Do You See What I See?

“Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”  Luke 21:28  NKJV

The past few weeks the subject of our study has, in a general sense, been concerned with events we have seen occur around the world and in the Middle East in particular.  Behind the scenes so to speak, there has been a discussion surrounding whether or not what we are seeing has “biblical” implications, or if the events are simply part of what we could call “normal” everyday occurrences.  I suppose that should come as no surprise considering the words given us by Peter in his second letter.

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.”  2 Peter 3:3-4  NKJV

So as I studied this past week and thought about why some people see the same events yet differ on their implications, it was no surprise (to me at least) to wake up Friday morning to find that hurricane Patricia, which had on Thursday been a Category 1 storm with winds in the eighties, had in only twenty-four hours become a Category 5 storm with winds over two-hundred miles per hour!  The news began describing this storm as the “strongest ever recorded”, “strongest hurricane on record”, “most dangerous storm in history”, and more. 

Thankfully, it now appears that it has weakened almost as fast as it grew and the damage will not be nearly as catastrophic as predicted, yet I could not help but wonder if God is trying to get the world’s attention considering the number of events which seem to be occurring now on almost a weekly basis. Thinking along those lines, it was logical for me to think back to what Jesus had to say to the Pharisees and Sadducees in the book of Matthew when they asked Him for a sign.

Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said to them, "When it is evening you say, '[It will be] fair weather, for the sky is red'; "and in the morning, '[It will be] foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot [discern] the signs of the times. "A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah." And He left them and departed.               Matthew 16:1-4 NKJV

In this passage, the word for discern is the Greek word sēmeion; which is translated as “a sign, prodigy, portent, i.e. an unusual occurrence, transcending the common course of nature”. So let me ask you; do you see what I see?  Events beginning to occur that many believe are unusual and not what you would expect to see if things followed their natural course?  I believe this attitude of ignoring what is truly unusual is what Jesus was warning us about in this passage.  Jesus had performed miracles which were “transcending the common course of nature” yet it was not enough for the skeptics.

 

But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.  1 Thessalonians 5:1-3  NKJV

Are we living in the “times and the seasons” Paul is referring to here?  Notice Paul begins verse one with the word “But”.  This means it is a continuation of a previous thought, so we need to look back at what he was talking about before.  When we do, at the end of the previous chapter, this is what we see;

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.  1 Thessalonians 4:15-18  NKJV

It is obvious that Paul has been speaking about the rapture of the Church, the concluding event of the Church Age which we as believers are expectantly waiting for.  Paul tells his readers two very important facts which I believe we should take serious note of as we read these verses.  The first is that he certainly implies that we will recognize the “times and the seasons”.  Considering what Jesus had to say about recognizing the signs of the times, I believe it is logical to assume that God intends to make it very clear that we are approaching the end of the age to those who are watching faithfully for Jesus’ return.

The second thing Paul says is that the signs will be comparable to a woman in labor, and the pains she will endure before the birth of her child.  I am soon to be a grandfather again as my oldest daughter is expecting twin girls to arrive in December.  Something I have noticed before, and especially in the case of twins, is that there is no question that a woman is “expecting” because of the visible signs we can observe.  In other words, although the actual labor pains begin just before the delivery, there are plenty of other signs that precede it which tell us that a woman is expecting.  So those who are watching and expecting a birth, are generally not surprised when the labor pains begin.

“Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. “It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. “Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning—“lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. “And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”                        Mark 13:33-37  NKJV

Although some may question if the events we see are the beginning of birth pangs, I believe the vast majority would agree this world is “expecting” and the labor pains are soon to start.  

Do you see what I see?

Keep watching.

A few years ago I did a post concerning the judgment of Noah and the flood, and mentioned the timing according to the account given to us in Genesis.  You can read it here; 

http://faithfully-watching.blogspot.com/2012/09/until-day.html

The reason I mention it is if you have read a few of my posts, you know how much I like “coincidences”.  If you follow the Jewish calendar as they did in the Old Testament by watching for the sighting of the New Moon, this month (the second month) began at sunset on the fourteenth of October.  That would put the seventeenth day of the second month to begin at sunset the thirty first of October or Halloween.  I believe this is the first time in quite a long time that the anniversary of the flood falls on Halloween.  Probably just coincidence though.  

Gods Sword

“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.  Ezekiel 38:21  NKJV

As you might expect, this past week has seen more and more people comment about the situation occurring in the Middle East and many articles are being written, even in secular publications, which refer to the conflict described in the book of Ezekiel as the Gog Magog War.  Now I must confess, I too have often referred to this event by using the term “war”, but as I studied this past week I have found my perspective altered a little bit, and I believe that in the future I will refrain from calling this event a war, because in all honesty, it is not.

If you look up the definition of the word war in any dictionary, you will most likely find something along the lines of “an armed conflict between two opposing forces or nations”.  Now that sounds fine on the surface, and most would agree that it accurately describes what we have come to know as war, yet I believe that in situations where God is on one side of the two opposing forces, history shows this might not be an entirely accurate description of what occurs on the battlefield.  Why is that you ask?  Look closely at the account in the passage from Ezekiel and tell me what “arms” are used by God to defend His people?

“Every man’s sword will be against his brother.” 

As I thought about what we read here, I could not help but wonder exactly how this is going to play out in the eyes of the world when it occurs?  You have a massive army of Israel’s enemies led by Gog who descend upon the mountains of Israel with the intent to annihilate and take spoil.  Israel will no doubt be preparing to defend itself by moving massive numbers of troops and materiel northward in anticipation of the invasion.  The world will be watching with all too many hoping to see Israel finally defeated, when suddenly the entire army of Gog begins to fight against each other!

Now if this sounds a little unbelieveable, I can assure you it is not the first time God chooses to use this method to defeat His enemies.  When Israel went to war against the Midianites, led by Gideon, God employed the same “tactic” allowing Israel to be victorious using only three hundred men!

When the three hundred blew the trumpets, the LORD set every man’s sword against his companion throughout the whole camp;  Judges 7:22  NKJV

Later in Israel’s history, when Saul was king, once again God uses the same “sword” to defeat the Philistines.

Then Saul and all the people who were with him assembled, and they went to the battle; and indeed every man’s sword was against his neighbor, and there was very great confusion.  1 Samuel 14:20  NKJV

As I thought this week about God’s sword being a method of confusion causing His enemies to fight against each other, my first thought was exactly how could the “media” today put a spin on this when it happens in Israel?  A new biological weapon engineered by Israel which causes “hallucinations and paranoia” when released above the battlefield?  If you think about it, do you really believe the world would admit “God” actually exists and is defending Israel?  Obviously that thought has already occurred to God because He goes on to make it clear that the entire world will know exactly who is making this all happen.

“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

Most scholars agree that the battle described in this passage occurs just immediately before the seventieth week of Daniel, otherwise known as the tribulation, begins.  It is this conflict that not only turns back the nation of Israel to Him, it allows the antichrist to enforce the peace between Israel and its enemies which is described in the book of Daniel.  Of course, no one can agree as to exactly when the rapture will occur in light of all of these events but since that is the case, let me share a thought I had while studying and meditating on this subject this past week.

“Then they shall know that I am the LORD.” 

Think carefully about what God says here.  The entire world will know!  Now I am not sure how you see it, but to me, this removes everyone’s excuse that they didn’t know.  If the rapture were to occur after these events, and I am not saying that this will be the case, would that not mean that everyone left on earth after the rapture made the choice to ignore or reject God revealing Himself to them?  The Word makes it clear that no one will have an excuse.  Does it not make sense that by revealing Himself through the events in this passage from Ezekiel, God removes every excuse from those who choose to disbelieve?

No one knows when the rapture of the Church will occur, but it certainly seems obvious from this account in Ezekiel that God has a plan to reveal Himself in such a way as to remove anyone’s claim that they did not know He exists, and that it is incumbent for mankind to make a choice to believe or not believe.  Seen in that light, it seems clear that all those left behind will be faced with making a choice to accept or reject what God will reveal to them on the day of His deliverance of Israel from Gog and his armies.  I have no doubt that this world will come up with some sort of explanation for the events described in this passage of scripture, but even if it does make some sort of sense and the media does its best to propagate it, we are told by God Himself that the world will know the truth.

As we see this day approaching, and the day of our deliverance is imminent, have you made your choice yet?

Keep watching.

Hooks in your Jaws-Fishing for Gog

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

Like many people who love the outdoors, I have spent a good portion of my free time enjoying the sport of fishing.  While not all that proficient at it, I do enjoy it and have had the opportunity to fish with people I would describe as expert at convincing fish to take what is offered to them.   I would also say that a great portion of what makes up a person’s expertise at fishing, and something I have struggled to learn, is knowing exactly what sort of bait the fish finds irresistible.   Over the years, while reading and studying the Word, for many reasons I have come to the conclusion that Jesus is a great fisherman.

We talked last week about setting the table in the Middle East, and how current events certainly seem to appear as if God is setting the table for the events of Ezekiel 38-39 to occur.  Well to no surprise, this week yet another event happened in Israel which not only reinforces that belief for me, but certainly makes it appear that not only is dinner just about ready but the main course looks to be a fish called Gog.  Now if this sounds a little odd to you, stay with me while I explain my thinking.  You see, when talking about Gog’s decision to attempt an invasion of Israel, not only does God reveal that He chooses to use “hooks in the jaw” to bring Gog in, God goes on to explain the bait He uses to do so.

‘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

Obviously there will be something of great value in Israel which will tempt Gog to gather his armies along the northern border of Israel and attempt an invasion with the intent of taking plunder.  Many scholars have identified Magog as Russia, and I would be inclined to agree based upon my own study.  However, considering the size of Russia, and especially the size of their economy as opposed to Israel’s, what could Israel possibly possess that would tempt them to invade?  A fact that I learned long ago as a history student in college was the importance of oil as a factor in so many of the wars of the past.  It has been said by many that in order to rule the world; one must first control the world’s supply of oil, and by studying the conflicts of the past it is apparent that many have believed that is true.

Russia’s economy is heavily dependent on oil and gas production and export to provide the income for their economy.  Estimates run between 40 and 60 percent of their budget depend on this income, which is staggering considering the volatility of oil and gas prices.  Simply consider that if the price of oil drops 50%, you immediately lose half of your income.  The result is dramatic inflation, a loss of buying power, and a very angry population wanting to know just what the government is going to do about it.  Of course, it follows that the volatility of the oil market occurs because too many countries produce the oil at different rates which affect the supply available at any given time.  Consider however, the power one government would hold over the world if it controlled the majority of the oil available at any given time?

In doing a little research I found the following figures.  Russia produces approximately 38% of the world’s natural gas, and 25% of its oil.  The Middle East produces 35% of the world’s natural gas and 45% of its oil.  Now if Russia were to control the Middle East production they would suddenly hold sway over almost 75% of the world’s natural gas and oil as well.  What kind of power do you think they would then possess over the rest of the world?  Is it possible that the presence of Russia in the Middle East is a sign of their intentions to possibly attempt to take control of these resources?  If so, where does Israel fit in?

Most are aware that in the past few years Israel has discovered massive fields of natural gas off of the coast of Israel which some estimates have put in the “trillions” of cubic feet.  In and of itself, there you have a very tempting “booty and spoil” for someone to consider stealing, but if that were not enough, how interesting was it to see just this past week the announcement in Israel that they have discovered oil in the Golan Heights?  Early estimates put that discovery in the “billions” of barrels and could possibly be even higher.  Now suddenly Israel finds itself in the position of owning two of the world’s most desirable and necessary resources, and quite possibly the motivation for an invasion by an aggressor. Will these discoveries prove to be the plunder Gog is seeking?  Only time will tell, but it would not surprise me in the least if it were.

Again it would appear we see the possibility that God is setting the table for the fulfillment of the prophecies concerning the future of Israel that we find occur just before the tribulation begins.  Is the time short?  That is a question all of us should be asking ourselves, as well as making sure we are prepared for that time in history that the Bible speaks so much about.  Have you made the decision to accept the salvation offered to you by God in the person of His Son Jesus Christ?  If not, I would suggest there is no better time than right now, especially as we see the day approaching when Jesus will call all those who believe to come up to Him and escape the wrath that is to come upon this world.

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.

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.

http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/blog/?p=36264

http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/will-the-discovery-of-huge-amounts-of-oil-in-israel-lead-to-war-in-the-middle-east

https://endtimeheadlines.org/2015/10/israel-discovers-large-quantities-of-oil-hook-in-the-jaw/

http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-huge-oil-discovery-on-golan-heights-1001071698

http://www.westernjournalism.com/something-massive-was-just-discovered-under-ground-in-a-key-region-of-israel-that-could-ratchet-tensions-higher/

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/10/08/potentially-game-changing-oil-reserves-discovered-in-israel/

Setting the Table

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.    Ezekiel 38:1-4  NKJV

I’m not sure if I have ever mentioned it or not, but I love the fall season.  I love watching the colors change, the leaves fall, the nights get cooler, and the ducks and geese fly south.  What I enjoy most, however, is eating.  Yes, it’s sad to say that I really enjoy the fall holidays so I can cook and eat those huge holiday feasts that destroy all the weight loss I have accomplished over the summer months.  Now why do I bring this up?  Well as I watched the events of this past week unfold in the Middle East, I was reminded of the anticipation I feel before one of our feasts while watching the table be set for dinner. 

If that seems an odd statement to you, let me explain what I am thinking.  In order to enjoy one of these holiday meals, one first has to set the table in preparation for what is to come.  Once the table is set with all of the place settings and necessary items for attacking the feast, the food is brought to the table and the meal begins.  As I thought of that this past week, and contemplated the prophecies of Isaiah 17 and Ezekiel 38,39 where the Bible tells us just what is going to happen to Israel just before the tribulation begins,  I immediately thought that what we are seeing in Syria is God “setting the table” for these prophecies to be fulfilled.

Thankfully, as I began to put this article together, I began to find others were thinking along the same lines which convinced me I wasn’t trying to read too much into the evolving situation in Syria.  As I read the commentaries about Russian troops arriving in Syria and beginning to do battle, I did notice however, that one fact which may be very relevant was noticeably absent from what others were thinking.  What fact is that?  Have you ever heard the phrase “timing is everything”?  

In his book Armageddon, Appointment With Destiny, author Grant Jeffrey does a masterful job of examining and explaining all of the feasts and fasts of the nation of Israel.  In his book he devotes an entire chapter called “Russia’s Day of Destruction in Israel” to the Gog Magog conflict where he not only answers virtually every question someone might have about the identity of the invading force, he also speculates as to the timing of the conflict.  By comparing the language describing what occurs, and especially God’s response to the invading force, he comes to the conclusion that this passage from the prophet Haggai most likely is referring to the Ezekiel 38,39 prophecy.

 ‘Consider now from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day that the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid—consider it:     Haggai 2:18  NKJV

And again the word of the LORD came to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying, “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying: ‘I will shake heaven and earth. I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms; I will destroy the strength of the Gentile kingdoms. I will overthrow the chariots And those who ride in them; The horses and their riders shall come down, Every one by the sword of his brother.                Haggai 2:20-22  NKJV

It is Grant Jeffrey’s conclusion that by referring specifically to the twenty fourth day of the ninth month, God is telling us exactly when these events will occur.  This day, the twenty fourth of Chisleu on the Jewish calendar, is the day before Hanukkah, which normally occurs in late November or December on our calendar.  This year it will occur on December 7.  Is God setting the table for the fulfillment of the Ezekiel prophecy?  I cannot say for certain, but I do know that it will occur as He has ordained, and it certainly makes sense that all that we are seeing right now in the Middle East is but a very large step in that direction.

I have included one article for you to read today, along with a few links to other articles as well.  Read them, read your Bible, and come to your own conclusions.  As always,

Keep watching.

As Magog Takes The Stage, A Stunned Global Community Struggles For Answers Geoffrey Grider | September 30, 2015

“I think the Russians have made clear that they’re not interested in provoking a conflict,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said.

“Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel: And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand.” Ezekiel 39:1-3 (KJV)

Vladimir Putin is a man on a mission, and he doesn’t even know it. Early this morning, the Russian parliament approved the use of Russian force in Syria mere hours after Putin’s appearance at the United Nations General Assembly. And in the blink of an eye, Russia instantly became the biggest player and the dominant force in the Middle East. Reaction from the pusillanimous American president Barack Hussein Obama was akin to that of watching Barney Fife attempting to deal with a traffic violation. More and more daily life is starting to resemble a plot line from the Left Behind book series. Seriously.

Putin’s real goal is the invasion of the nation of Israel.

Obama’s press secretary open his mouth and uttered this amazingly and mind-numbingly ignorant comment: “I think the Russians have made clear that they’re not interested in provoking a conflict,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said. “Their actions thus far indicate that that’s what they believe.” Oh, really now. Hey, guess what? Putin just took Syria after he took Ukraine, and he’s just getting started. He is on a march towards the “grand prize” that the Bible declares they will strive to obtain, and that is to take Israel. Putin is a very smart man, he waited patiently until Syria became so weakened by civil war and sectarian violence that there would be no objection to his arrival.

Is Putin now assembling the nations that will make up the mighty force of Magog?

Russia is, by far, the largest nation on the face of the earth, nearly twice as big as second place Canada. In ancient times, and even in maps found in the 17th and 18th centuries, Russia was called Magog. They are the northern most point on the face of the Earth from the nation of Israel. Why is this important? Because Bible prophecy states that Israel’s main end times enemy is due north of them. The Bible says that Russia, Magog, will take two really good shots at attacking Israel. The first time will be during the Battle of Armageddon at the end of the Time of Jacob’s Trouble after the Rapture, and the second time will be 1,000 years after that in the Battle of Armageddon. Revelation 19 and 20 clearly show two separate battles with 1,000 years between them, they are not the same. (For more on this, please read our article on the Two Wars of the Prophet Ezekiel.)

Obama finds himself in a crazy, bad predicament now. After doing nothing with the 2 and a half years in which he could have taken control of the Syrian situation, Russia has stepped in and taken over. Yes. the United States military is more powerful than the Russian military – BUT – we have a spineless Commander-in-chief who is quaking in his bunny slippers right now. While Obama has been sharpening his golf game the last few years, Putin has been putting all the pieces in place to take functional control of the Middle East in a very Reaganesque way. From this point forward, the gateway to Syria will be through Russia. As a result, America has absolutely no response to today’s events other than to lamely attempt to spin it in a positive light.

Here are some of the actual statements that came from the Obama administration today:

     “The United States supports any genuine effort to fight ISIL and al-Qaida affiliated groups, especially al-Nusra,” Kerry says. If Russia’s efforts represent a genuine commitment, “we welcome that effort”, he continues. source

    “We have informed Russia that we are prepared to hold these deconfliction talks as early as possible: this week.” source

    Secretary of Defense Ash Carter lashed out at Russia on Wednesday for escalating the conflict, saying its actions were equivalent to “pouring gasoline on a fire.” source

    “Putin has this opening because of the absence of any U.S. strategy in Syria,” said Cotton, a former Army officer. “The U.S. must reject Russia’s interference and rally our partners to do the same.” source

    “We don’t have much choice at this point but to figure out to co-exist” with the Russians, Rep. Adam Smith, the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee said. source

Yeah, that’s the ticket, go figure out how to “co-exist” with the Russia. Are you kidding me? But sadly, that’s what our foreign policy truly is – nothing. So while our military may be superior to Russia’s, and it is, our leadership is not. Under Obama, we have lost the appetite and resolve necessary to be not only a world leader but the world leader. Putin has stepped in to fill that leadership vacuum, and is doing a bang-up job so far. Magog will continue to rise in strength and numbers.

The Christian is waiting for the Rapture, which will usher in the Time of Jacob’s Trouble.

In the coming months, you will see a slow but very steady increase by Russia in expanding its military presence across the Middle East. Their ascent will be virtually unchecked and unchallenged. The internationally recognized Ukrainian territory of Crimea was annexed by the Russian Federation in March 2014. The military intervention and annexation by Russia took place in the aftermath of the Ukrainian Revolution. Did any other country outside of Ukraine lift a finger to stop Putin as he did this? No, they did not.

Vladimir Putin is a man of few words and much action, but don’t make the mistake of rooting for him. The Bible says that Magog and its leader Gog are led by the spirit of Satan, with their goal being the destruction of God’s holy land of Israel. Would that make Gog the Antichrist? You tell me, but it sure looks that way. Perhaps Putin is just the “advance man” for the actual Antichrist that will control Russia/Magog.

Maybe this whole thing will all blow over in a few weeks, or maybe we are witnessing events that will culminate in Magog at the Battle of Armageddon. I am not making predictions so much as reading what the Bible says and observing what’s going on. But either way now is no time to not be paying attention. As for me, I fully intend to watch the battle when it happens from the Balcony. For an unsaved, Christ-rejecting world, it’s not going to be a pretty sight.

These are truly the days of prophecy long ago foretold in the pages of the Holy Bible.

“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” Romans 13:11 (KJV)

http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/blog/?p=36085

http://debka.com/article/24926/Chinese-warplanes-to-join-Russian-air-strikes-in-Syria-Russia-gains-Iraqi-air-base

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/iraqi-prime-minister-says-he-would-welcome-russian-airstrikes/2015/10/01/4177cf3c-684b-11e5-8325-a42b5a459b1e_story.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3255876/Russia-pouring-gasoline-fire-Syria-s-civil-war-says-America-Putin-defies-West-drops-bombs-non-ISIS-forces-fighting-Assad.html

http://www.end-times-bible-prophecy.com/gog-and-magog.html

Waiting on God

“Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; “and He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face.     Deuteronomy 7:9-10  NKJV

Do you recall ever hearing your parents tell you; “patience is a virtue”?  If you were like me, you probably heard that because you were as impatient as I was in waiting for something you felt was due.  Fortunately, I learned over time, and with the help of extremely patient parents, that patience is indeed a virtue and somehow I have ended up being a patient person.  To a point.  You see, as I have watched the appearance of events predicted in the Bible concerning the end of this age, and observed the apostasy of His Church unfold before our very eyes, I simply cannot help but echo the lament of many of the Old Testament saints; “How long O Lord?”. 

My soul also is greatly troubled; But You, O LORD--how long? Return, O LORD, deliver me! Oh, save me for Your mercies' sake!    Psalm 6:3-4 NKJV

From the number of commentaries I have read this past week, it appears I may not be alone in praying this prayer of David from the book of Psalms. As I have considered all that we have seen occur lately, I couldn’t help but remember Jesus describing the last days as resembling the “Days of Noah” in Matthew 24. One question that has always puzzled me about the inhabitants of the days of Noah is the fact that it would appear they either had absolutely no clue that their actions were an offense to the God of the universe, or if they did, they somehow believed God would allow their offenses to go unpunished.

It follows then that this past week my thoughts concerning our country and its leaders, as well as the events unfolding around the world, somehow began to remind me of this same question. Does the majority of this nation, and the world as a whole, actually believe their decisions do not offend God, or do they simply believe God will do nothing to show His displeasure? On the other hand, the more I read, the more it appears that many believers are of the opinion that God has indeed already begun to remind us that He alone is omnipotent and is perfectly willing to judge those who offend Him. Yet, like David, it's hard not to ask God...”how long”?

Something I have been passionate about over the years is my personal study of the Old Testament.  It probably has something to do with my interest in history, which was my major in college, but I have always enjoyed studying events from our past.  There are many reasons to study the Old Testament, but one I regard as my primary motivation is that it is the best way I know to learn about, and begin to understand, the nature of God.  The books of the Old Testament are full of passages where God tells us what He is like, and also reveals His nature to us.  I believe the better we begin to know God, the more reassured we can be about what we see as we watch where the world is going today.  Paul seemed to understand this when he wrote the following passage in the book of Romans.

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.                        Romans 15:4  NKJV

You might ask, hope in what?  Obviously we are concerned with our own deliverance, but we can also rest assured that God will, in His own time, judge the world for its actions. Our God is a just God, and He will never let sin go unpunished. He has judged in the past, and He will judge again in the future. We can ask “how long” with the knowledge that although we are waiting, and most likely impatient, God promises to do His will.  God has a plan, and a timetable for administering it.  It is up to us to persevere, and trust in God’s faithfulness.

Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end [intended by] the Lord--that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.    James 5:11 NKJV

Personally, what helps me the most is the knowledge of “the end intended by the Lord”. David may have prayed to the Lord expressing his sorrows and frustrations, but he always ended by acknowledging the fact that he knew that not only God was faithful, He also had a plan and it would unfold just as He ordained. I have often shared that I enjoy studying the life of David because while God described him as a “man after my own heart”, it is also obvious that David suffered from the same emotions we often do and was perfectly willing to share them with God.

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, [Having] sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?    Psalm 13:1-2 NKJV

I don’t believe we as believers should be shy about sharing our sorrow and frustrations with God because after all, doesn't He already know what we are feeling?  He understands our emotions and what we are feeling and if we share that with Him, He will hear our cry.  It is also important to note that not only does He hear, He will respond to our crying out to Him.

Nevertheless He regarded their affliction, When He heard their cry; And for their sake He remembered His covenant, And relented according to the multitude of His mercies.   Psalm 106:44-45 NKJV

One of the most reassuring things about God is the fact that He is always faithful to answer our cries and to demonstrate His mercy towards His people. I have always enjoyed having my daughters ask me for help, and even now that they are grown and living elsewhere it still is nice to get a call and be asked to do something that is helpful in some way. Do you really believe God is so busy that He doesn't want to hear from us when we need some help? Ask and see just how faithful our God is.

Lord, how long will You look on? Rescue me from their destructions, My precious [life] from the lions. I will give You thanks in the great assembly; I will praise You among many people.    Psalm 35:17-18 NKJV

Of course David well knew that when God provided, He alone was due the glory and the thanks. What better witness could we have but to give God the glory when He delivers us as well?

Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom [be] glory forever and ever. Amen.                                   Galatians 1:3-5 NKJV

What better to help us endure than the knowledge that God promises to deliver us from this “present evil age”.  While it may be difficult to sit by and watch where this world is going, we can rest assured that we have His promise that we will be saved from that terrible judgment which is to come upon the whole earth.

O God, how long will the adversary reproach? Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever? Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand? [Take it] out of Your bosom and destroy [them].                            Psalm 74:10-11 NKJV

Just as David knew God had the power to judge and destroy His enemies, so we too have the knowledge that while it looks as if we are losing the battle, God will avenge Himself upon those who turn their backs on Him.

The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces; From heaven He will thunder against them. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth. "He will give strength to His king, And exalt the horn of His anointed."                     1 Samuel 2:10 NKJV

Is it wrong to be impatient while waiting for God's return? While we know that God will do His work in His own time, David certainly had no problem expressing the difficulty he felt while waiting.

Return, O LORD! How long? And have compassion on Your servants. Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy, That we may rejoice and be glad all our days!                  Psalm 90:13-14 NKJV

While we look at what is going on all around us and wonder why God is waiting, we should never forget that He loves those who sin against Him and is compassionate towards them with a patience we cannot begin to comprehend.  Our God is not willing for any to perish and we need to keep that in mind whenever we are tempted to ask “how long”?

The LORD [is] gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy. The LORD [is] good to all, And His tender mercies [are] over all His works.      Psalm 145:8-9 NKJV

What does God expect from us during this time of waiting? I think it revealing that in this passage from Luke we find that Jesus asks a very unusual question.

"And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?"I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"    Luke 18:7-8 NKJV

Has the thought ever occurred to you that we should just give up? We are losing the fight so why bother anymore? David never gave up although at times it looks like he believed the entire world was against him. Yet David knew God was faithful to fulfill His promises because he never asked "if" God was going to act, only "how long" until He would act, and we should know that as well. Although it may appear that we are fighting a losing battle, the battle is not over until the Son of Man comes to take us away. Will He find faith? Why would He ask that question unless some would be tempted to give up?  If He promises to be faithful to us, is it too much to ask for us to be faithful to Him?

Keep watching.

Our Longsuffering Lord

Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 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. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 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 3:1-9  NKJV

“Why are we still here?”  Have you heard another believer ask that question lately?  It seems to be one which I am hearing more and more, especially as we watch what is happening not only in this country, but around the world as well.  Of course, there are those who use the absence of God’s appearance to claim that it is proof we can justify disbelief in the promise of deliverance, but as you can see from the passage from Peter, this too has been foretold.  However we are still faced with the question; “what is God waiting for?” Might I suggest an answer to that question that most of us will probably find uncomfortable?

For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.    Romans 11:25 NKJV

In the passage from Romans, most scholars agree that Paul is referring to God's plan for Israel when he says that the blindness of Israel will only last for a period of time, and will change once the “fullness of the Gentiles” has been achieved. The interpretation of the passage seems to rest on the meaning of the word fullness, which is the Greek word plērōma, which refers to the filling of something to completeness. It is often used to refer to a ship being filled, but it is also used in Acts to describe the filling of believers with the Holy Spirit. As such, many scholars believe what we are being told here is that the rapture of the Church is a “number specific” event which cannot occur until the desired number of believers is achieved.

If indeed this is a proper interpretation of this passage, and if God is in fact waiting for the specific number of believers to be reached in order for the body to be complete, my question to all of us today (myself included) is simply this; “whose fault is it we are still here?” God's? Not hardly! Speaking for myself, this passage from Romans is a personal “calling out” pointing out to me the importance of making sure I am fulfilling the primary responsibility of a believer which is to share the Gospel of Christ with those around me. Notice I said share the Gospel? Not be “active in my church”, “exercising my spiritual gift”, or “living my life as a witness to others”, and otherwise trying to be “busy” doing.

Does that sound harsh? I don't mean it to be, but if it makes us uncomfortable I think we need only look as far as the church at Ephesus and the letter addressed to it by our Lord Jesus Christ in the book of Revelation, to understand what Jesus expects from us.

"I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; "and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary."Nevertheless I have [this] against you, that you have left your first love.    Revelation 2:2-4 NKJV

What was their “first love”? Virtually every commentator or teacher I have ever read or heard speak interprets this to mean that they had forgotten the excitement which resulted in making sharing the gospel with an unbelieving world their primary goal. They were busy doing everything else that makes for a healthy body, yet they had lost the initial excitement of first love that made them want to share Christ with others. Do you remember what it was like when you first became a believer? Didn't we all want to shout out and share the joy with everyone we met? That is our “first love”, and one we should never forget. In the book of Acts, Paul shares with us his perspective on what he sees as his first love and our purpose in this life as well.

"But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.                 Acts 20:24 NKJV

The simple fact is that God uses His believers to share the message of Christ with an unbelieving world, and if we don't do it, it doesn't get done. Is it possible we as a body are making the same mistake as the church in Ephesus? Are we so busy “doing” what we think is important that we forget to do what God says is important?

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always [be] ready to [give] a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;    1 Peter 3:15 NKJV

I'm sure I am not alone in wanting to hear God tell me “well done” when I finally stand before Him. Years ago I decided that the following passage from Jesus' teaching in Matthew should be my personal motivation for sharing the Gospel in order to hear those words from the Father.

"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? "Blessed [is] that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.    Matthew 24:45-46 NKJV

If the rapture of the church is indeed based on the number of members in the body of Christ, then it is logical to assume that the rapture will occur at the moment the last person makes his or her decision to accept Christ into their heart. That said, it is entirely possible any one of us could be the person sharing the Gospel with that individual at that particular time. Many of us are disappointed to still be here given all the signs that the rapture is indeed imminent, yet if Paul is telling us that there is a number that has to be reached for the “fullness of the Gentiles” to “come in”, it is reasonable to conclude that it's our fault we are still here. As a body of believers, we need to remember our first love and share the Gospel with everyone we meet so God can “fill the boat” to completeness.

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.

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.

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

May Jesus find us all “so doing” when He comes.

Keep watching.

Will We Know When We Go?

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.      1 Thessalonians 4:16 NKJV

Today begins the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, a celebration of their New Year beginning just as the western world does on January first.  It is a holiday that many believe has serious rapture possibilities written all over it for a number of reasons.  Although I believe the rapture could happen at any time, and is not reliant on occurring on a Jewish holy day, it is certainly a possibility.  Rosh Hashanah is set to begin at sundown today in Israel, but I feel I should also mention that it is also called the day which no one knows because in Biblical times, the calendar was set by the sighting of the New Moon at sunset.  So although on the calendar it begins today, many believe that technically we should wait to see if the moon is sighted before the celebration begins.

Concerning the rapture of the Church, however, I thought I would share some thoughts I have concerning what we might experience when that blessed hope finally occurs.  As I studied the question of the rapture, I was surprised to find that some of the teachers I highly respect do not necessarily agree with some of my thoughts.  Although I suppose that should not come as a surprise, it still was a disappointment to me because I believe that the Bible is pretty clear on the events surrounding our deliverance.  So enjoy reading today and decide for yourself if those who choose to believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins will in fact, know when we go.

One of the things I enjoyed most when teaching young people were the questions I often got from them concerning the things we were studying in the scriptures. One of my favorites, and one I got repeatedly when teaching the rapture of the Church is if we will know or be aware that we are being raptured, or do we simply find ourselves suddenly in heaven without a clue that it was about to happen? That really is a great question and one I think many of us have thought about at one time or another, so I thought we might take a little time this morning to look closer at the event we call the rapture.

This verse in Thessalonians is probably the best one we can use in describing exactly what God says will happen on that day. If we look closely at what it says, we find that we are told there are actually three distinct things which will occur in sequence when Jesus returns for His Church. These are a shout by the Lord Himself, the voice of an archangel, and the sound of the trumpet of God. So let's look closer at each of these three and see if there is a clue to the answer to our question “will we know”?

The Shout. In this verse we are told this shout is from the Lord Jesus Himself. Now at first, it would seem understandable that Jesus might want to shout since He has been waiting over two thousand years to come get His bride, yet there may be more to it than that. We are also told here that “the dead in Christ will rise first”. So there is a sequence of events, and the first is the resurrection of the bodies of those believers who have already died to be reunited with their souls which went to be with Lord at the time of their death.

We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.                 2 Corinthians 5:8 NKJV

When a believer dies, his soul goes to be with the Lord in Heaven while his body is left behind. At the time of the rapture, the Lord apparently commands their bodies to rise from the grave just as He did with Lazarus.

Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" John 11:43 NKJV

So the first thing to happen at the time of the rapture is the resurrection of the dead in Christ. While teaching this during Sunday School, one of my students said “dude, wouldn’t it be cool to be in a cemetery when that happens?” We laugh, but I just wonder if he is right?  Everybody present saw Lazarus arise, so I just wonder if we will see the dead in Christ arise?

The Voice. The only angel in the Bible to receive the title of archangel is the angel Michael, so I think it is safe to assume that is who is being talked about here. As opposed to the Lord's “shout”, we are told that we only hear the “voice” of Michael, so we are left to wonder exactly what his role here is. If you have studied this passage in the past, or study it further, you will find there are a few opinions as to what might be going on. Although any of them might be right, I am going to go as far as to suggest a new one which may or may not be accurate, but feels the most comfortable to me. As I sat and thought about why Michael might be involved, I decided to look at the other occasions where he is mentioned in the Bible. A very interesting place I found is in the book of Jude where we are told this;

Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"     Jude 1:9 NKJV

Now I certainly found it curious that here we find a situation involving Michael that, along with the account of the rapture, is concerned with a body belonging to a believer. In this account in Jude, the only explanation that makes any sense is that Satan was disputing “possession” of the dead body of Moses. We can find an account of this in the non-canonical Book of Enoch, which Jude is obviously referring to. In that account Satan laid claim to the body for two reasons. The first was that Moses was a murderer because he took the life of an Egyptian, and the second was that Moses body was buried on earth, and he, Satan, is the lord over the things of this world. So my thoughts are these; if Satan has in the past disputed over the ownership of the body of one believer, just what will his reaction to the resurrection of all dead believers bodies be? If in fact this is what happens, doesn't it make sense that the same scenario will repeat itself and the voice of the archangel is Michael again saying “The Lord rebuke you” to Satan? As I said, there are other ideas concerning this portion of the verse, but since both of these accounts of Michael concern the ownership of believers bodies, to me this seems to be a reasonable conclusion.

The Trumpet. Actually, we are told here that what we hear is the "trumpet of God". Just what exactly is this trumpet sound and what if anything makes it special? In another account of the rapture, Paul tells us this;

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.           1 Corinthians 15:52 NKJV

Here Paul refers to this trumpet as the "last trump". This helps us identify it for from studying rabbinical sources we see that this use of the term "last trump" means it is the shofar, or ram's horn which is being used. The shofar is related to the account of Abraham sacrificing Isaac, and rabbinical tradition regards the left horn as the "first trump" and the right horn as the "last trump". There are two ways to blow the shofar, with the first being a series of short blasts which signify an alarm or bad news, and the second being one long blast which is meant to signal victory or good news. It is this last long blast which is identified as the "last trump". According to rabbinical sources the "last trump" or "tekiah gedolah" lasts as long as the blower has the lung capacity to blow. In this case, where the "trumpet of God"is being blown, one has to wonder just how long the blast will be? My personal opinion is very, very long.

The shout of Jesus calling for the resurrection of all dead believers bodies to rise, Michael rebuking Satan in the Lord's name for possession of the bodies, and the tekiah gedolah which lasts as long as the blower has breath, certainly gives rise to the thought that the answer to our original question might well be; yes! Yes we will know that the rapture is occurring because there is a sequence of three events which must take place before we go. I suspect the last trump will last long enough for all believers to know and understand that the time has come for the bride to go with the bridegroom and to rise and meet Him in the air. Come quickly Lord Jesus!

Keep watching. (and listening)