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2013 September – Violence and the End of a Culture

Violence and the End of a Culture

By Mike Wingfield

Violence is permeating our world at every level of socie­ty. The Middle East is spiraling out of control with vio­lence as radical Islam flexes its muscle in an attempt to terrorize the world into submission. Islam’s ultimate goal is to dominate the world and subject it to Allah. Violent attacks against individuals across Europe and around the world are viewed by Muslims as acts of obedience to the Koran’s commands to wage holy war against the infidels. Moderate Muslims are also being targeted who refuse to submit to the ritualistic law of the Koran in their daily lives. At the same time, all cultures are experiencing an escalating violence in their societies. Here in the U.S., our educational institutions have become places of vio­lence. Bullying has become an all too familiar occur­rence. Our daily news media are filled with graphic sto­ries involving of murder and violence. We talk about road rage, violence acts against women, children, and infants in the womb. In addition, violence associated with wars has become all-too common for millions living in our world. All the while, our entertainment industries thrive on sell­ing violence. Sports, music, video games, television pro­gramming, and movies are filling the minds of consumers with an increasing diet of graphic violence.

Before we turn to the Bible to understand what all of this means, let us listen to the concerns of some in the secular world who are very alarmed by the increase of violence in our culture. The Media Education Foundation [www.mediaed.org] reports the following facts about me­dia violence: “Research indicates that media violence has not just increased in quantity; it has also become more graphic, sexual, and sadistic. By the time the average child is eighteen years old, they will have witnessed 200,000 acts of violence and 16,000 murders. Media vio­lence is especially damaging to young children (under 8) because they cannot easily tell the difference between real life and fantasy. Most of the top-selling video games (89%) contain violent content, almost half of which was of a serious nature. The level of violence during Saturday morning cartoons is higher than the level of violence dur­ing prime time. There are 3-5 violent acts per hour on prime time, versus 20-25 acts per hour on Saturday morn­ing. Nearly 75 percent of violent scenes on television fea­ture no immediate punishment for or condemnation of violence.” (www.mediaed.org)

According to the Bible, when violence permeates a cul­ture it ultimately leads to self-destruction and the judg­ment of God. For example, a permeation of violence in the culture during Noah’s day led to divine judgment of the entire world. In Genesis 6, the Lord has given us a written indictment on Noah’s generation. The Bible clear­ly states that the moral climate during Noah’s time pro­voked God’s holy wrath in the form of a global flood. That society had become morally “corrupt.” (Genesis 6:11-13) A part of that moral corruption was violence. Notice that the Lord repeatedly told Noah: “the earth is filled with violence.” (Genesis 6:11, 13) This simply means that the people of Noah’s age were in love with sensuality and violence. Their minds were continually filled with pornographic and violent images. Note Gene­sis 6:5: “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” They enjoyed it: Immorality and violence no longer produced any shame or guilt in their consciences. They explored it: Searching for more bizarre and sadistic forms of wicked­ness. They embraced it: Violence became normal, bring­ing a change in their lifestyle. They proudly exported it: Spreading their sin to engage others in their shame.

Let us examine five Biblical considerations about vio­lence:

1. The Biblical Definition of Violence

After doing research on this subject, I am convinced that very few Christian leaders or believers understand the Biblical view of violence. It is most interesting to observe that the Hebrew word that is translated “violence” in Genesis 6 is “hamas.” Please note that this is the name of the Islamic terrorist group in the Gaza Strip that has been chosen by the Palestinian population to govern them. This Islamic terrorist group wears the badge of Islamic jihad with great pride. They have openly adopted the name VIOLENCE. Their charter openly calls for the complete annihilation of the Jewish population in Israel from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River – all of the land of Israel! Everyone in the Middle East knows that Hamas and another radical Islamic element, the Muslim Brother­hood are the same group. They have different names, but they are two different divisions of the same organization. It is their stated purpose to fill the earth with violence to accomplish their agenda of global control for the glory of their God – Allah.

The Hebrew word, “hamas”, means: to bring great harm to people both physically and mentally… to act in a way that is destructive, hateful, lawless, disrespectful, wicked, wild, ruthless, or brutal. Often, these actions are accom­panied by loud expressions of hate. Proverbs 10:6 states: “violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.” According to the Bible, violence is an action, gesture, or expression due to the lack of moral restraint. In Amos 3:9-10, the Lord informed Israel that the governments of Ashdod (the Gaza Strip today), Egypt, and “the mountains of Samaria” (the “West Bank” today) “know not to do right” while they “store up violence and robbery in their palaces.” Clearly, the Lord stated that these former and present en­emies of Israel are filled with violence against His people because they lack moral restraint.

Violence is an expression of defiance and disrespect for the very basic code of behavior that the Spirit of God wishes to instill in the conscience of mankind. Violence, and its ultimate expression – murder, are the exact oppo­sites of the character and nature of God. (Read 1 John 2:11-16) The Biblical law of God, and specifically the 10 Commandments, are aimed at a reverence for God and respect for human beings who have been created in the image of God. The law of God supports and promotes the very foundation of life. Therefore, violence is the result of a total departure from this law and its author – God! In essence, the culture that espouses violence is in a mode of self-destruction! The testimony of Scripture indicates that murderers and those who commit acts of violence against human beings are acting like Satan, not God! In John 8:44, Jesus called Satan “a murderer from the beginning.” In Revelation 9:11, Satan is called “Abaddon” (Hebrew for “destroyer”), and “Apollyon” (Greek for “destroyer”).

2. The Cultural Impact of Violence

From the very beginning, God instructed Israel that vio­lence and murder defile a culture. Read Numbers 35:29-34. In response to willful murder, God demanded capital punishment. In verse 31 God said: “Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.”

When expressions of violence are allowed to permeate a culture, they will create a society that is void of a godly conscience, leading to increasing levels of wickedness, lawlessness, sensuality, and brutality. When a society travels down the path of depravity and rebellion from God, they will suppress “the truth in unrighteousness.” (Romans 1:18) This will lead to “their foolish [con­science being] darkened.” (Romans 1:21) Eventually, they are “filled with …. murder” and many other forms of violence and wickedness. (Romans 1:29 -32)

3. The Divine Judgment due to the Permeation of Violence in a Culture

A study of the Bible and human history will demonstrate that cultures filled with violence come to an end. That is because violence brings a lack of fear or respect for God. This is visually manifested in their lack of respect for man, who has been created in the image of God. The Bi­ble consistently teaches that our love and respect for God is clearly illustrated by how we treat others. (Exodus 20:1­17; Matthew 22:34-40; 1 John 4:20-21) While comment­ing on Genesis 6:11, Matthew Henry, a godly leader and author of a well-known Bible commentary a few genera­tions ago, wrote: “Take away conscience and the fear of God, and men become beasts and devils to one another, like fishes of the sea, where the greater devour the less. Sin fills the earth with violence, and so turns the world into a wilderness, into a cock-pit.”

When a culture reaches this spiritual point of no return, the Spirit of God can no longer “strive with man.” (Gene­sis 6:3) As a result, God’s holiness demands that He de­stroy that culture in divine judgment. It has happened several times in human history and it will happen once again. The global violence today, as in the days of Noah, is demanding the divine judgment of God. That global judgment will take place on a global scale during the sev­en-year tribulation period.

4. The Violence at the End of this Age

After the restraining influence on sin through the minis­try of the Holy Spirit in the church has been removed at the Rapture, the world will erupt into a cycle of violence and murder that is unprecedented in the history of man. This violence will be aimed at Israel, the Jewish people (Daniel 12:1; Revelation 12:6, 13-17) and believers in Je­sus Christ. (Daniel 7:25; Revelation 6:9-11; 13:7; 17:6; 20:4) Leading the violence will be the religion of Islam (pictured as the harlot in Revelation 17-18), and the Islam­ic Antichrist and his false prophet. (Revelation 13:15) Early in the Tribulation Period, the Antichrist will engage in a global jihad “to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another.” (Revelation 6:4) The opening months of the Tribulation will feature a bloody war of jihad that will result in the death of one-fourth of the world’s population. (Revelation 6:8)

At this very hour, violence and death are being waged by Muslims against the Christian populations in Syria, Egypt and throughout the Middle East. It is a powerful witness to what is coming in the immediate future. If the West does not act against these radical Islamic elements to stop the killing of innocent Christians, this war will spread to Europe and the United States. It is only a matter of time before this happens. The free world was standing in a similar place only 73 years ago when Hitler was brutally murdering Jews and taking control of the countries of Eu­rope. Humanly speaking, if the free world does not re­spond, the forces of evil will multiply and violence will fill the earth. Only the Lord knows what course the world will take in the next few months and years. With America and Europe being swept into socialism, it appears that they will not rise to the occasion. They fail to heed the lessons from World War II only two generations ago.

My father and father-in-law fought in World War II. am very thankful for the sacrifice they and millions of others made to protect our freedom from Nazi and Japa­nese tyranny. They willingly made these sacrifices be­cause our American leadership recognized the need to deal with critical threats to our faith and freedom. However, today, many in our leadership not only lack the resolve to do something about this threat, but are supporting the Muslim Brotherhood, the perpetrator of the growing vio­lence in the Middle East and around the world. Can you image what would have happened during World War II if the United States had sided with the Nazis? Yet, that is what is occurring at this very hour. America is standing in the wrong place in the war against evil. Most tragically, we are not standing on moral high ground with God. America has morally collapsed. It is shocking to think of what has happened to our blessed country in the last 70 years.

May God have mercy on America!

5. Biblical Admonitions Concerning Violence

The message of the Bible is very clear – God hates vio­lence. When violence flows out of the human heart to harm or kill human beings for selfish gain or hatred, it arouses the anger of God. It must be understood that there is a righteous anger or indignation that flows out of the very holy character of God. Finally, after being patient for thousands of years with the violence of the wicked, Jesus will systematically deliver His holy wrath against the sin­ful masses through massive global judgments for seven years. At the end of the Tribulation Period, Jesus will vis­ibly and bodily return to this earth and speak a word of holy judgment and death against the armies of the world gathered against Him and Israel at Armageddon. Revela­tion 19:15 says He will “smite the nations… and tread the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” At the end of this battle, the Lord will invite the birds of prey to feast on the corpses of the thousands who will have fallen on the mountains of Israel. (Revelation 19:17­18)

Sometimes, war and violence must be waged against the wicked who are murdering others. God demands this of human governments! (Read Genesis 9:6; Numbers 35:29-34; Romans 13:1-4) For example, God used the nation of Israel to carry out His righteous judgment against the wicked and murderers of Canaan. (Deuteron­omy 18:9-14) The Lord will use the nation of Israel in the last days to destroy the nations that are killing His people. (Jeremiah 51:19-23)

Psalm 11:5 states that the Lord hates those who “love violence.” During the millennium, the Lord will directly exercise His divine sovereignty over the nations of the world. He will not permit any violence or war! Isaiah 2:4 declares: “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into prun­inghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” The war-torn Middle East, which has been ravaged with violence since the days of Abraham, will finally become a place of peace. Those who will be saved out of the former Arab/Islamic nations in the Middle East and survive the Tribulation will be spiritually transformed. They will no longer hate Isra­el, but will confess that the Jewish people are the people of God, and will bless those they have hated for genera­tions. (Isaiah 60:6-19) Please notice Isaiah 60:14: “The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow them­selves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee , The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel” Because of this heart change among the Arab nations, the Lord has joyfully declared to Israel: “Violence shall no more be heard in thy land.” (Isaiah 60:18) Fi­nally, true peace will come upon the cities of Israel. The great prophet of God, Isaiah, wrote about this: “And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isaiah 35:10)

As individual children of God we should be known as peace makers, not troublemakers. Jesus declared: “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5:9) The Scriptures exhort the individual believer: “[Return] to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be pos­sible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” (Romans 12:17-19)

As believers, we must protect our consciences by refrain­ing from viewing or listening to violent expressions of any kind. We must not permit violence to enter our homes or minds with any level of acceptance or pleasure! We must guard our ears and eyes from any kind of violence that can desensitize our conscience. (Proverbs 4:23-27) We must fill our minds with Scripture and God’s way of peace. The Bible demands: “Follow peace with all men, and ho­liness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” (He­brews 12:14) We are exhorted to let grace and peace be multiplied in our hearts. When the Apostle Peter began his final epistle, he began with the exhortation: “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.” (2 Peter 1:2) When we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, we will be persons of peace. Read Galatians 5:22-23.

As violence escalates around the world and especially in the Middle East, we need to remember that Jesus taught that evil thoughts and murder come out of the human heart. (Matthew 15:19) The only real answer to the vio­lence in our world is in the person of Jesus Christ – the Prince of Peace. After He judges the nations with His ho­ly wrath, He will establish His kingdom of peace. That peace will be maintained by the firm hand of our Lord as He rules the nations “with a rod of iron.” (Revelation 12:5) Also, the fear of the Lord will permeate the nations because “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” (Habak­kuk 2:14) That is why He has instructed us to pray: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heav­en.” (Matthew 6:10) Come, Lord Jesus. We need you more than ever before!

Descending into Darkness

According to the prophetic Word of God, the world will descend into one of the darkest periods of human history before King Jesus returns to establish His kingdom. Con­trasting the spiritual light that will dawn upon this earth at the beginning of our Lord’s kingdom with the spiritual darkness that will precede it, the prophet Isaiah wrote: “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee [Israel], and his glory shall be seen upon thee.” (Isaiah 60:1-2)

From a human perspective it appears that mankind is falling into the dark, deep pit of depravity that will engulf the wicked during the Tribulation Period. The world is in a moral, spiritual, and economic free-fall. The nations are embracing Islam, worshipping Allah. At the same time, Christians are being killed and persecuted, and many hate the name of “Jesus.” Violence is permeating the global culture, and the threat of war in the Middle East seems to increase with each passing day.

It is not an accident that the Middle East is going through a major shift in the political/religious power-structure that controls the region. Israel finds itself sur­rounded by nations where national sovereignties are breaking down and radical elements of global Islamic ji­had are taking control.

Egypt, the largest Arab/Islamic country in the Middle East, is descending into a very dangerous cycle of vio­lence as moderate Muslims attempt to regain control of their country from the radical elements who were in con­trol. The radicals have seized the moment to attack the Christian community, claiming that they were responsible for the overthrow of Mohamed Morsi’s presidency, a prominent leader of the Muslim Brotherhood. Christians are being brutally attacked and killed. More than 60 churches have been destroyed by those who are supporters of the radical Muslim movement in Egypt. The outcome of this struggle for power in Egypt will be very critical to the future of the entire Middle East.

The two-year old war in Syria has claimed over 100,000 lives, many of whom were Christians killed by the radical Islamic rebels that are attempting to take control of Syria. The world has learned that the Syrian government used chemical weapons to kill thousands of its own people. Consequently, the world is about to topple the Assad re­gime to allow the rebels to take control of Syria. Several radical factions are fighting on the side of the rebel forces. The two major factions are the Muslim Brotherhood and Al Qaeda. So, the West, including the U.S., is arming Al Qaeda in the attempt to overthrow Assad. Isn’t it odd that the very same Islamic group we have attempted to destroy for several years in Afghanistan, we are now supporting in Syria?

It should be alarming for people when they realize that the Western powers are involved in turning the Middle East over to the very radical Islamic groups that have de­clared jihad against the West. This is very dangerous for Israel, the U.S., and the entire free world. There appears to be only two logical explanations for the West’s support of these radical jihadist groups. These governments must be operating in total moral and intellectual darkness, hav­ing been deceived by these groups. Or, they are joining hands with evil to enhance and promote their own agen­das. It is my opinion that it is the later of these two expla­nations.

It is possible that if the Lord does not come first, we will witness the beginning of a New World Order that will fea­ture a political marriage between socialism and Islam. An examination of the current working system within the United Nations will reveal that this is already becoming a reality. The political marriage will be very bad for be­lievers in Jesus Christ and all Jews, and especially the na­tion of Israel.

According to several sources, Israel realizes that it is only a matter of time before these Islamic forces will join together to attack the Jewish state. Israeli Lt.-Col. Jackie Ben-Yakar recently stated: “Our working assumption is an attack will happen. It’s only a matter of time. We are preparing for hostile action, we’re preparing the forces, training them, and keeping up their operational readiness.”

(The International Jerusalem Post, August 2-8, 2013, p. 12) It is my opinion that this war will set the stage for the one mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39.

As the world descends into this time of great deception and spiritual darkness, we need to remember the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11. Please take time to read this Scripture. It is time for the church of Je­sus Christ to awake out of its apathy and prepare for our departure. “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)

A War against Christianity

In a recent article by Michael Snyder, “The Name Of Jesus Has Become A Dirty Word In Politically Correct America,” he warns that a real war on Christianity is un­folding in America. He gives the following examples:

“Evidence of this war on Christianity is everywhere these days. The following are just a few examples…

-An elementary school in North Carolina ordered a little six-year-old girl to remove the word “God” from a poem that she wrote to honor her two grandfathers that had served in the Vietnam War.

-The Ohio Statehouse banned Christian pastors from using the name of Jesus when they open up the daily sessions with prayer.

-The use of the name of Jesus was also forbidden in all prayers opening sessions of the North Carolina State-House.

-Last year, a federal appeals court ruled that prayers be­fore commission meetings in Forsyth County, North Caro­lina that included the name of Jesus were unconstitutional.

-Earlier this year, a Florida Atlantic University student that refused to stomp on the name of Jesus was banned from class.

-A student at Sonoma State University was ordered to take off a cross that she was wearing because someone “could be offended”.

-A teacher in New Jersey was fired for giving his own Bi­ble to a student that did not own one.

-An open air preacher in Illinois was recently threatened with arrest for “scaring people” with the message of the gospel.

-Volunteer chaplains for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Po­lice Department have been banned from using the name of Jesus in their public prayers. Sadly, this is not an isolated incident. Chaplains all over the nation are now being banned from using the name of Jesus.

A recently released 140 page report entitled “The Survey of Religious Hostility in America” included some more examples of how Christianity is being systematically op­pressed in America today…

A federal judge threatened ‘incarceration’ to a high school valedictorian unless she removed references to Jesus from her graduation speech.

City officials prohibited senior citizens from praying over their meals, listening to religious messages or singing gospel songs at a senior activities center.

A public school official prevented a student from handing out flyers inviting her classmates to an event at her church.

A public university’s law school banned a Christian or­ganization because it required its officers to adhere to a statement of faith that the university disagreed with.

The U.S. Department of Justice argued before the Su­preme Court that the federal government can tell churches and synagogues which pastors and rabbis it can hire and fire.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs banned the men­

tion of God from veterans’ funerals, overriding the wishes of the deceased’s families.

A federal judge held that prayers before a state House of Representatives could be to Allah but not to Jesus.” (www.theendoftheamericandream.com, July 25, 2013)

We live in the presence of God. Where ever we go, He is there. As believers, He is with us and in us. Do you acknowledge His presence? Proverbs 3:6

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2013 April – The Tribe of Manasseh is Coming Home to Israel

The Tribe of Manasseh is Coming Home to Israel

Speaking to Israel, the Lord has promised: “I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth.”-Isaiah 43:5-6
By Micah Winefeld
While world leaders are focused on wrestling parts of the Holy Land away from Israel, a divine miracle is occurring right under their noses. God is leading His chosen people, the Jews, back to their homeland just as He promised in the Bible. For it was God’s hand that scattered the Jews among the nations almost 2,000 years ago and now He is orchestrating their return to Israel, just as He said He would. (Read Deuteronomy 28:63-67; 30:1-5) This is exciting for those of us who are students of Bible prophecy, because these events give credence to the fact that we are indeed living in the last days.
To illustrate that we are living witnesses to a unique and supernatural fulfillment of Bible prophecy, we can turn to the Old Testament book of Ezekiel, where the Lord declared: “For I will take you from among the heathen , and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.” (Ezekiel 36:24) This verse and many others, indicate that the process of the return of the Jewish people to their homeland will be a supernatural development. Notice the language in Ezekiel 36:24. God said, “I will take you … and will bring you into your own land.” What we are witnessing at this hour has never happened before. A people group is returning to their ancient homeland and rebuilding their nation.
At the beginning of the 20th century, there were only a few thousands of Jews living in what was called Palestine. Due to the pogroms against Jews in Russia, and the holocaust efforts of the Nazis during World War II, there were about 650,000 Jewish people living in the state of Israel when it became a nation on May 14, 1948. Today, 65 years later, a little over 6 million Jews have returned home to Israel (about 40 percent of the world’s Jewish population). The Bible requires that only a remnant of the global Jewish population be in Israel at the beginning of the Tribulation Period. According to Revelation 7, a remnant of each of the 12 tribes of Israel will be back in the land. After the Rapture, the Lord God will uniquely select and prepare 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes for a very special ministry of global evangelism during the Tribulation. (Revelation 7:1-17; 14:1-5) In light of this, it is interesting to note that Israel is currently in the process of welcoming home the tribe of Manasseh. (Revelation 7:6)
Manasseh was the first-born son of the Jewish patriarch Joseph in Egypt. Joseph’s wife, Asenath, was an Egyptian and gave birth to Joseph’s two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. (Genesis 41:50-52) Both Manasseh and Ephraim were blessed by Jacob (Genesis 48:8-20) and are numbered among the 12 tribes of Israel. (Numbers 1, 7, 13, 26; Ezekiel 48; Revelation 7) After the death of King Solomon, the 12 tribes divided into two nations. The tribe of Manasseh became a part of the 10 tribes in the north, called Israel. The tribes of Judah and Benjamin, along with a remnant of godly people from the other 10 tribes, lived in the south, called Judah. During the invasion and defeat of Israel by the Assyrians in 722 B.C., Manasseh and the other nine tribes were carried off into captivity and scattered among the nations of the ancient world. For years, these Jewish people were called “the lost tribes of Israel.” However, remember that these 10 tribes were also represented by a godly remnant in Judah, which was eventually carried off to Babylon in three deportations – the last being in 586 B.C. After the Babylonian captivity, a remnant of all 12 tribes returned to the Holy Land. Notice that Anna, a prophetess who was serving in the Temple at the time of Jesus’ birth, was from the tribe of Asher. (Luke 2:36) Later, Jesus sent out His disciples “to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 10:6)
For more than 2,500 years, most of the Jewish people have been scattered among the Gentile nations of the world. Most Jewish people do not know their tribal identity, since the official records of the tribes were destroyed with the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D. However, the sons of Manasseh (Hebrew: Bnei Menashe) are returning to Israel and telling the story of their 2,700 years of exile and wandering. The returning sons of Manasseh say “their ancestors were exiled by the Assyrians into the region of today’s Iran. From there, they journeyed eastward along the Silk Road to China, where for centuries they formed part of the community known as Kaifeng Jews. They later wandered southward and eventually settled in the states of Mizoram and Manipur, located in an isolated enclave of India nestled between Myanmar and Bangladesh.
“From there the Bnei Menashe continued to cling to their biblical traditions and identity. They kept the Sabbath and observed kosher laws, celebrated the Jewish festivals and practiced sacrificial rites.
“Rediscovered in modern times, their Israelite ancestry was officially recognized by Israel’s Chief Rabbinate in 2005. Following that ruling 1,700 Bnei Menashe made their way to Israel.
“Michael Freund, head of the organization Shavei Israel, has been working tirelessly ever since to reopen the way for them to reconnect with Israel and the Jewish mainstream. At his urging, the Israeli government recently approved a process which will enable the remaining 7,200 Bnei Menashe to relocate to Israel in groups of around 250 at a time. …
“‘This is one of the moments where you really feel the hand of God at work in history,’ noted Freund. ‘Despite the long exile and wanderings of the Bnei Menashe, they never lost sight of who they are or where they came from, or where they one day dreamt of returning.’” (David Parsons, “An end to exile,” The Jerusalem Post Christian Edition, February 2013, p. 17)
Photo copied from www.timesofisrael.com

As this unique development continues to unfold, Christians are playing a very special role. Various Christian groups are funding and supporting the current immigration of the sons of Manasseh to their home. The blessing and aid of Gentiles in helping the Jews return home is a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. When the Tribulation Period is over, the Gentiles will do the work of God by helping every living Jew return home to the land of Israel. Concerning this future time, Isaiah 14:1-2 states: “… and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob. And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place…” A similar prophecy is found in Isaiah 49:22: “Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.” Therefore, the return of the tribe of Manasseh and the involvement of the Gentiles in this work is setting the stage for a future prophecy when the Lord will seal 144,000 young Jewish men and send them out from Jerusalem to be evangelists among the Gentile nations. (Revelation 7:1-17; 14:1-5) We can only imagine that some of these 12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh are among those returning to Israel at this hour, or perhaps they are about to be born in the land of Israel.
While commenting about the return of his tribe to Israel, one of the recent immigrants of the tribe of Manasseh said: “This is about returning to our land, our people and our Torah. … It also means we are moving that much closer to the redemption of Israel.” (David Parsons, “An end to exile,” The Jerusalem Post Christian Edition, February 2013, p. 19)
David Parsons, an editor for the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem (ICEJ), writes: “Israel today is indeed a remarkable nation of Jews gathered from over 100 countries around the globe, who have come back as distinct tribes with their own languages, cultures, and customs, but God has been slowly forging them back together into one nation. They have a glorious future ahead of them, far more glorious that they even realize.” (David Parsons, “A Nation of Many Tribes,” ICEJ Newsletter, April 2013, p. 3)

My friend, this story, and so many other developments taking place in our world today, are telling us that the coming of our blessed Lord for His church is drawing very near. Are you ready? If you have not yet repented of your sins and received God’s eternal Son as the payment for your sin, then you need to consider that today. Faith in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and His bodily resurrection from the grave three days later is the only way to heaven. Jesus said: “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.” (John 10:9) He clearly declared: “…Ye believe in God, believe also in me. … I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:1, 6) In order to be saved, you must confess with your mouth that He is the resurrected, eternal Son of God and seriously surrender your life to Him, making Him the Lord of your life. Salvation is not some thoughtless or mystical expression or action. It must be the result of the conviction of your sin and the recognition of your current eternal damnation without Christ. You must call out to Him in prayer, agreeing that He is the Son of God. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
Salvation is God’s gift; He wants to give it to you. You do not deserve it and cannot earn it. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) Jesus paid for your sin and purchased your salvation when He became “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:28)
My friend, the message of the Bible is clear. “Salvation is of the LORD.” (Jonah 2:9) “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13)

 

A new poll suggests that about 64 per cent of Americans support Israel. – Photo by Israel Today

 

Other Significant Developments

  • According to several sources, Anti-Semitism is exploding on America’s college campuses. Jewish students are being intimidated and lies are being spread about Israel and the Jewish people. In contrast, radical Islamic groups that openly call for the destruction of Israel are being glorified. Sadly, the administrations and faculties of these university and college campuses are doing nothing to stop this. Christians need to realize that they are next. History demonstrates that these kinds of actions are a prelude to the persecution and the ultimate martyrdom of Jews and Christians. Isn’t it odd that the Obama administration in Washington is working toward the passing of international laws that protect Muslims and their religious convictions, while at the same time totally ignoring the threat against Jews and Christians? All of this is setting the stage for the events described in the Bible at the end of this age.
  • In the last newsletter, I reported on the increase in major earthquake and volcanic activity and their relationship to future prophecies. In recent weeks, I have learned that 29 out of 119 active volcanoes are erupting at this time. That is highly significant. It is my opinion, based upon scientific research, that the eruptions of volcanoes are the main contributor to “the greenhouse effect” that is creating global warming. Scientists have noted the gases that are emitted during volcanic eruptions contribute toward the thinning of the earth’s ozone layer. In light of this, the Bible predicts that volcanic eruptions will escalate during the Tribulation, creating dangerous heat levels. Malachi 4:1 states: “For, behold the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.” Near the end of the Tribulation, the Lord will send His angel with a judgment of great heat “and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.” (Revelation 16:8-9)
  • Contrary to my opinion, which is based upon Biblical and scientific research, politicians around the world are claiming that man-made emissions are the major factor in global warming. Furthermore, they are using their clamoring as a vehicle for taking control of the world. Currently, a United Nations’ document entitled “Agenda 21” is being implemented to destroy the economy of the world and force the free nations into a New World Order. Dick Morris, a former political advisor to President Bill Clinton, writes: “Agenda 21 is a UN document, written in 1992 at the Rio Conference that spells out how the elites who run the UN want us all to live. High density is in. Mass transit is the future. Bike lanes are how we will get to work. Suburbs, rural areas, grass, open spaces, forests, elbow room are things of the past. Cars and trucks are out. Bikes and trains are in. But the worst part of Agenda 21 is that President Obama has bought into it and is promoting it throughout the United States. … The elite globalists who run the United Nations are using the Agenda 21 model to restructure our lives and live them according to their – and not our – wishes.” (Dick Morris, Dickmorris.com, October 9, 2012)
  • One of the trends that Jesus mentioned as a sign of the end of this age is an increase in diseases. (Matthew 24:7) Many medical professionals are warning us that the overuse of antibiotics has created a unique situation. We are beginning to face bacterial diseases that are resistant to antibiotics. Dame Sally Davies, England’s chief medical officer, warns: “Antimicrobial resistance poses a catastrophic threat. If we don’t act now, any one of us could go into a hospital in 20 years for minor surgery and die because of an ordinary infection that can’t be treated by antibiotics. And routine operations like hip replacements or organ transplants could be deadly because of the risk of infection.” She further explains, “Antibiotics fail because bacteria develop resistance to the drugs over time. In the decades after the invention of penicillin it did not seem to be a problem because drug companies developed new versions. But no new classes of drugs have been discovered since 1987 and the pipeline has now dried up.” (Sarah Boseley, “New wave of superbugs poses dire threat, says chief medical officer,” www.guardian.co.uk, March 11, 2013)
  • Ten years ago, Iraq had 300 churches and 1.4 million Christians. However, now that number has dwindled to only 57 churches with about 500,000 Christians remaining. Many have been killed,while most have immigrated to other countries. They are fleeing from the oppression and persecution of radical Muslim elements in Iraq. Similar developments are taking place in Egypt and Syria. All of this is a precursor to attacks against Christians that will be very prevalent during the Tribulation Period. (Revelation 6:9-11; 7:9-17; 13:710) The butchery of believers during the Tribulation Period will be directed by the Islamic Antichrist, whose headquarters will in in Babylon, Iraq. (Isaiah 14:4)

The Obama Visit to Israel

 

Before the Obama visit, the Palestinian government removed a marker in Bethlehem that displayed a map of the future Palestinian State. This marker clearly shows the entire land of Israel being replaced by a Palestinian State. This demonstrates that the goal of the Palestinians is not just the “West Bank,” but the entire land of Israel. Photo by Israel Today
During his recent visit to Israel, President Obama portrayed himself as being chummy with the Israeli leaders. He also spoke in such a way as to woo the Israeli public into believing that he admires Israel and is a firm supporter of the Jewish nation. However, polls conducted after his visit indicates that Israelis were not persuaded by his rhetoric and political posturing. Many in Israel believe that Obama’s mission was to win over the Israeli public. Obama wants Israelis to capitulate to him when he delivers an ultimatum that calls for them to hand over East Jerusalem and the West Bank to the Palestinians. Prior to Obama’s arrival in Israel word leaked that the White House had released a video showing a map of the Middle East. This map showed “the Golan Heights, Jerusalem, northern Israel, and areas surrounding what is currently the West Bank as non-Israeli territory. The Golan Heights is shown as part of Syria; Jerusalem is shown as part of the Palestinian Authority; and northern Israel is shown as part of Lebanon.
“Even more telling, the president’s itinerary on the White House website also implies that Jerusalem is neither Israel’s capital nor even part of Israel. …
“By sending such messages to Israel, the Obama administration is also sending messages to the Islamic world and to the forces inside it that are obsessively focused on the destruction of the Jewish state. And that message is unmistakable: Israel is the interloper, a Western colonial outpost, an occupier that has stolen Palestinian land. Therefore, Jerusalem, is not only not Israel’s capital, it belongs to the Arabs. When Obama said he wants to go back to her pre-1967 borders, he meant it.” (Letter from David Horowitz, March 20, 2013)

Has Obama Promised the Palestinians He will Divide Jerusalem?

According to a World Net Daily (WND) report by Aaron Klein, a senior WND staff reporter and Jerusalem bureau chief, “President Barack Obama has already secretly pledged to the Palestinians he will press Israel into a new round of so-called land-for-peace negotiations, a top Palestinian Authority negotiator told WND. The negotiator said a top member of the Obama administration told the Palestinians the U.S. president will renew talks aimed at creating a Palestinian state in the so-called 1967 borders – meaning the West Bank, Gaza Strip and notably, eastern Jerusalem. … The negotiator further claimed that Obama quietly pledged to the Palestinians a campaign at the United Nations to renew U.N. Security Council Resolution 242, which calls for a Palestinian state in the ‘1967 borders.’ [He also] said that Obama had promised the PA [Palestinian Authority] that the establishment of a Palestinian state will be one of the main priorities for a second term.” (Aaron Klein, “Obama Secretly Pledges to Divide Jerusalem,” www.wnd.com, February 1, 2013)

If this report is accurate, and President Obama carries through with his promises to the Palestinians, he will bring himself and the entire United States into the crosshairs of the divine judgment of God Almighty. The Lord has promised that all who attempt to divide His land and wrestle Jerusalem away from His chosen people will be crushed. In Zechariah 12:3, He warned: “And in that day I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.”

My friends, if the president of the United States attempts to divide the Holy City of Jerusalem, he will bring himself and the entire U.S. nation under the divine curse of Genesis 12:3 -“… I will … curse him that curseth thee.” Prepare yourself. The Almighty will keep His promise. At His time, and in His way, He will keep this promise. It will only be a matter of time!
Newly-Elected Israeli Government Calls for More Bible Study
In an amazing new twist of political events in Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was forced to invite into his new governmental coalition two of the newly formed parties that received many votes during the recent election. Israel Today reports that both of these parties have recently stated that they are in favor of all citizens being involved in Bible study. The new coalition released the following statement: “The State of Israel recognized the importance and centrality of Torah (Bible) study as a central value of the Jewish people and the state of Israel.” (www.israeltoday.co.il, March 14, 2013)
Israel Today further commented: “Both parties also want more comprehensive Bible study in Israeli schools, and with Yesh Atid [one of the newly elected political leaders] taking the Ministry of Education, they will be able to achieve that. What other nation today has as a central pillar of its ruling government the importance of studying the Bible?” (www.israeltoday.co.il, March 14, 2013)
All of this is an exciting indication that there is a gradual turning of Jewish hearts to the Word of God, just like the Bible predicted would happen in the last of the last days. After the Rapture, this will be aided by the two Jewish witnesses (Revelation 11:3-6) and the 144,000 sealed Jewish evangelists. (Revelation 7) However, all of this will be dwarfed by the education of the Messiah during the Kingdom when the Word of the Lord will go forth from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:3) As a result, “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:9)
This is one reason why we should pray: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) Come King Jesus. We long for your righteous kingdom to teach the children of this earth about who You are!
Israel is for Peace
The world continues to blame Israel for the lack of peace in the Middle East. However, the real facts point to Israel’s Islamic neighbors who are the true cause for hatred, violence, and war in the Middle East.
Israel recently demonstrated her desire to live in peace with her Arab neighbors. Usually, as is the custom, immediately before Passover the Jewish mother removes all bread from the house, and it is burned. However, this Passover, several Jewish families in the disputed territories on the West Bank decided to give this bread to the Palestinians, with the following note attached: “In the name of God the most merciful, we wish for neighborly relations. Our hands are extended in peace, peace from the heart. Peace in the grace of God and the name of God. From your Jewish neighbors, members of Eretz Shalom.” (Reported by Israel Today)

 

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2013 February – Warning and the Heart of God – Part Two

Warning and the Heart of God – Part Two

God says: “… hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.”-Ezekiel 3:17

By Micah Winefeld

There are two fundamental questions that true followers of Christ must answer: Do you believe that we are living in the last of the last days? Do you believe that the com­ing of the Lord for His church is very near? If your an­swer to these important questions is “yes,” then you must also believe that we are living at a very dangerous time in human history. As you go about your daily routine, has it ever occurred to you that the people you know and love may soon face the horrors of the Tribulation Period? Worse yet, can you envision these people suffering in the fires of eternal damnation? Does the fact that you are living in a world that is filled with violence, and a blatant departure from God’s moral standards, ever make you think that His judgment is imminent? This brings us to the most important question: If you think about these things, what are you doing? If your heart is knit to the heart of God, you will be moved to sound out His merciful warning to everyone around you.

In Part 1 of this article last month, we examined the life and call of the prophet Ezekiel as an example of God’s ministry of warning. Drawing upon the cultural analogy of the watchman in the ancient watchtower, God called this special servant to warn Judah that the judgment of the Lord was about to fall upon them. He also called his Jew­ish brethren to salvation, offering them the only way to escape eternal damnation.

Last month, we looked at two of four Biblical realities about the ministry of godly warning. First, we noted that warning is a complementary part of God’s nature. Bibli­cal warnings concerning the eternal consequences of sin and judgment flow out of the heart of God. Next, we con­sidered that warning is a crucial part of God’s revelation. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is filled with divine warnings. This is at the heart of God’s revelation to man­kind. Now, let us turn to the last two Biblical realities concerning warning and the heart of God.

Warning is a Critical Part of the Ministry of God’s Servants.

The Lord told Ezekiel: “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel.” (Ezekiel 3:17) The Lord reminded this priest and prophet that he was made by Him for a divine appointment. The Lord shapes the lives of His servants for the task that He has for each of them. In other words, when God commands, God enables. We see another example of this when the Lord reminded Jer­emiah that He shaped him for His divine calling while he was in his mother’s womb. (Jeremiah 1:5) Ezekiel was very much aware that “the hand of the LORD was … upon him.” (Ezekiel 1:3; see 3:14, 22; 8:1; 33:22; 37:1; 40:1)

Ezekiel had been raised up by the Lord at a very critical time in the history of the Jewish people. The people were out of touch with the Lord and His divine plan. They were spiritually blind and numb to the imminent judgment of God, even though it was evident all around them. [Does that sound familiar?] To awaken them by sounding the alarm, the Lord called Ezekiel to a ministry of warn­ing.

As previously mentioned, there is a pattern in God’s word that must not be ignored. The Lord causes His serv­ants, when they are in tune with Him and the ministry of the Holy Spirit, to sound out divine warning in times of apostasy and judgment. While speaking about Ezekiel’s role as a watchman unto the house of Israel, the late Dr. Charles Lee Feinberg, a Jewish American Biblical scholar and professor of Semitics and Old Testament, comments: “His function as a watchman over the city was preemi­nently to warn of impending disaster; the prophet as a watchman was to call to repentance and faith. … It is comparable, perhaps, to the Christian pastoral office which is responsible for the care and cure of souls.” (Feinberg, The Prophecy of Ezekiel, p. 29)

As I listen to the voices of Christian leadership across America, it seems to me that very few are sounding out any warning. Their silence comes as the hand of God’s judgment is about to fall upon America and the horrific judgments of the Tribulation Period are rapidly approach­ing. Even more shocking is that Christian leaders in America remain silent despite the fact that eternal damna­tion awaits all who reject the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus. In light of this, please join me in examining seven observations from Ezekiel 2-3 about what it means to be a watchman for God.

1. They know who they are. (2:1)

In this book, the Lord called Ezekiel “son of man” 90 times. The watchman of the Lord will always know that his life, talents, and time are not his own. He realizes he is a mere man while the Lord is God! This sounds very simplistic and elementary. However, our sin nature tends to cause us to forget this. It appears to me that most Christians are acting like the Lord Jesus is their servant. They follow Him to get what they can. They have a bad case of spiritual entitlement mentality. They think God owes them. They believe they deserve God’s richest blessings.

My friend, the true servant of God realizes that he has not been called to a life of comfort and riches. He realizes God owes him nothing and that his salvation and life are a testimony to the grace of God. He also knows that all be­lievers have been called to a position of servitude and sac­rifice for the One who gave His all for us. (Luke 14:26­27; Galatians 2:20) The cross life is not an easy life. There is a high cost to following Jesus Christ!

2. They know that God called them. (2:1-3a)

It is evident from the divine revelation that Ezekiel rec­orded that he knew he had been called by the Lord to be a watchman. He was aware that the Lord had His hand up­on him and spoke to him. Ezekiel was obedient. He stood up for the Lord and God sent him to the children of Israel.

Each believer should know they have been “fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14) It is very humbling and gratifying to know that the Lord has saved us. His hand has been upon us from the moment we were con­ceived in our mother’s womb. He has fashioned us physi­cally, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. He has equipped each believer with unique gifts to serve Him. (1 Corinthians 12) He has saved and called each one of us to serve Him. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before or­dained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

We have all been called to proclaim the gospel to the entire world. (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20) At the heart of each gospel presentation should be the message of warning to those who refuse to heed God’s counsel con­cerning the consequences of sin and the judgment to come.

It is evident that the Lord calls certain servants to unique ministries. He calls some to a special ministry of warning. Such were Noah, Elijah, Ezekiel, John the Baptist and all of the prophets and apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ.

3. They do not allow people to distract them. (2:3b­7)

The Lord warned Ezekiel to not allow the rebellious spirit of his own people to distract him from being a watchman. He told His servant that they would not listen to him. However, he was to be faithful to deliver God’s message so people would “know that there hath been a prophet among them.” (2:5)

In the American church, most of the leaders have been conditioned to use only the methods and message that seem to bring the results they want. Leaders listen to the church growth experts, who have large congregations. These experts are very careful to market the church. In essence, they attempt to give people what they want, in­stead of what God wants and the people need. If you lis­ten carefully, you will discover that these so-called church growth experts fail to preach about sin and the judgment to come. They don’t want to offend people or confront them with their sin and make them feel uncomfortable. They also avoid the subject of Bible prophecy.

In my opinion, most of the leadership in the American church is out of touch with reality. They are like the reli­gious leadership of Israel that Jesus confronted. Jesus rebuked those leaders because they were more interested in the weather and their own agendas, rather than the plan of God. (Matthew 16:1-3) They are so busy building their own religious kingdom, or attempting to identify with the godless culture, that they are unaware of the imminent dangers that are facing our nation and world. Their mes­sages and ministry prove they are really out of touch with the true spiritual condition of our world. They want God to join them in their plans. However, they fail to notice that we need to surrender our plans for His plan. We need to join Him, not ask Him to join us!

The proof of all of this is the lack of interest in Biblical prophecy. Biblical prophecy is the eternal plan of God! It is what He has purposed, and it will come to pass. (Isaiah 14:24, 26-27) Notice that when Jesus taught His disciples to pray, that He taught them to make the plan and will of God the heart of their prayer requests. The first item to pray for is: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) Real prayer is not the effort of the human heart. It is the work of the Holy Spirit through the heart of the believer. Jesus said:

“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” (John 15:7) When the believer is walking in the Spirit, he will pray in the Spirit. Thus, he prays as the Holy Spirit directs him. A Spirit-filled believer will be saturated with the Word of God. Consequently, he will pray for God’s will and Word to come to pass. In the last chapter of the Bible, the church is directed by the Spirit to pray: “Even, so, come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:20) Spirit-filled be­lievers will be focused upon the imminent return of Jesus Christ and the results of living in a world that is marching toward Armageddon. They will refuse to let people or their culture distract them from the big picture of Biblical reality. It will shape and color their worldview.

4. They feast upon God’s Word. (2:8-3:3)

In these verses, the Lord instructed Ezekiel to digest the Word of God, allowing it to become part of him. At the heart of Ezekiel’s commission were these words: “hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.” (Ezekiel 3:17) A person who has been used of the Lord knows that he must saturate his life with the Word of God. It must be a daily part of his regimen. The Word of God feeds and satisfies his soul. It convicts and leads a person to confession and correction, bringing about a lifestyle of daily repentance. The Word of God gives hope and pro­vides a person with wisdom and authority to instruct oth­ers in the way of life. Read Psalm 19:7-11. Note verse

11: “Moreover by them [the Word of God] is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.”

A true servant of God must sound out the Lord’s warning when it becomes rooted in his heart. This is a powerful testimony that he believes God and loves those around him. All of this was also displayed in the life of Noah. God spoke directly to Noah about the approaching divine judgment in the form of a global flood. Noah believed God and loved those around him. He sounded the alarm and built an ark – a colossal project that took him 120 years to complete. Noah did “according to all that God commanded him.” (Genesis 6:22; 7:5) As our world fac­es another divine global judgment, where are the godly voices of warning like Noah?

5. They have God’s strength.

It is incredible to learn that names in the Bible reflect the character or divine call of a person. In light of this, it is worth noting that the Hebrew name “Ezekiel” means “God strengthens.” It is apparent that Ezekiel was totally de­pendent upon the power of God to complete his mission. This is a good example for us all. We desperately need to be reminded of our total dependence upon God. When we think we can do it without Him, we are doomed to fail. Jesus said: “Without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

Any divine mission requires divine strength. When we do God’s work we are confronting the principalities of hell. (Ephesians 6:12) In and of ourselves, we are no match for demonic forces and those who are living in open rebellion against the Lord. When we fight the good fight, we overcome evil “because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

6. They know their duty as God’s watchman.

(3:17)

In ancient Israel it was the duty of the watchman to scan the horizon from his lofty position in the watchtower. He must not be distracted from his assignment. It required his full attention and focus. A watchman’s duty was two­fold. He must scan the horizon for danger and sound the warning. Ezekiel saw the desperate spiritual plight of his people and the gravity of the impending judgment of God. The Lord showed him his present situation and allowed him to look into the prophetic events of the last days.

Today, the messenger of warning must see the imminent dangers and those that are coming in eternity. From his lofty position through the telescope of the prophetic Scrip­tures, he must faithfully and truthfully warn his people of things which are coming upon this earth. In our day, these judgments may not be as far off as some have assumed.

7. They live with the consequences of their failure.

(3:18-21)

True servants of the Lord are acutely aware they not in­fallible. They realize and admit they are prone to failure on a daily basis. We all sin every day! (1 John 1:8-10) There are painful consequences to our sins and failures as an ambassador of Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:20) Lives are at stake. What we do has eternal consequences!

This sobering reality is quite evident in the book of Eze­kiel. The Lord told Ezekiel that he held him accountable to sound out the warning from Him to his fellow country­men. The Lord informed His prophet that he was not re­sponsible for the reception or rejection of his warning. However, if he failed to warn the wicked, he would bear some level of responsibility for their lost condition. (Eze­kiel 3:18-21) “The responsibility of a believer in Christ today to share the word of life, salvation, and forgiveness is no less awesome. Once the message of salvation is en­trusted to us, we are responsible and accountable to share with those who are lost.” (Cooper, L. E., Vol. 17: Ezekiel, The New American Commentary, p. 86)

Warning is a Central Part of God’s Eternal Plan

The Bible is divine revelation about the glorious attrib­utes of the triune God and His eternal purposes. It is evi­dent from the volume of prophetic Scriptures, which ac­count for about 30 percent of the Bible, that the Lord wants His people to have a grasp of Who He is, how He is at work and what He will do in the future. The Bible is a book of God’s progressive revelation to man. The fact that the book of Revelation is the final book in this pro­gressive revelation should indicate the value and im­portance of Bible prophecy in general. Furthermore, the book of Revelation further illustrates the importance and the application of God’s ministry of warning. God’s reve­lation of the ultimate and final rebellion of man against Him is intended to be a tool of warning and evangelism. The study of the prophetic Scriptures displays the sover­eignty and the holiness of God. The message is loud and clear – the Lord will not always tolerate the rebellion of man and will ultimately bring it all to a divine conclusion that will glorify Him. Furthermore, He will honor and bless those who submit to His Lordship and worship Him as their Creator, Sustainer, Savior, Judge and coming King. The final generations of mankind that rebel against the Lord are destined to come under the judgment of His holy vengeance on this earth. All who reject the Son of God will spend eternity in total separation from the Lord and His heaven.

The book of Revelation, and all other prophetic Scrip­tures, has a practical goal of warning all men they have a personal choice to make. In this book, man is confronted with a holy God, His hatred of sin, and His ultimate judg­ment against all sin, sinners and effects of sin. As a warn­ing and invitation, this is brought to a final practical appli­cation in the closing verses of the Bible. “Let him that is

athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Revelation 22:17)

In light of this, it is no wonder that the godly prophets of Israel were consumed with the coming of the Messiah. Remember that the early church was 100 percent Jewish. All of the apostles were Jewish. The passion for the com­ing of the Messiah and His eternal plans continued in the early church as a vital focus in their personal lives. It served as a motive for all of their worship, edification and evangelistic effort! Furthermore, their understanding of the context of the last days gave them practical wisdom for living. Even so, today godly people can find practical wisdom for living as they develop a proper worldview in the light of God’s eternal plan. Like the children of Issa­char, “which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do” (1 Chronicles 12:32), we can share with our world God’s message of warning about the dangerous times in which we live.

Our Lord has called us to serve Him in these last days. In light of the times, we must conclude that He has called all of us to a ministry of warning. As God’s servants, we must be faithful to Him. The world will call us a failure, but God will call us faithful! God has called us to be faithful and obedient, not successful and disobedient. (1 Corinthians 4:2-5)

In recent days, I have been personally moved by the Scriptures as the Holy Spirit has reminded me that our Lord is determined that His eternal plans will come to pass. Consider Isaiah 9:7-“The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” Look at Isaiah 62:1, 6-7-“For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that bur­neth. … I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.”

I must confess that I have a fire that burns in my bones all the day long. I believe God! I believe His Word! I believe that the judgment of God upon America and our world is imminent. I do not know if we have hours, days, months or a few years before that judgment comes. But I do believe that those who love Him and are in tune with Him will not be afraid to lovingly and mercifully warn those around them. Oh that we could be consumed with a zeal to be faithful to Him as we long for His coming!

Be ready for the shout that will take us out!

Moving toward a New World Order

As one examines the Scriptures, it is evident that the earth’s final seven years of this age will be in the grip of a ruthless and evil global government. (Read Daniel 2:41­44; 7:7-8, 23-25; Revelation 13:1-9; 17:9-13.) I have noted that a growing number of Christian leaders agree that the coming New World Order will apparently be some type of political wedding of communism and Islam. On the basis of Scripture and the current function and strategies of the United Nations, I have come to adopt this as a real possibility. In the past few years, I have written about the Biblical view that the Antichrist and his empire will be Islamic. There are a multitude of Scriptures that support this view. For example, in Isaiah 14:4, the Anti­christ is called “the king of Babylon.” Babylon is located in present-day Iraq.

If this is true, then the current movement in the United States toward socialism [the first step toward Com­munism] and the growing acceptance of Islam is not only frightening, but reveals that we are witnessing the final stages of the collapse of the old world order’s last super­power. I personally believe that when the United States collapses as a world superpower, the world will be quickly forced into an international political system that will be socialistic and sympathetic to sharia law – the law of the Koran. I believe this will be the system that will ultimate­ly surrender its authority to the Antichrist. Isn’t it interest­ing that American citizens have re-elected a man to lead this nation that advocates socialism and Islam? This is not an accident! (Read Daniel 2:21.)

The Lord has raised up many voices to warn this nation of the course we have taken in the last several years. The current leadership, both internationally and in the U.S., are promising us that better days are ahead. As they chart this course for the future, they are calling for us to reject the past, reject the God of the Bible and its moral laws. (See Psalm 2:1-3) They are promising a man-made golden era. In his recent book, The Coming Revolution, Dr. Richard Lee (the founding pastor of First Redeemer Church in At­lanta and author of several volumes) gives the following warning to America: “The idea of a man-made utopia has been the promise of every totalitarian society since the collapse of the Roman republic. But it is a false vision, a mirage, a wisp of smoke, and we would be foolish indeed to abandon the achievements of the greatest republic in the history of mankind for a system that has been the source of some of the greatest miseries ever known. The progres­sive promise is in reality a hallucination.” (Dr. Richard Lee, The Coming Revolution, p. 29)

In an excellent article entitled, “The First Muslim Presi­dent,” in the current edition of Whistleblower (a publica­tion of World Net Daily), David Kupelian (an American journalist best known for his bestselling books The Mar­keting of Evil and How Evil Works) warns America about the course it has taken. He writes: “Having lived through a tumultuous era in which the biggest geopolitical chal­lenges to America’s very existence as a free nation have been Marxism and Shariah Islam, it’s a testimony to mod­ern America’s blindness that we have chosen – twice – a president who champions both.

“But there’s perfect logic to the ‘grand jihad’ uniting these two ungodly forces against the rare and exotic bloom of individual liberty. Both movements are based on the rejection of the God of the Bible and of Christianity and Judaism, which comprise the moral foundation of Western Civilization. Both are fixated on an ecstatic vi­sion of a utopia that cannot exist in reality because it de­fies all the laws of God and man and human nature and common sense.

“And, although superficially incompatible with each other, both are on the same side of the great war between good and evil, both intent on enslaving as many free peo­ple as possible in the process of imposing a deluded para­dise that never was and never can be.” (David Kupelian, “The First Muslim President,” Whistleblower, January 2013, p. 8)

It appears that these two political systems will be the iron and clay that are mentioned in Daniel 2:40-42. Certainly, these two totalitarian systems that ruthlessly rule over men have mingled “themselves with the seed of men.” (Daniel 2:43) These two political schemes currently control and manipulate the policies and decisions of the United Na­tions. The Communist ideology holds power over 22 per­cent of the world’s population, while Islam controls 29 percent. Therefore, these two tyrannical ideologies con­trol over half of the world’s inhabitants.

As one examines the pages of history it is very evident that those who radically adhere to the dogmas of Islam and Communism have the legacy of creating a bloodbath in the wake of taking control of nations that are forced into the slavery of their beliefs. In Islam’s 1,400 year his­tory, it is estimated that 270 million innocent people have been brutally murdered in the name of Allah. The Com­munists, Marxists and Nazis are responsible for the deaths of 120 million in the 20th century alone.

In light of all of this, it is chilling to note that the revela­tion given to Daniel indicates that the final evil kingdom “shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.” (Daniel 7:23) This vision trou­bled Daniel, and caused him much sadness. (Daniel 7:28) Therefore, it should not be too surprising that these con­siderations also greatly trouble us as well.

For the believer, these prophecies can be both sweet and bitter. (See Revelation 10:8-10) They are bitter because we know that much evil lies ahead for our world. Howev­er, on the sweet side, there is hope. The King of Kings will crush this evil New World Order. Jesus Christ will return at the end of the Tribulation Period and destroy the evil empire of the Antichrist. (Revelation 19:11-21) Long ago the prophet Daniel wrote of this event: “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the king­dom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” (Daniel 2:44)

During the Tribulation, we will join with the great num­ber of the saints in heaven as we proclaim: “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever.” (Revela­tion 11:15) Oh that we would long for this kingdom now! We should! We have been admonished to pray: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heav­en.” (Matthew 6:10)

Iranian Nuclear Facility Destroyed

Israeli intelligence has confirmed that one of Iran’s im­portant nuclear facilities has been partially destroyed. Iran is blaming the explosion on sabotage. This explosion took place at the Fordo nuclear plant near the city of Qom dur­ing the last week of January. Israel has been focusing up­on this facility because it is located in a massive bunker-style system under a mountain, “making it nearly immune to aerial assault, and therefore a perfect location for a sig­nificant portion of Iran’s uranium enrichment activities.” (www.israel today.co.il, January 27, 2013) There has been no assessment as to how much this will delay Iran’s progress toward the development of a nuclear weapon