Posted May 25th, 2013 in My Thoughts
This Week’s feature Article by Jack Kelley
The city of Damascus is mentioned 60 times in the Bible from Genesis 14:15 to Acts 22:10. Abraham’s chief servant, Eliazer, was from Damascus and Paul spent his first days as a Christian there. According to Flavius Josephus, Damascus was founded by Uz, the son of Aram who was the patriarch of the Aramean people. Aram was the 5th son of Shem, and Uz was the first son of Aram. (According to Job 1:1, Job was from the land of Uz.)
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Posted February 28th, 2013 in Ask a Bible Teacher
Q. I have a question on the purifying of the land described in Ezekiel 39. It says that the whole nation engages in disposing of the bodies of the invaders for seven months. After seven months, squads of people are specially employed to dispose of any remains that are found. When a bone is found, a marker is placed by it and the burying is done by specialists. One explanation I’ve heard is that the common man avoids touching the bone so he can remain ritually pure. My question is: Does this level of ritual purity exist in Israel today?
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Posted February 26th, 2013 in Ask a Bible Teacher
Q. In light of the recent discoveries of oil and gas reserves in Israel’s territorial waters, it struck me as odd that Israelis would be burning weapons left from the Gog/Magog Battle. This can only mean one thing: the Israeli survivors will be scavenging.
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Posted February 9th, 2013 in Ikvot ha'Mashiach
A Bible Study by Jack Kelley
Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all her villages will say to you, “Have you come to plunder? Have you gathered your hordes to loot, to carry off silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods and to seize much plunder?” (Ezekiel 38:13)
These questions will be directed at the leaders of Magog (modern Russia) by the uninvolved nations as they witness the surprise attack on Israel, prophesied in Ezekiel 38-39. Almost everyone agrees this attack is still in our future, and many have wondered what type of plunder would prompt Russia to undertake such an effort.
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Posted February 5th, 2013 in Ask a Bible Teacher
Q. What effect do you think the Rapture will have on American Jews as far as their return to Israel is concerned? If I understand correctly this prophecy will not be completely fulfilled until after Ezek. 38. However, do you think the Rapture will also influence their decision somewhat? Also, do you think this will be another reason why America’s global influence will be lessened, along with the Rapture?
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Posted November 23rd, 2012 in Ask a Bible Teacher
Q. Lately, in the news there is information about an enormous natural gas discovery containing trillions of cubic feet. Russia, through it’s Gazprom division has expressed a desire to develop the discovery. How does this relate to Ezekiel 38?
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Posted November 19th, 2012 in Ask a Bible Teacher
Q. Do you think that the current Israel vs. Gaza/Hamas is just one of their many battles or do you think it is a build up to something more serious or prophetic? Could it all be tied into Isaiah 17 and the destruction of Damascus or a pre-cursor to Ezekiel 38?
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Posted September 26th, 2012 in Ask a Bible Teacher
Q. About a year ago a theologian came to our church and spoke on Psalm 83 and Ezek. 38/39. He said they would happen at the same time, because Ezek. 38 references others besides those named as involved in the alliance. Could we be seeing this taking place now? Iran has begun moving troops into Syria to support its leader against the uprising. What if Russia and Iran are both able to move heavy units into Syria?
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Posted September 8th, 2012 in Ikvot ha'Mashiach
Commentary by Jack Kelley
“Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy.
“Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble” (Daniel 9:24-25).
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Posted August 14th, 2012 in Ask a Bible Teacher
Q. A friend of mine is adamant that the Gog/Magog war will only happen after the millennium, as described in Revelation 20 but I am of the opinion there will be two Gog/Magog wars; one prophesied in Ezekiel 38/39 and the other an attack by the enemies of God at the end of the millennium. Just like there was WW1 and WW2 with virtually the same countries in both wars, could there not be two Gog/Magog events?
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