Coincidence or Signs?

“Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day, the time came for the king’s command and his decree to be executed. On the day that the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, the opposite occurred, in that the Jews themselves overpowered those who hated them. The Jews gathered together in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could withstand them, because fear of them fell upon all people. And all the officials of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and all those doing the king’s work, helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them. For Mordecai was great in the king’s palace, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces; for this man Mordecai became increasingly prominent. Thus the Jews defeated all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, with slaughter and destruction, and did what they pleased with those who hated them.”                Esther 9:1-5  NKJV

 

My regular readers might recall the subject of this post as being one I have shared before, yet I believe the circumstances we see in the Middle East with the potential for another attack on Iran suggests it be revisited.  This is one of my favorite stories in the Bible and is found in the book of Esther, which recounts the story of how God arranged for the Jewish people to be saved from annihilation.  I say arranged, because in His infinite wisdom He arranges for Esther, a Jewish girl taken captive in the time of Nebuchadnezzar, to somehow become the Queen of Persia.  It is a wonderful story of palace intrigue, corruption, attempted murder, and ultimate justice which is worthy of a Hollywood movie.  It has always been a staple in my years of teaching and was easily one of the most favorite in the Sunday School classes I taught.

 

The plot, in a nutshell, revolves around the attempt by Haman, an official in the king’s court, to completely destroy all of the Jews because of a personal dislike of Mordecai, a Jew who had adopted Esther when her parents were killed.  Of course, Haman had no idea Queen Esther was a Jew, nor her relationship with Mordecai, which placed Esther in a perfect position to foil the plot.  After Haman had tricked the King into signing a decree which called for all of the Jews to be killed, Esther revealed to the King the fact that she herself was a Jew, and exposed the entire evil plot of Haman for what it really was.

 

The King was incensed, and ordered Haman to be hung on the very gallows he had built to hang Mordecai on, and because he could not rescind his own decree, he wrote another which allowed the Jews to defend themselves from their enemies and anyone else who intended harm to come their way.  The annual festival of Purim is a celebration of this deliverance of the Jews from the plot by Haman to completely annihilate them. 

 

“And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews, near and far, who [were] in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, to establish among them that they should celebrate yearly the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar, as the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor. So the Jews accepted the custom which they had begun, as Mordecai had written to them, because Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to annihilate them, and had cast Pur (that [is], the lot), to consume them and destroy them; but when [Esther] came before the king, he commanded by letter that this wicked plot which [Haman] had devised against the Jews should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. So they called these days Purim, after the name Pur. Therefore, because of all the words of this letter, what they had seen concerning this matter, and what had happened to them,”   Esther 9:20-26 NKJV

 

If you have followed my blog for any length of time, you probably understand that I find it increasingly hard to believe in coincidence in a world created by an omnipotent God.  I especially don’t believe it coincidence when major events relating to the nation of Israel occur on the anniversaries of their Holy Days, festivals, or holidays, which, if you have studied at all, you know have happened with great regularity throughout Israel’s history.  This brings us to the subject of Purim, when Israel celebrates their deliverance in the story of Esther, which is only a couple of weeks or so away.  It will arrive on the evening of Monday, the 2nd of March, and that is one of my reasons for discussing it today.
 

This celebration in Israel is one of the most joyous, lasting three days which include the giving of gifts, wearing costumes, and singing, eating, drinking, and of course reading the Book of Esther in the synagogue. The fourteenth of Adar usually occurs in our month of February or March, and although the events surrounding this festival happened thousands of years ago, it appears that it might be a good idea to consider God’s sense of timing.   If we fully understand His love and protection of the nation of Israel, it could well result in this being a day to watch considering Israel is currently talking with the US about a joint attack on Iran.  If you haven’t guessed by now, the reason I am sharing all of this with you today is that the ancient country of Persia mentioned in the story of Esther, is in fact, modern day Iran.

In late 2002, the United States began a building up of forces in the Middle East with the apparent intent of deposing the ruler of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, who was pursuing the capability of weapons of mass destruction with the stated intent of using them on the nation of Israel. I had been invited to lecture on the situation in the Middle East in early 2003 and was in the process of preparing when I noticed the Festival of Purim on my calendar was just a couple of weeks away. 

Reminded of the story of Esther, the first thought that went through my mind was what if history was about to repeat itself with God's sense of timing thrown in for good measure? As the world was watching and waiting, I contacted a few friends in the ministry and shared my thoughts about the possibility that an attack on Iraq could occur on the very anniversary of the deliverance of Israel some 2500 years earlier. No surprise, the festival of Purim, the 14th of Adar, occurred on Wednesday March 19, 2003, the very day the first bombs dropped on Baghdad.

It goes without saying that I find it very hard to believe the attack on Iraq during the festival of Purim was simply a coincidence. Today, Iran along with its stated desire to wipe Israel off the map makes the future of Israel seem very clear.  Is history about to repeat itself again with a major action, possibly against Iran itself, by Israel occurring this coming Purim? I have no idea, but I am a firm believer that where there is smoke, there is fire, and with the rhetoric we are seeing right now and the ultimatum being given to Iran to stop its nuclear program, it would be no surprise if Israel and the US choose to take action.  Then again, Israel has no shortage of enemies in the world so an attack by or on any of the countries hostile to Jewish people would come as no surprise either.

“Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years;”  Genesis 1:14. NKJV

Now If this were not enough, there is another item of interest that might add some fuel to this fire.  A subject many have written about in the past is the mention in the Bible of eclipses, recognized as signs in the heavens to be aware and taken note of.  While reading up on this subject I found it curious that in the Talmud, which is basically a commentary on the Old Testament written by Rabbis and Talmudic scholars over a period of several centuries, there are references to eclipses and I found the following to be especially interesting.

“It is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Meir says: When the heavenly lights, i.e., the sun and the moon, are eclipsed, it is a bad omen for the enemies of the Jewish people,”  https://www.talmudology.com/jeremybrownmdgmailcom/2021/7/30/sukkah-29-the-causes-of-a-solar-eclipse

I think it is fair to say that an examination of Israel’s history has proven this to be true.  I also believe that it may prove to be prophetic going forward. The reason for that is a result of discovering there will be a full moon eclipse during this coming Purim as well.  Is the world about to witness something in the next week or so that will potentially reshape the Middle East?  Truthfully I have no idea if anything at all will occur during Purim but I have to say it appears there are way too many coincidences lining up not to set off my personal alarm bells.  As the Bible says, we all need to watch, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Signs of the times or time of the signs?  Personally I am all in on the latter. It certainly seems to myself and many others in the body of Christ that virtually every week we are being treated to more and more signs that the rapture of the Church is close at hand.  It is also certainly a possibility that the rapture could even occur on Purim as we know that the scriptures teach it is an imminent event which could happen at any time.  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.

 

Keep watching.

P.S.  If you are interested in the subject of the eclipse you can read an excellent article by T.W. Tramm by clicking on this link.

https://storage.googleapis.com/wzukusers/user-35306783/documents/2ac7907567f94003866bf4e7ba3ceb81/BLOOD%20MOON%20ON%20PURIM.pdf

Israel's Seventieth Week

“Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”   Daniel 9:27  NKJV

Today I would like to follow up on last weeks post concerning the coming Ezekiel 38-39 war by sharing a post from a few years ago which explores one of the results of Ezekiel’s prophecy revealed by the prophet Daniel.  Many are of the opinion, and I agree, that the conflict we are told about in Ezekiel leads directly to the rise of the antichrist and his covenant with Israel. While we, of course, have no way of knowing if this will prove to be an accurate assessment, I believe it is certainly plausible that it will in some way be a significant part of the process which produces the events which will occur as Daniel foretold.

I imagine most of us are familiar with the old expression, “no deal is better than a bad deal”, and I for one think that the situation Israel is soon to find herself in will be a perfect example of that saying.  In the very near future, after the War of Ezekiel 38-39,  Israel will  acknowledge the supernatural intervention of God to defend them and rebuild the Temple in order to return to the Levitical system of worship.   It is the antichrist, however, who brings this to pass and as a result, they accept this man of sin as their messiah which sets the stage for all that is to come.  You see, the antichrist does not allow Israel to rebuild the temple solely for themselves, but also because he needs it for an event he has planned for the future.

“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. “Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. “And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! “And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.      Matthew 24:15-21  NKJV

How many of you have seen the classic old western movie “High Noon” starring Gary Cooper?  The entire movie revolves around the climax, which is a confrontation between the town marshal and the outlaw who will arrive on the train at high noon.  When the nation of Israel signs a treaty with the antichrist the clock begins on the seventieth week of Daniel.  This is a period of time which the Bible teaches is seven years of three hundred and sixty days each for a total of two thousand five hundred and twenty days.  Unfortunately for Israel, their “High Noon” will occur at the midpoint, or three and one half years into this period of time.

What we are told will happen at that time reveals exactly who the antichrist is, and what his plan has been all along while allowing Israel to rebuild their Temple.  The phrase “abomination of desolation” is found several times in the scriptures and is spoken of  specifically by both Daniel and Jesus.  What it refers to is an event which has occurred once before, and will happen once again at the midpoint of Daniel’s seventieth week.  In 168 BC, Antiochus Epiphanes, who was a Greek king that had conquered Israel, erected an altar to Jupiter Olympus in the Temple and sacrificed a pig on the altar.

Most all scholars agree that what Jesus is telling us in this passage from Matthew is that at the midpoint of Daniel’s seventieth week, this scenario will be repeated when the antichrist stands in the “holy place” and proclaims himself to be god.  We also find in the book of Revelation that he erects a statue there and commands all to worship it.

“Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.”     Revelation 13:11-15  NKJV

This is the “abomination” Daniel refers to in the passage above, and it is at this point, after just three and a half years, that in Jesus’ own words a time of “great tribulation” begins, all because what the antichrist has been after all along is to be accepted and worshipped in place of the true God.

“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”    2 Thessalonians 2:3-4  NKJV

Obviously the “Great Tribulation” begins because there are those on the earth who see the antichrist for who he really is, and refuse to worship him.  He will then begin a persecution the likes of which this world has never seen. 

“He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”       Revelation 13:16-17  NKJV

What we are told about this time is very clear, either you take the mark and worship the beast or you will be hunted down and killed. 

“Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.”  Revelation 13:6-10  NKJV

“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”     Revelation 20:4  NKJV

Do you notice how black and white this time of Great Tribulation will be?  There are only two sides to this conflict; those who choose to worship the beast, and those who reject his claims and chose to have their names written in the Book of Life by accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior.  How terrible will this time of persecution be?  Consider what Jesus had to say about that question.

“And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.”    Matthew 24:22  NKJV

Unless God chose to intervene, eventually all would be killed.  So in His infinite wisdom, God chose to limit the length of the Great Tribulation to only three and one half years.  Then what will occur is something the entire world has been waiting for since Jesus ascended to Heaven forty days after His resurrection.  I have shared before that I believe the order of these coming events are the Rapture, the destruction of Damascus, the Gog/Magog conflict, the confirmation of a peace between Israel and its enemies which begins the Seventieth Week of Daniel, and the Abomination of Desolation after twelve hundred and sixty days. 

Early reports this week on the talks between the US and Iran suggest they appear to be falling into the same pattern as talks in the past, with many of the opinion that there will be no substantial progress or favorable agreements.  The speculation that some sort of military action seems to be inevitable are rising quickly and the conditions necessary for the prophecies in Ezekiel and Daniel are appearing as we watch.  While this news may be disconcerting for others, the Church looks on with anticipation of its removal from this world via the rapture.

“And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me:“Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.“And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:‘After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up;So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the LORD who does all these things.”   Acts 15:13-17. NKJV

The passage above is an account of a discussion at a council held in Jerusalem concerning the growing Church made up of Gentiles and the Jewish Christians who believed the gentiles were required to become Jews.  What I want to point out is the phrase “to take out”, which we find in verse 14 means “to take in order to carry away “ and “out of, from, by, away from”.  What James was telling his listeners was that Israel as a nation had been set aside while God took for Himself a people, what we know as the Church, from the Gentiles.  When this is complete He will allow Jesus to take the Church away before the tribulation starts and God turns His attention back to Israel and begins the seventieth week of Daniel.

So much is happening right now in this world that many find it hard to believe the Church will be here much longer.  As there are no preconditions for the rapture, and coupled with the signs we are seeing fulfilled before our very eyes, it certainly seems time is definitely running out.  This passage makes it pretty clear that the rapture occurs before the tribulation begins, and if you recall we spoke last week about the possibility it also begins before the events of Ezekiel 38,39.  Time is running out and our call to go home to be with our Lord could happen at any moment.

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.

Keep watching.

Is Now the Time?

“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,”Ezekiel 38:1-4   NKJV

Much of the news this past week has surrounded the US sending forces to the Middle East in preparation for a possible attack on Iran.  The world is holding its breath while speculating on US intentions and if it will attack Iran directly.  Coupled with that are the recent protests in Iran against the ruling Islamic regime, which makes it seem entirely possible that the US and Israel might well work together to strike Iran proper.  Of course, these events have caused the subject of this passage from the prophet Ezekiel to take center stage and inevitably led to the question is now the time for its fulfillment?   

One of the more interesting things I have discovered over my years as a believer is just how often you learn something new from a passage in the Word that you have already studied. Many in the body are familiar with this passage and have read or listened to expositions on its meaning and future fulfillment.  Yet I have noticed that there is one particular fact contained in it which many, and myself included, have often failed to notice and that can be found in the word “hooks”.  You see, while many speculate on what exactly causes Magog, known today as modern day Russia, to invade Israel they seem to miss the fact that the word “hooks” is plural.

In other words, it is not just one reason which provokes this event to take place but several, which combined produce a compelling justification for an attempted invasion of Israel.  I also believe there is another reason God chooses to use the word “hooks” to describe Russia being pulled into this conflict.  Something we can never overlook is that while a fish can be tempted to take the bait, it goes without saying that they regret it immediately when they feel the hook.  Yet there will be no escape in this scenario as it is God Himself who is using the “hooks” to draw Russia into the conflict.  

Considering all of this, and the fact that many believe this prophecy is about to be fulfilled, we would be wise to investigate if there might be reasons for Russia to unwillingly be drawn into this conflict. If an attack on Iran were to occur, I believe it follows that Russia would certainly consider defending its huge monetary investment in Iran. 

“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. “Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them. “After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely. “You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.”  Ezekiel 38:5-9  NKJV

Notice if you will, that the first nation listed here after Magog in the previous verses is Persia, or better known in our present day as Iran.  I mention that because in his teachings on this prophecy, the late Chuck Missler made the point that whenever there is a list of nations assembled for combat in the Old Testament, the second one mentioned is always the instigator. Considering how prominent Iran is in the news today, and the numerous reasons for it, I believe if we look closely at the relationship between Russia and Iran we can begin to see a few of the hooks God tells us about.  If we accept the premise that Iran is the instigator, I believe the primary reason Russia becomes involved is the simple fact that they have made a huge investment financially with Iran and as such, they are obligated to protect that investment at all costs.  

“ ‘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

  

Many who choose to study biblical prophecy and apply it to current events in the Middle East are quick to point out that it is evident that not only are we living in the end times as described in the scriptures, the pressure needed to produce the explosion of end-time conflicts described in these verses from Ezekiel is occurring right before our eyes.  Especially intriguing is the fact that all of the countries mentioned in this passage, who in the past have not been on good terms with each other, are now aligned as allies and all consider the nation of Israel as a target of opportunity waiting only for a plausible excuse to attack. 

My thought today is that the stage seems to be set for some sort of engagement with the country of Iran which will threaten the investment that Russia has made with them.  When this occurs, Russia will be compelled to defend Iran in order to protect it.  The coming weeks may well see these thing begin to play out before our very eyes.  I believe that what the world has begun to realize and understand about the current administration in the US and specifically our president is that he means what he says.  The rulers in Iran are well aware of this fact and it stands to reason they are considering all of their options should the US follow through on its threats to attack, including consulting with Russia’s leadership on how to react.

Of course, when considering this prophetic conflict which the prophet Ezekiel tells us will happen, the question which immediately comes to mind is does it occur before or after the rapture of the Church?  It should come as no surprise that there are differing opinions on that subject but for what it is worth, I will share the conclusion I have come to, and the key to that can be found in the following passage.

“And it will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,” says the Lord GOD, “that My fury will show in My face. “For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: ‘Surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel, ‘so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.’ “I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains,” says the Lord GOD. “Every man’s sword will be against his brother. “And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. “Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.” ’            Ezekiel 38:18-23  NKJV

What I believe, and most scholars as well, is that this conflict is the point in time when God chooses to reveal Himself to Israel in such a way that, as this passage says, “Then they shall know that I am the LORD”.  Since this is the time where God turns His attention back to Israel, I believe it only makes sense that He has first allowed Jesus to remove the Church in order to begin His focus on the nation of Israel and the fulfillment of the seventieth week of Daniel, otherwise known as the tribulation.

If the thought of what is to come makes you uneasy, understand that God has provided a way of escape for those who choose to believe that He sent His Son to die for our sins.  

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”         1 John 1:9  NKJV

If you are reading this and have never made the decision to accept Jesus Christ 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 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 Father in heaven, I believe in your son Jesus. I believe that He died on the cross for my sins, that He rose up from the grave, and that my sins are forgiven.  Forgive me of my sin, help me to walk with you, and thank you for saving me. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Keep watching.