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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 March – Should the U.S. Support Israel?

Should the U.S. Support Israel?

Speaking to Israel, the Lord has said: “Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war; for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms.”-Jeremiah 51:20

By Micah Winefeld

At this very critical time in our world, people are blindly ignorant of Biblical history and prophecy. Sadly, most people are living for the moment and have no considera­tion for the past or future. Shockingly, this includes most professing Christians in the U.S. Americans have easy access to God’s written Word, but they are clueless about historical happenings and the prophecies it contains.

A cursory glace at American history will demonstrate that this nation grew up with the Bible in its hand. The Bible was the guide for our founding fathers as they ham­mered out the Constitution and Bill of Rights. The law of God shaped the laws of our nation. About 130 years ago, we decided that we wanted to give witness to this reality by stamping U.S. currency and coins with the motto: “In God We Trust.”

Our Biblical heritage was expressed even more under the leadership of President Harry S. Truman. When the na­tion of Israel was reborn in 1948, President Truman was the first and most important world leader to formally rec­ognize the Jewish nation. The history books report that President Truman went against many of his political advi­sors in giving the U.S.’s blessing on the birth of Israel. His advisors felt that this would be a huge mistake politi­cally and enrage the Arab nations of the Middle East. Fur­thermore, there was a general consensus that the little fledgling nation of Israel, with only 650,000 inhabitants, would be no match for the Arab nations, having a popula­tion that outnumbered them 100 to 1. In addition, five powerful Arab nations were amassed on Israel’s borders and preparing to attack. Israel had no military and very few weapons to defend itself with. In the eyes of the world, Israel’s life would be short lived with Arab nations snuffing out its existence with little resistance. The Arabs would overrun the Jewish population in a short time. Therefore, in the eyes of Truman’s advisors, any recogni­tion of Israel would be a colossal error. History demon­strates they were wrong. God fought for Israel and the Jewish people were able to repel and defeat the five Arab nations that attacked them.

Sixty-four years later, it is clear that we did not learn from this very important historical lesson. Today in the U.S., we have leaders who are surrounded by advisors who think it is a mistake for us to support Israel. The me­dia, liberal university professors and politicians blame Israel for the failure to attain peace in the Middle East. In their view, peace will not come to the Middle East until Israel makes important concessions that will appease their Arab neighbors. These same voices vociferously cry out against the U.S. friendship and support of Israel, claiming it is a mistake. Sadly, many Americans, including pastors and Christians, are buying into all of this without examin­ing the real facts. In this newsletter, I would like to offer several facts to support my stern belief that the U.S. must wholeheartedly support our greatest friend and ally in the Middle East – Israel.

The Biblical Record

It is no surprise that the nations of the world, including the United States, are isolating themselves from Israel. This is a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. The Scriptures indicate that when the end of this age comes, the entire world will turn against the Jewish people and their occu­pation of the Holy Land. By the mid-point of the seven-year Tribulation, the entire world will join forces with the Antichrist. (Revelation 13:5-7; 17:12-13) As the world joins him, he will turn against Israel, breaking his 7-year treaty that began the Tribulation Period. (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:1-22) Satan will actually indwell and em­power the Antichrist for the duration of the Tribulation Period. (Daniel 8:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 13:1-7) Through the Antichrist, Satan will unleash horrif­ic deception and destruction bringing about death on a scale never witnessed in human history. While referring to this period of time, Jesus said: “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matthew 24:21) More than 600 years before Jesus, while referring to the same period of time, the Lord revealed to the an­cient Jewish prophet Daniel, that this will be a very diffi­cult time for the Jewish people. He wrote: “…and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” (Daniel 12:1)

The Lord will allow the devil to unleash the fury of his wrath against the inhabitants of earth. This will occur be­cause the global population will have departed from Him and will worship the devil and his puppet, the Antichrist. (Revelation 13:4) The focus of Satan’s rage will be the Jewish people and the nation of Israel. (Revelation 12) The final act of the Antichrist, as directed by Satan, will be a military assault against Israel at Armageddon. (Reve­lation 16:12-16)

About 4,000 years ago, the Lord gave the nations of the world a very clear divine test to measure their allegiance to Him. That test is found in God’s promise to the first Jew, Abraham, when He said: “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:2-3)

Therefore, when all of the nations of the world turn against Israel, they are ultimately rejecting God’s arm of blessings and inviting His curse upon them. It is very evi­dent that the world is openly rejecting the God of the Bi­ble. They are rejecting His Son, Jesus, His Word, the Bi­ble and His chosen people (Israel). We are living at a time when the nations are the recipients of the divine curse and their attitudes and actions toward the Jews and Israel are proof of this.

As believers in Jesus Christ, we should encourage and support the work of God in the nation of Israel. The Lord is working through His spiritual body, the Church. How­ever, He is also working through His physical chosen peo­ple, Israel, at the same time at the end of this age. The church has not and never will replace Israel. The Lord cannot and will not break His covenant with Israel. In Judges 2:1 He said: “I … have brought you into the land which I [swore] unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.” This statement is repeated many times throughout the Scriptures. By the very state­ments of the God of truth, and His divine nature, He must be faithful to Israel unto the very end. Should He do any­thing less, He ceases to be God!

Therefore, if America wants the blessings of the Lord it must stand with Israel! It must bless or curse Israel. There is no middle ground. “Pray for the peace of Jeru­salem: they shall prosper that love thee.” (Psalm 122:6)

The Truest Military and Political Ally in the Middle East

For many years, I have appreciated the work of a non­profit organization call FLAME (Facts and Logic About the Middle East). This organization provides articles in various publications around the world to remind people of the real facts about Israel and the Middle East. With their permission, I am giving an extensive quote from one of their latest articles that appeared in a recent edition of The International Jerusalem Post: “The United States is with­out question Israel’s most important ally. Also, without question, Israel is the staunchest and most reliable friend of the United States. But there are some who believe and vigorously advocate that Israel is a burden to the United States and that, were it not for Israel, peace would prevail in the Middle East.

“There are indeed those who claim that Israel is a liabil­ity, a burden to our country. Professors from prestigious universities write essays in which they [assert] that the United States is in thrall to the ‘Israel lobby.’ This lobby is said to pull the strings of American policy. Its supposed main promoters are AIPAC (American Israel Public Af­fairs) … They are said to exert an almost magical spell over policy makers, including the leaders of Congress and the President. Some even say that the Iraq war was pro­moted by this omnipotent ‘Israel lobby,’ that President Bush was [baffled] into declaring war on Saddam Hus­sein, not in order to defend the United States or promote its interests, but in order to further the interests of Israel.

“Israel is indeed a major recipient of U.S. aid. Israel receives yearly $3.0 billion, all of it in military aid – noth­ing in economic aid. 75 percent of this military aid must be spent with the U.S. military contractors, making Israel a very large customer of those companies.

“A good case can be made that aid to Israel, all of it mil­itary, should be a part of the United States defense budget, rather than the aid budget because Israel is, next only per­haps to Britain, by far the most important ally of the Unit­ed States. Virtually without exception, Israel’s govern­ment and its people agree with and support the foreign policy objectives of the United States. In the United Na­tions, Israel’s votes coincide with those of the United States over 90 percent of the time. The Arabs and other Muslim countries, virtually all of them recipients of America [aid], almost reflexively vote against the United States in most instances.

“Israel is the major strategic asset of the United States in an area of the world that is the cradle of Islamo-fascism, which is dominated by tyrants and permeated by religious [ignorance] and shows almost total disregard for human rights. During the decades-long Cold War, Israel was America’s indispensable rampart against the inroads of the Soviet Union. It is now the bulwark against the aggres­sive intentions of Iran. During Desert Storm, Israel pro­vided invaluable intelligence, an umbrella of air cover for military cargo, and had personnel planted in Iraqi deserts to pick up downed American pilots.

“Gen. George Keagan, former head of U.S. Air Force Intelligence, stated publicly that ‘Israel is worth five CIAs,’ with regard to intelligence passed to our country. He also stated that the yearly $3.0 billion that Israel re­ceived in military assistance was worth $50 to $60 billion in intelligence, R & D savings, and Soviet weapons sys­tems captured and transferred to the Pentagon. In contrast to our commitments in Korea, Japan, Germany, and other parts, not a single American serviceperson needs to be stationed in Israel. Considering that the cost of one ser­viceperson per year – including backup and infrastructure

– is estimated to be about $200,000, and assuming a min­imum contingent of 25,000 troops, the cost savings to the United States alone is on the order of $5 billion per year.

“Israel effectively secures NATO’s southeastern flank. Its superb harbor, its outstanding military installations, the air and sea lift capabilities, and the trained manpower to maintain sophisticated equipment are readily at hand in Israel. It is the only country that makes itself available to the United States in any contingency. Yes, Israel is not a burden, but a tremendous asset to the United States.

“Israel is indeed America’s unsinkable aircraft carrier in the Middle East and the indispensable defender of Ameri­can interests in that area of the world. The people of the United States, individually and through their Congression­al representatives, overwhelmingly support Israel in its seemingly unending fight against Arab aggression and Muslim terror. But that support is not only based on the great strategic value that Israel represents to the United States. It is and always has been based on shared values of liberty, democracy, and human rights. America and Israel are aligned by their shared love of peace and de­mocracy. Israel and the United States stand together in their fight against Islamo-fascist terrorism. These shared values, these common ideals, [should] bind Israel and the United States forever.” (FLAME – Facts and Logic About the Middle East, The International Jerusalem Post, Janu­ary 25-31, 2013, p. 3)

 

For additional excellent articles about the true facts in the Middle East, check out FLAME’s excellent website at: www.factsandlogic.org

I fear that the United States is on the verge of turning its back upon Israel. If it does, this nation will face the curse of God. What the nations do with “the apple of [God’s] eye” (Deuteronomy 32:10) will determine what He does to them. (Jeremiah 30:16; Obadiah 15) As a result, the Lord has said to Israel: “Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms.” (Jeremi­ah 51:20)

A Memorial Tribute to My Israeli Friend & Guide

I received word a few weeks ago that my Israeli friend and guide for over 15 years has passed away. Israel “Izzy” Rodrique was a dear friend. Many who travelled with me to Israel loved Izzy. He was a very devoted Israeli and loved his country. It is very fitting that his name was Isra­el. Izzy fought in several of the wars in Israel and was severely wounded in the battle for Jerusalem during the six-day war of 1967. He received an award for his brav­ery, the equivalent of a U.S. Purple Heart. He was an Is­raeli paratrooper and wore his wings with great pride.

Izzy guided my tour groups with his expert knowledge, but best of all with his heart. He could never do enough for our group. He was always looking for a better or more efficient way to guide. One of his favorite sayings was, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” Izzy and I were a real team, he respected me and I respected him. We un­derstood each other. He knew that I have a great love for Israel and the Jewish people. In many ways this bonded us together.

Izzy made several trips to the U.S. and understood our culture and the way American’s think. He used that to help him effectively communicate the geography and cul­ture of his own people and land.

Izzy developed cancer and was not able to guide my last tour of Israel in 2011. However, he knew my itinerary and met me and my group on the Mount of Olives. We talked for a few minutes. Little did I know that it would be the last time I would see him.

Please pray for his wife and family. I am sure they must really miss him. One of Israel’s great heroes has fallen. It really is hard for me to say good-bye to my very good friend.

Israeli Confidence

Israel is like no other nation. It constantly lives under the threats of war and terrorism from its Islamic neighbors. Israel lives in a sea of Islamic hatred. In the Middle East, Israel is literally surrounded by Islamic nations that reject its presence and very existence. A day never passes in which Muslim leaders don’t call for the death of Israelis and the extermination of the Jewish nation. Israel has had to endure more United Nations condemnations and resolu­tions than any other nation since the beginning of the U.N. after World War II.

In a few weeks, Israel will celebrate its 65th anniversary as a modern state. In that short period of time it has fought four major wars, engaged in several mini-wars with terrorist groups in Lebanon and Gaza, and endured endless terrorist attacks from Islamic extremists.

When people travel with me to Israel they are shocked to find that the Israelis exude a confidence that allows them to carry on with a normal life in spite of the ongoing daily threats against them. It is my opinion that this con­fidence is the result of two things. First, Israelis have grown accustomed to their rejection and threats. As wan­dering Jews, their forefathers have had to endure this for millenniums of time. Second, Israel is very confident that they have developed a very strong military defense to deal with the threats that are coming against it. This is illus­trated by the response of their Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in a recent interview conducted by The Jeru­salem Post. He was asked: “What is the hope of Israel?” He responded: “The hope of Israel has always been that we build a vibrant, dynamic Jewish state in an inhospita­ble environment … We have a long historical perspective. We’ve come back to our land, restored our independence, built up our capacity to defend ourselves, built an indus­try, built technology, built an army second to none, in or­der to assure the future of the Jewish state, and I’ll tell you, that’s the only hope for peace too, because nobody will make peace with a weak Israel. They’ll make peace with a strong Israel, a very strong Israel. That’s the hope of the future.” (The International Jerusalem Post, January 18-24, 2013, p. 10)

Notice that when the nations mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39 invade Israel, the Bible says they will come at a time when Israel will be dwelling safely in the land. (Ezekiel 38:8, 14) It is my opinion that the use of the Hebrew word that is translated “safely” carries the idea of the confidence of security. It does not necessitate that Israel has no enemies or is dwelling in total peace with no real threat. There­fore, it is apparent that the current level of confidence in their military ability to defend themselves is the exact kind of attitude that Ezekiel spoke about concerning Israel in these last days.

Dealing with the Iranian Threat

According to Israel Today, “The Obama Administration keeps insisting that it will never allow Iran to attain nucle­ar weapons, but Israel is growing increasingly concerned that Washington has in fact resigned itself to the idea of a nuclear-armed Iran. Recently, an Obama-linked think tank issued a report suggesting that there was little to fear from a nuclear Iran.” (www.israeltoday.co.il, March 1, 2013) This confrontation will continue to escalate and ultimately produce the war mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39.

All of this is very interesting in light of the fact that Russia and Iran signed an agreement in February to form a “strategic partnership.” Furthermore, “Iran played host to Russian warships visiting Bandar Abbas on the Strait of Hormuz, in what looks like the opening gambit for a Rus­sian naval presence in the strategic waterway.” (Joel C. Rosenberg’s Blog, February 14, 2013)

Major Earthquake and Volcanic Activity

Several leading scientists are warning that earth is expe­riencing a very dangerous swarm of several massive earthquakes. During the month of February, there were 39 major quakes in two days. There were two massive quakes measuring 8.8 and 8.2 on the Richter scale, fol­lowed by three powerful quakes in Mexico, all within a few hours. On February 5, 2013, Gheorghe Marmureanu, from Romania’s National Institute of Earth Physics, com­mented: “There is no doubt that something is seriously wrong. There have been too many strong earthquakes. … The quakes are a surprise that cannot be easily explained by current scientific knowledge. With the Indonesian quake for example, statistically, there should be one big earthquake in this part of Asia every 500 years. However, since 2004, there were already three quakes with a magni­tude of over 8, which is not normal.” (www.croatiantimes.com, February 5, 2013)

Another geological website commented: “Nearly all of the planet’s current 15 tectonic plates, and in some cases, sub-plates and volcanic arcs are heavily stressed by recent violent mobility of tectonic plates shaken by earthquakes. I’ve never quite seen a pattern this fraught with potential hazards or as heavily laden with seismic tension. The planet is now experiencing a major geological crisis, and it’s showing some indication of worsening.” (www.theextinctionprotocol.wordpress.com, February 2, 2013)

This report raises the eyebrows of the Bible prophecy student. According to Jesus, one of the powerful signs of the last days will be the increase of massive earthquakes in different places. (Matthew 24:7; Mark 13:8; Luke 21:11) According to the Bible, there will be at least three global earthquakes in the last days. (Ezekiel 38:19-20; Revela­tion 6:12-17; 16:17-21) Therefore, the words of these leading geologists are very clear indicators that we are rapidly moving toward the geological upheaval that the Bible predicted.

Get ready for the shout that will take us out!

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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