“Declaring
the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My
counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’” Isaiah 46:10
NKJV
“What’s next?” You
would be amazed how often I hear that question concerning the state of the
world right now, and to be completely truthful, I really don’t know. On the other hand, I have a good friend who
knows exactly what lies ahead and He has shared that with me as well as with
anyone else who chooses to study His Word.
I’m talking of course, about our Father in heaven, who not only knows
what is about to happen, but has promised us that He will in fact make sure it
comes to pass exactly as He has foretold.
So although I might not know exactly what is next, I do know what God
says is going to happen and I can watch for those events to occur.
Today we find ourselves just about ten days or so from
the beginning of July, a month which I am thinking might well usher in some of
the most obvious signs of just where we are on God’s prophetic calendar. There are several reasons I think this but
the most obvious one surrounds the intent by Israel to begin to implement
portions of the peace plan drafted by President Trump by annexing land in the
West Bank, a move which is producing condemnation from not only Israel’s
neighbors, but much of the world as well.
As I read some of the comments from these countries, and especially from
Israel’s enemies, I couldn’t help but recall a term I learned back in college
which just might reveal a clue as to what could be next; “casus belli”.
casus belli: an
event or action that justifies or allegedly justifies a war or conflict
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.
This of course, brings us to the decision by Israel’s
government to initiate the process of annexation beginning in a couple of
weeks. One has to wonder if this is going to be the casus belli for Israel’s
enemies to attempt another offensive and fulfill that which God has already
foretold. As I have stated before, the
event revealed in Isaiah 17, the destruction of Damascus, is what many scholars
believe is next on the prophetic calendar for the nation of Israel. 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.
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 from Syria.
While that is the case, one has to wonder, considering the situation
there, who is really behind the attack on Israel? 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.
"Thus says the LORD of hosts:
'The fast of the fourth [month], The fast of the fifth, The fast of the
seventh, And the fast of the tenth, Shall be joy and gladness and cheerful
feasts For the house of Judah. Therefore love truth and peace.' Zecharaiah 8:19
NKJV
Many are familiar with the seven
feast days appointed by God for the children of Israel to observe, but not all
are aware that He also created four days of fasting to commemorate tragedies
that occurred during Israel’s' history. Zechariah goes on to say that when the
Messiah comes, these fast days will become days of celebration and feasting,
but for now they are still days of mourning. In three weeks, July 9 will be the
seventeenth of Tammuz, which is the first fast day, or the fast of the fourth
month referred to by Zechariah in the passage above. This day begins a period
of three weeks of national mourning in Israel that lead up to Tisha B' Av, or
the ninth of Av which is the fast of the fifth month.
When
discussing this first fast day in his book “Armageddon: Appointment With
Destiny”, the late Grant Jeffrey says that the events which have occurred on
the seventeenth of Tammuz serve to show the nation of Israel that God's favor
had been withdrawn from them because of their sin as a nation. It also served
as a sign that God's judgment was soon to follow, which throughout history has
certainly occurred on the ninth of Av. Called
Tisha b' Av, this day of mourning and fasting reminds Israel of the day that
the temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar and the Jews taken back to Babylon
in captivity. This day has become, however, one of the most significant days in
Israel's history due to the astonishing "coincidence" of numerous
national disasters occurring on this exact day since it's inception. These are:
...1312 BC... Spies return from 40 days in Israel with evil reports of the Land of
Israel. Jewish people cry in despair, give up hope of entering the Land of
Israel.
...1312 BC... Spies return from 40 days in Israel with evil reports of the Land of
Israel. Jewish people cry in despair, give up hope of entering the Land of
Israel.
...587 BC... Destruction of
First Temple by the Babylonians, under Nebuchadnezar. About
100000 Jews killed during invasion. Exile of remaining tribes in southern
kingdom to Babylon and Persia.
100000 Jews killed during invasion. Exile of remaining tribes in southern
kingdom to Babylon and Persia.
...70AD... Destruction of
Second Temple by Romans, under Titus. Over 2,500,000 Jews die as a
result of war, famine and disease. Over 1,000,000 Jews exiled to all parts
of the Roman Empire. Over 100,000 Jews sold as slaves by Romans.
Jews killed and tortured in gladiatorial "games" and pagan celebrations.
result of war, famine and disease. Over 1,000,000 Jews exiled to all parts
of the Roman Empire. Over 100,000 Jews sold as slaves by Romans.
Jews killed and tortured in gladiatorial "games" and pagan celebrations.
...71AD... Turnus Rufus plows
site of Temple. Romans build pagan city of Aelia Capitolina
on site of Jerusalem.
on site of Jerusalem.
...135AD... Bar Kochba revolt
crushed. Betar destroyed - over 100,00 killed.
...1095AD... First Crusade declared by Pope Urban II. 10,000 Jews killed in first month of
Crusade. Crusades bring death and destruction to thousands of Jews, totally
obliterate many communities in Rhineland and France.
...1290AD... Expulsion of Jews from England, accompanied by pogroms and confiscation of books
and property.
...1492AD... Inquisition in Spain and Portugal culminates in the expulsion of the Jews from
the Iberian Peninsula. King Ferdinand of Spain issued the expulsion decree,
setting Tisha B'Av as the final date by which not a single Jew would be allowed
to walk on Spanish soil. Families separated, many die by drowning, massive loss
of property. With funds provided by Ferdinand, Christopher Columbus, a Messianic
Jew, sets sail to locate the land which will become a Jewish refuge.
...1914AD... Britain and Russia declare war on Germany. First World War begins. First World
War issues unresolved, ultimately causing Second World War and Holocaust. 75% of
all Jews in war zones. Jews in armies of all sides - 120,000 Jewish casualties
in armies. Over 400 pogroms immediately following war in Hungary, Ukraine,
Poland and Russia.
...1942AD... Deportations from Warsaw Ghetto to the Treblinka concentration camp begin.
...1989AD... Iraq walks out of talks with Kuwait.
...1095AD... First Crusade declared by Pope Urban II. 10,000 Jews killed in first month of
Crusade. Crusades bring death and destruction to thousands of Jews, totally
obliterate many communities in Rhineland and France.
...1290AD... Expulsion of Jews from England, accompanied by pogroms and confiscation of books
and property.
...1492AD... Inquisition in Spain and Portugal culminates in the expulsion of the Jews from
the Iberian Peninsula. King Ferdinand of Spain issued the expulsion decree,
setting Tisha B'Av as the final date by which not a single Jew would be allowed
to walk on Spanish soil. Families separated, many die by drowning, massive loss
of property. With funds provided by Ferdinand, Christopher Columbus, a Messianic
Jew, sets sail to locate the land which will become a Jewish refuge.
...1914AD... Britain and Russia declare war on Germany. First World War begins. First World
War issues unresolved, ultimately causing Second World War and Holocaust. 75% of
all Jews in war zones. Jews in armies of all sides - 120,000 Jewish casualties
in armies. Over 400 pogroms immediately following war in Hungary, Ukraine,
Poland and Russia.
...1942AD... Deportations from Warsaw Ghetto to the Treblinka concentration camp begin.
...1989AD... Iraq walks out of talks with Kuwait.
...1990AD... The First Gulf War begins in and as a result Saddam
Hussein launches missiles
into Israel
...1994AD... The deadly bombing the building of the AMIA (the Jewish community center in
Buenos Aires, Argentina) which killed 86 people and wounded some 300 others.
into Israel
...1994AD... The deadly bombing the building of the AMIA (the Jewish community center in
Buenos Aires, Argentina) which killed 86 people and wounded some 300 others.
The question on my mind is simply
one of timing. Is it just a coincidence
that beginning in July Israel may choose to begin annexing land and infuriating
its enemies, while also in July occurs the worst day in Israel’s history that
relates to national tragedies? To be
sure, I am not predicting anything, but I can’t help but wonder with the way
2020 has gone so far if we might be set to witness even more of God’s signs
that we are rapidly approaching the end.
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. All you need to do is pray
a simple prayer like this;
Jesus
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 for you from now on. In Jesus' name, Amen.
But as many as received Him, to them
He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
John 1:12 NKJV
If you have prayed that prayer, or
one just like it, you can rejoice that you will spend eternity with God.
Keep watching.
