Give Thanks for His Love

“In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.”  Luke 10:21  NKJV

“What are you thankful for?”  How many times have you heard this question, especially around this time of year when many gather together for the sole purpose of giving thanks?  I’m sure that over the years most of us have thought about this and made mental lists of all the things we are thankful for, and more than likely if we compared our lists we would find that a great many of us are thankful for many of the same things.  As I thought this week about thankfulness, I began to wonder if it would be appropriate to consider what it might be that God is thankful for, and to consider what, if anything, He would put on His list of things to be thankful for.

There have been times in my life where I wished I was a lot smarter than I am, yet truthfully all I have to do at times like that is read this passage from Luke and give thanks that I am a simple minded soul.  I understand the simplicity of the Gospel and the need I have for salvation, so it makes perfect sense to me that God created me, loves me, and has provided a way for me to spend eternity with Him.  The one question I continually seem to ask myself, however, is I can’t help but wonder if God is thankful that He made me, especially when I think about all the times I have failed Him?

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”    Jeremiah 1:5  NKJV

Something God tells Jeremiah in this passage applies equally to all of us, and that is that in His omniscience God not only knew us before we were conceived, He also was the one who formed us in the womb.  Before He ever made me, God knew exactly how I would turn out, the decisions I would make that would hurt Him, and especially all of the times I would disappoint Him.  God still chose to create me.  I think the question “ is God thankful He created me?” was answered when He made the decision to do so.  My response should be to do everything in my power to please Him in thankfulness for what He has done for me.

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: “I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. “O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. “And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”    John 17:20-26  NKJV

In this passage Jesus is praying to the Father just before He is to suffer the agony of the cross.  Yet His prayer is for us, those who have made the choice to accept the sacrifice He is about to make on our behalf, and not for Himself.  Have you ever thought about the fact that the Son of God has prayed for you?  That His concern in the last moments of His life on earth was for us, and not Himself?  Just thinking of that gives us all something to be eternally thankful for and something we should never forget.  Of all the things we might consider giving thanks for, Jesus Christ loves us.

“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.                            John 15:13-15  NKJV

Sharing the message of the Gospel of Christ with others is the reason we are here, and the way in which we can thank God for what He has done for us.  As we arrive at the time of the year for giving thanks, and giving presents, may we never forget the greatest gift we have been given, and the reason we have to give thanks.  May we all commit to look for ways to share this joy with others in the short time we have left in which to do it.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”  James 1:17  NKJV

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The Earth Trembles

“But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth will tremble, And the nations will not be able to endure His indignation.”  Jeremiah 10:10. NKJV 

As the situation in the Middle East continues to rage with no signs of letting up, an article that many might consider irrelevant to current events showed up this past week that certainly caught my attention.  

https://www.newsweek.com/nearly-50-volcanos-erupting-same-time-1844365

Now granted, many might think this has absolutely nothing to do with current events but I would submit that it quite possibly has everything to do with what we are seeing in Israel today.  Truth be told, I believe strongly that God protects His chosen people and if you dare to instigate any harm to the Jewish people you are inviting a response from God Himself which in all honesty you will certainly regret.  The passage from Jeremiah states plainly that the earth itself will tremble at His wrath.  

Do you believe God is upset at what happened in Israel and the lack of support they are receiving from the rest of the world? Do you think God can and will make His feelings known?  Is it possible the earth is reacting to the emotions of it’s creator as the world is seeming to turn against the Jewish people?  The relationship between the earth and God is one that I have spoken about before and decided to share with you again today.  I would suggest that you consider watching the earth itself as a possible sign that God is preparing to intervene as described in the prophecies of the end of this age.

"The waters saw You, O God; The waters saw You, they were afraid; The depths also trembled. The clouds poured out water; The skies sent out a sound; Your arrows also flashed about. The voice of Your thunder [was] in the whirlwind; The lightnings lit up the world; The earth trembled and shook. Your way [was] in the sea, Your path in the great waters, And Your footsteps were not known. You led Your people like a flock By the hand of Moses and Aaron."    Psalm 77:16-20 NKJV

A subject I have spoken of often has lately begun to make the news in a somewhat obvious way, especially if looked at in light of what Jesus warned about when using the example of signs increasing in frequency and intensity as they do in a woman’s labor. When I talk with people about the command to watch, the question naturally arises as to just exactly what are the sorts of things we should watch for?  That is a very good question, and one that I believe every one of us should ask ourselves in light of what the Word tells us about signs of the end of the age and the nearness of Christ’s return.

In this passage from the book of Psalms, the author is troubled and in despair so he thinks back to the past and the times that God manifested Himself in human history by actions man could only describe as supernatural. The verses above refer to the time that God led the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt and through the Red Sea on their journey to the Promised Land. Now I think the important point to make here is that although Moses and Aaron were used by God to shepherd His people, it was God Himself who led them.

"And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, [from] before the people."    Exodus 13:21-22 NKJV

Now why do I think this is important? Look closely at the passage from Psalms and notice what the author says the reaction of the earth was to the presence of God. Do you see what I see? We are told the waters were afraid, the depths trembled, there was a downpour of rain, thunder along with lightning that lit up the entire world, and not to mention earthquakes that shook the earth. Yet to me, the most important part of this passage is the fact that it does not say God “caused” these things to happen, rather it was a response of the earth to actually “seeing” the presence of God. 

Right about now some of you are probably thinking wait just a minute here; do you really believe the earth can “see”? Well, why not? Not only do these verses say it does, we are told elsewhere that the earth can talk too.

"Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying: " 'Blessed [is] the King who comes in the name of the LORD!' Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out."    Luke 19:37-40 NKJV

So if we are to believe what the Bible tells us, the earth has and can react to the presence of God in physical ways, some of which might surprise us. Is that really so hard to believe? After all, the earth was created by God just as we were created, so who knows what physical reaction could be produced by the approach of the power which created it? This is the question that I would like you to think about in light of some of the things happening in the world right now.

"For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only [that], but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body."                              Romans 8:22-23 NKJV

Why does the entire creation groan? No doubt because of the changes brought about by the fall in Genesis where even the shape of this world was altered by the introduction of sin. Notice that Paul is telling us here that both nature and man are waiting for the exact same event; the return of Christ! And the reason we groan? We as believers know what we will receive when Christ calls us home to be with Him forever. The anticipation of leaving this earth grows every day as we watch the events around us which give evidence that the world is, like in Noah's day, moving farther away from God rather than towards Him.

Most of us would agree the Bible clearly teaches that there will be signs that precede the return of Christ, many of which are physical in nature. Events such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis can explain many of the events described as occurring just before Christ returns. Many of these things are beginning to happen right now in various places in the world, and most of those who are watching and waiting for His appearing believe the time is very close. Jesus Himself said this about the signs that would appear just before His return.

"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 3:5-7  NKJV

"So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near--at the doors!"    Mark 13:29 NKJV

So here is my question for today; does God cause these things to happen, or just like the events in Exodus when God came to earth to lead His people away, is the earth reacting to His approach once again? Is it possible that the increase in frequency and intensity of physical events is because the closeness of Jesus returning for His church is causing a physical reaction by the earth?  If we consider what the Bible has to say as being the true and faithful Word of God, I would suggest that we should, as well as understanding that by what we are told, this is only the beginning.

"Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken, Because He was angry."    2 Samuel 22:8 NKJV

My feeling, along with many others, is that time is quickly running out for the Church to accomplish its work here on earth, and it would come as no surprise to hear the trumpet blow and our call to go home to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at any time.  If you are reading this today and have never made the decision to allow Jesus Christ to come into your heart, and accept the free gift of eternal life He has offered you, I urge you to do so right now. You can do that by simply praying this prayer and accepting the gift of eternal life God has offered you by the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ.

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and I believe You died for my sins. Right now, I 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.

Are the stones crying out?

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What Time Is It?

“The burden against Damascus. “Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, And it will be a ruinous heap. The cities of Aroer are forsaken; They will be for flocks Which lie down, and no one will make them afraid.”   Isaiah 17:1-2  NKJV

As we watch the events of the past few weeks unfold in Israel, speculation as to where we are on God’s prophetic clock has predictably exploded. On the one hand that would seem to be a good thing as many become aware that prophecy is being fulfilled before our very eyes.  On the other hand, however, speculation can, and has, covered an increasingly large spectrum resulting in confusion and suspicion within the body.  As someone who has spent many years studying and teaching Biblical prophecy let me share my thought as to where we are on God’s calendar.  Close to the end.

Surprised I’m not a little more specific?  Well it might be just my opinion but in all my years of study of end times prophecy I’ve noticed God chose not to be all that specific about when it was going to occur.  He simply said that we were to watch, and He would show us what to watch for when we were getting close to the end.  So my opinion, for what it is worth, is simply that I believe we are seeing the run up to the fulfillment of the Isaiah 17 and the Ezekiel 38,39 conflicts we have been warned to watch for.

This post is one I have shared before but certainly takes on new meaning in light of what is currently occurring in the Middle East and I wanted to share it with you again today in the hope it might bring some clarification to what we are witnessing in light of where we might be on God’s calendar.

 

https://www.foxnews.com/world/hezbollah-transporting-chemical-weapons-lebanon-help-iran-north-korea-report-claims

Many biblical scholars are of the opinion that the prophecy above from Isaiah is a response by the nation of Israel to an attack using chemical or nuclear weapons against them.  This report from a year ago opened the eyes of more than a few governments and in response, many prophecy teachers speculated that this may lead to the fulfillment of the prophecy we find in Isaiah 17 concerning the destruction of Damascus.  While this may well be the beginning of the process which brings these things about, one question many have asked over the years is just what occurs that provokes Israel to do what it does.

 

That too, was a question I considered at length when I first began my studies of the Isaiah prophecy and the conclusion I came to was the result of searching for the location of the “cities of Aroer” mentioned in the passage above.  Although some might disagree, I believe it is a very strong possibility that, as you can see from the two maps above, what Isaiah may be telling us is that Israel responds to an attack by Syria on the nuclear research facility at Dimona.  While this is certainly speculation on my part, considering the events that have occurred recently, I personally find it hard to believe it is coincidence that the location of Aroer and Dimona appear to be one in the same.

 

The area mentioned in the Isaiah 17 prophecy is described as "the cities of Aroer".  Unlike Damascus, Aroer no longer exists, so we are left to try to identify its location by studying past references, and looking for archeological evidence that might support a conclusion as to its whereabouts. Aroer is mentioned three times in the Bible, and all occur in the Old Testament.  Unfortunately for us, however, each describes a different location, so we are left to examine what the Bible says about each and see if we can decide which location Isaiah is attempting to describe.  The first mention of Aroer is found in the book of Deuteronomy where it says;

 

“From Aroer, which is on the bank of the River Arnon, and from the city that is in the ravine, as far as Gilead, there was not one city too strong for us; the LORD our God delivered all to us.”   Deuteronomy 2:36  NKJV

 

This site has been identified as being on the northern bank of the Arnon ravine located in the modern country of Jordan, just east of the Dead Sea.  The second mention of Aroer we find is in the book of Joshua, where Moses is allotting land to the twelve tribes and describing their boundaries.  In this verse he describes;

 

“Their territory was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the Ammonites as far as Aroer, which is before Rabbah,”   Joshua 13:25 NKJV

 

Joshua describes Aroer as being "before Rabbah".  This city or any ruins of it have never been located, but by the description we know it would need to be situated be some twenty miles or so north of Jerusalem.  The final time Aroer is mentioned before Isaiah’s prophecy is in the book of Samuel, where we find it listed among a group of cities that David is sharing spoil with from his defeat of the Amalekites.  We find when we read that;

 

“those who were in Aroer, those who were in Siphmoth, those who were in Eshtemoa,”    1 Samuel 30:28  NKJV

 

This location has been identified as being in the Negev, twelve miles southeast of Beer-sheba.  We also see from reading this passage that it was one of many cities located in the same area which helped and supported David in his battle with the Amalekites.  Ruins of this city have been found, and you can even locate it on a map if your Bible has maps in the back.  Simply look for a map of Israel in the time of David, and you should be able to see Aroer located in the south of Israel, southwest of Beer-sheba. So we have three different locations to choose from, and no help from the Isaiah passage to identify which one he is referring to.  Is it possible to find a way to know for sure exactly which one of these locations is the one that Isaiah describes as being "forsaken"?

 

First of all, I think it may be logical to assume that Isaiah is referring to the location southeast of Beer-sheba for several reasons.  The first is that if you compare the dates that these three books were written, you find that the Samuel passage was written closest to the time of Isaiah, as opposed to the others which were written much earlier in Israel’s history.   Also, if you look closely at these three locations, you see one of them is in Jordan, not Israel.  Since Isaiah is describing a conflict between Syria and Israel, I think we can dismiss the Jordan location as a possibility.

 

So we are left to choose between two locations, one which has never been positively located, and one which not only has been located, but may have some military significance as well.  If we look at a map of Israel during the time of the twelve tribes, we can easily see where Aroer is located.  Now compare that map with a map of Israel today and you may be surprised to find that a very significant complex has been constructed in the same approximate location of ancient Aroer, and that is the nuclear research facility known as Dimona.  Since Isaiah is describing a future conflict between Israel and Syria, obviously there must be a good reason that Israel chooses to completely destroy Damascus.  Is it possible that it is in response to an attack of some sort on Dimona? 

 

“The cities of Aroer are forsaken;”

 

The word "forsaken" in the Hebrew is "azab" which means "to depart, abandon, loose, relinquish, leave."  The first thing that crossed my mind when I read this was not what it does say, but what it doesn't say.  It doesn't say that Aroer is destroyed; only abandoned.  It also says “cities” which gives the impression of a very large area being affected.  This scenario seems best explained by either the use of chemical weapons, or an attack that somehow damages the reactor and allows radiation to escape.  Obviously the Syrian regime has no problem using chemical weapons on its own people, and Iran is more than happy to provide them with advanced missiles, so the question seems to be, which will they choose to use and will they be willing to use them against Israel?

casus  belli: an event or action that justifies or allegedly justifies a war or conflict

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/casus%20belli

 

The fact that the nation of Israel is surrounded by enemies who desire nothing more than to see their destruction is certainly not news to anyone even slightly informed about the world we live in today.  This situation, obviously, then begs the question; “what are they waiting for”?  It can be fairly said that Israel has made the attempt to live in peace with its enemies since the birth of the nation in 1948, fighting wars only to defend itself rather than being the aggressor. Yet, since God in His foreknowledge has told us that there are wars yet to be fought, it is logical to wonder what exactly is going to occur that provokes Israel’s enemies to attack once again. Now while some might argue that the nation of Syria has too many problems of its own to attempt to respond to Israel’s actions, I would say we need to consider another term from history which would seem, in light of recent events, to be extremely relevant, and that is “proxy war”.

 

proxy war: A war instigated by a major power which does not itself become involved.

https://www.lexico.com/definition/proxy_war

 

The relationship between Iran and Syria is complicated, but the one thing that remains clear is that Iran has invested a lot of money, materiel, and personnel to develop and upgrade Syria’s military capabilities. Much of Syria’s missile technology and armament has been provided by Iran, and at present it is reported as fact by many intelligence sources that members of the Iranian Republican Guard are in Syria helping develop and train Syrian troops. Iran has spent much of its time in the past few years attempting to establish bases of operation within the borders of Syria, while Israel has made a habit of blowing them up. Most of all, Iran has so far committed itself to support the president of Syria, Bashar Assad, in power. So the question must be asked, just what does Iran want from Syria in exchange for all of this help?

 

The fact that the Isaiah 17 prophecy tells us that the city of Damascus is destroyed, rather than Tehran, obviously supports the conclusion that Israel is attacked either from Syria, or by weapons transported through Damascus to Israel’s enemies. While that is the case, one has to wonder, considering the situation there, who is really behind the attack on Israel?  While the attack could easily be staged by Hezbollah, most at this point in time would agree that Iran is the country behind all that is going on in that region, and their hatred for Israel is well known.  I believe, and many agree, that at this point in time Iran is simply waiting for a justifiable excuse to attack Israel and attempt to make good on the myriad of threats it has made in the past. Only time will tell if this is what Isaiah is telling us, but what we do know is that God has prophesied that Damascus “will cease from being a city.”  

I recently read an article which stated that some prophecy teachers believe the possibility exists that Isaiah 17 was already fulfilled in the past.  While their reasoning may be sound in it’s scholarship, this is one of those times where I will borrow a saying by Chuck Missler regarding a disagreement he had with Hal Lindsey and say I will “agree to disagree agreeably” with their conclusions.  I certainly would say that I might be wrong in my conclusion but if the identification of the location of Aroer is correct, I believe it throws a wrench into holding the position that this conflict has already occurred.

 

When examining current events, most if not all prophecy scholars agree that the obvious conclusion is while the possibility of the events of Isaiah 17 as well as Ezekiel 38,39 seem to be clearly on the immediate horizon, so too is the rapture of the Church.   The coming weeks and months appear to hold the potential to be very exciting times indeed for those who study prophecy.

If you are reading this today and have never made the choice to accept the free gift of salvation made possible by the sacrifice of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, I want to encourage you to do it today.  Simply pray a prayer like this;

"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." 

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Everlasting Means Everlasting

“And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you.“Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”  Genesis 17:7=8. NKJV

“God doesn’t lie”!  I don’t recall when I first heard those words, but it was something I heard in church when I was quite young and it has remained in my thoughts my entire life.  I’m sure that most believers would agree wholeheartedly with that statement as the belief in God’s promises to us is the foundation of our faith.  Yet despite that, it seems that some tend to forget the promises made to Israel in the Old Testament and the fact that no matter when they are made, God always keeps His promises.

As we watch the ongoing war in the Middle East unfold, the subject of Israel’s “right” to the land is often the main topic in many news reports.  It amazes me that the ignorance of some is so complete that they are of the opinion that Israel never existed before 1948 when the UN passed the resolution which created the modern day nation of Israel.  The uncomfortable truth for many, however, is that the nation of Israel was established long ago, not by man, but by God Himself.

The passage above reveals the covenant made between God and Abraham, and his descendants as well, which occurred almost four thousand years ago.  In it God makes clear that His covenant is an “everlasting” one and one that He will not allow to be broken.  The attempts by Israel’s enemies to destroy them and retake the land for themselves is by God’s own words a fruitless endeavor.  The land was God’s to give and He chose to give it to Abraham and his descendants forever.  It should also be an obvious and foregone conclusion that He will see that no one violates it.

While the passage above reveals God’s covenant with Israel concerning the land, He also made other promises which should be taken into account as they reveal the purpose He had in doing so.  God had a plan for humanity and the nation of Israel was to be the vehicle through which His plan was to be revealed.  While the study of the Abrahamic Covenant is long and exhaustive, I want to share just four promises from God to Israel the following passage.

“Now the LORD had said to Abram:“ Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing.I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”  Genesis 12:1-3. NKJV

The promise of property.  “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you.”  The first promise God made was to establish a place for Israel to dwell, and He chose the land of Canaan.  As creator and owner of this world, God has the right to do with it as He wishes.  When it came to creating a nation for His chosen people, He chose the place, set the boundaries, and moved His people there, 

The promise of prosperity.  “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great”.  One of the most obvious conclusions one can arrive at when looking at the modern day nation of Israel is that this particular promise has been well kept.  Israel is the jewel of the Middle East in so many different ways, and it’s economy is the envy of most if not all of the surrounding countries.

The promise of protection.  “I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you”.  If history shows us anything about the nation of Israel, it shows that God’s protection has, since their inception, been on His chosen people.  While allowing judgment to fall on the nation at times throughout history, the Jews have always been protected and preserved as a people according to God’s plan for them as a people.

The promise of purpose.  “And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed”.  The most obvious answer to this promise is the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Messiah who came to save the world.  Born as a Jew, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy, God in flesh sacrificed Himself to save the world.

Along with many, I believe we are seeing the fulfillment of the prophecies God has made concerning the end of this age.  The nation of Israel is God's timepiece, and we can tell what time it is by simply watching what God allows to happen to them, and in that part of the world. God made an everlasting covenant with the nation of Israel and everlasting means everlasting.  God doesn’t change and His promises never change.  The attempts by Israel’s enemies to destroy them have been, and will continue to be, fruitless.  By picking a fight with Israel, you are also picking a fight with God. You tell me, how do you think that’s going to work out?

If you are reading this today and have never made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I urge you to do it right now. Simply admit to God that you need His forgiveness because you are a sinner,  be willing to turn away from your sins, believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, and invite Him to come in and control  your life through the Holy Spirit by praying a simple prayer like this;

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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