by 135AD the nation had ceased to exist altogether.

This time there was no predetermined date known to man when Israel would rise again and as the centuries passed most Gentiles assumed that God had abandoned His people and transferred His blessings to the Church, even though the prophets had said otherwise.  But at the end of the 19th Century the hearts of Jews around the world were stirred and the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy began to look like a real possibility after all.

In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia,  from Hamath and from the islands of the sea. He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth. (Isaiah 11:11-12)

Even though the Zionist movement began on the eve of the 20th Century, and the Balfor Declaration laid the ground work for a Jewish homeland in 1917, this second regathering officially began in 1948 and continues to this day.  Immediately Satan called his troops to battle and before the ink was dry on the UN declaration that made Israel a nation again, they were at war.  By the time it was over, half the Holy City had been captured. 19 years later in June of 1967 Israel reunited Jerusalem in the Six Day War.

Who’s Behind This?

As you can see, the fight for Jerusalem isn’t really between Arab and Israeli, or even between Molsem and Jew.  Satan has simply stirred Israel’s enemies up for his own purposes, and as the Jews inch closer and closer to renewing their covenant with God and making Jerusalem the one place on Earth to worship Him again, Satan will make Israel’s enemies become more and more determined to stop them.  He won’t give up until he has the whole world united against Jerusalem.  But as we’ll see, it’s a losing strategy.

“I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves.” (Zechariah 12:2-3)

Zechariah saw Israel’s victory over its neighbors happening in 2 stages.  First, the nations surrounding Jerusalem will rise up against it, but they’ll be sent reeling. This will be accomplished in two fierce battles,  one foretold in Psalm 83 and the other in Ezekiel 38-39.  God will deliver a supernatural victory in Ezekiel’s battle to open Israel’s eyes and draw them back to Him and the land He gave them.

Then they will know that I am the LORD their God, for though I sent them into exile among the nations, I will gather them to their own land, not leaving any behind. (Ezekiel 39:28)

Then at the very end of the age, the anti-Christ will mobilize all the nations of Earth and gather them against Jerusalem for one final push.  It too will end in failure.

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh. (Rev. 19:11-16,19-21)

But In The Mean Time

The world is already pushing against Israel in a way never seen before.  The US has demanded that this building in East Jerusalem not be renovated. The EU has condemned all “settlement” construction.  Javier Solana wants the UN to set a date for unilaterally imposing the two state solution, dividing Jerusalem again.  All the world powers have united against Israel in this matter.  And this is just the beginning.  But here’s the Lord’s response.

Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.  Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires, nor its animals enough for burnt offerings.  Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing. (Isaiah 40:15-17)

The LORD foils the plans of the nations; He thwarts the purposes of the peoples.  But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations. (Psalm 33:10-11)

This is what the LORD says: I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain. (Zechariah 8:3)

No other city has been so clearly and so decisively claimed by God as His own, so this isn’t about religion and it isn’t about politics.  It’s about whether we’re on God’s side or on Satan’s.  Those who set about to divide the only city on Earth God has claimed for Himself are taking a stand against Him personally (Psalm 2:2). and aligning themselves with Satan.  And it’s not like there’s the slightest chance of succeeding.  These men with their great armies who think they can push God and His people around haven’t got a clue as to how outmatched they are.

The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.  Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, “I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill.” (Psalm 2:4-6)

From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth – He who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.  No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. (Psalm 33:13-16)

Nor is there any chance that God will change His mind or forget His promise to His people,

This is what the LORD says, He who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the LORD Almighty is his name:  “Only if these decrees vanish from my sight,” declares the LORD, “will the descendants of Israel ever cease to be a nation before me.” (Jeremiah 31:35-36)

or give up and go away.

For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch. The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow. (Isaiah 62:1-2)

“And the name of the city from that time on will be: The LORD is There .” (Jehovah Shammah) (Ezekiel 48:35)

From all this it seems pretty clear that Jerusalem belongs to God forever, and there’s no chance that anyone trying to say otherwise will prevail.  Current indications are that the US may moderate its position where Israel is concerned, and may adopt the Bush Administration position that trying to forbid construction that only accommodates natural growth is not practical.

Some are saying that Mr. Obama is beginning to realize that his grand appeal to the Moslem world hasn’t changed anything, so he’s decided “to avoid a situation where he gets nothing from Arab leaders and yet is at odds with the Jews.”  Time will tell, but if true, this is good news for America.   After all, aren’t we in enough trouble with God already? 07-25-09

My Christian friends and I debate this because even though I am a Christian and do not agree with homosexuals and their lifestyles, I don’t believe that we as Christians, heterosexuals, or humans whether it be in the private or government sector have the right to tell them they cannot get married.  We can pray for them to find Jesus and if they search, teach them why homosexuality is a huge disgrace to God.  However, the way I see it is that God gave us all free will to choose sin if that is what we want to choose.  So how can we take the free will, of two consenting adults who want to get married, away from them?  Doesn’t this go against God’s “free will” plan for every human?

A. This is a real conundrum.  For most of our history, we’ve thought of ourselves as a Christian nation, and yet our government has always been a secular one. Our founding fathers didn’t require our leaders to be Christian or to use God’s law as a litmus test when legislating our own laws.  I guess when it comes right down to it I’m opposed to any government interference in individual decisions.  Like you say, if God gave us the right to make our own choices, then how can we do otherwise concerning each other?

The problem is that I’m really uncomfortable taking this to its logical conclusions because that would mean we shouldn’t try to prevent parents from killing their babies,  adult children from killing their aged or ill parents,  people from having multiple spouses, or adults from carrying on sexual relationships with consenting minors, even if they’re related.  So where does one draw the line?  God gave us His laws because we can’t be trusted to legislate our own morality. When we abandon His standards, whose do we adopt? Isn’t that what the Great Flood was all about?