Fear and Faith : PART 1 -3

 Fear and Faith (Part One)

The story of the children of Israel fleeing from Egypt never gets old even though we return to it routinely every spring. There seem to be endless lessons we can learn from it, and in that vein, the larger journey contains three examples that make a particular point about complaining.

We will begin in Exodus 14:14. Moses exhorts the Israelites on the shore of the Red Sea as Pharaoh and his army bore down on them, "The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace." In English, it is a perfectly balanced sentence: six words, a comma, and six more words. In the original Hebrew, it is only four words.
The Hebrew word translated as hold literally means "be quiet." We can thus read this verse as, "The LORD will fight for you, and you shall be quiet." It begins to take on a more strident, more forceful tone.
The Revised Standard Version translates this verse as, "The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be still." This rendering is like the New King James' translation, able to be read several ways depending on where the emphasis falls.
The Common English Bible expresses the thought as, "The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still," which adds a bit more force. The Complete Jewish Bible ratchets up the emotion: "Adonai will do battle for you. Just calm yourselves down!" God's Word Translation puts it even more forcefully: "The LORD is fighting for you! So be still!" Finally, The Message Bible gets the message across: "GOD will fight the battle for you. And you? You keep your mouths shut!"
These alternative translations cast this verse in a different light! It has the feel of what it was like to be called into the principal's office back in the day, and the student began to make excuses. The principal would cut him off and snarl, "Sit down and shut up!"—not that I have any firsthand knowledge of that kind of thing, but I've heard stories. He is really saying, "Shut up with your complaining!"
As mentioned earlier, Exodus 14 is the story of the Red Sea crossing. In verse 2, God led these millions of people into a dead-end situation. They were hemmed in on all sides. God had deliberately turned them away from the Promised Land, southward and eastward, so that Pharaoh's army would follow them (verses 3-4). He led them into a trap so that, as God says in verse 4, "the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD." So, the army of Egypt pursued their former slaves.
"And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the LORD" (verse 10). The Israelites had left Egypt with a "high hand" (Numbers 33:3) on a grand adventure to the Promised Land, only to have it all crash down around their ears just a few days later! Or so it seemed.
They reacted in a very human way: They cried out in fear. Even after seeing the miracles of the ten plagues, being passed over by the Death Angel, gathering their back wages with interest (Exodus 12:36), and following the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, they had no faith. They, of course, lacked God's Holy Spirit and so could not see God in a spiritual sense.
To prove to Egypt and all posterity that He was God, He led the people into a box canyon. Did Moses know how God planned to get them out? Did he look at the waves of the Red Sea and think, "Yeah, it's perfect. We'll cross here!" Maybe not. How many times has God delivered us from a trial from a direction we never expected? Moses was probably ignorant of how God would save them, but he had the faith that He would save them, however He would do it! He had seen the same miracles as the people, but he saw God in them. Notice his confident words in Exodus 14:13:

Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever."

Then, paraphrasing verse 14, he says, "Shut up and watch what God is going to do."
God then reveals His plan in verse 15: "And the LORD said to Moses, ‘Why do you cry to Me? [Why are you calling on Me for help? Why are you complaining?] Tell the children of Israel to go forward.'"
Wait, what? "Go forward"? Walk right into the sea? Talk about stepping out in faith! We are not told the specifics of Moses' prayer in this situation, but he was undoubtedly in constant prayer to God. But it seems as if God was just a bit frustrated with him. "Go forward!" He commands His servant. It is easy to sympathize with Moses here because he felt pressure from all sides.
The Jamison, Faucett, and Brown Commentary says this about Moses: "[His] meek, unruffled, magnanimous composure presents one of the sublimest examples of moral courage to be found in history." Adam Clarke writes about these verses:

Moses said—Fear ye not] This exhortation was not given to excite them to resist, for of that there was no hope; they were unarmed, they had no courage, and their minds were deplorably degraded.

Stand still] Ye shall not be even workers together with God; only be quiet, and do not render yourselves wretched by your fears and your confusion.

See the salvation of the Lord] Behold the deliverance which God will work, independently of all human help and means.

Ye shall see them again no more] Here was strong faith, but this was accompanied by the spirit of prophecy. God showed Moses what [H]e would do, he believed, and therefore he spoke in [this] encouraging manner . . ..

We tend to lose sight of this encouraging principle from time to time. In the pressures of daily life—working, paying the bills, raising children, just living in this present, evil age—we often forget that God promises to fight our battles. We should not forget this promise for long! John Ritenbaugh's oft-repeated question, "Do You See God?" should never be far from our minds.
In our spiritual warfare, God sometimes requires us to act in faith, and at other times, God goes on ahead and clears the way. The older I get, the more I can look back on episodes in my life and recognize that God opened doors, solved problems, inspired solutions, or from time to time, came from a completely unexpected direction to rescue me out of a crisis—just as He did for Moses and the children of Israel.
We will examine two other situations that occurred on Israel's wilderness trek next time.

Fear and Faith (Part Two)

 

In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses recounts the history of the Israelites' travels up to that point. About eighteen months into the Exodus, the Israelites had come to Kadesh Barnea, which God had given to them (Deuteronomy 1:19-20). God wanted them to use Kadesh Barnea as a base camp for their assault on the land of Canaan. Moses rouses the people with a stirring speech in verse 21, and they reply in verse 22:

"Look, the LORD your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the LORD God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged." And every one of you came near to me and said, "Let us send men before us, and let them search out the land for us, and bring back word to us of the way by which we should go up, and of the cities into which we shall come." (Emphasis ours throughout.)

God had promised them the land, and they had seen miracles daily, but when the time came to move in, they could not do it. They put it off with a suggestion to send in spies. Moses admits, in verse 23, that the plan to send the spies "pleased" him. Did he later regret sending them? He says every one of them came to him suggesting this, and he liked it.
However, Numbers 13:1-2 makes it sound like it was God's idea: "And the LORD spoke to Moses saying, ‘Send men to spy out the land of Canaan . . ..'" Is Moses' memory faulty? After all, he is 120 years old, and 38 years have passed since the event. No, commentators feel that the idea came from the people, and God endorsed it as both a trial and a punishment.
As we know, the spies came back with a discouraging report of strong fortifications and great warriors. Moses relates the Israelites' reaction in Deuteronomy 1:26-27, 29-30: "Nevertheless, you would not go up, but rebelled . . .; and you complained in your tents . . .. Then I [Moses] said to you, ‘Do not be terrified, or afraid of them [the Canaanites]. The LORD your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you." Some ancient texts translate verse 30 as, "the Word of the LORD shall fight for you"—the One who became Jesus Christ, our Intercessor, Elder Brother, and Trailblazer will go before His people and fight for them!
"[Y]ou saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place" (verse 31). When my family lived near Stone Mountain, Georgia, we would often hike the mile-long trail up the side of the mountain and back down. Down is not so bad, but going up, it gets a bit steep near the top. When my son, Cody, was small, I would put him on my shoulders when he got tired. How many times has God carried us in a similar way? Do we even realize He is doing so when it happens?
Verse 32 concludes, "Yet, for all that [all God did for them], you did not believe the LORD your God." According to tradition, the spies returned with their report on the eighth of Av, and that night, as the ninth of Av began, the people murmured in their tents. So began a long list of calamities to befall Israel on this date, most especially to the Jews, who are something of the "face" of Israel to the world. Both the First and the Second Temples suffered destruction on the ninth of Av. After the Second Temple fell, the Jews declared that the ninth of Av would be a perpetual fast day. Later, in AD 135, the Battle of Betar was lost on this day. In its aftermath, the Roman Emperor Hadrian massacred so many Jews that the Talmud says, with some hyperbole, that the horses were submerged in blood up to their nostrils!
The Jews were expelled from England (July 18, 1290) and from Spain (July 31, 1492) on the ninth of Av, and to them, both World Wars began on it (August 1, 1914, and August 2, 1941). The latter date may require explanation: August 2, 1941, is the day when Heinrich Himmler received approval for the "Final Solution," the Holocaust in which one-third of the world's Jews were exterminated. So, Jews consider August 2, 1941, the true starting date of that war.
Is it a coincidence that all these tragedies fell on the anniversary of the Israelites' total breakdown in faith? It makes one think!
Here again, we have a situation in which the Israelites reacted with fear rather than with faith. God could not have been more encouraging to them, offering to go before them into the land of Canaan and fight their battles for them. "The sons of the Anakim" (Deuteronomy 1:28) could not stand before Him! He also pointed out all the times He had "carried" them over rough spots in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet they would not believe that He would get them over the obstacle before them, which, to God, was no more difficult than the others they had faced.
But they refused God's command to take the land, so He condemned them to wander another 38 years through the wilderness until all the adults of that generation were dead (Deuteronomy 1:34-40). Only Caleb and Joshua, who had given faithful reports, were spared.
Too often, we react like Israel when significant trials arise before us. This trial always seems bigger and more dangerous than the ones in our rearview mirror. So, we react with fear rather than with a faith that is supported by perhaps years or decades of experience of God helping us overcome similar huge, crushing trials. Our study of Israel's fearful reactions should clue us in that reacting in fear does not end well.
Next time, we will consider a final example of Israel's fear-or-faith opportunities.

- Mike Ford

Fear and Faith (Part Three)

As we close this series on the choice between faith and fear, we need to consider one more example from the events of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. Moses sets the scene for us in Exodus 17:1:

Then all the congregation of the children of Israel set out on their journey from the Wilderness of Sin, according to the commandment of the LORD, and camped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink.

Rephidim lay about a day's march from Mount Sinai at the entrance to the Horeb district. They had walked through a barren desert into a valley with no shelter, only sparse vegetation, and no water. Pictures of this area have been posted online, and it does not look at all hospitable. This event would have occurred sometime in May, and in a desert environment, temperatures would be rising. The latitude of Rephidim is roughly the same as St. Augustine, Florida, if that helps.

As an aside, most Bible commentators feel that Mount Horeb and Mount Sinai are just different names for the same mountain. A smaller group feels that they are separate mountains, or possibly, different peaks in the same range. There is no reason for us to get into the weeds on this controversy. What we do know is that Exodus 17:1 says that they camped in Rephidim, where this event took place. In Exodus 19:1-2, they departed from Rephidim and went to the Desert of Sinai. Exodus 17:2-3:

Therefore the people contended with Moses, and said, "Give us water, that we may drink." And Moses said to them, "Why do you contend with me? Why do you tempt the LORD?" And the people thirsted there for water . . ..

In a hot and dry environment, an adult can lose three pints of sweat in an hour. A child left in a hot car can dehydrate, overheat, and die in only a few hours. Once a person's water levels dip below a healthy amount, along with the obvious thirst, he or she also develops dry skin, fatigue, light-headedness, dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse and breathing, and other symptoms. Dehydrated children cry without tears. Without water, a general malaise sets in. As water leaches out of the brain cells, the brain contracts, and blood vessels in the head may burst.

How endangered were the Israelites at this point? The biblical text reads, "And the people thirsted there." To what degree did they thirst? The word translated as "thirst" can mean "suffer thirst." The Good News Bible interprets the text to say they were "very thirsty," which is likely.

Not only did most of them not have God's Holy Spirit, but the Israelites were starting to become dehydrated, which alters a person's thinking. I have experienced situations without water, and it does strange things with one's mind. Hiking in a canyon in the backcountry of Utah, my wife Phyllis and I ran out of water. I had to restrain Phyllis almost forcefully from drinking from a stream that we had been warned had cattle runoff in it. She was beginning to get a little loopy. She would have become extremely sick had she drunk from that stream. We should have been carrying a portable water purifier, but that is a lesson for another day.

The story continues in verse 4: "So Moses cried out to the LORD, saying, "What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me!" It appears that the Israelites had become dehydrated enough that they were not thinking straight.

In verse 6, God instructs Moses, "Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it." Again, pictures of what is presumed to be the "rock in Horeb" can be seen in numerous photos online. They show a huge rock at the top of what is currently identified as Mount Horeb, and the rock features a split right down the middle.

Consider this. In the center of this rocky, dry, and barren area, at the highest point around, stands a large rock with an almost perfect vertical split down the middle. No one can say for sure that this is the very rock Moses struck, but it is certainly possible.

With this image in mind, we should picture a huge cascade of water gushing out of the split in the rock—enough water for millions of thirsty people and their animals. How long would it have to flow to rehydrate them all? Days, perhaps?

So, in verse 7, Moses named this place Massah and Meribah, meaning "testing" and "contention" or "quarreling," respectively, "because they tempted [tested] the LORD, saying, ‘Is the LORD among us or not?'" They had witnessed daily miracles in the cloud by day, the pillar of fire by night, and manna on the ground each morning, and they dare to ask, "Is the LORD with us or not?"

Despite their complaints, He obviously was with them. He was among them, just as He is among us. Consider that Moses was thirsty too! But he was faithful. He saw God leading them, and he trusted Him to lead them where He wanted them to go. He knew God would handle the situation in His own time because He had not brought them this far into the wilderness just to let them die.

As we experience our daily battles and are tempted to complain as they become more severe, remember that we can react in fear or faith. The examples we have seen all show that it is far better to respond with faith. We can be confident that God will help us. So, keep in mind Exodus 14:14, where we began: "The LORD will fight for you, and you just keep quiet."

What is Coming Upon the Earth?

What is Coming Upon the Earth? - By Pastor Mike Taylor -

https://pastormiketaylor.blogspot.com/2020/04/what-is-coming-upon-earth.html

 

"And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.

2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.

4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword" (Revelation 6:1-4)

 

Prophecy writers have been preaching the soon return of Jesus Christ and we wonder how soon? The indicators of the soon return of our Lord are all around us, but it has been fuzzy, but grows much clearer as time passes. Much like a picture developed in a dark room, as we see the image slowly coming into view. News reports have been coming fast and furious in the last few weeks, and from this perspective, I see the puzzle of end time events growing much more into focus with each passing day.

 

WORLD WAR LOOMS

 

Let's examine a few of these indicators that the time is short for the return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Start with the economic troubles of most of Europe that has even affected our economy, as the world economy has become closely tied to one another. Especially, as we have had the Coronavirus spreading world-wide and even our own economy has taken a drastic hit. People wonder if this nation will ever recover to what is was before this so called "pandemic" spread its evil tentacles to all nations. I've heard sermons that believe this will be the run-up to the coming of our Lord Jesus in the rapture. Is it? First, let us look at a news flash that it's been reported that the Vatican has taken a stance of encouraging a One World Authority for peace and posterity as an answer to the economic turmoil gripping the globe. It was reported on the website Catholic News Service the following:

 

"A Vatican document called for the gradual creation of a "world political authority" with broad powers to regulate financial markets and rein in the "inequalities and distortions of capitalist development. The document said the current global financial crisis has revealed "selfishness, collective greed and the hoarding of goods on a great scale." A supranational authority, it said, is needed to place the common good at the center of international economic activity." The logical start offered up by the Catholic Church is the United Nations with one central authority to regulate the world economy.

 

Then recently, their beloved Pope Francis has come against traditional views over homosexuality and abortion and that there are many ways to God, just by being good. Say what? Isn't Jesus the ONLY WAY? Yes, He is.

 

Second news flash is there has been a push by the Roman Catholic Church to unite all religions into a One World Religious authority and I submit will be headed by the Catholic Church and it's pope. This is reported that this coming May on the anniversary of the formation of Israel as a nation, this same "pope" will call for that creation of a one world religion. Rome has brought , in the past, all the world religions including pagan religions to the Italian town of Assisi in front of the St. Francis Basilica to set the groundwork of a one world religious movement. Many writers are starting to write about this push that began with the groundwork being laid by Pope John Paul II and continued by Pope Benedict XVI, and now Pope Francis. This is a part of the prophetic puzzle that is growing clearer with each passing day. These two pieces of the end time puzzle are growing more into reality. Then let's take a look at the growing unrest in the Middle East. Iran, Russia and Turkey are attempting to surround Israel on all sides, even with their Muslim proxies preparing for the coming prophesied invasion in Ezekiel 38-39. Another piece of this end time puzzle is being played out on our news cast nightly. Instability in the region has been gaining steam, since the so called Arab spring. I submit that it had nothing in common with spring, as spring brings new life, but more like winter, as winter brings death and destruction. The nations that surround Israel have been in revolution overthrowing their leaders. Starting in Tunisia, it spread to the other neighboring Arab countries, such as Egypt, then Libya, and unrest growing in Lebanon, Jordan and Syria. Syria has been in an almost never ending war in the region that has claimed millions of lives.

 

What this has accomplished is the solidarity of these Muslim nations being changed from dictatorships, and transforming them into religious theocracies ruled by Sharia Law and the Koran have been fueled by known terrorist groups with world conquest on their minds. These new governments will pattern themselves along the lines of the greatest threat in the Middle East, Iran.

 

As we know, Iran has been working feverishly to develop nuclear capabilities and the Western world has been impotent to stop them. Threatened sanctions and diplomatic maneuvers have not slowed the government of Iran from building what the free world fears, a nuclear bomb. It is reported that they are within reach from having enough enriched uranium to develop their first bomb. Couple that with Iran's ranting of wanting to destroy Israel and wipe them off the face of the map from their leaders, and "Death to America"   only intensifies the fears the world feels and Israel's rightly perceived threat to their sense of security and peace.

 

WAR AND RUMORS OF WAR

 

What could tip the fragile economic condition of the world we live in? What one word would send our world into a tail spin? What's that word? It is WAR! It is especially true when you use it in context with the Middle East.

 

If you have been following the developments in the area it is reported that Iran, if they made an all out push for a nuclear weapon could achieve it in 1 month. For several years, I have been wondering not if, but when, Israel would either with help from the USA, or unilaterally on its own, attempt to destroy the nuclear installations of Iran. It appears that new saber rattling is being reported coming from Israel. In the Asia Times written by Victor Kotsev, he reports the following news flash:

 

"Through a number of leaks and well-publicized war exercises, the Israeli government has dramatically increased its threats against Iran in the past days. Since the Israeli military likes to act by surprise, it seems this specific escalation is a bluff designed to help pass tougher diplomatic measures against the Islamic Republic at the United Nations Security Council, specifically following the anticipated publication of an important report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) next week."

 

"However, given the exceptionally high and rising regional tensions (not all of which involve Israel directly), a larger war in the Middle East is a distinct possibility. Thus, the Israeli rhetoric can be interpreted in two additional ways (all three are not mutually exclusive): as an attempt to deter a possible first or second strike by Iran and its allies, and as a campaign to prepare public opinion, both at home and abroad, for hostilities. "

 

Psalm 83, the next war?

 

When Israel does attack, not if, but when, Iran will pull out all stops to attempt to make Israel pay and facilitate their belief that their mission is to bring about an Islamic Caliphate. Of course, we know that Iran will rely on it's proxies to do it's dirty work, as they may be crippled militarily and have been preparing for just such a scenario via Hezbollah, Hamas, and now with the uprising and the fall of dictatorships all over the Middle East, using these nations for a coordinated attack. I see a possible fulfilling of Psalms 83, the next war on the horizon.

 

83:1 Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.:2 For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.5 For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:6 The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and theHagarenes;7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;8 Assur also is joined with them: they have helped the children of Lot. Selah.9 Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison: (Psalm 83:1-9)

 

Who are these people that make these plans that are noted in the above verses? These are the ancient names of the people of the Muslim nations that surround Israel this day.

 

THE CLOCK IS TICKING

 

I'm not saying this attack by Israel will happen anytime soon, but it could happen this summer, as Israel when they attacked the atomic reactors in Iraq under Saddam Hussein, or Syria a few years ago, or the convoy attacks of missile shipments to Hezbollah, it was in total surprise. You didn't know about it, till it was over. Only thing I see different right now, is the flight path of direct line attack over Iraq being opened up, as the USA has withdrawn all our troops. It will be a direct flight path to their intended targets.

 

Let's also couple that with new stealth capabilities that Israel has developed to make their attack virtually unseen on radar until it's too late. This will be a massive campaign and Israel has been preparing for this event for years. Iran has no air defense except from the ground, as their air force is from the time the Shah was in power and is inferior to Israel's modern force. Ground to air missiles will be shooting in the dark with Israel's stealth capabilities and evasive maneuvers to become invisible targets. President Perez made it known that Israel has weapons never before revealed and can defend itself in any scenario. We know that the intelligence of the Israeli government is much more sophisticated than any news report, and they know when the window of opportunity will close for a successful strike.

 

When Iran is suddenly struck with Israeli lightening speed, their only reprisal, I envision, will be through their proxies surrounding Israel. God has promised Israel that He would give them the land from the great river of Egypt to the River Euphrates, north to and including Syria, and south to the Arabian Peninsula. What will be the outcome of this battle? I suggest that the God given promise of the land promised to Abraham will be redeemed by the help of Almighty God fighting on the side of Israel, much like the 1948, 1967, and the 1973 wars that they should have lost, but God was with them.

 

WAR OF EZEKIEL 38-39

 

Why do I think this? If you look at the Battle of Ezekiel, which I believe follows on the heels of the afore-mentioned Islamic defeat, you find in chapter 38, we read the following:2 Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, of Meshech, and of Tubal, and prophesy against him,3 And say, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince (ruler) of Rosh, of Meshech, and of Tubal.4 And I will turn you back and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you forth and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them handling swords--5 Persia, Cush, and Put {or} Libya with them, all of them with shield and helmet,6 Gomer and all his hordes, the house of Togarmah in the uttermost parts of the north and all his hordes--many people are with you." Ezekiel 38:2-6)

 

Notice that you find none of the names of the peoples mentioned in Psalm 83 in the neighboring nations as they have been destroyed and also, note that the verses speak of a city without walls, a city living in peace as noted in this passage of Ezekiel:10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:11 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,"(Ezekiel 38:10-11)

 

When has Israel in all of its modern history since 1948 been as Ezekiel describes them in the verse 11? Never you say? You would be right, never. God will be their champion in both fights. It is more evident in Ezekiel than in Psalms 83, as it is revealed that God is doing the fighting and destroys Israel's enemies on the mountains of Israel by using signs that are rendered only Divine in nature. Read the full chapter and digest the quick end to the enemies of Israel that dare come down upon God's people or His Land. God will destroy 5/6 of their army only leaving a sixth of their defeated soldiers to return to the their homeland, only to bring the plague to their own country to continue the slaughter. On the heels of this huge defeat by the Gog-Magog coalition, a man of great public stature will bring about a treaty for 7 years of peace. I believe that country, headed by this man is what we call the Anti-Christ!

 

HOW LONG???

 

How many years will be between Psalm 83 and the war in Ezekiel? We don't know, but the focus of this message is that the next war that leads to the unveiling of the Anti-Christ could be close at hand. Israel will own all of the vast oil and gas fields of most of the entire Middle East after this next war and what better prize than for the armies of Gog-Magog to come down and take the riches of the Middle East from this upstart called Israel and their God.

 

Now here is the exciting part for you and me. When this Ezekiel war is quickly fought and lost by this Gog-Magog coalition secured by the power of Almighty God, I believe it will bring to the forefront a man with the number of his name adding up to the number 666. My bible says that he will be revealed according to God's Word, II Thessalonians chapter 2:2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."(2nd Thessalonians 2:6-12)

 

If you have been following my messages for any length of time, you know the answer to who and what is being talked about here. Verse 9 speaks of one who has the power of Satan with signs and lying wonders. Who is that man? Correct, the Anti-Christ is who Paul is speaking of. But there is one thing that must happen before he can be revealed. What is that? Verse 7:

 

" For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way."(2nd Thessalonians 2:7)

 

Who is being taken out of the way? There is something holding back this unspeakable evil, a force that keeps the full power of Satan at bay, and prevents Satan from doing as he would like to do, that is destroy mankind. What is that Force? It clearly is the Holy Spirit. God will remove all hindrance for Satan doing unimaginable evil. Since the time of Job in your Bible, the power that hindered Satan to do anything to mankind, was God Almighty. Satan can't do anything, save deceive, unless he is given authority from God to do what he wills. That deterrence will be removed when Gods Holy Spirit is drawn back to allow evil to have full sway on this earth.

 

" And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."(Revelation 12:9)

 

And skipping down to verse 13:12:13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. (Israel)

 

Let's make a clear statement here. If the Holy Spirit is being removed and Satan is being cast down to the earth, never to be allowed back into the heavens, then if our Comforter, our Spiritual Counselor, and our deposit of God's Holy Spirit within our spirit is being removed from this earth, then we who have that promise of redemption will be removed at the exact same time. Understand one thing, my reader. The tribulation is designed for one thing, the complete removal of sins of evil men from this earth and for refining Israel as gold is refined in the furnace. When Israel understands that the Messiah that came to them over 2000 years ago, they will cry out, as Jesus said in Luke chapter 13:

 

 

35 "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord."(Luke 13:35)

 

Then Israel will realize what they have done to the Lord of Glory, their prophesied Messiah who they killed in anger, but happened to fulfill God's plan:

 

"And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn." (Zechariah 12:10)

 

CONCLUSION AND SUMMARY

 

Now let's take a quick summary of where this puzzle is showing what may be on the horizon in the near future. The economies of this world are collapsing, number one as "world powers" have plotted for the last 100+ years how to bring about a One World government and a New World Order.. The beginning for the push for a One world Religion and Government are being designed right before our eyes.

 

Number two.   Unrest in the Middle East will eventually explode into possibly WWIII at the greatest, or a Mid-East war in the least because of an attack by the Israelis on Iran's nuclear installations or an attack on and total destruction of Damascus as spoken of in Isaiah that could be happening at any moment in the future.

 

Puzzle piece number three. Follow this on it's heals of the conquering of the Middle East oil producing economies by Israel in Psalm 83 war, a battle for control of this vast wealth by the Gog-Magog invasion and the revealing of the Anti-Christ to the world. But before the final puzzle piece is revealed, scripture says that the Church is removed along with the Holy Spirit. How much time in this scenario do you think it would take for all these events to being fulfilled? My friend, it could take several years, it could take even more than several years, but the point is, signs are saying that man's history of self rule is drawing fast to a close. The revealing of the Anti-Christ will start the beginning of the Tribulation where peace will be illusive as smoke is in the wind. When this 7 year treaty has been signed, and if you witness it, then you will have most likely missed the calling of the church to the Bema Judgment Seat of Christ, which is a reward banquet for those things built upon the only foundation that will stand, Jesus Christ and the Bride of Christ being joined as a family to our King of Kings and Lord of lords, the Messiah. The next 3.5 years from that time will be bad, economically, socially, spiritually and probably physically. But that is just the start of all things evil and destructive. It will get exponentially worse in the Great Tribulation, when God's wrath falls on this planet in undiluted anger and righteous wrath.

 

When this man who speaks (the Anti-Christ) of peace and looks like a saint trying to bring peace to the world, then without warning this man will approach the Temple in Jerusalem that he has allowed to be built as a part of this 7 year treaty and will stand in the Holy of Holys in Jerusalem and proclaim himself, to be God. Then all of Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and all of the land held by Israel will realize that they have made a treaty with the devil as they see the abomination that causeth desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet and the Great Tribulation will have begun where if God allowed it, no man would be spared because of war, famine, and the wrath of Almighty God being poured out on an unrepentant mankind.

 

My reader, I assure you that you do not want to be witness to the beginning of a 7 year treaty, much less a man standing in the Temple of God, proclaiming that he is God. It will be hell, quite literally, on earth. Let me make one thing abundantly clear, if you think that a Christian must endure the Tribulation and that Jesus Christ sacrifice didn't finish the job, and we , the church saints, must be purified right along with Israel who is in spiritual rebellion and darkness, then my friend, you have more of a problem than the timing of the rapture of the church, as in your mind, Jesus and His blood sacrifice was insufficient to purchase your redemption.

 

The Tribulation is designed to purify Israel and to remove sin from the earth in preparation for the return of Jesus Christ to rule with a rod of Iron for a thousand years, called the Millennium. It would be the same as the Catholic doctrine of purgatory, that Jesus just didn't get the job done IF the Bride of Christ, the True Church of the Living God is not removed beforehand. I don't advocate or believe in purgatory, neither do I affirm believers in Jesus going through the 7 year Tribulation, as it flies in the face of the Saving Grace of our Lord and Savior.

 

My friend, do not be counted with the spiritual rebellion of Israel not accepting their Messiah. The nation of Israel are God's people and He will save them out of this awful time and save them all, not losing one spiritually, but what about you? If you're not Jewish, you have no idea that you will even have the opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. If war breaks out in the Middle East in the near future, your chance for making eternity with God may be very short. Make that decision today, as the Holy Spirit wishes to bring you home with our Lord and Savior. Want to know how to make that decision, which is the most important decision that you will ever make? Read the Gospel of John slowly and let God's Holy Spirit reveal who this Man, Jesus was and is today. He is wishing to come into your life. Won't you answer the call?

 

16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."(John 3:16-18)

 

8 "But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."(Romans 10:8-13)

 

This is Pastor Mike Taylor, wishing God's salvation for your life. If there is anything I can help you with, pray with you about, or show you the way to salvation, give me an email to pastormiketaylor@yahoocom . God bless you, till we hopefully meet at Jesus feet.

TRACKING BIBLE PROPHECY

TRACKING BIBLE PROPHECY

4/23/20

http://trackingbibleprophecy.org/birthpangs.php 

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