Professing to be Wise, They Became Fools

“Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.”               Genesis 6:5-8  NKJV

Yesterday was the anniversary of Noah’s flood, (if you use the sighting of the new moon to establish the start of the Jewish month as they did in Old Testament times), and I thought since Jesus linked the flood of Noah to the end of this age I would share some of my thoughts on the subject.  For no reason I can think of, (other than the prompting of the Holy Spirit), I have always been fascinated by the story of Noah.  In fact, at one point in time I spent considerable time and effort to research the possible location of where the ark might have come to rest. 

Much has been said and written lately on the subject of God judging this world, and even singling out America as a nation deserving God’s special attention.  As we see evil growing and manifesting itself in sometimes horrific ways around the world, is it any wonder that many believe that we are approaching, or even have arrived at the time where God will once again reveal Himself to mankind by directing His wrath upon an unbelieving, sinful world.  As believers, we know that God has already warned that there will be a coming time of judgment just as there was in Noah’s day but instead of using water, this time He will use fire.

“knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”             2 Peter 3:3-7  NKJV

While many in the world would use promises like this to portray God as being cruel and vindictive, they choose to not only ignore the fact that this judgment is well deserved, but also that God has provided both a way of escape and given mankind ample opportunity to make the right choice.  In Noah’s day, even those witnessing the ark being constructed over a period of so many years never made the choice to join Noah and his family on the ark.  It has been almost two thousand years since Jesus Christ lived, died, and rose again as a sacrifice for mankind’s sin, yet slowly but surely that sacrifice has been ignored by more and more of the world’s population until we find ourselves once again facing the time of God’s judgment.

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”                       2 Peter 3:9  NKJV

I’m sure most of us have heard people say that although they believe, the rapture of the church is still many years away and the world is no worse off than it ever was.  Unfortunately these people mistake God’s patience for indifference or “slackness”.  I can recall while raising my children and setting boundaries they often mistook my patience for indifference.  The looks on their faces when my promise of judgment actually occurred was often priceless.  Although God has promised a sure and final judgment, He is giving the world time to make the right choice because as a loving father, He wants no one to go to hell.  Yet as in Noah’s day, more will choose to ignore God’s providence than accept it.

“And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”                                2 Thessalonians 2:11-12  NKJV

The lie that God will not judge is the same one that Satan introduced in the Garden of Eden so many years ago when he convinced Eve to ignore God’s warning not to eat the fruit of the tree.  Just as he was able to deceive Eve, he is also able to deceive many in the world today.  The question for us as believers is how do we react to the situation we find ourselves in as the world looks more and more like it did in Noah’s day?  Noah made the choice to be obedient to God, and followed His instructions to build an ark.  In much the same way, salvation by faith in the gospel of Christ is the modern day ark which will save mankind from the coming judgment, and it is our responsibility to share it with an unbelieving world.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”                                  Romans 1:16  NKJV

Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.  Have you?  Have you made the choice to accept the gift of salvation made possible by the sacrifice of God’s Son, Jesus Christ?  If not, if you are reading this you still have time to do so before God’s judgment begins.  Becoming a believer is accomplished by asking Christ to come into your life and to begin to help you live life as He directs.  If you want to do that today, simply pray this prayer to Him;

 "Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe You died for my sins.  I want to turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life to you. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank You for saving me. Amen." 

If you have done this today, or have done it in the past, you have God’s promise that you will be spared from the judgment He has promised is going to occur to those who choose not to believe.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools,”               Romans 1:18-22  NKJV

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Coincidence isn't Kosher

Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, “and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. “I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. “Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; “Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you.   Ezekiel 38:1-6  NKJV

There is a saying in Jewish culture which goes something like this; “coincidence isn’t kosher.”  So I would be the first to say that the number of articles and commentaries from different sources and people regarding this prophecy from Ezekiel in the past few weeks is definitely not a coincidence.  This article written by Britt Gillette is a very good example of just what I am talking about.  Be sure to visit endtimesbibleprophecy.com if you haven’t already done so.

The Rise of the Russian-Turkish-Iranian Alliance

In early September, Russia, Turkey, and Iran met in Tehran to discuss the future of Syria. It was just one of many meetings in the past several years between three of the most powerful nations in Middle Eastern politics. In a mid-September meeting, Russia and Turkey agreed to carry out coordinated military patrols on the borders of a "demilitarized" buffer zone between Syrian troops and rebel forces in Syria's Idlib province. Idlib is the last major stronghold of rebel and jihadist groups trying to overthrow Assad in a civil war that has killed more than 400,000 people and displaced millions. For Russia and Iran, retaking Idlib is crucial to complete the military victory they crave in Syria's civil war after almost 8 years of fighting. As the war winds down, these three powers will decide the future of Syria.

At first glance, Russia, Turkey, and Iran make unlikely allies. For instance, Turkey is a Sunni Muslim nation, while Iran is a Shiite Muslim nation. Also, Turkey is a member of NATO, an alliance formed specifically to counter Russian military aggression. These three nations have many differences and a number of competing interests. Yet, with each passing day, they become closer and closer. Why? Syria. The ongoing Syrian civil war highlights a number of overlapping interests for these nations. Understanding those interests is the key to understanding why these nations are coming together. So let's look at what each nation seeks to gain.

Russia

Why does Russia care so much about Syria? Several reasons. First, Russia maintains an important naval facility in Tartus, Syria. It's the Russian Navy's only overseas base, vital for repair and refueling of the Russian Navy. As we've seen, Russia will fight to keep its naval installation in Tartus. Second, Syria has long been an ally of Russia and the Soviet Union. Dating back to the Cold War, Syria's ruling Assad family has been aligned with Russia against western influence in the region. Russia wants to keep Assad in power and maintain its regional presence. Syria has also been a lucrative market for the sale of Russian weapons and commodities, and Russia doesn't want to lose that market. Third, Russia wants to do more than maintain its presence in the Middle East. It wants to expand it. Russia's military entry into the Syrian civil war in 2015 turned the tide of the war. It clinched eventual victory for Assad. This means Russia will maintain enormous influence over Assad and Syria. Finally, Russia's alliance with Turkey and Iran serves to strengthen its influence in the Middle East, but it also serves another purpose. The warming relationship between Turkey and Russia (and Vladimir Putin and Recep Erdogan) divides NATO. It strains the relationship between Turkey and its western NATO allies. So it's easy to see why Russia has such a vested interest in Turkey as well as Syria.

Turkey

What does Syria mean to Turkey? A lot. A massive attack on rebels in Idlib (home to around 3 million people) could spark a humanitarian crisis on its border. It could unleash a nightmare scenario where hundreds of thousands of refugees, including militants, flee toward Turkey's border, destabilizing towns and cities under its control. Turkey already hosts 3 million Syrian refugees, and it's sealed its borders to new entrants. Turkey wants a stable border. It wants to take advantage of Syria's civil war and gain influence and control over Syrian territory (by backing Sunni rebel groups). Most of all, Turkey wants to suppress Kurdish militants on its border. Turkey already has Kurdish-controlled areas on its border in northern Iraq. It wants to avoid the rise of new ones. This puts it in direct conflict with the United States, which is backing Kurdish rebels in Syria. This has driven Turkey closer to Russia and led it to play Russia and the NATO powers against each other to its own benefit.

Iran

Why is Syria so important to Iran? Iran has decades of close ties to Syria going back to the 1979 Islamic revolution, and both champion the Shiite Muslim branch of Islam. Iran already has regional footholds in Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen, and it wants to keep and expand its influence in a nation neighboring Israel and Lebanon. A presence in Syria gives Iran land access to the Mediterranean Sea, a staging ground for Hezbollah and other proxies to attack Israel, and access to Israel's border for Iranian armed forces to launch a future invasion of Israel. Iran wants to keep Syria allied against Israel, and since Hezbollah and advisors from Iran's Revolutionary Guard have helped Assad throughout the civil war, they're well positioned to take advantage if he retains power.

What the Future Holds

After almost 8 years of conflict, the Syrian civil war is coming to a close. The aftermath will see Syria carved into spheres of influence. Russia, Turkey, and Iran will dominate those spheres, and all three countries will remain in Syria. This makes it likely they'll continue to work together to avoid conflict and pursue their shared interests. So why should you care? Because the new Syria might be foreshadowing the soon fulfillment of bible prophecy. The shared interests of Russia, Turkey, and Iran could lead them to launch an invasion prophesied 2,600 years ago.

The Ezekiel 38-39 War

Six centuries before the crucifixion of Jesus, the prophet Ezekiel foretold a future invasion of Israel. He said it will occur in the last days (Ezekiel 38:16). He said it will come from north of Israel (Ezekiel 38:15; Ezekiel 39:2), and he said it will involve a coalition of nations led by Russia (Ezekiel 38:2) that includes Iran and Turkey (Ezekiel 38:5-6). Never before have these three nations been in alliance. But today, all three sit on Israel's northern border. Coincidence? I don't think so. Who knows why they'll ultimately attack, but rest assured, they will. The stage is now set for the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38-39. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will win the battle (Ezekiel 39:3-6), and the whole world will know He is the One behind the victory (Ezekiel 39:21).

http://www.end-times-bible-prophecy.com/the-rise-of-the-russian-turkish-iranian-alliance.html

If you have never made the decision to accept the gift of eternal life offered by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ I urge you to do it today.  Simply tell God you accept His Son Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and turn your life over to His control.

Father, I know I am a sinner in need of salvation. I believe you sent your Son Jesus to die on the cross for my sin, and I ask you now to forgive me of my sins. I want to receive your gift of salvation so please come into my heart and help me to live and follow you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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A Land of Unwalled Villages

‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan: “You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’—“to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land.     Ezekiel 38:10-12  NKJV

One issue I usually encounter when the subject of Israel’s future according to the Bible is discussed revolves around the description in this passage which says that they are dwelling safely.  This article by Jack Kelly addresses this question quite well, even though it was written quite a few years ago.  Read and consider what he has to say and ask yourself if it is not possible he is describing the situation which exists in Israel today, and the possibility the events described by Ezekiel are about to be fulfilled.

A Land of Unwalled Villages

A Bible Study by Jack Kelley

I know I’m beginning to sound like a broken record by now, but there’s an enormous potential for a giant leap forward in End Times prophecy this summer, and this week we came breathtakingly close to witnessing its beginning.

After many days you will be called to arms. In future years you will invade a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations and now all of them live in safety. You and all your troops and the many nations with you will go up, advancing like a storm, you will be like a cloud covering the land.

This is what the sovereign Lord says: On that day thoughts will come into your mind and you will devise an evil scheme. You will say, “I will invade a land of unwalled villages, I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people – all of them living without gates and bars.” (Ezek. 38:8-11)

Many students of prophecy, myself included, see the battle of Ezekiel 38-39 as one of the most significant events on God’s prophetic calendar. In the scenario Ezekiel described nearly 2500 years ago, a coalition of Moslem countries, armed and led by the Russians, will attack Israel and be utterly defeated due to God’s direct intervention. He will use this battle to re-introduce Himself to Israel as their protector, to recall the rest of His people to their ancient homeland, and to reinstate His relationship with them.

When Will These Things happen?

All agree that this battle has not yet taken place. Following WW 2 the Jewish people began returning to the land for the first time in centuries and only since then have conditions been such that Ezekiel’s prophecy could be fulfilled.

Speaking of this battle Lord said, “I will display my glory among the nations, and all the nations will see the punishment I inflict and the hand I lay upon them (the attacking Moslem coalition). From that day forward the house of Israel will know that I am the LORD their God. (Ezek. 39:22). He concluded by saying, “I will gather them to their own land, not leaving any behind.” (Ezek. 39:28)

Israel’s re-gathering, officially begun in 1948, will continue to completion and will be both spiritual and physical. According to Acts 15: 13-19 and Daniel 9:27 it will result in a temple being built. That means the Jews will return to their Old Covenant relationship with God, bringing an end to the Age of Grace and causing the Church to disappear into Heaven. The 490 year clock that stopped on year 483 at the time of the Crucifixion will begin ticking again, its final 7 years (known as Daniel’s 70th Week) unfolding. God’s attention will again be focused on Israel.

The Jews will begin Temple construction assisted by the anti-Christ (Dan 9:27) in what will be his first big move to establish himself as the god of this world. 3 1/2 years later he will stand in this very Temple and proclaim himself to be God, a declaration that will jump start the Great Tribulation. (Matt. 24:15 & 2 Thes. 2:4) So Ezekiel’s battle must be inserted into the window of time between the rebirth of the nation in 1948 and the rebuilding of the Temple, still in the future. You can see why prophecy students are so interested. Israel’s return to God, the Rapture of the Church, Daniel’s 70th week, the Coming Temple, the introduction of the anti-Christ, the Great Tribulation and the 2nd Coming are all somehow impacted by this battle. (Although the Rapture can happen at any time, I believe Rom. 11:25 says it has to happen before the beginning of Daniel’s 70th Week) Can you imagine any event more critical to the fulfillment of End Times prophecies?

A Peaceful And Unsuspecting People

So what else has to happen before this battle can take place?  The participants are in place and it’s no secret that they’re in the final stages of preparation. Nor is their intent a mystery. Iran has openly predicted Israel’s soon coming demise, and Turkey has finally taken its place in the Moslem Coalition Ezekiel described.

There’s just one other condition.  Israel is described as living in safety in Ezek. 38:8 at the time of the attack. The Hebrew word translated safety there is betach.  Of 42 Old Testament appearances, it’s translated into some form of the word safety 28 times.  (One meaning of the word is careless, in the sense that the people feel so safe they’re not being cautious.) To underscore the attitude in Israel at the time of the attack, Ezekiel calls them a land of unwalled villages, a peaceful and unsuspecting people, living without gates and bars (Ezekiel 38:11).

It’s safe to say that none of these conditions exist in Israel today. Two thirds of a proposed 436 mile long security fence has been built to prevent Palestinian terrorists from crossing into Israel, so it’s decidedly not a land of unwalled villages.  The Jewish people know there are up to 40,000 rockets and missiles pointed at them, leaving no part of Israel safe from attack.  Then there’s the Gaza blockade crisis. Last week Hezbollah and Iran announced their intention to break the blockade with ships that were ready to set sail on a moment’s notice. Israel responded quickly, saying they’d be treated like enemy ships if they entered its territorial waters.  (As of this week both have been at least temporarily held back by pressure from the international community. Had this not been the case, we’d literally be hearing the opening salvos of Psalm 83 by now. )  For months, Israel’s military leaders have been telling their troops to prepare for war this summer.

These are not the actions of a peaceful and unsuspecting people.  In fact, persistent rumors have Israel preparing to launch a pre-emptive attack against Iran.  According to DEBKAfile Israeli bombers have been secretly positioned in Azerbaijan causing Iran to declare a state of war along its nearby border and position troops there, and it has also been reported that Israeli aircraft have the green light to overfly Saudi Arabia enroute to an attack on Iran.

Observers have called this summer the time when things will change forever in the Middle East. Whatever happens will not be the long awaited Battle of Ezekiel 38 but it will certainly be setting the stage for it. We’ve already discussed the Psalm 83 and Isaiah 17 scenarios.  A pre-emptive attack on Iran could easily trigger the fulfillment of these prophecies and decisive victories could put Israel into the state of mind consistent with one meaning of the Hebrew word betach; feeling so safe they’re no longer being cautious.  Time will tell.  But more so now than ever before, you can almost hear the footsteps of the Messiah. (06-26-10)

https://gracethrufaith.com/end-times-prophecy/a-land-of-unwalled-villages/

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PS  It may have become apparent to you who have followed my site for some time that my posts have become somewhat erratic as far as my posting times are concerned.  It has become more and more difficult over time to post using this Google based blogspot for reasons I cannot explain.  Like many of you, however, I do have my suspicions about whether or not the content and subject matter of my blog relates to the difficulty I am experiencing, especially considering the current direction our society seems to be moving in.  All this to let you know that if I can somehow figure out an alternative site to post on, (I, unfortunately, am technologically dense) a move will be coming in the future.  Thank you for your patience and support.

Intolerance and Noah

For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;  2 Peter 2:4-5  NKJV

When talking about the end times, I have found that most are familiar with the statement by Jesus comparing that period of time with the “days of Noah”.  One of the things I have often thought about is the fact that Noah and his family were outnumbered by roughly eight to the rest of the entire world.  Pretty lousy odds, wouldn't you say? Have you ever tried to put yourself in Noah’s place and think about how it would feel to be in that predicament and consider just what manner of abuse you would be subjected to?  Somehow I don’t believe the reaction of the world was limited to just scorn and laughter.

As I thought about that this past week, I couldn’t help but think about some of the more publicized events of the past few months where those who held beliefs based on the Word of God which were not popular with the rest of the world, were subjected to not only disapproval but outright hostility.  I am reasonably confident that I am not the only one who has noticed that those who once preached the idea of tolerance have suddenly decided that it somehow does not apply to those who do not share their beliefs. As you might expect, criticism is not only swift to follow, but in many cases profane and hateful.

As I have watched the evolution of this culture of intolerance for those who choose to follow the teachings of God, and to use the Bible as a guide for their beliefs and lifestyles, I can’t help but think of Noah and how he and his family must have felt being surrounded by an unbelieving world.  What do you think the odds were that they suffered abuse and persecution at the hands of those around them?  Jesus made a statement during His ministry which I believe describes, as well as predicts, the situation both Noah and we as believers today find ourselves in.

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.    Matthew 10:16  NKJV

Now in all honesty, how much comfort do you personally get from that statement?  Living where I do in the Northwest, I am all too familiar with the subject of wolves, what they are like, and especially what the majority of people who actually have to live with them feel about it.  It also goes without saying that it doesn’t take a lot of imagination to picture the outcome of a meek, tiny lamb being surrounded by a pack of wolves.  Yet this is what Jesus tells us our lot in life will be like.  Not only outnumbered, but placed in a situation where the rest of the unbelieving world looks at us like their next meal.  Just like Noah?

As believers, quickly seeing the odds change to the point where we are vastly outnumbered; don’t you believe that just like Noah we should expect to suffer abuse and outright persecution at the hands of those who disagree with our values and beliefs?  Jesus told us to be wise in order to cope with the situation we find ourselves in.  The best way to do that is to look to His Word for the wisdom to endure what is to come.  What follows is what the Holy Spirit shared with me this week as I thought about where the Church is today in relation to the world around us.

Expect to be persecuted.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.         Matthew 5:10  NKJV

Expect to be ridiculed.

And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.         1Corinthians 4:12-13   NKJV

Expect to be protected.

Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings, From the wicked who oppress me, From my deadly enemies who surround me. They have closed up their fat hearts; With their mouths they speak proudly. They have now surrounded us in our steps; They have set their eyes, crouching down to the earth, As a lion is eager to tear his prey, And like a young lion lurking in secret places.       Psalms 17:8-12  NKJV

Expect to grow.

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.      Romans 5:1-4  NKJV

Expect to be blessed.

If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.     1 Peter 4:14  NKJV

Expect to be rewarded.

“Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.       Matthew 5:12  NKJV

Noah found the strength to endure when the odds favored the opposition by an astronomical amount.  Just as he found grace in the eyes of the Lord, and was delivered from God’s judgment on an unbelieving world, so we too must endure until our Father sends His Son to take us home.  Considering that the anniversary of Noah’s flood is just around the corner, it could be very, very soon.

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