A Most Unlikely Ally of Israel!

11 Saturday Jun 2016

Posted by garybowers in Prophecy in General

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Who Could Imagine Such an Alliance

What would you think if someone told you that one of the nations listed below would one day (soon) become a faithful friend of Israel? Based on historical and/or contemporary animosity and out-right hatred these nations have constantly demonstrated toward Israel, I would argue strongly against any such alliance ever taking place. In fact, I would zoom right past improbable, to impossible.

They are: Russia, Iran, Syria, Egypt, Turkey, Libya, Ethiopia, and Iraq.

There are other nations that could be candidates for such an implausible one hundred eighty degree turnaround from a bitter foe of Israel to its best friend. But to give you better odds of identifying the right one, the list will be limited to these eight nations. They are among the most conspicuous with regard to their almost uninterrupted Antisemitism. None more so than modern-day Iran whose leaders have boasted frequently that they will, “wipe Israel from the face of the earth.”

Later in today’s article, we’ll examine one of the most overlooked, but nevertheless remarkable passages in Scripture. Defying all odds, a passage predicting that one of these nations will eliminate all hostility against Israel and establish a loyal brotherhood with the Jews, no one would think possible. Often a bitter enemy of Israel, this nation will flourish under God’s forgiveness and favor. The Lord will make himself known to them like never before. He will rescue this nation, heal it, and its people will turn to him. They will worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

If you think this sounds a lot like what God has done and will do for what the Bible calls his “special possession” Israel, you would be right! Which makes God’s kindness to this Gentile nation all the more incredible, particularly in light of Scripture’s clear premise that God deals harshly with peoples and nations that have cursed the Jews and sought their destruction.

Can you guess which nation it is? If you’ve studied Scripture on anything approaching a regular basis, then you might already know. However, it’s unlikely that even some ardent students of the Bible are all that familiar with his passage; or they have minimized its importance in the last days in which we live … a time when Bible prophecies are coming together with stunning regularity.

Will it be Russia?

For sure that would be a surprising choice on God’s part to suddenly bless (show his favor) this agnostic giant to Israel’s north, what with the virulent anti-Semitism still prevalent in Russia. Persecution, nonetheless, that has been a catalyst to the Aliyah (ingathering immigration to the Promised Land) of hundreds of thousands of Jews from Russia to Israel in just the past few decades. An exodus that Scripture predicted would be greater even than the first exodus from Egypt.

“In that day, says the Lord, when people are taking an oath, they will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who rescued the people of Israel from the land of Egypt.’ Instead, they will say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the people of Israel back to their own land from the land of the north and from all countries to which he had exiled them.’ Then they will live in their own land” (Jeremiah 23:7-8).

Please refer to Eye of Prophecy article, The Second Exodus, posted 5-10-14.

No, it will not be Russia. Why not?

During the seven-year Tribulation, Russia will be utterly decimated by God. There are some nations throughout history and in today’s world that have crossed or will cross the divine line of God’s tolerance. They have charted a course that is diametrically opposed to Israel and to God himself. They have passed the point of no return. They have sealed their own fate.

Russia’s destruction is clearly predicted by one of the most famous passages in the Bible, the Gog/Magog assault on Israel.

Several Eye of Prophecy articles have been dedicated entirely or partially to this spectacular end times prophecy as found in Chapters 38 and 39 of Ezekiel. Such as: Beginning of the End (posted 3-5-16); The Russians Are Coming! (11-14-15); Gog, Magog & Leviathan (1-3-15); Russia & Iran versus Israel (10-4-14); and Beware of the Bear (3-22-14).

Some 2,500 years ago when Ezekiel received many prophecies, including the Gog/Magog attack on Israel, the Lord said to Gog, the ruler of Magog (Russia and her allies), “…Gog, I am your enemy! I will turn you around and put hooks in your jaws to lead you out with your whole army…” (Ezekiel 38:3-4).

In the next chapter, God repeats for emphasis that Gog is his enemy. Because this epic clash between God and the Gog/Magog alliance would take place in the distant future (which is today’s very near future), it’s clear that Russia will remain God’s enemy until she is vanquished.

“Son of man, prophesy against Gog. Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord: I am your enemy, O Gog, ruler of the nations of Meshech and Tubal. I will turn you around and drive you toward the mountains of Israel, bringing you from the distant north. I will knock the bow from your left hand and the arrows from your right hand, and I will leave you helpless. You and your army and your allies will all die on the mountains … You will fall in the open fields, for I have spoken, says the Sovereign Lord” (Ezekiel 39:1-5).

Although the Gog/Magog assault against Israel will entail a vast military alliance rolling down on Israel like a perfect storm, it’s evident now that Russia is preparing for this massive invasion through its recent unopposed military infiltration of Syria, right next door to Israel.

The destruction of the Gog/Magog forces will be so great that, “It will take seven months for the people of Israel to bury the bodies and cleanse the land” (Ezekiel 39:12).

Could Iran Be the Nation That God Unexpectedly Blesses?

No, not Iran; nor will it be Turkey, Libya or Ethiopia. For all four of these nations are part of the Russian-led coalition against Israel. They, too, will be crushed by God’s direct intervention to rescue Israel from this early Tribulation onslaught. With the second campaign against Israel led by Antichrist and his ten-nation confederation late in the Tribulation.

Iran’s seething hatred of Israel as disgustingly displayed by the repulsive rhetoric streaming from the mouths of Iranian generals, presidents, and ayatollahs, will physically manifest itself in its participation in the Gog/Magog campaign. But Persia didn’t actually come into existence as Iran until the 20^th century; nor did its leaders and people exhibit such malice toward Israel until Iran became a Muslim dominated nation in the 1970s.

History tells us that Persians have not always despised Israel, not on a national level. That is a relatively recent phenomenon. Have you read the book of Esther recently, or at all?! Most Jews read it or portions of it every year during the Feast of Purim, celebrating the supernatural chain of events that delivered the Jewish race from extinction.

Recall that when Haman—“the most powerful official in the empire” (Esther 3:1)—second in command to King Xerxes, plotted to kill all the Jews; neither the King himself nor most of the Persian people harbored any ill-will against the Jews. There were two reasons why King Xerxes gave permission for Haman to carry out this pernicious plan to exterminate the Jews. (1) Because Xerxes had recently promoted him to this high-ranking position; Xerxes granted Haman’s request in order to personally affirm Haman’s second-in-command authority. (2) Haman’s revolting rationale (fabrication, but the King didn’t know that or bother to find out at the time) which included the lie about the Jews; “…they refuse to obey the laws of the king. So it is not in the king’s interest to let them live” (Esther 3:8).

It’s readily apparent at the time of the edict, Xerxes didn’t even know that the people to whom Haman’s genocidal plan was directed were the Jews. Haman never identified this group of captive subjects as the Jews. He only referred to them as, “a certain race of people.” Then used the plural personal pronouns, “they” and “them.” The book of Esther strongly suggests that Xerxes didn’t know Haman was referring to the Jews until Esther (at the risk of her life even though she was the Queen) exposed Haman and his diabolical plot to Xerxes … right in front of Haman.

Time/space does not permit in this article, but I would encourage you to read the absolutely amazing sequence of events that fell into place one after the other, as recorded in the book of Esther. A chain of events that could only be attributed to God’s providential plan and execution of that plan. Speaking of execution, you may recall that Haman was executed exactly as he had planned for Mordecai, a totally innocent Jew … as were all the Jews in Persia.

Now that’s justice!

Thus, it’s an altogether ironic shame that modern-day Iranians, who and whose leaders are so very proud of their Persian heritage, harbor such evil toward Jews in general and Israel in particular. As indicated, this malevolence will lead them to direct conflict with the true and living Almighty God who warns them, “When Gog invades the land of Israel, my fury will boil over!” (Ezekiel 38:18).

The List Is Getting Shorter!

Other Scriptural and historical evidence could be presented to also show why Syria and Iraq (formerly Babylon), as well as other nations absent from today’s list, will not be the nation for which God will make an exception to divine justice when he judges the nations who would dare destroy his special possession Israel and his chosen people, the Jews.

Just one example: Both Iraq and Syria already have been decimated by civil war; with powerful countries such as the United States, Great Britain, France, and Russia fighting on one side or another of the Muslim sects. With everyone seeking to eliminate the worst of the lot, ISIS.

For all practical purposes Iraq and Syria have reached the point of no return, in terms of God showing his favor to them as a nation. There are geopolitical experts who say that neither Iraq nor Syria will ever be the same again. That one or both of these nations will be divided into smaller nations or territories; for example, between Sunni and Shi’ite Muslims or the Kurds.

If you have a pretty good memory, then by the process of elimination you know by now which nation will inexplicably, but eagerly, turn from their incessant bashing of Israel and become Israel’s closest ally.

Egypt It Is!

For approximately 3,400 years, Egypt has been an active or at least a passive adversary of Israel. It was the first and has been, by far, the longest lasting rival of the Jews than any other nation on earth.

To be sure there were periods of time when Israel felt relatively safe alongside Egypt. For example, when a couple of Israel’s kings sought military assistance from Egypt against Assyria. Or when Jeremiah had the opportunity to go to Egypt with other Jewish exiles from the Babylonia conquest of Israel. He chose not to. Or, when Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt to escape King Herod’s murderous rampage to kill the new-born Messiah by slaughtering Jewish boys in Bethlehem two years or younger in age.

Most of us know where it all began. The amazing Biblical account of the Exodus is known even by non-Jews and non-Christians the world over. Books have been published, articles printed, movies made, and sermons preached about God’s miracles that led to the deliverance of the Jews from Egyptian bondage. Because of Pharaoh’s arrogance and stubbornness, God inflicted disastrous damage and death on the Egyptians, their crops, and their livestock.

How soon we forget. Just like the Egyptians and their Pharaoh forgot that it was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob who spared Egypt (and surrounding nations) from a catastrophic famine … through Jacob’s son, Joseph. Over a thousand years before the Persian King Xerxes promoted Mordecai to the second highest position in Persia, Egypt’s Pharaoh elevated Joseph to the most powerful position in Egypt, next only to Pharaoh, himself.

Eventually and inevitably, the Egyptians and their Pharaoh forgot all about Joseph. From that point on Egypt has despised the Jews and Israel. However, the more Egypt persecuted the Jews, the greater was God’s punishment of Egypt down through the centuries. God used the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Persians, the Greeks, the Romans, and other empires such as the Ottoman Turks to punish Egypt.

For example: “The Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel says, ‘I will punish Amon, the god of Thebes, and all the other gods of Egypt. I will punish its rulers and Pharaoh, too, and all who trust in him. I will hand them over to those who want them killed—to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and his army. But afterward the land will recover from the ravages of war. I, the Lord, have spoken!’” (Jeremiah 46:25-26).

That’s precisely what happened, including a resurgence of Egyptian prosperity and prominence among the nations, which was evident at the time the Roman Empire began to rise in power; and is again visible in our modern times. Remember Cleopatra and Julius Caesar, then Mark Antony.

Scripture is replete with references to Egypt, mostly in the context of God’s judgments on this life-long mortal enemy of Israel.

Modern-Day Egyptian/Israeli Conflict

For the most part Egyptian overt hostility toward the Jews subsided, but only because Egypt declined as a world power after the time of Christ. But there’s never been a shortage of people or nations to continue and practice the ugly pastime of Antisemitism. In the 7^th century, Mohammed and Islam picked up where other ethnic groups and nations had left off.

Fast forwarding to the 20^th century: Egypt began to rise again—economically, politically, and militarily. Though certainly not anything approaching a world superpower, Egypt is the most prominent of all of the Arabic countries surrounding Israel. Among Muslim nations today, only Iran rivals Egypt in clout; yet Iran isn’t even Arabic … it’s still Persian.

When the United Nations passed a resolution in November, 1947 granting statehood rights to the Jews and Arabs in Palestine, the Jews accepted this gracious proclamation and declared Israel as their sovereign state on May 14, 1948. As a reminder, the Arabs refused to form their own state; they couldn’t tolerate the idea of existing side-by-side with a Jewish State.

Instead, Syria, Iraq, and Jordan, led by their most powerful Middle-East ally Egypt, ruthlessly attacked Israel the very next day. With one and only one objective: annihilate the reborn State of Israel. Literally against all odds, the Jews won a resounding victory over vastly superior numbers and armament.

Again, Egypt launched an offensive against Israel in the 1956 Suez War. Despite possessing military superiority, Egypt was soundly defeated.

Yet again in 1967, Israel routed an Egyptian led coalition in what the whole world knows as the Six-Day War. Although Israel struck first, everyone knew that the Egyptians and Syrians were planning an imminent attack on Israel, who beat them to the punch. No matter who hit who first, there has been no other war in history to rival Israel’s amazing victory over Egypt and its Arabic allies.

The Egyptians still had not had enough. Once again they tried to overwhelm Israel with yet another unprovoked and malicious assault during the holiest Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. Although the Israelis were on the defensive for a few days, once again they prevailed.

By this time, it was becoming clear to anyone who knew anything at all about the God of the Bible and the history of the Jews, that the Lord himself had divinely orchestrated Israel’s victory over what military and political experts considered insurmountable odds. Even those who are essentially agnostic, include many Jews themselves, have no other logical explanation for many of the miraculous events that occurred during these wars, leading to Israel’s ultimate triumphs over Egypt, Syria, and other Arab countries.

After the 1973 Yom Kippur devastating defeat at the hands of the Israelis, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat finally understood the writing on the wall. Something was different. Unlike Israel’s past in which she had been thoroughly defeated as a nation by Assyria, Babylon, Rome, and then almost wiped out as a people by Hitler’s Third Reich, the Jews had become a formidable foe. Israel couldn’t lose a war, and they wouldn’t lose the sovereign state of Israel granted to them by the United Nations, in the land promised and deeded to them by God, himself.

So, what did Egypt do? In one of the most historically abrupt and amazing turn around imaginable, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat agreed to a peace treaty with Israel in 1979. This historical agreement shocked leaders of nations the world over; even US President Jimmy Carter, who had arranged the conference between Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin.

(Sadat, Carter, and Begin Signing the Peace Treaty)

Two years later, Anwar Sadat would pay for this treaty with his life. He was gunned down by his own people—militant Muslims who branded Sadat a traitor to Egypt and Islam. Yes, as we all know by now: Islamic terrorists maim and kill other Muslims as well as non-Muslims, especially Jews and Christians.

As unlikely as it was for Egypt—of all nations—to reach a peace agreement with Israel, it was and remains a tenuous truce borne out of more selfish Egyptian desires. Why? Because one of the main conditions of this pact was that Israel return the Sinai Peninsula back to Egypt, that Israel had won in the Six-Day War. The fact of the matter: Most Egyptians, such as those belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood, still hold a ton of hatred for Jews and a mountain of antagonism toward Israel. On the other hand, as a nation, Egypt has acknowledged the right for Israel to exist.

Other than Jordan, Egypt is the only Muslim nation that has, at least in principle, adopted an attitude of tolerance toward and acceptance of Israel as belonging to the earth’s family of nations. Which is why Jordan (part of ancient Moab, Edom, and Ammon) will also be spared annihilation during Antichrist Nero’s final onslaught against Israel and surrounding countries near the end of the Great Tribulation (see Daniel 11:40-43).

Although Egypt will not completely escape the carnage of Armageddon, it will not be utterly destroyed. I believe the reason for this and the reason for the God- arranged last day’s reconciliation between Israel and Egypt is because the Egyptians have finally acknowledged the right of Israel’s existence in the Promised Land. That, and God’s sovereign privilege to, show mercy and compassion to anyone he chooses (Exodus 33:10). All other nations who continue with their devilish plot to destroy Israel will suffer the Biblically prophesied wrath of Almighty God.

God’s Extraordinary Promise to Reconcile Egypt and Israel

Egypt’s reaching out to Israel and to the true and living God (which means abandoning Islam) will not come easy. As indicated, today’s respite between Egypt and Israel is a weak one, at best. One that is based on expediency. Thus, Egypt will undergo one final woodshed discipline from the Lord to get their attention that he alone is God, Jesus is Messiah, and Israel is God’s special possession.

In segments, let’s examine the Biblical passage in Isaiah Chapter 19 predicting Egypt’s startling turnabout:

“In that day, the Egyptians will be as weak as women. They will cower in fear beneath the upraised fist of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Just to speak the name of Israel will terrorize them, for the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has laid out his plans against them” (Isaiah 19:16-17).

Commentary: Whenever Scripture says, “In that day,” it almost always refers to the end times or last days … also expressed as, The Day of the Lord. Whereas the first fifteen verses of Isaiah Chapter 19 pertain to a prophecy that would be fulfilled only dozens of years later—when Assyria conquered Egypt along with Israel and other nations—Isaiah abruptly shifts, which he often does, from the near future to the distant future. We’ll get to that transition in a moment.

But first: Ladies, don’t take offense! Or, if you do, take it up with God! Throughout the Bible, woman are afforded great respect, especially by Jesus, himself. There are numerous passages that relay the contributions and support by women for Israel and the Church. Not that God or what he says has to be defended, but when the Lord says the Egyptians will be “as weak as women,” he is making a simple statement of physical fact. Women have many attributes and skills that we men don’t have … God bless them! But generally speaking, physical prowess (especially in close-up battle) is not one of them. After all, God created innate differences between male and female. (I know, try to tell that to a transgender … sorry, couldn’t hold back on that one).

Initially, Egypt will shrivel in fear as they watch God destroy the Gog/Magog coalition, at the mighty judgments of God on the earth during the tribulation, at the ferocious fighting ability of the Jews in valiantly defending Israel against the overwhelming might of Nero’s confederation. Not only will the Egyptians be in awe of Israel and the God of Israel, but they will also shrink in fear at what Nero will do to them during his Middle-East campaign.

The prophet Daniel speaking of the Antichrist, says, “He will conquer many countries, and even Egypt will not escape. He will gain control over the gold, silver, and treasures of Egypt, and the Libyans and Ethiopians will be his servants” (Daniel 11:42-43).

Returning to Isaiah and his sudden acceleration to the last days:

“In that day five of Egypt’s cities will follow the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. They will even begin to speak Hebrew, the language of Canaan. One of these cities will be Heliopolis, the City of the Sun” (Isaiah 19:18).

Commentary: From the Hebrew language in which the Old Testament was written, most Bible versions translate, “one will be called the City of Destruction.” In the New Living Translation which I use for all Bible quotes (unless otherwise noted in the article), it reads, “Heliopolis, The City of the Sun.” Which is an accurate rendition, because the Hebrew word, “ir haheres” parodies the Egyptian city of “Harcheres,” the “City of the Sun,”—Heliopolis. It was there that the Egyptian sun-god Ra was centrally worshipped.

(Depiction of Sun-god Ra in Ancient Heliopolis)

Egypt’s enthusiastic embrace of the Lord and remarkable recognition of Israel in the last days (soon to come) is so strong that five Egyptian cities will learn and speak Hebrew! If any Egyptian alive today spoke only Hebrew while living in Egypt, they wouldn’t be around tomorrow.

Continuing in Isaiah: “In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the heart of Egypt, and there will be a monument to the Lord at its border. It will be a sign and a witness that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is worshipped in the land of Egypt. When the people cry to the Lord for help against those who oppress them, he will send them a savior who will rescue them” (Verses 19-20).

Commentary: The NLT translation of “The Lord of Heaven’s Armies,” is pretty much unique to the NLT. Although they say pretty much the same thing, I prefer the more common translation in other versions which is: “The Lord of Hosts.” Adonai Tzva’ot in Hebrew, which means the Lord of the host of heaven. In other words, all the angelic beings and believers who are and will be in heaven with the Lord God.

Notice that these verses refer to, the land of Egypt. Which clearly indicates that the previously referenced five cities of Egypt represent the entire nation. It could be that citizens of only those five cities will actually decide to speak Hebrew. However, even if the rest of Egypt doesn’t learn the Hebrew language, they will still go to the extreme of building an altar and a monument as a sign that they have given their complete loyalty to God and God alone.

The text is crystal clear: The reason they do so is because the Lord hears and answers their plea for help (deliverance from Antichrist and his massive military force) by sending them a savior. Of course, the Savior is none other than Messiah Jesus. I think one of the most fantastic features of this prophecy is the fact that Muslim Egyptians actually turn to the true God and the true Messiah. Not to Allah and not to Antichrist.

Continuing with Isaiah’s prophecy: “The Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians. Yes, they will know the Lord and will give their sacrifices and offerings to him. They will make a vow to the Lord and will keep it” (Verse 21).

Commentary: The fact that the Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians is astounding. The Lord is telling Egypt that he will be their God and Savior no more or less than he is Israel’s God and Savior. This is not only for personal salvation, which will still be available to those left behind in the Tribulation, but actual physical redemption of Egypt in like manner that the Lord delivers Israel from the same threat facing the Jews. Although the text doesn’t specify Egypt’s vow to the Lord, I’m going to (spiritually!) speculate that it is a promise to cease all hostile thoughts and actions against Israel. From then on to consider the Jews as (Semitic) brothers and sisters and to treat them with the utmost respect.

At this point, Isaiah interjects a brief summary of his prophecy by saying, “The Lord will strike Egypt, and then he will bring healing. For the Egyptians will turn to the Lord, and he will listen to their pleas and heal them” (Verse 22).

Commentary: This is a reminder that the Lord must first discipline Egypt, for the express intent of getting their attention. Although the terrible threats against Israel during this last part of the Tribulation is not at all discipline from the Lord (that all ended in 1967), the outcome is the same: both Israel and Egypt call upon God and Messiah to save them from obliteration.

This “striking” of Egypt could also take place again, well into the Millennium, if Egypt disobeys the Lord (they probably will … see Zechariah 14:16-19). But if it does, it will also result in Egypt’s repentance and renewed loyalty to the King of kings and Lord of lords.

This passage closes with another remarkable disclosure: There will be a second group of Gentiles who will also become unlikely friends with Israel, alongside Egypt. Read with me:

“In that day Egypt and Assyria will be connected by a highway. The Egyptians and Assyrians will move freely between their lands, and they will both worship God. And Israel will be their ally. The three will be together, and Israel will be a blessing to them. For the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will say, ‘Blessed be Egypt, my people. Blessed be Assyria, the land I have made. Blessed be Israel, my special possession!’” (Isaiah 19:23-25).

Commentary: How stunning is that?!

Obviously with God’s omniscience (knowing the end from the beginning), he would know that the ancient empire of Assyria would not actually be a nation when all this takes place. Which is one reason that the passage says, “Blessed be Egypt, my people. Blessed be Assyria, the land I have made” (Italics for emphasis).

Rather than referring to “the people of Assyria,” as relating to God’s favor poured out on them, God here identifies Assyria as, “the land I have made.” Other prophets, especially Isaiah, sometimes write in the past tense even when referring to the last days. This is one of those times. God will create (dedicate) a geographical area from the ancient Assyrian Empire where people who are descendants of the Assyrians but also peoples who intermarried (of which there were many) with Assyrians and peoples conquered by and transported to this region will live and serve the Lord in like manner as Egypt and Israel.

Time/space doesn’t permit an in-depth examination of the ancient Assyrian Empire. Please refer to the map that encompasses that land space. Plus, the Assyrians were a mixture of several Sumerian tribes eventually united under kings.

Something, however, does come to mind. What about all of the migrants from several Middle East countries like Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan pouring into Europe, creating an enormous refugee crisis? Might those among them and many others who remain in the war-torn Middle East who call upon the Lord to be saved during the Tribulation, be relocated to the new Assyria!

Things to Ponder

If God hadn’t given the prophecy about Egypt’s unbelievable spiritual turnaround and improbable bond with Israel, I and others would have been incredulous at this development when we begin to rule and reign with our Lord during the millennium. Or, if the prophecy had not specified Egypt, it still would have been last on my list of nations God might have chosen to be specifically blessed alongside Israel. If for no other reason than the perpetual, seemingly never-ending bitter rivalry between these two countries.

But then any event that affects the whole world, to one extent or another, has been predicted in the Bible. How do we know that?

“Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).

Which is why there are hundreds of prophetic passages concerning Israel’s restoration and the two advents of the Messiah, which are the most significant events of human history. And also a handful of seemingly less essential prophecies mentioned only once or twice. But no less important to God; or, in this instance, to Egypt and whoever the Assyrians might be!

The Vatican and Islam … A Perfect Match for Antichrist

04 Saturday Jun 2016

Posted by garybowers in The Antichrist

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Chrislam, Imam, Pope Francis, Vatican

Roman Catholicism Plus Islam (What Some Have Dubbed Chrislam)

Roman Catholic Popes have always attracted a disproportionate share of media attention, but not quite like Pope Francis. It seems like everything he does and everywhere he goes generates global publicity. Once again he is making headlines. On Monday, May 23^rd, 2016, Pope Francis met with the Grand Imam of Cairo’s Al-Azhar Mosque, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, who is widely recognized as Sunni Islam’s premier authority and spokesperson.

This was the first time that the Papacy had invited a high-ranking Muslim (Sunni or Shi’ite) cleric to the Vatican. Pope Francis told Sheikh al-Tayeb, “Our meeting is the message.”

Clearly, this comment was also for the media’s benefit … meaning what was actually discussed between these two global religious leaders wasn’t nearly as important as the meeting itself. In keeping with Pope Francis’ words to Grand Imam Ahmed al-Tayeb, there were no significant ground-breaking words exchanged between the two religious leaders. There was no need; the meeting said it all.

However, just a few days before this historic conference, Pope Francis did make some shocking statements in an interview with the French Catholic news source, La Croix, in obvious preparation for the meeting with Imam al-Tayeb. Such as:

“It is true that the idea of conquest is inherent in the soul of Islam. However, it is also possible to interpret the objective in Matthew’s Gospel, where Jesus sends his disciples to all nations, in terms of the same idea of conquest.”

Unbelievable! In no uncertain terms, Pope Francis made a contemptible comparison and calculated concession to Islamic Jihad (forced subjugation of Christians and Jews) by equating Muslim objectives of world domination and establishment of a global Caliphate to the Great Commission of Jesus Christ—to evangelize the world with the Gospel of salvation.

To be sure, the Pope provided a small window of escape, by interjecting the disclaimer, “it is also possible to interpret…” In anticipation, I suppose, that some would disagree with his incredible correlation between spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ through violence in like manner that Islam has been forced on entire nations by the sword. However, it’s all too evident that his absurd association was an attempt to placate Muslims—even to the extent of cleverly explaining Islamic tactics of terrorism, by suggesting that Jesus (might have) endorsed the very same strategies of “conquest.”

(Pope Francis & Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb)

If Pope Francis is alluding to the misguided and misinformed Crusades and Crusaders or to the Roman Catholic Inquisitions, then he has a point. If so, his finger pointing should and would be directed against the Roman Catholic Church itself, including all Popes, now and then; as the so-called infallible representatives of Jesus Christ on this earth (Vicars). Because it was Catholic kings, knights, and common citizens of European nations that launched these unholy and unbiblical campaigns against both Muslims and Jews.

Whether he intentionally or inadvertently was referring to the Crusades and Inquisitions, the last thing he should have done was to quote the Bible, especially the very words of Jesus. Why? Because the entire ministry of Jesus as recorded in the gospels plus the tenets of the true Christian faith as consolidated by the Apostles Paul, Peter, and John in their epistles neither say nor imply that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is to be promulgated through conquest.

That is simply not the way or means of spreading the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. I repeat for emphasis: nowhere does Scripture state or even infer that God’s plan of salvation is to be forced on anyone—at any time, by any means, in any place.

Here is an excerpt from the Eye of Prophecy article, entitled, A Religion of Peace, Part I, posted 4-11-15.

But for sake of this week’s and next week’s Part II article, we want to focus on the goals of Islamic conquest by forced conversion (or death) versus the universal spread of the Christian Gospel (Good News) through individual voluntary heart-felt response of accepting Jesus as one’s personal Savior. In other words, the true and living God of Scripture does not force anyone to believe and receive the atoning sacrifice of his precious Son. True, Scripture emphatically explains the eternal destiny of all who reject so great a salvation that Jesus purchased with so great a sacrifice; but nowhere in the Bible does God demand (forced) conversion of the unsaved. Instead, he appeals to every person on earth out of love and concern for the personal destiny of all … heaven or hell.

Then from A Religion of Peace, Part II, posted 4-18-15:

The three Crusade campaigns in the 11^th, 12^th, and 13^th centuries of so-called Christians against primarily Muslim controlled Jerusalem and the Holy Land that also included killing of Jews along the way, have caused great consternation with both Jews and Muslims even in modern times. Recently the Crusades have been cited by Muslim clerics, by Christian and Jewish liberals, and even by heads of state (including President Obama) as a morally equivalent example of extremist’s behavior in the name of religion.

First, the vast majority of these Crusaders were acting on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church, the Pope, and French and English Kings who were, for the most part, subject to the Pope. These crusades in no way, shape, or form represented the essence of Jesus Christ or Scripture. Which is to spread the Good News of salvation to all mankind, with the crystal clear understanding that this is not done through violence or even by duress. Just the opposite: As any kind, caring parent wants their child to respond to their love with love and appreciation from the child (not out of threat or even obligation), so does our great God and Messiah Jesus give us the same choice. Thus, it’s a matter of the heart, not of the sword. An issue of gratitude, not attitude (brashness and arrogance that leads to compulsive compliance).

It’s so very sadly true that the Crusaders were hell-bent to retake Israel from the Muslims and restore what they perceived as the Kingdom of Heaven in Jerusalem. They did so under the mantle of a romantic, but more-so mushy misguided mission that this must be done by conquest (Crusade). In fact, Roman Catholicism is a doctrinal distortion of true Christianity, disguised in the form of an institutional hierarchy that attempted to replace and replicate the once mighty Roman Empire, with the Holy Roman Empire. An empire that encompasses the Holy City of Jerusalem, one that must dominate both the Islamic kingdom and the Jewish remnant left over from the Roman induced Diaspora of the Jews.

We do not have God’s stated or implied permission to employ force in order to persuade unbelievers (no matter what their belief or lifestyle) to convert to Christianity or to otherwise give up their religion or agnosticism or decadent life. That’s between them and God … always has been, always will be. But we are commissioned to tell and show others the magnificent truth of the Gospel … salvation through believing and receiving God’s Son, Messiah Jesus. With understanding that only the Lord can radically change the human heart, not any religion and certainly not the radicals (or even moderates) of that religion.

If God, himself, gives every person the inherent right to voluntarily choose Jesus Christ as their personal Savior; thereby, choosing eternal life over eternal death, how can anyone, especially true Christians, think or do otherwise? Compulsory Christianity is not Christian in form or substance whatsoever. We preach, we teach, we give, we pray, we love because Jesus first loved us … all this because we are grateful for our salvation.

Irreconcilable Differences between the Bible and the Koran

Regarding the spread of Islam, there are two things the Koran stubbornly stresses: (1) absent any willing submission to Allah, the Koran demands that infidels—Jews and Christians—be conquered by force (including death). (2) The commands are directed to ALL Muslims, not just the militant among them. In fact, militant is merely an after-the-fact designation, based on the nature and extent of vicious rhetoric spoken or violent action taken by any given Muslim or sect of Islam

The only reason why so many, including heads of states the world over—not the least of which is our own US President—separate Muslims into two basic groups (violent and non-violent or “peaceful”) is because some Muslims aggressively enforce the commands of Allah through Jihad, and some do not. Those who are belligerent in their tactics are considered terrorists; they supposedly do not represent the “peaceful” tenants of Islam. When, in fact, violence is an integral part of Islamic doctrine as asserted unequivocally in the Koran.

At the very worst, Pope Francis’ comparison of Christianity to “the idea of conquest … inherent in the soul of Islam” is a deceitful analogy to achieve his fundamental goal of identifying and integrating the two religions with the same intentions. For example, early in his Papacy, Pope Francis authorized, “Islamic prayers and readings from the Quran” at the Vatican.

At the very least, Pope Francis is saying that Christians (presumably the Pope defines Christianity by and through the Roman Catholic Church) and Muslims worship the same God; therefore, their objectives and strategies would (might) be the same.

Although I and other Bible scholars and teachers have written much about the fundamental differences—of which there are many—between Allah and the true and living God of the Bible (the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob), let’s examine the text in Matthew that Pope Francis referred to … equating the promulgation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the militant advancement of Islam.

But first, a reminder that early in his ministry, Jesus told the Jewish religious leader Nicodemus that God’s magnificent plan of redemption to the human race was all-inclusive. Not by subjugation; rather this salvation was available only by a free choice decision. Not by force, but by an open, willing heart to believe (John 3:16).

Later, only a very short time before his crucifixion, Jesus then made what is probably one of the most well-known and definitive statements to the human race … demonstrating that salvation is inclusive of all who would believe in Jesus, but exclusively through him only:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

The Apostle Peter affirmed both the inclusivity and exclusivity of the Gospel when he spoke to the Jewish religious leaders about Jesus Christ, “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). *Note: By using the plural pronoun, we, with a universal connotation, Peter is including everyone. All people need Messiah Jesus, because redemption comes only through him.

Just before his amazing ascension back to heaven and after his remarkable resurrection from the dead which proved beyond any doubt that he was the Son of God and God the Son, Jesus said to his disciples (the passage referred to by Pope Francis):

“…I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:18-19).

For Pope Francis to propose that Jesus even implied that the gospel of salvation was to be forced on anyone is a complete misreading of this passage. And, from a pope no less! Worse, it’s a deliberate distortion or denial of all other Biblical passages that deal with redemption, free will, God’s all-inclusive invitation to believe in his Son as the only way to salvation, and the means of spreading the truth of the Gospel. But then, we shouldn’t be all that surprised. Ever since the Roman Catholic Church asserted the non-Biblical claim that it alone is the universal Church; popes, cardinals, bishops, and priests have created traditions and catechisms that are diametrically opposed to the Biblical truths of salvation and who or what a saint really is.

The only force and violence involved in God’s perfect plan of salvation was the torture and excruciating death of Messiah Jesus on the Cross. Moreover, this malicious murder was perpetrated by the religious Jews and the irreligious Romans. If anyone could give enough or do enough good deeds to merit God’s favor and pardon for sin, then Christ died for absolutely no reason.

More Incompatible Distinctions between Islam and Biblical Christianity

There are also discrepancies and fallacies in prior equivalency comparisons Pope Francis has made between Christianity and Islam. Such as his past statement that, “Christians and Muslims are brothers and sisters.”

Really? Try to convince Koran-reading, Allah-following Muslims of that. Try to tell them that the Koran must be hypocritically false when it says that Christian and Jewish infidels should submit to Allah, or be killed if they don’t. That Allah really didn’t mean that, nor did Mohammed try to enforce it (which of course he did, and quite brutally at that).

Referring to his disciples, Jesus said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!” (Matthew 12:49-50).

They are those who belong to the family of the true and living God by virtue of simply believing in Christ and personally receiving his substitutionary sacrificial atonement on the Cross for their sins.

“Jesus told them, ‘This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent’” (John 6:29).

Which makes Pope Francis’ reference to Matthew Chapter 28 even more inexplicable and indefensible.

Why?

There are several references to the Triune God of the Bible, both Old and New Testaments. In his parting words, Jesus specifically identified all three … The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. Muslims vehemently deny that Allah has a son, and the Koran doesn’t even mention the Holy Spirit. This above all other differences between Islam and true Christianity is the reason that Muslims classify Christians as infidels. Even though non-Messianic Jews also believe that God is not one God in three Persons, they, too, are considered infidels because their God is not Allah.

Why the Pope or anyone else can say that the God of the Bible and Allah are the same God is beyond belief.

Moreover, Christian believers worship the same God of the Bible as do the Jews.

When God revealed himself to Abraham, then Isaac, then Jacob, it was to announce that he was the ONLY God, not just one of many (man-made) gods worshipped by pagans at that time.

To Moses, God identified himself as I AM who I AM—the God who had chosen Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the patriarchs of the Jewish people. God then proceeded to give the Law and Sacrificial System to the people, through Moses, as a means to separate the Jews from the pagan nations and their pantheism. But later, the Lord also announced through his prophets that a New Covenant would be implemented, which was accomplished through God’s Son, Messiah Jesus.

Not so, with Islam’s Allah. This god, Allah, didn’t choose anyone. Instead, Mohammed chose the moon-god Allah from among many other gods that the Arabs worshipped … to rival and replace the God of the Jews and Christians. Which is why Islam’s symbol is the crescent moon.

After Mohammed identified Allah as his god of choice, he claimed that Allah gave him revelations through the angel Gabriel … an angel that he obviously identified and then plagiarized from both the Old Testament and New Testament appearances of Gabriel.

Other Comments on the Pope’s Catering to Islam

It cannot be emphasized enough: Pope Francis’ attempt to establish a moral equivalency between the tactics of Islamic extremists (who are literally following the commands of the Koran) and Jesus’s Great Commission to spread the truth of the Gospel to all nations through similar methods of conquest is a deceitful distortion of the very core of Biblical salvation and evangelism.

After I began writing this week’s Eye of Prophecy article, I read an article by Raymond Ibrahim entitled, Pope Francis’ Jihad on Christianity posted in Breaking Israel News on 5-20-15, reprinted from another online site, Front Page Mag on 5-20-15, from which Mr. Ibrahim is a contributing author. Based on his comments, it’s fairly obvious that he (and others) are also deeply offended over Pope Francis’ illogical insinuation that Jesus Christ (may have) intended for his followers to forcibly convert unbelievers in the same manner as Mohammed and his followers have done.

Raymond Ibrahim writes about the Pope: “Only someone who is either very ignorant or hostile to Christianity can make such a claim. To state the obvious: Yes, both Christianity and Islam seek to win converts. However, Jesus’s call to his disciples to ‘go forth and make disciples of all nations,’ in Matthew’s Gospel was understood and practiced peacefully. Disciples preached, people converted. No violence, no coercion. In fact, it was Christians—chief among them disciples and evangelists—who were persecuted and killed simply for preaching Christ, first by the pagan Roman empire, later (and still) Islam.”

I would also add to what he said: Not only the ancient Roman Empire and the subsequent Johnny-come-lately religion of Islam, but the Roman Empire’s proxy replacement (Roman Catholic Church) also has persecuted and killed thousands of true believing Christians and Jews down through the centuries. Stopped only when the Protestant movement combined with European Heads of State finally exposed the corruption in the Catholic Church; thereby, weakening the power of the Papacy. Which is exactly what Pope Francis seems bent on restoring. Hence his incessant high council meetings with national leaders and with prominent Muslim clerics, and even his attempts to persuade Protestants, especially Pentecostals, that the Roman Catholic Church seeks unity (at whatever the cost, including truth itself) with her Evangelical “brothers and sisters.”

In that regard, here is an excerpt from the Eye of Prophecy article, Wiles of the Woman, published 4-5-14.

You might ask, “What’s so wrong with Christian unity? Answer: Absolutely nothing. If, that is, unity and love are based in and on the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And in the proverbial nutshell, that truth is encapsulated in and represented by Ephesians 2:8-9: “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”

And, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek … But the righteous shall live by faith” (Romans 1: 16-17). Which is what compelled a Catholic Priest by the name of Martin Luther to boldly protest against the Catholic doctrine that claims a person is ultimately justified through self-actions that merit and maintain righteousness, or the granting of indulgences. If you doubt that Catholic dogma has changed to the point of assenting to mainstream Protestant or Evangelical or even Pentecostal emphasis of the Christian faith, just go online and read, The Catechism of the Catholic Church. The facts are clear: Catholicism still endorses a sophisticated set of rules, actions, and conditions that all Catholics in good standing must adhere to, in order to even have the chance of (pre-qualify) obtaining salvation and admittance to heaven.

Why would non-Catholic religious leaders like Bishop Palmer and Kenneth Copeland reach back to the Pope and give him a spiritual hug; when, in fact, the very foundation of the Catholic Church is based on salvation through good works, keeping of non-Biblical sacraments, and God’s ultimate acceptance of the individual just because he or she is a baptized member of the Catholic Church? The answer is equally and sadly evident: Because some (actually many) Protestant leaders have also distorted the very gospel of Jesus Christ; replacing it with a system of man-made do(s) and don’t(s) that circumvent Biblical salvation of justification through faith in the substitutionary death of Christ, with a works-based, cultic, law-keeping self-righteousness that nullifies the very idea and sufficiency of God’s free gift of grace (through the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son) to save us.

To further confirm that the Pope’s ultimate objective is to divide and conquer through the shroud of unity, listen to his statements on Islam made in Rome during an ecumenical style meeting of representatives from various religious groups, including Jews and Christians: “I then greet and cordially thank you all, dear friends belonging to other religious traditions; first of all the Muslims, who worship the one God, living and merciful, and call upon Him in prayer, and all of you….”

I applaud Raymond Ibrahim’s boldness in confronting the Pope. Not just because it tracks with what I’ve written in prior Eye of Prophecy articles (such as the excerpts quoted earlier in today’s article), but because it is the historical and contemporary truth.

Ibrahim also quotes the prophet Muhammad whose words were reprinted in The Al Qaeda Reader, page 12: “I have been sent with the sword between my hands to ensure that no one but Allah is worshipped—Allah who put my livelihood under the shadow of my spear and who inflicts humiliation and scorn on those who disobey my commandments.”

Raymond Ibrahim continues: “Unlike the spread of Christianity, Islam spread through the sword. This is a simple historical fact, acknowledged by more sober European leaders; the overwhelming majority of territory that today constitutes the ‘Muslim world’ was seized from non-Muslims by great violence and bloodshed. Two-thirds of Christendom—the Mideast and North Africa—was to be swallowed up by Islam a century after its founding.”

Antichrist Nero Will Take Full Advantage of a Roman Catholic/Islamic Liaison

As clearly seen, Pope Francis is making no pretense of trying to make Christianity (the Roman Catholic version) and Islam two sides of the same coin. However, this will not lead to a so-called One World Religion, as proposed by even well-meaning Bible students. Please refer to Eye of Prophecy article, One World Religion, posted 8-15-15. That article presents Biblically documented and detailed reasons why there will not be a single world religion during the Tribulation, either through the Antichrist or the False Prophet. However, Antichrist Nero will initially cater to and use Roman Catholicism, Islam, and Judaism (as well as occultism under the mantel of a “New Age”) to achieve his political agenda, through a seven-year treaty between these three religions and between Israel and Muslim nations.

Speaking of coins, may I also quote from the Eye of Prophecy article, Antichrist and the Vicar of Christ, Part I, published 9-5-15.

The better analogy is that Antichrist and the Vicar of Christ are two sides of the same coin. But even that will last for only a short time … most likely about half way through the tribulation. Nero will proclaim himself as God or as Messiah … the man/God. He will soon be worshipped by people all over the world as divine for one reason only: his astounding revival and return some two thousand years after he had died. With that kind of veneration, Nero will become the head of the coin; dragging the tail of the coin (the Pope) behind him. In fact, this coinage will soon become a coin with two heads, both of them Nero’s.

But before that happens, there will be a titanic clash of two men vying for the personal loyalty of billions of people while trying to (unsuccessfully working together) accomplish their agenda each through their own vile systems. One is boldly and blatantly unholy. The other is hypocritically holy. Both will claim to be God and Christ on the earth.

Through the centuries, popes and kings have clashed; sometimes the pope prevailed, sometimes the king triumphed. This time the “divine monarch” and his ten-nation coalition with crush the ecclesiastical head of state who would dare assume political power as well as religious (Revelation 17:16).

In like manner, many Jews will at first acknowledge Nero as a messiah-type, or at least as a sovereign who God allowed to return to save the world. Thus, they will gladly enter into a seven-year treaty with Nero, who will facilitate the building of the third Temple and allow Jews to restore their sacrificial system of atonement.

Likewise with hundreds of millions of Muslims. Who can possibly argue with or fight against someone who bodily returns from the dead? They will conclude that it had to be Allah who performed such a miracle. They will concede Nero as their Mahdi (messiah).

By default, people from nations and religions the world over will give their allegiance to Nero immediately after he reappears from the Abyss. (See Revelation 13). So, too, will a good many of their political and religious leaders. But above all Nero will initially establish a liaison with the Vatican. After all: The Vatican is the embodiment of the Holy Roman Empire, the reincarnation of the once great Roman Empire which for fourteen years was ruled by none other than a man who had returned from the dead. Both dynasties were headquartered in Rome. Both empires purported to be the universal kingdom on earth; the first one politically and militarily, ruled by a supreme and divine emperor. The second through a religion that claims to be the universal church, headed by the infallible representative of Christ, himself. Both will seek to restore the glory that once was Rome’s.

Summary

There is simply no way that a One World Religion will develop during the Great Tribulation. Any more than its possible for adherents of Islam, Judaism, Roman Catholicism, or other deviant sects of Christianity (such as Mormonism) to convert in great numbers from one of these religions to another.

The closest thing to a global religion will be world-wide worship of one man, Antichrist Nero; by force if necessary—the same kind of force ordered by the Koran and suggested by Pope Francis!

Nero couldn’t care less what religion those left behind belong to. Nowhere in the Old or New Testament do we find any evidence whatsoever that the Antichrist (or the False Prophet) attempts to form a world religion.

In fact, both Daniel (Chapter 11) and Paul (II Thessalonians Chapter 2) tell us that Antichrist shows great disdain to the point of defiance of any god, therefore, of any religion. Instead he will claim to be God himself. He will not require people to adopt any current religion, nor will he create a new religion (such as the New Age movement).

Instead, Nero will seek to exercise control through the conciliation, cooperation, and coordination between Roman Catholic Clergy, Muslim Imams, and Jewish Rabbis.

Recognition and reverence for Nero’s inconceivable return from the grave will be the reason that, “…The whole world marveled at this miracle and gave allegiance to the beast. They worshipped the dragon (Satan) for giving the beast such power, and they also worshipped the beast. ‘Who is as great as the beast … who is able to fight against him?’” (Revelation 13:3-4).

Nearly all papal activities since Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Francis) became Pope have been designed to reestablish the authority and influence of the Roman Catholic Church. Which makes his latest effort to appease Muslims another amazing fit of the prophetic puzzle.

Nero couldn’t ask for anything better to prepare the way for his Pax Romana. He will reappear to a world absent of any born-again believers (true Christians and true Christianity). A world in chaos will be ripe for someone who has the mystical (by virtue of rising from the dead) power to unite peoples from every race, country, and religion. But it will not be a One World Government, as many nations will oppose Nero.

Yet there will be just enough cooperation through an already conciliatory toleration among religious leaders and a political correctness among both religious and non-religious leaders to give Nero carte blanche authority to implement a treaty between Jews and Arabs. And among governments seeking a global two-state solution to the already despised and increasingly boycotted, divested, and sanctioned nation of Israel.

But beware nations of the earth. Israel is the apple of God’s eye.

Says the Lord, the God of Israel, “On that day I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock. All the nations will gather against it to try to move it, but they will only hurt themselves” (Zechariah 12:3).

Things to Ponder

Did you know that one day there will be no more religions to confuse and corrupt entire peoples and nations?

Can I get an Amen on that!

However, there will finally be a One World Government! With a truly benevolent and caring King ruling over and judging between the nations. But only after the Lord vanquishes Satan, Antichrist, the False Prophet, and all those who, “…refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them … Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth” (II Thessalonians 2:10, 12).

This final conquest of evil through the use of force by Messiah Jesus is totally justified and necessary. “Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war” (Revelation 19:11).

“And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day there will be one Lord—his name alone will be worshipped” (Zechariah 14:9).

We love you Lord, because you first loved us.

We eagerly embrace and anxiously anticipate your return to make all things right.

“He (Yeshua) who is the faithful witness to all these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon!’ “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).

The Incomparable Power and Authority of Jesus Christ

28 Saturday May 2016

Posted by garybowers in Devotional / Misc

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

2nd coming, Miracles, Resurrection

Incomparable Power and Authority of Jesus Christ

Power: “Possession of control, authority, or influence over others; ability to act or produce an effect; physical might; mental or moral efficacy…” (Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary).

Authority: Power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior; freedom granted by one in authority; convincing force” (Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary).

Right or wrong, positive or negative … we’ve all been influenced, to some degree or another, by the authority of our mothers, fathers, teachers, clergy, coaches, and government officials.

Unfortunately, national and international leaders through the centuries have been mostly power-hungry tyrants; who often lead their people to a precarious pinnacle of peace and prosperity, only to plunge them to the depths of despair and destruction. Even the few benevolent rulers still had their limitations and human weaknesses. And, no matter how much morality, integrity, and capability that caring leaders possess, their good intentions are all too often compromised (if not ignored) by the people under their authority. There is, after all, an abundance of greed, envy, selfishness, and indiscriminate pursuit of pleasure and popularity within the best of societies.

Incomparable: “Eminent beyond comparison; matchless; not suitable for comparison” (Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary). Matchless: “Having no equal; peerless” (Webster’s).

When incomparable (utmost positive connotation of the word) is combined with power and authority, we get the best form of influence and inspiration imaginable, that one person can have on another.

The following paragraph is a quote from the Eye of Prophecy article, Kingdom of God, posted 1-17-15.

“Isn’t that what most people want? They want: law, order, equality, safety, peace. And they want someone who has the kind of authority to realize those dreams, but also someone who is kind and considerate with that authority. One who truly cares about people and what’s best for them; who can rule and judge with impartiality and kindness. A truly wise and benevolent King whose attributes perfectly reflect who and what he is: Love, Truth, Justice, Mercy.”

Let’s take an up-close and personal look at five amazing things that only one man in history has done or can do. If you answer no or even maybe to each of the five questions alongside the five matchless achievements, I would respectfully challenge you to ask yourself the question, “Why not?” First, because you honestly owe it to yourself. Second, because it is literally a matter of eternal life or death. It’s that serious.

(*Note: “I don’t know,” is the same as, “No”)

If one man had the incomparable power and authority to:

Control and Command the Laws of Nature and Physics—Would You Listen to Him?

A Wedding in Israel:

“The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, ‘They have no more wine.’ … But his mother told the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Standing nearby were six stone water jars … each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ When the jars had been filled, he said, ‘Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.’ So the servants followed his instructions.

“When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. ‘A host always serves the best wine first,’ he said. ‘Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!’

“This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory…” (John 2:3-11).

This was the first of many miracles Jesus performed as proof of his power and authority … in this case over the laws of nature itself. No one has ever turned water into pure wine before or since; any more than anyone has successfully converted common elements like lead into gold (Alchemy).

The servants listened to Jesus and did exactly what he told them to do; knowing full well that Jesus was assuming a huge risk of embarrassment, ridicule, and future doubt of his divine credentials—who he was and what he could do—if the water remained as water.

A Stormy Sea:

“As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.’ So they took Jesus in the boat and started out … But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, ‘Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?’

“When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the water, ‘Silence! Be still!’ Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’

“The disciples were absolutely terrified, ‘Who is this man?’ they asked each other. ‘Even the wind and waves obey him!’” (Mark 4:35-41).

Why (how) would even the wind and waves listen to and obey Jesus? This is why:

“Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth… Everything was created through him and for him” (Colossians 1:15-16).

Five Thousand Hungry Men … So Little Food:

“For there were about 5,000 men there. Jesus replied, ‘Tell them to sit down in groups of about fifty each.’ So the people all sat down. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers!” (Luke 9:14-17).

Five thousand men plus thousands more women and children, all who had listened intently to Jesus for some time were getting very hungry. Only five loaves and two fish were available. But the disciples listened to Jesus and the crowd listened to the disciples, and the rest is history. This is one of my all-time favorite miracles of Jesus that stretches my imagination to the breaking point. Not my belief, only my imagination!

Should you, would you also listen to him, when Jesus says, “Yes, I am the bread of life! … I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh” (John 6:48-51).

When Jesus was miraculously transfigured on the mountain revealing his divine glorified essence, not long before he gave his own body and blood as a redemptive sacrifice on the cross, God, the Father declared: “…This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him” (Matthew 17:5).

If one man had the incomparable power and authority to:

Dominate Demons and Defeat Incurable Diseases and Untreatable Deformities—Would You Follow Him?

A Demon-Possessed Man in a Synagogue:

“Then Jesus went to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and taught there in the synagogue every Sabbath day. There, too, the people were amazed at his teaching, for he spoke with authority. Once when he was in the synagogue, a man possessed by a demon—an evil spirit—began shouting at Jesus. ‘Go away! Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One sent from God!’

“Jesus cut him short, ‘Be quiet! Come out of this man,’ he ordered. At that, the demon threw the man to the floor as the crowd watched; then it came out of him without hurting him further. Amazed, the people exclaimed, ‘What authority and power this man’s words possess! Even evil spirits obey him, and they flee at his command!’ The news about Jesus spread through every village in the entire region” (Luke 4:31-37).

Fallen angels (demons) know all too well who Jesus is and what power he has over Satan’s evil kingdom. But, of course, they would never follow him; as their choice had been made and their destiny had been sealed long before. Nor would Jesus allow them to even speak of him, for two main reasons: (1) Jesus commanded the demons to be silent to demonstrate his divine authority over them. (2) He wanted the crowds to acknowledge and follow him willingly because of his redemptive words of life and hope, attested to by his miracles. Not because of what any demon might say.

“Many were possessed by demons, and the demons came out at his command, shouting, ‘You are the Son of God!’ But because they knew he was the Messiah, he rebuked them and refused to let them speak” (Luke 4:41).

A Crippled Man by a Pool:

“Afterward Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days. Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with five covered porches. Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches. One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, ‘Would you like to get well?’

‘I can’t sir,’ the sick man said, ‘for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.’

“Jesus told him, ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!’

“Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath, so the Jewish leaders objected. They said to the man who was cured, ‘You can’t work on the Sabbath! The law doesn’t allow you to carry that sleeping mat!’” (John 5:1-10).

Astonishing! This was not the only time that Orthodox Jewish leaders criticized and trivialized an astounding miracle of healing that Jesus had performed, because of their technicality that Jesus healed someone on the Sabbath. In this case they considered both the healing and the healed man carrying his mat to be “work” which was a violation of the Sabbath. Although many people, even including some Pharisees, believed in Messiah Jesus and followed him, the majority did not.

They had already made up their minds that Jesus’s powerful words and demonstration of authority over all kinds of diseases and disabilities was a threat to their own authority. They would not listen to him, let alone follow him. They were, as Jesus told them, “Blind guides leading the blind” (Matthew 15:14).

Not so, with those who have been saved by Jesus, the light of the world. Once we were blind, but now we can see. And we follow him.

Said Jesus to the people who demanded to know if he was the Messiah: “…I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name. But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:25-27).

Two Blind Men Following Jesus:

“After Jesus left the girl’s home, two blind men followed along behind him, shouting, ‘Son of David, have mercy on us!’

“They went right into the house where he was staying, and Jesus asked them, ‘Do you believe I can make you see!’

‘Yes Lord,’ they told him, ‘we do.’

“Then he touched their eyes and said, ‘Because of your faith, it will happen.’ Then their eyes were opened, and they could see! Jesus sternly warned them. ‘Don’t tell anyone about this.’ But instead, they went out and spread his fame all over the region” (Matthew 9:27-31).

Astounding … Jesus miracle of making two blind men see, of course! But also their unwavering assurance that Jesus could and would heal them. They were so persistent in this confidence that they followed Jesus right into the very house where he was staying.

Notice, that Jesus told them not to tell anyone what he had done. Jesus had said this to others he had healed early in his magnificent ministry. Why? Because he wanted people to believe and follow him for who he was (Messiah), not just because of his miracles. That his ultimate purpose was that of spiritual healing, because of his great compassion and love for the human race that he created.

If one man had the incomparable power and authority to:

Forgive Sins, and Pardon the Eternal Penalty of Sin (Because of His Unconditional Love)—Would You Believe in Him?

A Paralyzed Man Lowered through the Roof of a House:

“When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, ‘My child, your sins are forgiven.’

“But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, ‘What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!’

“Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, ‘Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man, Your sins are forgiven, or Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.’ Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!’

“And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, ‘We’ve never seen anything like this before!’” (Mark 2:1-12).

You think!

Jesus performed countless miracles that had never been seen before. Incurable diseases, inoperable disabilities, irreversible blindness and deafness, and irrevocable death itself were no match for the matchless Son of David, Son of Man, and Son of God.

By the very fact that Jesus had read their minds (what they were thinking), you would think that the religious leaders should have realized immediately that Jesus was no ordinary man. When Jesus asked them whether it was more difficult for him to tell the paralytic that his sins were forgiven or to instantly heal the man’s untreatable condition, he knew how they would react. They would affirm that it’s easy for anyone to say someone’s sins can be forgiven. Those are just words, and in this case words of blasphemy, for only God can forgive sins.

Which was exactly the point! By merely speaking the words, Jesus right in front of them told the crippled man to stand up and go home. Only God has that kind of power! And only God has the authority to forgive sins.

So, then, just who might Jesus be?

The paralyzed man and his four companions knew and believed Jesus was the Messiah. As did many in the crowd before and after what Jesus said and did.

What more or better proof did the religious leaders need? Sadly, they, like so many religious or irreligious leaders and their followers today, deny the authority and power Jesus has to forgive their sins—if they would only believe in him and his atoning sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary.

A Jewish High Council (Sanhedrin) Member Comes to Jesus at Night:

“There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. ‘Rabbi,’ he said, ‘we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.’

“Jesus replied, ‘I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God” (John 3:1-3).

Talk about getting to the point, to the real issues … Jesus often did that! After Jesus explained to Nicodemus what “born again” means, he said: “…But the Son of Man has come down from heaven. And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life” (Verses 13-15).

As a Pharisee, Nicodemus would have known the history of the emblematic bronze snake during the wanderings of his ancestors in the wilderness, specifically their sins and rebellion against God. He also would have remembered and understood that simply looking at the bronze snake had healed them. He knew that the snakes represented their sins and punishment for sin (which has bitten everyone who has ever lived).

“So the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died. Then the people came to Moses and cried out, ‘We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take away the snakes. So Moses prayed for the people. Then the Lord told him, ‘Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!’ So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to the pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed!” (Numbers 21:6-9).

When Jesus put all this together with perhaps the simplest yet most profound statement of God’s love and forgiveness and pardon of sin that immediately produces eternal life through Jesus, Nicodemus believed that Jesus was Messiah, the Son of God and the Son of Man. We know this because later we discover that Nicodemus had become a believer, albeit one that silently followed Jesus.

Listen to the words of Jesus. Do you believe him when he says:

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son” (John 3:16-18).

A Passover Supper for Jesus and His Disciples:

In the final meal that Jesus shared with his disciples before his crucifixion, we read:

“As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, ‘Take this and eat it, for this is my body.’ And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, ‘Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many’” (Matthew 26:26-28).

Soon afterward, on their way to the Mount of Olives, Jesus said: “But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there” (Verse 32). Once again, as the Son of God and God the Son, only Jesus could predict, then accomplish his stunning resurrection from the dead.

Shortly before he returned to heaven, Jesus made yet another bold statement confirming his divine dominion over the world—even greater authority than he possessed before his resurrection and glorification, when he was restricted by time and space here on this earth. Limited because he chose to strip himself of the absolute power that he shared with God his Father from the ancient past. Glory that he set aside to become a human being so that he could pay for the penalty of our sins.

“Jesus came and told his disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18, italics for emphasis).

Why does Jesus have the power and authority to forever pardon the penalty of our sins? I think you already know the answer. Because he paid the ultimate price demanded by God—a totally innocent, perfect (sinless) bodily sacrifice that only Jesus could offer.

Many Old Testament prophets wrote about the coming Messiah. Jesus literally fulfilled ALL of the Messianic prophecies. Writing of the Messiah, Isaiah says:

“See, my servant will prosper; he will be highly exalted. But many were amazed when they saw him. His fact was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man. And he will startle many nations. Kings will stand speechless in his presence…” (Isaiah 52:13-15).

This same mighty King must first suffer and die before he would be given ultimate power and authority over kings and kingdoms of the earth. Listen to Isaiah again:

“But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all” (Isaiah 53:5-6).

That is why Messiah Jesus has power and authority to forgive us for all the wrong things we’ve done.

“He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (II Corinthians 5:21, NASB).

If one man had the incomparable power and authority to:

Abolish Death Itself and Grant Eternal Life through Resurrection From the Dead—Would You Trust Him?

Two Sisters Mourning over the Heartbreaking Death of Their Brother:

“When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days … many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss … Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died…’” (John 11:17-21).

“Jesus told her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ ‘Yes,’ Martha said, ‘he will rise when everyone else rises at the last day’” (Verses 23-24).

Martha knew something about the final resurrection, but she didn’t fully comprehend that bodily resurrection was possible only by and through Jesus Christ, the Savior of mankind.

“Jesus told her, ‘I AM the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?’” (Verses 25-26, italics and capitalized for emphasis).

When Jesus put it that way, Martha understood what we all must grasp if we are going to be among those resurrected by the power and authority of Jesus Christ at the rapture. Whether dead or alive, all believers will be transformed with brand new (resurrected) bodies.

Martha accepted Jesus’s authority and she replied with these remarkable words of trust:

“Yes, Lord … I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God” (Verse 27).

Jesus then went to the tomb where Lazarus had been buried four days earlier and proceeded to do exactly what he said he would do and could do. With power and authority, “Jesus shouted, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in grave clothes, his face wrapped in a head cloth. Jesus told them, ‘Unwrap him and let him go!’” (Verses 43-44).

A Hill Called Golgotha (Place of the Skull):

“Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross. They divided his clothes and threw dice to decide who would get each piece. It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him … The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. ‘Ha! Look at you now!’ they yelled at him. ‘You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, save yourself and come down from the cross!’

“The leading priests and teachers of religious law also mocked Jesus. ‘He saved others,’ they scoffed, ‘but he can’t save himself! Let this Messiah, this King of Israel, come down from the cross so we can see it and believe him!’ Even the men who were crucified with Jesus ridiculed him” (Mark 15:24-32).

Everything Jesus said and did was remarkable. None more so than one of seven things he spoke while hanging on the cross.

“Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing’” (Luke 23:34).

What amazing grace and love for Jesus to say those words as he was dying an excruciating death on the cross.

Not only didn’t they fully realize what they were doing to Jesus (why Jesus was actually on the cross), they also couldn’t fathom the implications of what they were saying. Though the people said it sarcastically to mock him; indeed, Jesus saved and would save others … past, present, and future. They mockingly challenged him to come down from the cross; completely ignorant of the fact that had Jesus called a legion of angels to destroy his crucifiers and deliver him from the cross, he would not have the power and authority to resurrect believers (in him) from the dead. Jesus, himself, must first rise from the dead. And he couldn’t do that unless he completed the mission for which he came to this world.

“But very early on Sunday morning, the women went to the tomb … They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.

“The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, ‘Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead!’” (Luke 24:1-6).

From the Earth and Under the Earth, At a Time Soon to Come:

“We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words” (I Thessalonians 4:15-18).

Do you trust Jesus Christ—his incomparable power and authority—to do such a thing?

I certainly do. Because all of the Lord’s promises are true. They are absolutely trustworthy. Many prophecies have come to pass precisely as God said they would. Why shouldn’t this one, the glorious Rapture … described again by the Apostle Paul in another passage:

“But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It (the transformation, not the whole event of the Rapture) will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed …

“Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’” (I Corinthians 15:51-55).

Said Jesus to John: “…Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave” (Revelation 1:17-18).

If one man had the incomparable power and authority to:

Govern the Earth and Rule the Nations with Truth, Justice, and Peace—Would You Love, Honor, and Obey Him?

This is what will take place near the end of the Seven-Year Tribulation:

“And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30).

“…Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever” (Revelation 5:13).

“Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heaven, ‘It has come at last—salvation and power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ…” (Revelation 12:10).

“His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity…” (Isaiah 9:7).

“Look at my servant, whom I strengthen. He is my chosen one, who pleases me. I have put my Spirit upon him. He will bring justice to the nations” (Isaiah 42:1).

Things to Ponder

The evidence is irrefutable. Scripture is brimming with the prophetic and historical record of who Jesus is, what he has done, and what he will do.

Near the end of John’s Gospel, he writes: “The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name” (John 20:30-31, italics for emphasis).

Remember Jesus’s probing question to his disciples and Peter’s remarkable response:

“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’

‘Well,’ they replied, ‘some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.’

“Then he asked them, ‘But who do you say I am?’

“Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’” (Matthew 16:13-16).

WHO DO YOU SAY THAT JESUS IS?

The Bible says we must all answer that question. The answer will determine our eternal destiny

The Final Treaty of Rome … Part II

21 Saturday May 2016

Posted by garybowers in The Antichrist

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City on Seven Hills

The Final Treaty of Rome

“Then in my vision that night, I saw a fourth beast—terrifying, dreadful, and very strong. It devoured and crushed its victims with huge iron teeth and trampled their remains beneath its feet. It was different from any of the other beasts, and it had ten horns” (Daniel 7:7).

The magnificent prophecies of Scripture never cease to amaze me no matter how many times I read them or write about them. Most have been fulfilled, such as the 300-plus predictions of the Messiah coming to pass precisely in and exclusively through Jesus of Nazareth. Many things separate the Bible from all other religious writings, none more so than fulfilled prophecy. Other so-called sacred texts are virtually void of eschatology.

Right near the top of these stunning prophecies is Daniel Chapter 7. It was the second time in the book of Daniel that God disclosed the four mighty kingdoms which would usher in the “Times of the Gentiles” by ending the Davidic dynasty of kings in Israel. Beginning with the split of Israel into two nations, then Babylon’s (the first of the four Gentile kingdoms) conquest of Judah, culminating in the Roman Empire’s devastation of Israel, Jerusalem, and the second Jewish temple. From 70 AD Israel ceased functionally to exist as a nation. Miraculously, in fulfillment of God’s prophetic plan revealed numerous times in Scripture, Israel was reborn as a sovereign nation in 1948.

Both Biblical and secular history confirm irrefutably that the four kingdoms were Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome. With the Roman Empire, the fourth beast of Daniel, far greater than the three that preceded it. The Roman Empire exceeded the previous three kingdoms in geographical size, number of people, and accomplishments—economic, architectural, political, and military—as well as ultimate authority and power. John’s two visions of the beast of Revelation (Antichrist) further corroborate that the fourth beast of Daniel is the Roman Empire, because of the ten horns identified in all three of these visions (two from John, one from Daniel). With the clear contextual correlation that the horns are future Tribulation kings who will yield allegiance to the little horn, king, ruler (other names for Antichrist).

The composite beast itself (himself) of Revelation 13 and 17 is a man (the same man as the little horn of Daniel 7 and the ruler of Daniel 9), by virtue of being referred to by personal pronouns, he and him; and by the fact that the beast of Revelation 13 and 17 also has seven heads, which are referred to as seven kings in Revelation 17 … meaning seven Roman Emperors, one of whom was Nero.

(Depiction of the Revelation Chapter 13 Beast)

The distinctions that need to be made are: (1) the ten horns are future tribulation kings who give their kingdoms (nations) to the Antichrist. (2) The composite beast of Revelation 13 and 17 is the Antichrist … Nero. (3) The seven heads are seven Roman Emperors of the first century.

Daniel’s fourth beast has only ten horns, not the seven heads (plus ten horns) that the beast of Revelation 13 & 17 displays. That’s because Daniel’s vision initially focused on the four Gentile kingdoms, especially the rise of the Roman Empire (Daniel 7: 1-7), not the kings (emperors) of that kingdom during its existence. But beginning in verse eight, Daniel’s vision switches to another horn (king) who would rule over the ten horns (kings) during the Tribulation period.

Whereas, John’s visions in Revelation included the biographical and geographical origin of the Antichrist himself as one of the seven heads of the beast and as the entire Antichrist beast itself.

The most shocking feature of John’s vision—the “mystery” of which was unveiled by the angel—was that the Antichrist beast (Nero) had once been alive, but had died before John saw the beast, yet would reappear from the Abyss at the outset of the Great Tribulation (Revelation 17:8).

“The beast that was and is not, is himself also an eighth and is one of the seven…” (Revelation 17:11, NASB, italics for emphasis).

The Greek word for (one) “of” is: ek.

It also means from, out of, or like the seven. So, the Antichrist beast is an eighth king only because he will reappear separately and subsequently during the Tribulation. But the text indisputably states that he was also one of (from, out of) the seven kings (Roman Emperors); five of whom had already died, including the beast himself (Nero) because the angel specifically told John that the beast had already lived and died before the vision. Nero was the fifth Roman Caesar.

(Busts of the First Five Roman Caesars … Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero)

All of this is explained in great detail in my book, Out of the Abyss, can the number of the beast be solved? 666.

Concerning the Antichrist beast arising from the sea (Abyss) with the metaphorical features of a leopard, bear, and lion, the following excerpt is from Out of the Abyss, page 160 (in italics):

In Revelation 13:2, the angel is giving John and all readers a brief history lesson of Daniel’s prophecy. This beast looked like a leopard … feet of a bear … mouth of lion!”

The prophet Daniel, however, doesn’t representatively equate his fourth beast with the likeness of an animal. Consequently, Revelation 13 incorporates the Grecian leopard, the Persian bear, and the Babylonian lion into the features of this new beast, which the remainder of Revelation 13 (and later in Revelation 17) clearly shows us to be a man. Remember, only in Daniel are we expressly told that the four beasts are four kingdoms.

Unlike Babylon, Mede-Persia, and Greece, the Roman Empire, as characterized, epitomized, and personified by the Roman emperors, was truly eclectic. By the end of the first century, Rome had incorporated vestiges of these three empires. That’s the main reason that the leopard, bear, and lion are in reverse order as they are presented in Daniel; a chronological reversal to show the historical fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy.

The Roman Caesars typified the authoritative monarchy of Babylonians kings, whose law was decisively final. Like the Babylonian monarchs, the Roman Caesars spoke with power … mouth of a lion. Yet, they emulated the idea and practice from Persia that even the king was subject to the law. If a Persian king issued an edict, he, too, was subject to that decree. Persian supreme law was transported throughout its empire … feet of a bear. Rome also integrated the noble ideas of Greece, that the people could and should have a voice. Thus, the Senate of the Roman Republic became an integral part of the checks and balance system within the empire. Despite the greatness of Rome, Greek culture, language, and philosophy permeated society … looked like a leopard.”

The Treaty of Rome

It is no random coincidence that seven European nations selected Rome as the site of the symposium that would lead to The Treaty of Rome. Or that the 1957 Treaty of Rome would produce the ten-nation Common Market. Or that the ten nations of the Common Market would eventually lead to one of the most amazing historical achievements of all time … a twenty-eight united states of Europe … The European Union. This is part of God’s divine plan in which Rome will once again for a brief time (especially during the first 3 ½ years of the Tribulation) be in the international spotlight where Nero will engineer the Final Treaty of Rome. The world will view this as an impossible achievement—a peace treaty between Jews and Arabs.

Last week’s Part I Eye of Prophecy article provided Biblical evidence why Nero will be able to accomplish this feat … exclusively because of his remarkable reappearance from the distant past.

Although Rome will be recognized even more as “the great city that rules over the kings of the world” (Revelation 17:18), it will not be the center of a (so-called) Revived Roman Empire. Rather, it will be the headquarters of a Revived Roman Emperor who will strike up a liaison with “the great prostitute” (the modern representation of the once great Roman Empire) which is none other than the Vatican. This is persuasively presented in Revelation Chapter 17, including the fact that Antichrist Nero will rule over an alliance of only ten kingdoms (nations).

Nero will eventually crush the Roman Catholic Church which he hates and considers a rival to his kingdom (Revelation 17:16-17). He will also break the seven year treaty with Israel at the half-way point of the Tribulation (Daniel 7:27).

The once great Roman Empire that lasted for some 600 years is no more, nor will ever be again. Listen to the words of the prophet Daniel: “…I kept watching until the fourth beast was killed and its body was destroyed by fire” (Daniel 7:11). Daniel not only saw the rise of the Roman Empire but its utter demise, which occurred in the 5^th century AD, some one thousand years after Daniel’s visions.

Thus, Scripture makes a significant prophetic distinction between Rome and the Roman Empire—meaning the political and military might of the Roman Caesars—before the collapse of the Roman Empire. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Rome remained the great city that rules over kings, but with a new identity and sphere of influence … The Roman Catholic Church. It would be through ecclesiastical authority that Roman Catholicism would mimic the might and sustain the splendor of the ancient Roman Empire.

(Vatican City in Rome)

Rome, Not Babylon, Is the Woman (City) on the Beast—Revelation Chapter 17

Time and space in this article permits only a summary overview to support what I believe is the clear Biblical evidence that the Woman on the Scarlet Beast (Antichrist, Nero) is both ancient Rome and the ensuing Holy Roman Empire represented by the Roman Catholic Church. But the city remains the same … Rome. However, in the book of Revelation, Rome is symbolically referred to as Babylon.

For an in-depth analysis of identifying both ancient Rome and Roman Catholicism as the Woman of Revelation Chapter 17, please refer to Eye of Prophecy articles, The Woman and the Beast (I through VI, especially the first article), published 10-12-13 through 11-16-13. You might also want to look at, A Beast by Any Other Name… (Is Still a Beast), Part I, II, & III, posted 3-14, 3-21, and 3-28-15. Followed by, The Legendary Return of Nero, published 4-4-15.

In a recent Eye of Prophecy article, entitled One Hundred Forty-Four Thousand Messianic Jews … Part II, I wrote:

One hindrance to correct understanding of Scripture, especially prophecy, is a tendency of even well-meaning Christians to do way too much symbolizing. Of course there are metaphors and similes in, for example, the book of Revelation. But there is also a ton of literal people, places, things, and events.

My purpose in that article was to demonstrate decisively that the 144,000 Messianic Jews (12,000 from each tribe) were literal, not figurative. Notice, however, that I also indicated there is (obviously) symbolism in Revelation; including, but not limited to, the symbolic substitution of Babylon for Rome. In today’s article, we’re doing the reverse … examining evidence to show that Babylon is a figurative representation of Rome.

Said the angel to John just before John’s amazing vision of the woman on the scarlet beast: “…I will show you the judgment that is going to come on the great prostitute, who rules over many waters. The kings of the world have committed adultery with her, and the people who belong to this world have been made drunk by the wine of her immorality” (Revelation 17:1-2).

Later, the angel gives the meaning of the metaphorical, many waters: “…The waters where the prostitute is ruling represent masses of people of every nation and language” (Revelation 17:15). People from every nation and language absolutely applied to ancient Rome with its political and military domination of many countries; and would also relate to the subsequent global influence of the Roman Catholic religion. As of 2013, there were an estimated 1.2 billion Catholics in the world.

Then in the last verse of Chapter 17, John is told: “And this woman you saw in your vision represents the great city that rules over the kings of the world” (Verse 18).

Not only is the woman the great city, but according to the angel’s disclosure of the mystery, so also the seven heads of the beast, “…represent the seven hills where the woman rules” (Verse 9). Bible scholars for centuries have (and I agree) accurately applied the seven hills to Rome. In fact, Rome is known world-wide as the city built on seven hills. You can hardly find a hill in Babylon, as it sits on a plain in modern day Iraq.

(Picture of Modern-Day Babylon, To Show the Flat Topography)

First of Five More Reasons Why the Great City is Rome, Not Literal Babylon:

The judgment of the woman (prostitute) prophesied by John obviously had not yet taken place. Whereas, Babylon and the Babylonian Empire had already been crushed by Persia and had virtually disappeared from the historical scene, just as Scripture predicted. Jeremiah Chapter 51 is only one passage of several that foretold the utter destruction of Babylon … now a historical fact. Moreover, there is absolutely no indication in the Bible that Babylon as a “great city” (especially one that rules over kings and nations) would ever rise again.

This one-time divine judgment by God on Babylon was emphasized emphatically when Iraq’s evil dictator Saddam Hussein—who believed himself to be a reincarnation of Nebuchadnezzar—was “dethroned” and his meager (futile) effort to rebuild Babylon came to a screeching halt, just a little over a decade ago. One thing is crystal clear: Iraq, which is the contemporary land mass constituting a portion of ancient Babylon, will never be anything approaching an influential nation or city on this earth again. In fact, geopolitical experts are predicting that Iraq will eventually be split into two, three, or four smaller countries; at the very least divided between Muslim sects, as a result of the Syrian-Iraqi civil wars currently underway.

Second Reason:

In addition to the “judgment that is going to come on the great prostitute,” (Rome is still very much intact and is still considered one of the great cities of the earth), let’s scrutinize the tense of some verbs in Revelation 17.

Such as, “The seven heads of the beast represent the seven hills where the woman rules” (Revelation 17:9, italics for emphasis).

(*Note: One of the important lessons I’ve learned in my study of Scripture, especially prophecy: To pay exceptional attention to the tense of verbs and the use of pronouns, especially personal pronouns. So when verse 11 states, “his reign will be brief” (the seventh head or king), it means exactly what it says: his is referring to the seventh of seven kings—not kingdoms as many teachers contend. There is absolutely no way to get around that personal pronoun.)

Getting back to the verse just quoted: it says, where the woman rules. The woman was ruling then and there. Or if you were reading Revelation in the first century, you would say the woman rules here and now. Whether in the first century or 21^st century, we immediately realize that the woman (the great city that sits on seven hills) was ruling at the very time when the visions of Revelation were given to John. For that reason alone, believers of the first century knew beyond any doubt, whatsoever, that the angel and John were referring to Rome. What else was ruling over most of world’s nations at that time? It certainly wasn’t Babylon. Almost everyone knew of or was part of The Glory of Rome.

Later, we see the same present tense (at that specific time in history) in verse 15: “The waters where the prostitute is ruling represent masses of people of every nation and language. This is even stronger language, by virtue of using the helping (present tense) verb, “is.”

Once again in Verse 18: “And this woman you saw in your vision represents the great city that rules over the kings of the world”. “That rules,” is unquestionably a present tense rendering, with that referring to the woman (the great city) and rules conveying a present tense condition and action.

Not past tense, as in long-gone Babylon. Nor even future tense in these verses, although future tense is definitely included in Chapter 17. For example, the ten kings (not the seven kings, five who had died, one who was ruling and one to come shortly) who will yield their authority to the beast, who John previously told us had died but would reappear from the Abyss. The angel says about these ten kings “They will be appointed to their kingdoms … they will all agree to give him (the beast) their power and authority” (Verse 12-13). Will yield and will agree to give are distinctly future tense … during the Great Tribulation.

Third Reason:

Most of the prophet Daniel’s prophecies have already been fulfilled, including the rise and fall of four colossal Gentile kingdoms—Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome; the first arrival of Messiah; the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the armies of the ruler (Nero, whose legions completed the conquest of Israel that Nero had set in motion) who would arise after Messiah had been killed.

The yet unfulfilled prophecies of Daniel will take place in the Tribulation period. Likewise, with the book of Revelation. Yet, in Revelation, we are also given the biographical and geopolitical origin of the Antichrist (beast), including the shocking fact that he had already lived and died before the revelations were given to John. And that the beast would “reappear” from the Abyss, which will take place very soon after the Rapture.

However, Revelation was written first and foremost to the first century Christians. As clearly indicated by the Apostles Peter, John, and Paul in their epistles, those very believers were eagerly expecting that Jesus would return any day. And Jesus could have returned any moment of any day. For this reason of what we call the “imminent return of Messiah,” the great city depicted by the woman had to be Rome. I repeat for emphasis: It could not have been Babylon, it only could have been Rome, which was the great city of the enormous Roman Empire at the time. Even though Messiah Jesus has delayed his return, the fact remains that Rome has maintained prominence in the world including the powerful ascent of the Roman Catholic Church.

The first century Christians, most of whom were Jewish, knew their Old Testament. They knew that Babylon had long since vanished. For Christ to rapture his church at any time, which would set in motion the great Tribulation, Babylon would have to not only exist, but at that time be (or somehow arise from the ashes, despite Scriptural evidence to the contrary) the ruling power over “people of every nation and language.” It was obvious to those believers that the figurative representation of the woman could refer only to Rome. And, it should be equally evident to us in the 21^st century: only Rome has survived for 2000 years, not Babylon—which for all practical purposes ceased to exist over 2,500 years ago.

(This Picture of Rome Selected to Show Hills In and Around the City)

That same reasoning (imminent return of Jesus Christ) is used in my book, Out of the Abyss, as yet another proof that the seven heads of the beast are kings, whereas many prophecy students claim they are kingdoms, i.e. Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, and (what they say will be) The Revived Roman Empire.

From pages 165 & 166 of Out of the Abyss:

Revelation was written to and for the believers alive at that time, not just for the generation alive when Christ would return. In fact, the first century believers could certainly have been that generation … every subsequent generation that was replaced by another generation eagerly awaited the imminent return of Jesus. Otherwise, the Biblically based concept of the imminent return of Messiah would only be for the last age. In other words, any age group including the first century Christians could be the last or “that” generation.

Beyond all doubt, the early Christians knew that the sixth or seventh head (indeed all of the seven heads) could not be an empire, because if the 7^th head was a future revived Roman Empire to replace the 6^th head, then the current Roman Empire would have to be destroyed and rebuilt in some fashion. If that were the case, then there’s no way that the return of Christ would be or could be considered “imminent” to them, as it would have taken decades or even longer for the Roman Empire to fall then to be restored. In fact, history bears this out, as the Roman Empire dominated the world for another four hundred years or so.

Fourth Reason (Two Parts)

The entire 18^th Chapter of Revelation graphically depicts the consummate destruction of Rome (Babylon by symbolical representation); with virtually all the verses pointing to both ancient Rome and the subsequent Holy Roman Empire, via the Roman Catholic Church. Not literally to ancient Babylon, otherwise the descriptive language would be contradictory. For example:

“Babylon is fallen—that great city is fallen!” (Revelation 18:2). Then, in great detail, the angel tells John what will actually happen. In one of these descriptions we read: “… And all the captains of the merchant ships and their passengers and sailors and crews will stand at a distance. They will cry out as they watch the smoke ascend, and they will say, ‘Where is there another city as great as this?’” (Revelation 18:17-18).

This is literally detailing the horrified reaction of both sailors and passengers on ships. I can assure you that there is no large body of water near enough to Babylon in Iraq for sailors to watch the smoke ascend from the city. The Caspian Sea, Black Sea, Persian Gulf, and Mediterranean Sea are pretty much equidistant from Babylon, and they’re all at least 500 miles away. However, if Rome were to go up in flames, the smoke could easily be seen from vessels on the Mediterranean Sea.

(Shows Babylon’s Proximity to Bodies of Water)

Then we read: “Rejoice over her fate, O heaven and people of God and apostles and prophets! For at last God has judged her for your sakes” (Revelation 18:20, italics for emphasis).

And, “…Praise the Lord! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God. His judgments are true and just. He has punished the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality. He has avenged the murder of his servants” (Revelation 19:1-2, italics for emphasis).

Ancient Babylon did, in fact, destroy Jerusalem and Solomon’s Temple, and exiled many Jews from the southern two tribes to Babylonia. This was allowed by God to discipline Israel, but lasted for only 70 years. Other than the incident in which the young Jewish men Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow before a statue of Nebuchadnezzar, there was no real persecution of the Jews while in captivity. And we all know about the divine deliverance of these three men from the fiery furnace!

Babylon did not kill any Jewish prophets before or during its conquest of Judah. And there were certainly no apostles at that time. In fact, Jeremiah—the most prominent prophet who prophesied Babylon’s triumph over Judah and Jerusalem—was treated with kindness by his captors.

“The captain of the guard called for Jeremiah and said, ‘The Lord your God has brought this disaster on this land, just as he said he would. For these people have sinned against the Lord and disobeyed him. That is why it happened. But I am going to take off your chains and let you go. If you want to come with me to Babylon, you are welcome. I will see that you are well cared for. But if you don’t want to come, you may stay here. The whole land is before you—go wherever you like” (Jeremiah 40:2-4).

(Note: Jeremiah’s own people had put him in chains)

To the contrary, Romans (none more so than Nero Caesar) tortured and killed thousands of Christians, including the apostles Peter and Paul. As did the Roman Catholic Church in subsequent generations during the Inquisitions, and in wars against true believers, many of whom were Protestants (protesters against the false creed of Catholicism).

God would, therefore, have no reason to punish (the city of) Babylon beyond the first and only complete judgment that took place ages ago. But all the reason in the world to finally judge Rome (primarily religious Rome) during the Great Tribulation.

Fifth Reason:

Other than Revelation’s allegorical depiction of Babylon (for the reasons already given), those who contend that Babylon is where Antichrist literally will set up his headquarters, use only one other passage … Zechariah 5:5-11. If you like, please read that text. In this article space only permits the following observations:

The Woman (called “Wickedness”) and the basket in which she sits is a figurative representation of the sins of Israel that will be symbolically transferred to the land of Shinar (Babylonia). A temple (also translated shrine, more in the meaning of monument) will be built as a memorial signifying that Israel’s transgressions will be forever removed from them when all Israel is saved at the glorious return of Messiah and allegorically deposited in the very area that produced “Mother Babylon” (Revelation 17:5).

(A Fairly Accurate Artist Rendition of the Woman in the Basket, Zachariah 5)

In fact, Zechariah Chapter Five doesn’t actually mention the city of Babylon. Nor is it, at all, saying that the land of Shinar is the Wicked Woman herself (that’s where she—representing the sins of national Israel—will be taken). In short, Zechariah is not referring, whatsoever, to the Antichrist; including, but not limited to, the speculation that he will establish his headquarters from the literal city of Babylon. Which is why Zechariah doesn’t specify Babylon; instead he refers to all of Babylonia (Shinar) as the central epitome of occult paganism that spread to other nations, which sadly included Israel.

Why Then Does John Substitute Rome with Babylon; or Use the Imagery of a Woman; or Encode the Beast’s Identity by Referring to the Number of His Name, Six Hundred, Sixty-Six?

For John to have named Rome itself in the Book of Revelation, or to have identified Nero as the beast (even though Nero was dead, it would be an affront to the office of the Roman Caesars), or for Paul to have written Nero’s name as the Man of Lawlessness in II Thessalonians, would have meant instant death for Paul, John, and thousands more Christians. Already, Nero had murdered many believers; there was no reason to risk the slaughter of thousands more. Instead, represent the seven Roman Emperors by the seven heads (kings) of the beast which include Nero as one of the seven heads but also the composite beast itself; encode his name by Hebrew gematria (Nero’s name matches the number six hundred and sixty-six); and use Babylon in the place of Rome to lessen suspicion of Roman officials, especially Caesar.

Babylon in Revelation Chapter 17 does not represent the woman herself. Rather, “A mysterious name was written on her forehead: ‘Babylon the Great, Mother of All Prostitutes and Obscenities in the World’” (Verse 5). In this context, Babylon is identified as the “Mother” who would bear children who would prostitute the very existence and truth of God and of the Messiah. Or, as done in ancient Rome, create the idea that Caesar, himself, was a god; exemplified by Nero’s ambition to actually be worshipped as God—with this ambition elevated to a whole new perverted level during the Tribulation.

This corruption and distortion of God’s everlasting truth is also the core foundation of all non-Christian world religions, cults, and anti-religious systems such as the New Age movement or communism. Including, unfortunately, the Roman Catholic Church which would continue the legacy of the Roman Empire through religion.

Thus, when Babylon (Rome) is crushed during the tribulation, Mother Babylon which birthed the “Woman” is also destroyed.

Things to Ponder

In the next to last page of Out of the Abyss, I summarize:

In closing, we need not look to modern Rome, or to Brussels, or to Mecca, or Berlin, or Moscow, or London, or Paris, or New York City, or to Washington D.C. to find the Antichrist. Look to ancient Rome, and then look to the sea. Peer into the Abyss, and you will find the man of lawlessness; the unholy beast who would dare to be “anti” Christ.

And then, look to Jerusalem for the true Messiah. Focus on the Mount of Olives for his triumphant return. Antichrist will gather his armies to fight against Yeshua. The beast will be granted authority for but a brief time. During that reign, he will strike many times. Jesus will strike but once and crush the man of lawlessness…

In the first above quoted paragraph, I was referring to the here and now, to the current pre-Rapture population of the earth. When the glorious Rapture takes place, the world’s attention will be redirected for a time from Jerusalem to Rome. Nero will suddenly appear from the Abyss. This “miracle” will amaze those left behind.

I totally believe that the Lord meant for all pre-Rapture believers to know the identity of the Antichrist. Otherwise, why would he have given us so many clues to the proper fit of the prophetic puzzle? Moreover, I trust that some left behind after the Rapture will not be so amazed at Nero, because they will understand that Scripture had disclosed long ago who this man is and what he would do upon his reappearance. It would be Satan’s attempt to counterfeit copy the magnificent return of the true Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth.

Jesus often referred to himself as the Son of Man.

“…I saw someone like the son of man coming with the clouds of heaven… He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14).

Please, take a few more minutes and listed to this great song, with some wonderful visual effects.

The Final Treaty of Rome … Part I

14 Saturday May 2016

Posted by garybowers in The Antichrist

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Common Market, European Union, Nero, The Abyss

The Final Treaty of Rome

“Like never before, the eyes of the world are on Israel. It is absolutely amazing that so much attention is directed to this tiny nation.”

This is a quote from the closing portion of last week’s Eye of Prophecy article entitled, An Islamic United Nations. Incessant focus on Israel and the Jewish people is a remarkable fulfillment of Scripture, which began with the miraculous rebirth of Israel in 1948. Such concentration on Israel, especially Jerusalem, will continue with chain-reaction intensity right up to the point when global attention will (temporarily) shift from Jerusalem to Rome.

Who or what will cause this world-wide transferal of interest from Jerusalem to Rome and why?

In answer to the question of who: It is the Antichrist, the Roman Emperor Nero. In answer to what: It is Nero’s (what will be perceived as miraculous) return from the grave, which is actually the Abyss (Revelation 17:8). International scrutiny will be shifted to Rome; that is where Nero will reestablish his reign of power and then terror, and will orchestrate the most highly improbable treaty of all time.

It will be the Final Treaty of Rome. Israel will be one party to the agreement and the Muslim nations on the other side of this stunning covenant. With the entire world approving to one degree or another, it could also be labeled the Treaty from Rome.

We read about it in the book of Daniel: “The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven, but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings…” (Daniel 9:27).

Why do I call it the Final Treaty of Rome? Because there was another Treaty of Rome which took place in 1957. Let’s take a look at the amazing results of that momentous event.

The Treaty of Rome

Have you heard of this treaty? Do you know what it’s about?

For some reason or another, I hadn’t paid much attention to the Treaty of Rome. Truth be known, I don’t even recall reading about it until recently. (Shame on me!) Why, I don’t know, as I’ve studied a good deal of history, both Biblical and secular, both ancient and modern down through the years—particularly in the past twenty years in preparation and during the writing of two books and what is now 147 Eye of Prophecy articles. I’ll give myself the benefit of the doubt, in that I took more notice of the subsequent developments instead of the treaty itself … as, I’m sure many others have done.

(Photo of the Treaty of Rome Conference, 1957)

Technically, there were two treaties signed on March 25, 1957 in Rome. Yet, both were related and are most commonly referred to in the singular … The Treaty of Rome. The treaties gave rise to the European Economic Community with, as stated in its preamble, the signatory nations, “determined to lay the foundations of an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe.”

Is that a pretty strong hint? Dare to venture a guess what the EEC led to? No, it wasn’t the United Nations, which came into existence in 1945.

Let’s continue.

Countries that sponsored this “treaty” and their representatives who signed the agreement were: France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, Austria, West Germany, and Italy. It’s evident that the reason it was called a treaty related to the general goal of reducing, even eliminating, disputes between the nations of Europe; and to facilitate free circulation of goods, freedom of movement from one nation to another, and freedom from monopolies.

The EEC subsequently became known as The Common Market.

There you are! If you didn’t already, now you know the significance of the Treaty of Rome.

At least in my generation, nearly everyone has heard of The Common Market … originally consisted of ten European countries that many students of the Bible (at the time and for years later) pointed to as the ten nations or kingdoms of Daniel Chapter 7 and Revelation Chapter 17. Only to be embarrassed when the ten nations eventually expanded to the current 28 countries belonging to the European Union. Yes, the EU is also a direct outcome of the Treaty of Rome!

Although the initial design of the Common Market was to facilitate agricultural and trade agreements and cooperation between its European partners, the main objective was to ultimately establish a political union … which has been done. Which is, however, the reason that England refused to join the EEC (Common Market) until 1973. With the British objection based primarily on their apprehension that such a Union would force member states to relinquish national sovereignty to a centralized government with European (intra national) control. Which is also the main reason that England is now considering withdrawal from the European Union, a movement known as Brexit (Britain’s exit).

The most recent poll in advance of the pending vote shows the British are split 50/50 for or against what will be a monumental milestone in Europe’s history. Some experts are predicting serious global economic repercussions if England does, in fact, exit the European Union.

After England joined the Common Market in 1973, Denmark and Ireland followed suit; thus, the Common Market became a ten-nation union that has since morphed into 28 countries.

The latest country seeking membership in the EU is none other than Turkey; whose leader, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, just recently uttered this audacious statement that reveals his true intentions:

“What is the conquest? The conquest is Hijrah (expansion of Islam through emigration, following the example of Muhammad, the founder of Islam and his followers from Mecca to Medina). The conquest is Al-Andalu (Muslim Spain) … The conquest is Salah al-Din al-Ayubbi (Saladin). It is to hoist the flag of Islam in Jerusalem again … The conquest is to have the courage, tenacity and sagacity to defy the entire world even at the hardest times.” (Taken from a Gatestone Institute Article by Uzay Bulut, posted on May 11, 2016).

*Note: In case you missed it, Muslim leaders no longer veil their “hidden agenda” which can pretty much be reduced to two main objectives: Destruction of Israel and world domination. The primary reason they can make such belligerent boasts with virtual impunity is because any adverse reaction to practically anything said by Muslims is considered to be Islamophobia. Which, of course, causes all liberals and even a few conservatives to cower in fear that their religious-like support of diversity and political correctness might be compromised.

I stray from today’s topic, but only a little. As Nero will, in pretense, “…worship the god of fortresses—a god his ancestors never knew…” (Daniel 11:38). This god of fortresses will most certainly be Islam’s god, Allah.

The first elections to the European Parliament were held in 1979. Since then, a common currency, The Euro, has been adopted; however, England still uses the pound as its currency.

The fact that the formation of the Common Market which became the European Union took place in Rome is of no small importance when it comes to Biblical prophecy, especially relating to the significance of Rome, Roman Emperors, the Holy Roman Empire (Roman Catholic Church), and the Antichrist himself.

(Current Members of The European Union)

*Note: For potential identification of the Antichrist’s ten-nation coalition, the Gog-Magog alliance, the league of Eastern kings, and an Arab confederacy, I would encourage you to read Eye of Prophecy article, One Ring to Rule Them All. Posted 11-21-15.

As much as I loathe writing about or even mentioning his name, it’s essential to examine and expose the enemy. Thus, it’s time to do a little refresher on the Antichrist—his identity and, especially for this article, his biggest claim to fame.

Why the Antichrist Beast of Revelation is the Roman Emperor Nero

Substantial evidence has been presented in several Eye of Prophecy articles (Category of Antichrist), but mostly in my book, Out of the Abyss … can the number of the beast be solved? 666, to demonstrate that Nero is the Antichrist. The term Antichrist is only mentioned by the Apostle John in his epistle, I John. Other titles given to this man: little horn, ruler, king, man of lawlessness, and beast (of Revelation). In this article, we’ll only do a brief review to establish that the historical Nero fits with all of the names and passages of the Bible referencing the Antichrist. For example:

Daniel Chapter 9 (The Ruler): In the verse preceding the earlier quoted passage (Daniel 9:27), we read, “…a ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the city and the Temple…” (Verse 26, italics for emphasis). No other ruler in history qualifies other than Nero, as he is the Caesar who personally ordered his Generals Vespasian and Titus and their legions to crush Israel’s rebellion against the Roman Empire beginning in 66 A.D. Nero died two years later, thus it was his “armies” as precisely predicted by Scripture (beginning with Vespasian and completed by his son, Titus) that conquered Jerusalem (“the city”) and destroyed the Temple in 70 A.D.

II Thessalonians Chapter 2 (Man of Lawlessness): Likewise, much documentation is provided to show that Nero was the man of lawlessness referred to by the Apostle Paul. Not the least of which was the unlawful usurping of the Roman Emperor Claudius’s throne by being complicit with his mother Agrippina in murdering her husband Claudius. What held back the man of lawlessness (II Thessalonians 2:6) was NOT the Holy Spirit—who allegedly will be removed from the earth at the Rapture as speculated by many scholars—because the Holy Spirit is always referred to by the personal pronouns he or him in Scripture, not the impersonal pronoun, what or it, as used in II Thessalonians. What held back Nero was Claudius himself (and to some degree the Roman Senate and rule of law), until Agrippina and Nero took the law in their own hands; thereby, accelerating Nero’s ascension to the throne of Caesar. (See Chapter 21, Man of Lawlessness in Out of the Abyss). Nero ascended to the throne just 2-3 years after Paul wrote II Thessalonians. That is far beyond mere coincidence.

Revelation Chapter 17 (Scarlet Beast & King): Documented is the fact that the seven heads of the beast in this biographical chapter on Antichrist were seven Roman Emperors beginning with the first Caesar, Augustus (not Julius). That Nero was one of the five who had “fallen” (died); thereby, matching the amazing unveiling of the mystery of the scarlet beast (and woman sitting on the beast) by the angel to John with the stunning words, “The beast you saw was once alive but isn’t now … yet he will soon come up out of the bottomless pit … And the people who belong to this world … will be amazed at the reappearance of the beast who had died” (Verse 8).

The astonishing implication of this often overlooked passage is that the Antichrist will NOT be a modern-day born man. In regard to all the other evidence presented in my book and in several Eye of Prophecy articles, believe it’s worth quoting an excerpt from Out of the Abyss, page 271) written near the end of the book to emphasize the startling disclosure of the “mystery … of the beast” (Revelation 17:7-11).

There is no question; the meaning of the verse is as irrefutable as anything can be. The beast had already died before John received this revelation. How else can this passage be understood? Is there any other way to see or read this verse? If some can’t let go of a contemporary Antichrist, then what will they do with this verse … and all the other passages that help refit the prophetic puzzle?

John didn’t see the vision in the future; he saw it in the present—that hour of that day. The beast is past tense … no longer alive when John saw the vision. The beast isn’t born and doesn’t die in the future; he’s already dead. When will the beast become future tense? Correct: When he reappears from the Abyss. At the beginning of the Tribulation, the world will be amazed at the reappearance of the beast that had died. Will the beast die during the Tribulation? No, he died even before John saw him from Patmos.

Nero’s Greatest Claim to Fame (Other than his infamous brutal torture and murder of Christians, colleagues, step-brother, wives, and even his mother).

(Statues of Nero and His Mother, Agrippina)

Let’s take a brief look at one of Nero’s (very few) positive accomplishments during his fourteen year reign as the fifth Emperor in Rome’s history. Again, believe the best way to do this is by referring to Out of the Abyss (pages 178-180). As follows in italics:

He was not considered to be a great orator, though he fancied himself as an actor, a composer, and a musician. In Nero’s early years, Seneca did much of Nero’s talking to the public and Senate. In short, he was not a prototype of the Antichrist portrayed in many eschatological books, sermons, and television programs. But is the contemporary image of Antichrist accurate?

Contrary to modern imagery of the Antichrist, Scripture does not tell us that the man of lawlessness will necessarily be a great orator, a consummate politician, a charismatic leader, or exhibit other appealing characteristics commonly assigned to a world leader. Nor does the Bible tell us that the tribulation world will follow him because he exercises these persuasive traits and people buy into him for that reason.

What Scripture elucidates above all else, as the reason why people the world over will immediately give him complete allegiance to the point of worship, is that he reappears from the dead. The contemporary notion that yields a portrait of the Antichrist as a cunning political orator is a deduction derived almost exclusively from an achievement at the outset of the tribulation—the successful negotiation of a seven-year treaty with Israel. Many suggest that only a dynamic, magnetic leader could capture the loyalty of so many people during the tribulation. Yet history shows that megalomaniac rulers have come in all shapes, sizes, types, and levels of persuasive influence, not the least of which were the Roman Emperors.

Throughout history, there have been all kinds of treaties, orchestrated by all types of people, ratified through many different situations and settings.

I then use the example that it wasn’t Adolph Hitler’s oratory skills; rather it was the fear of Hitler and the growing German military monster that prompted Neville Chamberlain to negotiate a treaty with Hitler. It was the infamous “peace in our time” that almost immediately led to a global conflict … World War II.

Continuing with Out of the Abyss:

…For most of his reign he achieved that popularity, especially with the common Roman citizen, but not because Nero was a brilliant speaker or a charismatic leader.

Of all things, it was a treaty that Nero engineered between Rome and Parthia that helped endear him to the Roman Senate, the Roman Legions, and the Roman citizens … Suffice to say that this peace deal was a substantial victory for Nero, both politically and socially. His popularity increased dramatically … Moreover, this accomplishment was not a result of any extraordinary talents or gifts that Nero possessed.

In fact, when examining history, the single most influential factor in negotiating a treaty relates to the state-of-affairs conditions and circumstances that gave rise to an agreement between peoples or nations.

At this point in Out of the Abyss, I jump forward to Nero’s reappearance.

After the Rapture, Nero won’t have much of a problem in negotiating a treaty with Israel. Remember, there will be no Christians left immediately after the Rapture. But there will be chaos, confusion, and disorder … Nero will capitalize on this pandemonium by orchestrating a treaty, one that will allow the Jewish Temple to be built alongside the Muslim Dome of the Rock, or even in place of the Dome of the Rock. I use the word orchestrating, because one of Nero’s talents was that of arranging and synchronizing things, such as a group of people with dissident views or like a musical play, of which he wrote and performed several—in Greek.

And who in the world is going to argue with a man who returns to the earth after a two thousand year absence? With regard to the sack of Jerusalem in 70 AD, all Nero need say is that the Roman Generals went way too far. He will probably remind tribulation Jews that he died in 68 AD, two years before the Roman Legions destroyed the Temple. That he had not intended for the Jews to be exiled from Judea or for the Temple to be destroyed. After a fashion, he might even apologize to the Jews. His way of making up for the ancient Roman mistreatment of the Jews will be to offer than a new Temple.

He will remind the Jews and the Arabs that his hostility as a Roman Emperor was rightfully and justifiably directed against the Christians—those narrow minded, bigoted, self-righteous hypocrites who disappearance has done mankind a favor by cleansing the earth of religious intolerance.

If you like, you could come up with any number of lies that a resurrected Nero will fabricate and foist on Israel and the nations. But the bottom line is that untold millions will follow him for the same reason that many have followed Jesus Christ. RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD.

Then on page 182, this Biblically based clarification of the actual reason why many in the Tribulation period will listen to and follow Nero, I write:

The Antichrist is not afforded blind worship because he is a superman in terms of being an accomplished statesman, orator, or leader. The False Prophet does that for him. The superhuman qualities accorded him will literally lie in his mystical return from death.

From Where Does Nero Return To the Earth?

In other sections of Out of the Abyss and in some Eye of Prophecy articles, additional explanation is provided that Nero doesn’t actually rise from the grave in exact duplication of the miraculous resurrection of Messiah Jesus. Rather, he has been confined, then at the outset of the Tribulation will be released from the Abyss … a completely different place than hell (the grave). Supported by the sensible logic that in order for the beast to “reappear from the Abyss” (Revelation 17:8), he first must be placed there.

Let’s look at a few more paragraphs from Out of the Abyss that best explain why the entire world at the beginning of the Great Tribulation, “…marveled at this miracle and gave allegiance to the beast. They worshipped the dragon (Satan) for giving the beast such power, and they also worshipped the beast. ‘Who is as great as the beast?’ they exclaimed. ‘Who is able to fight against him?’” (Revelation 13:3-4).

This unashamed, unabashed, unequivocal loyalty to and worship of Nero is due entirely to his sudden reappearance from the dead (mortal wounds inflicted 2000 years ago).

First, however, a reminder that the Abyss or Bottomless Pit in Scripture is a special place of confinement for exceptionally wicked angels, as opposed to most fallen angels (demons) who still, along with Satan, have God-granted permission to roam the heavens and the earth.

Genesis Chapter 6 tells us about these fallen angels, as does II Peter 2. Also, here is what Jude says about them: “And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged. God has kept them securely chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the great day of judgment” (Jude 6).

This gruesome group of depraved demons attempted to accomplish Satan’s plan to dilute and pervert the human race, which is one of the main reasons for the Great Flood … God’s first global judgment of the earth.

Which is also why the demons that Jesus cast out of the man in the region of Gerasenes, “…kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit.” (Luke 8:31). Jesus granted that request by granting another request of the demons, to let them enter into a herd of nearby pigs!

From this passage and others we learn two things: (1) Many demons are allowed to roam the earth and parts of the heavenly places, but some have been imprisoned in the Abyss. (2) Fallen angels dread the thought of banishment to the Abyss. That’s why the demons of Gerasenes wanted no part of the Abyss; going to the extreme of begging Jesus not to send them to this inescapable prison of darkness which completely takes away the (temporary) freedom they have been allowed by God to serve Satan.

(Artist Rendition of the Nephilim … See Genesis Chapter 6)

Getting back to the fact that the reappearance of Antichrist Nero to the earth will be directly from the Abyss (Revelation 17:8), here are some additional excerpts from Out of the Abyss (pages 232, 233):

In all of Scripture, there is only one reference to a human being coming from, therefore, having been placed into the Abyss. That man is the man of lawlessness, who is the Antichrist, who is the beast of Revelation. Such an honor!

Soon after Nero died, his body was literally removed from the grave and transported directly to the Abyss. I believe there is a twofold reason that God expelled this man of lawlessness to the Abyss:

To make it clear to believers that Nero would not replicate the actual resurrection of Jesus Christ. I firmly believe that God would not extend this resurrection power to Satan, anymore that he would allow Satan to be God or be like God. There are some things that God will simply not grant. For one thing God would not permit anyone, let alone Satan, to share his glory, in which God’s very essence and attributes are expressed…

On the flip side, to allow Satan to mimic the resurrection without actually performing this miracle. To be sure, Nero will flaunt this counterfeit “resurrection” by seizing the opportunity to demonstrate that he has arisen from the dead. The unsaved world won’t know the difference between a return from the grave and reappearance from the Abyss. Only the tribulation saints will know the difference, just as we know the difference now. The world will be amazed that a man who had been dead for some two thousand years could return with the same body and the same scars caused by the fatal wound. In fact, it wouldn’t be at all surprising if Nero said something to the effect, “Now tell me who the true God is. I died two thousand years ago and I’ve come back … That presumptuous Nazarene was dead for only three days, so he says. Even if he was dead for three days, who is the greater of the two? Whose miracle is the greatest? Where is this imposter now?”

Summary

Several “Roadmaps of Peace” in the Middle East have failed over the years, including the Oslo Accord of 1993 mediated by United States President Bill Clinton between Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin. Since then the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Hamas in the Gaza Strip have rejected generous land for peace offers from two Israeli Prime Ministers, Ehud Barak and Ehud Olmert. The PA consistently refuses to come to the table with current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unless pre-negotiated demands are met, i.e. right of return of so-called Arab refugees, Israel’s withdrawal to pre-1967 territorial lines, and most audacious of all—east Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian State.

These three issues are, by far, the most difficult to resolve; however the Palestinians won’t agree to negotiate unless these demands are met. In other words, they won’t even agree to disagree, which must first be a condition before negotiations are remotely possible.

Powerful nations of the EU, especially France, and now the United States are growing tired of these (their own) failures. Moreover, they are, with a great deal of inaccuracy and inequity, putting much more of the blame on Israel than the Palestinians and other Muslim nations whose real agenda is elimination of the State of Israel altogether. Which is why the Palestinians have rejected more than generous offers from the Israelis, and why they have no incentive to resume negotiations for either peace or a Palestinian State. Why should the Arabs cooperate when the prominent nations of the world are now willing to unilaterally declare the existence of a Palestinian State, undoubtedly with the borders to be those of pre-1967 Armistice Lines … boundaries that would jeopardize Israel’s national security in the north, east, and south regions of Israel. Worse than that: to arbitrarily divide Jerusalem and declare this 3000 year-old capital of Israel as an “East Jerusalem” Palestinian capital.

According to Scripture, it will not be the leaders of any of these nations, i.e. US, France, Britain, Germany, Russia, Italy, or the Arab Confederation that will bring peace to the Middle East. For one thing there is too much disagreement between these governments as to just what this Roadmap of Peace will encompass. Or, if and how the borders of a Palestinian state will be enforced or its capital recognized if either Israel or the Palestinians themselves reject such a “treaty.” The likelihood of any such pre-Rapture agreement actually taking place is remote. Even if some sort of treaty (defined by Webster as an agreement or arrangement made by negotiation) is reached, it will be virtually impossible to implement and/or administrate.

But the time is coming soon when one (depraved) man will successfully set aside all differences, remove all obstacles, and unify all dissenters. He will do this because Europeans, North Americans, South Americans, Australians, Muslims, and Jews alike will agree that he alone is qualified. He alone possesses the god-like capability to orchestrate, implement, and enforce such a treaty. Will this megalomaniac succeed because of statesmanship skills, or oratorical persuasion, or charismatic attributes?

No, it’s because of one astounding accomplishment: Nero’s return from the grave!

This miracle—in the eyes of those who “belong to the world” left behind after the Rapture—will be the catalyst instilling a mixture of adoration and fear, that will lead to the Final Treaty of Rome.

An ancient Roman Emperor will achieve what contemporary national leaders and global governments for decades have attempted but failed: A “Treaty of Peace” between Jews and Muslims, with many nations of the world lending their full support.

And so the world will believe the Lie (Nero himself is the Lie), just as Scripture tells us. The lying spirit of Antichrist claims that Jesus is not the Christ, and that God is not the Father. Nero will boast that he alone is God or Messiah, for no one could possibly return from the dead in the manner in which he did.

“This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. He will use every kind of deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth” (II Thessalonians 2:9-12).

Stay tuned for next week’s Part II article on the Final Treaty of Rome.

Things to Ponder

For a brief time, Satan will get his diabolical wish … to be worshipped as the Most High God. Likewise, Nero will achieve his warped goal … to be revered as divine, to reestablish his glory—this time on a global scale. To convince millions upon millions that he alone bears the credentials to be the world’s savior. Right out of the gates he will demonstrate his negotiation skills through a position of strength conferred to him by virtue of his miraculous return from the dead.

Thus, he will begin the Great Tribulation with a treaty to end all treaties: The Final Treaty of Rome.

Few will resist his right to receive and exercise authority that will not only rescue the world from disaster, but lead it to Utopia … the great Pax Romana peace that Nero failed to achieve the first time. But this time he will boast of success. Why can he make that boast? Why will so many believe him?

“…but the fatal wound was healed! The whole world marveled at this miracle and gave allegiance to the beast. They worshipped the dragon for giving the beast such power, and they also worshipped the beast. ‘Who is as great as the beast?’ they exclaimed. ‘Who is able to fight against him?” (Revelation 13:3-4).

Not to worry: There is One who can and will fight against the beast. One who is far greater than Satan or his man of sin. One who can and will bring real, everlasting peace to the earth. For he is the Prince of Peace.

Listen to the powerful prophetic promise of what will take place at the end of the Great Tribulation:

“During the reign of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered. It will crush all these kingdoms into nothingness, and it will stand forever” (Daniel 2:44).

And who will reign over this kingdom? None other than the Son of God, Messiah Jesus.

“…The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!” (Isaiah 9:6-7).

An Islamic United Nations?

07 Saturday May 2016

Posted by garybowers in Current Events

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Security Council, Temple Mount, UN, UNESCO

Here We Go Again

In light of yet another anti-Israel resolution by the United Nations, this week’s Eye of Prophecy article could have been entitled, Peace or a Palestinian State … Which Will It Be? Or: More Palestinian Lies. Or: The Legacy of Temple Mount. Or: The Myth of Al-Aqsa Mosque. But it can’t because those are titles of articles already written.

Maybe each Saturday’s article should be posted late in the day instead of first thing in the morning. But that wouldn’t work either. Although Eye of Prophecy articles are published weekly and many of them are in the category of Current Events, they cannot keep up with the almost daily barrage of media reports on the Middle East in general and Israel in particular.

Just hours after I posted The Myth of Al-Aqsa Mosque article on April 16^th, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) passed a resolution “officially” (for the UN, not for Israel or anyone who knows the true history of Temple Mount) classifying Temple Mount by its Arabic name, Al-Haram Al Sharif; which in English is translated to Noble Sanctuary. But disregard the English translation. Even though English is recognized as the main international language, only the Arabic name is to be used.

Among non-Muslim nations voting in favor of this contemptible resolution, France was the most conspicuous with (dis)honorable recognition for Sweden and Spain.

What will these Western nations will do when Muslims change the identity of revered religious, national, cultural, or political sites in European countries, exclusively to Islamic names, with demands that only the Muslim designations be recognized? And if city or national governments do not comply, then they, too, are guilty of Islamophobia or religious and cultural intolerance or being PI (politically incorrect).

Stop shaking your head! It could come to that, just like Sharia Law could be implemented in some jurisdictions.

I wonder what the Muslim name for the Statue of Liberty will be. Perhaps, Mohammed’s Torch of Freedom?

(Might Muslims Also Claim She Is Holding the Koran?)

Not only Temple Mount, but UNESCO’s rancorous resolution also included several other Jewish sacred sites, declaring them elite Muslim holy places and referring to them only by Muslim labels.

Here are a couple of excerpts (in italics) from Eye of Prophecy article, The Myth of Al Aqsa Mosque:

Thus, it’s imperative that we examine the historical basis for Islamic motives to defend their holy sites. In doing so, we will once again confirm that Muslim attempts to rewrite the history of this ancient conflict have no basis in fact. We will see the rest of the story, the empirical evidence that will undermine Palestinian claims that they alone have rights to Temple Mount. Hopefully, this will help dispel the flawed opinions or imprecise impressions that many in the Western world (as well as Muslims themselves) have concerning Jewish and Islamic heritage of Temple Mount … indeed, of all Jerusalem and Israel.

Then later in the article:

From our examination of the true history of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, we now see more clearly that neither the mosque, nor Dome of the Rock, nor Noble Sanctuary (Temple Mount) have any real historical relevance to or connection with Islam’s purported interest in Jerusalem. Rather, they are merely a convenient excuse for Muslims to continue their concerted effort to expel or even eliminate (if they could) all Jews in Israel. It is not question of even one square foot of land on Temple Mount or anywhere else in Israel. It is a question of whether Palestinian Arabs and Muslim nations will ever recognize the sovereign state of Israel and the right of Jews to live in their ancient land, given to them by God himself. A land they occupied (in the positive connotation of the word) long before the Arabs, hundreds of years before Mohammed started the religion of Islam.

More on UNESCO’s Resolution

This latest resolution to denigrate and discredit Israel by renaming Temple Mount and insisting that all nations use the Arabic term for Temple Mount is yet another pitiful attempt to deny any association whatsoever of the Jewish people to their most holy site in their most holy city of Jerusalem. Furthermore, the resolution was on the very day of Passover, which has been an integral part of the Jewish tradition in Israel for nearly 3,500 years. With Jerusalem and the Temple (Temple Mount) established 3,000 years ago by King David and King Solomon.

Yet UNESCO is doing nothing more than the United Nations, as a whole, has done for nearly 70 years: Castigate Israel fanatically and frequently. Whereas most of the anti-Israel sanctions are initiated by Islamic countries, other nations often vote in favor of these reprehensible resolutions which number far more than those against truly rogue and dangerous nations such as Iran and North Korea.

Will this resolution have any real impact on the world at large? Absolutely it will. The idea is really quite simple: If national leaders and government officials begin to use the label of Al-Haram Al Sharif in reference to Temple Mount, they will soon (if they haven’t already) consider Temple Mount as belonging—historically, religiously, and culturally—to Islam and to Arabs.

Here is another excerpt from The Myth of Al Aqsa Mosque to reinforce the clear historical evidence that the only real interest Mohammed had for Jerusalem was to take it from the Jews.

There’s even more. Jerusalem, itself, is NEVER mentioned in the Koran … not once. Whereas, Jerusalem is referenced 669 times in the Bible and Zion (Jerusalem) 154 times. This is nothing short of an insurmountable obstacle to Muslim statements that not only Temple Mount, but all of Jerusalem belongs to them.

It’s simply inconceivable that the Koran, which was compiled in stages over many years, would not make one reference to Jerusalem, especially after the Arabs conquered Israel’s Holy City in 638 AD. Moreover, the Dome of the Rock was built by the Arabs because it was the site of the destroyed Jewish Temples, having nothing to do with Islam or the tale of Mohammed’s journey to the Holy City. The main purpose for building the Dome of the Rock was to prevent the construction of another Jewish Temple, and to erase the historical authenticity of Jewish rights to Temple Mount.

During and alongside media coverage of UNESCO’s resolution, was the reminder of France’s proposal to convene an international summit for the express purpose of reaching a framework of peace between Israel and the Palestinians. But if neither party could come to terms on yet another Roadmap of Peace, then France would unilaterally declare and recognize a Palestinian State within Israel’s borders.

Here are the first few paragraphs copied from the Eye of Prophecy article, Peace or a Palestinian State … Which Will It Be? Posted 2-27-16.

In one of the most curious proposals for Middle East peace ever made, France recently presented Israel and the Palestinians with an invitation to participate in an international conference in Paris this coming summer. The idea of a peace symposium is not unique and certainly not strange, as many powerful nations including the United States have repeatedly tried to establish an all too elusive reconciliation between Israel and the Palestinians, between the Jews and Arabs. The last such attempt, mediated by US Secretary of State, John Kerry, disintegrated in April 2014.

Yet, this one-sided plan from France borders on the bizarre. Some might even consider it preposterously pathetic. I would agree with that assessment, were it not for the potentially ominous consequences of France’s comply-or-else summons. Although the fine print details of the proposal have not yet been publicized, the basic agenda imposed by France has been clearly explained by the French ambassador to Israel. Which is: If Israel refuses to participate in the conference; OR, even if Israel does attend and diplomatic efforts fail to presumably reach some sort of agreement for some kind of peace, then France will by default recognize the existence of a Palestinian State within the borders of Israel.

Strangest of all, the French seem to be saying that it’s either peace in Israel or a Palestinian State … one or the other. The validity of this deduction is underscored by the fact that France knows all too well that Israel would never agree to a Palestinian State under the current pre-negotiated conditions imposed by the Palestinian Authority Fatah in the West Bank and certainly not by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Likewise, the Palestinians have shown absolutely no inclination whatsoever to relax their hard-core demands.

Demands such as: East Jerusalem as capital of a Palestinian State, Israel’s return to pre-1967 territorial borders, and full right of return of all post-1948 Arab refugees. But most significant of all: persistent Palestinian refusal to even recognize Israel as a sovereign Jewish State—the only such state in the world and one that is officially recognized by the United Nations collectively and virtually all non-Muslim countries individually.

Furor over the Golan Heights

It’s not just Temple Mount that has captivated media headlines. On April 17^th, the very next day after UNESCO’s shameful resolution, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Israel’s first-ever cabinet meeting held in the Golan Heights (on April 11^th), with these words:

“I convened this celebratory meeting in the Golan Heights to send a clear message: The Golan Heights will always remain in Israel’s hands. Israel will never withdraw from the Golan Heights. It is time that the international community recognized reality. Whatever happens on the other side of the border, the border itself will not move. Secondly, after 50 years it is time that the international community realized that the Golan will remain under Israeli sovereignty.”

Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasized that the Golan Heights was and is, “…an integral part of the Land of Israel in ancient times. This is documented by dozens of ancient synagogues around us. And the Golan is (also) an integral part of the State of Israel in the present time.”

That Golan in the territory of Bashan was part of the Promised Land deeded directly by God to Israel is also documented in Scripture. Beginning when Moses and the Israelites conquered Og, the king of Bashan, who opposed the Jews just a short time before Joshua led them into the Promised Land (see Numbers 21:31-35).

Subsequently, Joshua, according to specific instructions from the Lord, apportioned the Promised Land (all of Israel) to the Jews, with Bashan located in the territory given to half of the tribe of Manasseh east of the Jordan River—along with two other tribes, Reuben and Gad, on that side of the Jordan. The other 9 ½ tribes were allotted their portion of the Land west of the Jordan River (see Joshua 13:7-12, but also the rest of Chapter 13 through Chapter 20).

(Map of Biblical Allotment of the Promised Land, Including Bashan … Golan Heights)

The Israeli Cabinet meeting on the Golan Heights and Benjamin’s defense of such a meeting were in direct response to current efforts by world powers (including the United States) to negotiate an agreement to end the war in Syria; one that could potentially return the Golan Heights to Syria. Since then Prime Minister Netanyahu has discussed the matter by phone with US Secretary of State John Kerry, and by meeting personally with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.

With the gist of those meetings summarized by Benjamin Netanyahu when he said, “…we would not oppose a political resolution in Syria so long as it does not come at our expense. That is to say, at the end of the day Iranian forces, ISIS, and Hezbollah need to be removed from Syrian territory.”

In a short while, we’ll look at some startling responses to Netanyahu’s stirring statement that Israel would never give up the Golan Heights. But first let’s examine the:

Strategic Importance of the Golan Heights

First, a short history, with emphasis on brief … an in-depth history would require far too much time/space for today’s article. So we’ll pick it up following the Israeli-Arab War of 1948-49, which is known by the Jews as their War of Independence.

The Golan Heights is located at the northeast end of Israel, overlooking the Jordan Valley which includes the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River itself. It is an area that is absolutely vital to Israel’s security because it borders Lebanon to the north, Syria to the east, and Jordan to the south.

The Heights part of the Golan Heights is a relatively new designation of this critical portion of land. The former and still sometimes used name is simply Golan. Or Biblically, “Golan in Bashan.” It’s easy to figure out why the suffix, Heights, was added. It relates to the elevation factor … a high plateau with protruding ridges here and there. As you might surmise, altitude is of critical value during war and also during peacetime to maintain a superior advantage should military conflict erupt.

Military strategists emphasize the significance of higher ground. If higher ground is available, then occupy it. If already occupied by the enemy, then take it … depending on the casualty risk and logistical importance of that particular high ground. When it’s taken, defend it at all cost. It’s much easier to sit and shoot down at the enemy than to shoot up at the enemy while climbing, even if you’re in a tank.

Thus, Golan became the Golan Heights. That change in the designation tells it all; Israel’s very survival depends on a military advantage afforded by this strategic high ground in northern Israel. Even with air superiority, Israel knows that armored ground forces are essential in defending Israel. Including, if necessary, to send troops into Syria or Lebanon or even Jordan if Israel is attacked.

After Israel’s victory in their War of Independence, a Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was established on the Golan Heights between Syria and Israel’s borders. Think of a DMZ as a “buffer zone.” Immediately there was conflict between Israel and Syria over water and agricultural rights, as well as legal disputes over who should control what part of the area. However, from the very beginning of this “Armistice” Agreement, Syrian troops began to harass Jewish communities along the border mostly by lobbing mortars into the towns. Israelis spent many sleepless nights in bomb shelters. Several Jews were killed and wounded in this shelling.

Prior to the Six-Day War, five nations in the United Nations sponsored a resolution to condemn Syria for these constant unprovoked bombardments of Jewish towns.

Amazing, isn’t it. The United Nations actually drafted a resolution against one of Israel’s adversaries, instead of targeting Israel! Alas, the motion was vetoed by the Soviet Union. Recall: The five permanent nations in the UN Security Council have veto power … the United States, Russia, China, France, and England.

During Israel’s stunning June, 1967 victory over Syria and Egypt in just six days, she captured a majority of Golan Heights. By 1970 there were twelve Jewish settlements on the Golan. Then in the Yom Kippur War of 1973, Israel fought a series of bloody battles to prevent Syria regaining full control of the Golan Heights. Subsequently the United Nations established and monitored a cease-fire line that gave Syria one-third of the area and Israel two-thirds control (in the western part).

Then in 1981, Israel annexed most of the Golan Heights. Although the annexation didn’t change the dynamics of the area all that much, it did legally assure that the area of the Golan designated by Israel belongs to them; if, for no other reason, than victory in war. However, Israel didn’t capture, control, and then annex the Golan Heights in order to aggressively, deliberately, and without provocation wrest land away from Syria. It was the Israelis who were provoked by outright attacks or imminent threat of attack by their enemies, including Syria.

(Modern-day Map of the Golan Heights Region)

The Israelis had no choice. I repeat for emphasis: No choice, whatsoever. Capturing the Golan was a matter of national survival for Israel. Keeping it, is no less a matter of national existence. Without it, a Syrian army (whatever government it might eventually belong to), or Hezbollah, or ISIS, or Al Qaeda, or Jordan, or Russia, or Iran, or whoever can launch deadly attacks against Israel from the Golan Heights.

However, with the primary and ultimate claim to the Golan given to them by God himself. As well as much more of the Promised Land that will one day be added to modern Israel—Jewish land that is currently part of Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan.

Remarkable Reactions by Islamic Countries

On April 26^th just a few days after Benjamin Netanyahu raised the voice of Israel by saying that the, “Golan will remain under Israeli sovereignty,” the Organization of Islamic Cooperation held an “emergency, extraordinary” meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This emergency session was in direct retaliation to Netanyahu’s statements.

The OIC includes war-torn and/or botched Islamic states such as Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, and Nigeria … also economically and politically dysfunctional countries like Somalia and Bangladesh. Unlike Israel, none of the 57 member nations are democratic in any way, shape, or form. For the most part, people of these countries are far worse off than Palestinians occupying the region of Judea/Samaria (commonly referred to as the West Bank) of Israel. Yes, you read that right. As said in some past Eye of Prophecy articles and as affirmed by political, military, and historical experts who understand the true history of Israel, it is the Palestinians who are the occupiers, not the Israelis—as all of the land legally, historically, and Biblically belongs to Israel.

Among many other things said, the OIC’s final summary, “Condemns strongly Israel, the occupying power, and its macabre acts to change the legal status, demographic composition, and institutional structure of the occupied Syrian Golan … expresses unconditional support for the legitimate right of the Syrian people to restore their full sovereignty on the occupied Syrian Golan.”

Prior to this meeting, the Arab League, many of whose 22 members are also members of the OIC, had called for Israel to be charged and tried criminally for Israel’s conduct. This despite the fact that Israel has successfully controlled the Golan Heights since 1967, preventing more death and destruction by Syrian bombs raining down on innocent Israelis. And by establishing a strong military deterrent for invasion of Israel.

Of course, in today’s Syria, any invasion of Israel is a moot point; what with a bloody civil war that has resulted in the death of over a quarter million people. With displacement of millions more, many of whom are (and many more still waiting for asylum) refugees in Europe, constituting the greatest refugee crisis since World War II.

Exactly who or what will constitute or represent “Syrian Golan,” if the demands of Islamic nations that Israel return all of the Golan to Syria is met? Not to mention that the Golan encompasses less than one percent of Syrian territory. Or that Syria’s loss of a portion of the Golan Heights fifty years ago is anything resembling a huge problem with Syria today … whatever Syria is at this time in history. The Golan is absolutely the least of Syria’s concerns, what with its very survival at stake. For that matter, who in Syria has claim to the Golan? Is it the government of Bashar Assad, supported by Russia and Iran and Hezbollah of Lebanon? Or is it the rebels trying to gain their freedom from the oppressive Syrian regime, with these freedom fighters supported by the United States led coalition? Or might it even be ISIS, whose avowed objective is to set up an Islamic Caliphate in Iraq and Syria? ISIS is an acronym for Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

To whom should Israel surrender the Golan? Of course that’s a rhetorical question. But that’s exactly what these Islamic organizations (states) are demanding. Not only that, but many of these nations are (silently) applauding Israel’s firm resolve to thwart any semblance of an attack against Israel (via the Golan Heights) by ISIS or Hezbollah or factions in Syria. Especially those nations next or close to Israel, such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the gulf coast states—who could be next on the bucket list of ISIS (or even Russia or Iran).

So which is it? Condemn the Jews and demand that Israel withdraw from the Golan (and Temple Mount while Israel is in the withdrawal mode)? Or, at least pragmatically acknowledge that it is Israel alone who keeps Israel strong and surrounding nations secure from any and all of the warring factions in Syria.

Jordan is probably the best example, as this nation has more to gain by an Israeli controlled Golan than any other nation. The last thing Jordan wants or needs is another entity to occupy the Golan Heights other than Israel. Jordanians know that Israel will keep them safe by Israel’s very presence there, as well as the Jordan Valley, East Jerusalem, etc. Of course, even Jordan does their part for the Arab world and for Islam by periodically condemning Israel for this and that. Lately, because of Temple Mount.

Take Iran for instance … a bitter hater and enemy of Israel. To the extent that numerous times in recent years, even months, this rogue Islamic nation has vowed to “wipe Israel from the face of the earth.” If Iranian forces get a strong foothold in Syria, it’s only a hop, skip, and a jump to the Golan Heights. But Saudi Arabia and Iran are not exactly bosom buddies; in fact, they are diametrically opposed, i.e. Shi’ite (Iran) against Sunni and Wahhabi (Saudi Arabia). Saudi Arabia and Egypt and a few other Islamic nations are (mostly under the table) tempering their animosity toward Israel under the paradigm of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

But then Arab, Islamic, and even non-Muslim anti-Semitism always manages to rear its ugly head. No matter their realization (reality) that a strong and vibrant Israel is one of their best sources of stability and security against what they also consider the forces of evil (ISIS, Iran, Hezbollah, and even Russia), they just can’t control themselves when it comes to an Israeli Prime Minister saying such things as, “Israel will never withdraw from the Golan Heights.”

Them’s fightin words to Muslims! And so they revert back to their irrational hatred of the Jews, by condemning Israel for keeping a tiny sliver of land that Israel was forced to capture because of Arab aggression in three wars against Israel in twenty-five years’ time. Plus, the “peacetime” bombing of Jews in the vicinity of the Golan Heights.

United Nations Security Council Response

Not only UNESCO, but the UN Security Council couldn’t contain themselves … couldn’t miss an opportunity to condemn Israel. Most of the time the UN doesn’t need a reason to sanction Israel. Many of the UN resolutions against Israel are not in response to anything Israel does or says; rather, they are part of an ongoing deliberate plan (plot) to censure Israel just because it exists. As previously indicated, most of the resolutions are instigated by Muslim nations, with non-Muslim countries joining in.

Following UNESCO’s lead, this past Sunday (May 1^st) the UN Security Council unanimously agreed to challenge Benjamin Netanyahu’s declaration that the Golan Heights must (for all the reasons already listed) remain under Israel’s sovereign jurisdiction. China’s U.N. Ambassador Liu Jieyl, the current president of the 15-member Security Council, issued a statement the following day (May 2^nd) saying, “Council members expressed their deep concern over recent Israeli statements about the Golan, and stressed that the status of the Golan remains unchanged.”

Official Security Council statements are adopted by consensus of all members, which include the United States. Unlike UNESCO, the Security Council did not actually propose and pass a resolution; however, this official public statement following a (closed-door) session serves the same purpose. Actually the Security Council didn’t need to pass a resolution, as they already had one in place.

Council President Liu Jieyl merely cited Resolution 497 passed in 1981 soon after Israel annexed the Golan Heights. He repeated a summary portion of that resolution to the press: Israel’s annexation action in 1981 was, “null and void and without international legal effect.”

Never mind that less than 1% of Syrian territory is involved. Disregard the evidence that Syria used the Golan Heights (their portion of it) to rain down mortars on Israeli civilians for some twenty years. Then used that same high ground to try to defeat Israel in two more wars. Simply ignore the fact that Israel won that territory with the blood of their soldiers and civilians—not offensively or unprovoked, but in national defense and preservation of their very survival.

Moreover, our own Executive Staff (US President) fully endorsed the regurgitation of the 1981 Resolution. That is simply unthinkable, unfathomable, and borders on hypocrisy.

What would the United States do if the United Nations issued a resolution that the Louisiana Purchase from France was not legally binding. Or the purchase of Alaska from Russia was, “null and void.”

Or worse, that we should give Texas back to Mexico because we had no right to fight for the territory of Texas in the first place. We should have let the “Napoleon of the West,” Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna keep right on marching and murdering his way to Washington D.C. I say worse, because we won that land at the expense of American blood, not just dollars.

Remember the Alamo!

Why does the United States along with 27 other countries belong to NATO, and station troops in key areas of Europe? Easy answer: Because Russia can’t be trusted.

Why are there still nearly 30,000 US soldiers in South Korea near the DMZ that separates South Korea from North Korea? Easier answer: Because North Korea is a rogue communist nation that deplores the democracy of its South Korean neighbors and hates the United States even more.

Giving this critically strategic plateau back to the Syrians would be a recipe for disaster. Although there would obviously be Israeli casualties, the biggest disaster would fall on the Syrians, in the event they launched another offensive from the Golan or resumed shelling of nearby Israeli towns.

Any way you slice the politically correct United Nations international pie, Israel seldom gets a piece. And the miniscule piece of a very small pie that Israel won through defensive wars and the blood of her people, must be given back to the enemy. Doesn’t matter whether that enemy can’t even function as a State, an enemy that consists of several enemies … all fighting each other and who all hate Israel. Even when it was a “state,” Syria was controlled by a dictator who wanted nothing more than complete eradication of the Jews from Israel.

As is said, “What’s a person to do?”

That’s Not All

Getting back to France’s call for an international conference to establish peace in the Middle East even if it means a unilateral recognition of a Palestinian State that doesn’t exist, the next thing that would take place is a U.N. Resolution declaring a Palestinian State, whether the Israelis or even the Palestinians want such a state. Which, in turn, would demand Israeli withdrawal to “pre-1967 borders” that were nothing more than cease-fire lines to begin with. And also would declare East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital, which, in turn, would give the Palestinians complete, unopposed jurisdiction over Temple Mount. Excuse me, I meant to say: Al-Haram Al Sharif!

Recently, there has also been a lot of scuttlebutt going around in the White House that the United States would support such a resolution, which past US Presidents have said would never happen. Members of Congress, both Republican and Democrat, were so concerned President Obama would approve such a resolution, that 388 members of the House (including Nancy Pelosi of all people!) sent him a letter stating that such a Security Council decision would, “dangerously hinder” the resumption of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

Things to Ponder

Like never before, the eyes of the world are on Israel. It is absolutely amazing that so much attention is directed to this tiny nation. So much so that all of the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates (seems that we are now down to just one candidate for each party) have either been asked or have volunteered their stance on Israel, i.e. if, and to what extent, they support Israel. I have never seen that happen before, not to this degree. And that’s only a drop in a large reservoir of water being poured on Israel … water to satisfy their thirst for peace or water to drown them unmercifully.

Long ago God predicted this would happen. Just as he said that the Jews would return to the land promised to them.

“This message concerning the fate of Israel came from the Lord. ‘This message is from the Lord, who stretched out the heavens, laid the foundations of the earth, and formed the human spirit. I will make Jerusalem like an intoxicating drink that makes the nearby nations stagger when they send their armies to besiege Jerusalem and Judah. On that day I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock. All the nations will gather against it to try to move it, but they will only hurt themselves’” (Zechariah 12:1-3, italics for emphasis).

Take heed nations of the earth.

Do not attempt to remove the Jews from the rocks and hills of the Golan Heights. Do not so audaciously usurp authority over the rock called Temple Mount, which does not belong to you … to anyone except God’s chosen people. Do not divide Jerusalem … ever. For to Abraham and his descendants came a solemn promise given by our unchangeable and omnipotent God:

“I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:1-3).

Take heed all who despise Israel for no reason, other than Jews live there. Do not treat the Jews with contempt, for to do so is to raise your fist against the true and living God.

Indeed, the world has been blessed. In many ways, but most importantly through the awesome redemption purchased by such a high price for all who will believe and receive the Son of God, the Jewish Messiah Jesus. (John 3:16)

Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Establish your kingdom of righteousness, justice, and peace throughout the world. We long for your glorious return!

One Hundred Forty-Four Thousand Messianic Jews … Part II

30 Saturday Apr 2016

Posted by garybowers in The Rapture

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Four Horsemen, Lost Tribes of Israel, Seven seals

It’s All about Jesus

The book of Revelation begins and ends with Jesus Christ.

Indeed, all of Scripture contains God’s revelation to the human race of the coming Messiah; the arrival of Messiah on earth as fully God and fully man; a detailed account of Messiah’s birth, life, death, and resurrection; and his glorious return to the earth he created. Seven years before he sets foot on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, Jesus will raise born-again believers from the dead. Those still alive will be caught up (raptured) to heaven. Then the Great Tribulation will begin and, “…there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again” (Words of Jesus, Matthew 24:21).

The combination of man-made catastrophes and divine judgment directly from God will be so unprecedented that only Jesus Christ is allowed to break the seven seals which allow the Satanic forces of evil symbolized by the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse to unleash death and destruction like never before. Breaking the seven seals also leads to seven trumpets and seven bowls (vials) containing the final wrath of God on a warped and wicked world.

John tells us why only Messiah Jesus is qualified to open the scroll:

“…You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9-10).

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are obviously symbolic by virtue of the scene (vision) itself and the descriptive imagery of the passage. Also, with the plain understanding that each of the four riders on four horses couldn’t inflict the massive massacre that will follow. Yet, the devastation and death are all too real. For example: “Then another horse appeared, a red one. Its rider was given a mighty sword, and the authority to take peace from the earth. And there was war and slaughter everywhere” (Revelation 6:4).

Just one generation ago, the nations of the earth experienced firsthand an unparalleled world war with unheard of casualties and unrivaled brutality and evil on a scale never before seen in the annals of mankind, particularly the Holocaust. But the military and civilian casualties of World War II will pale in comparison to the “war and slaughter everywhere” during the Great Tribulation. (See Eye of Prophecy article, Shocking Statistics of the Great Tribulation, posted 6-6-15).

Very soon after the Rapture, many will recognize what the Rapture was all about and turn to Jesus Christ for salvation. They are also those who, “…had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their testimony” (Revelation 6:9). This is the fifth seal that was opened by Christ Jesus. However, they will be far outnumbered by the people who belong to the world (Revelation 13:8).

The sixth seal is the first of God’s direct judgments on the earth. Listen to the astonishing description:

“I watched as the Lamb broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became as dark as black cloth, and the moon became as red as blood … The sky was rolled up like a scroll, and all of the mountains and islands were moved from their places” (Revelation 6:12, 14).

Notice the language here: “The sky was rolled up like a scroll.” Whatever happens in/to the earth’s atmosphere during this massive earthquake (most likely accompanied or triggered by a colossal volcanic eruption to darken the sun and make the moon blood-red), is better understood by John’s imagery of a scroll being rolled up. The scroll is metaphorically used to depict the traumatic results of this enormous “natural” disaster. Natural signifying nature itself, but supernatural in origin and scope because only God has ultimate control over nature.

Then, however, there is an abrupt interruption between the sixth and seventh seal. What causes this unexpected and dramatic pause?

None other than the divine selection and sealing of the 144,000 … 12,000 from each tribe of Israel. With, as alluded in last week’s article, the clear contextual absence of anything symbolic going on in Chapter 7, and equally strong evidence that both the number and the identity of the 144,000 are literal.

Spiritualizing or Symbolizing Scripture That Is Clearly Literal

Before we take a closer look at the 144,000, permit me to quote a couple of excerpts from my second book, Out of the Abyss … can the number of the beast be solved? 666

On the subject of the Abyss, specifically the sea (that contains the Abyss) referenced in Revelation 13 from where the beasts arises, I propose that the sea is literal—not symbolical as several scholars maintain. Following a detailed explanation on pages 234-236, I ask (I’ll place the excerpt in italics):

Why can’t the Revelation 13 Sea be literal? The Antichrist beast of Revelation 13 is not a kingdom or kingdoms; it is a personal pronoun (he) person. A symbolic application in one part of the Bible does not have to be the same symbolic representation in another passage, or even symbolic at all. (Here I’m referring to the “stormy sea” of Daniel Chapter 7). Or the place or thing in question can be both literal and figurative at the same time. It all depends on the context of the passage to include, if necessary, comparison or contrast to other passages… Thus, the staff of Moses was a literal piece of wood that turned into a literal snake in Pharaoh’s court; but the staff also symbolized the power of God, when Moses struck the rock and water gushed out.

Unless the Scriptural text is clearly and exclusively symbolic, or specifically interprets an image of something, or explains the imagery by such words as like, many scholars contend that the word or phrase should be taken literally. For one thing, it’s far less confusing to understand the verse or verses literally. For another thing, a figurative interpretation could often have two or more meanings. Which one is correct?

I then use another example (the fifth trumpet judgment) in which John utilizes image comparisons to describe the locusts that torment unbelievers for five months. Followed by another observation:

Conversely, there’s no reason to create a metaphor or simile comparison for something that is what it is. In Revelation 13, there’s every reason to consider the sea as the sea. The same reasoning can be applied to the False Prophet who “came up out of the earth.” The angel is making a distinction as to the origination point for the first and second beast.

I’m not referring to clear metaphors used in the Bible; such as used by Jesus himself when he said, “I am the bread of life.” Literature is full of metaphors and we even talk in those terms today. For example we might say, “He’s a rock.” There is rarely a misunderstanding over a metaphor. We don’t need to wrestle over another comparison phrase used by Christ, “I am the door.” Does anyone think that Jesus is a literal loaf of bread or a wooden door? Of course not.

…we find the dragon (Satan) taking his stance beside the sea. In the very next verse John tells us that he saw a beast rising up out of the sea. But the angel doesn’t indicate that the sea represents something else. If the sea is the mass of humanity (as many scholars contend) why would the dragon take “his stand on the shore beside the sea?” Why wouldn’t he take his stand right in the middle of humanity? If the sea is humanity, then what does the shore represent?

…the sea of humanity doesn’t have or need a shoreline. Or, if it does need a shore, then the entire imagery is extremely awkward and ineffective.

I could have added in my book something to the effect that all figurative imagery in Scripture is directly from the Lord (inspired), thus none of them are awkward or ineffective. Rather, they are meant to be understood; albeit sometimes with a good deal of study, focus, and correlation with other passages and connection to history and current events.

In applying this fundamentally sound principle (literal application of the text unless clearly indicated otherwise), a student of the Bible should rarely have difficulty in determining what is figurative and what is literal.

Who Are the 144,000?

As alluded, the answer is amply accessible … literally!

“Then I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds so they did not blow on the earth or the sea, or even on any tree. And I saw another angel coming up from the east, carrying the seal of the living God. And he shouted to those four angels, who had been given power to harm land and sea, ‘Wait! Don’t harm the land or the sea or the trees until we have placed the seal of God on the foreheads of his servants.’

“And I heard how many were marked with the seal of God—144,000 were sealed from all the tribes of Israel: from Judah 12,000, from Reuben 12,000 … from Benjamin 12,000” (Revelation 7:1-8).

(12 Tribes–Shown In Last Week’s Article, But Worth Showing Again)

The 12,000 Jews from each tribe listed in Revelation Chapter 7 are as literal as the number from each tribe in Jewish history—determined by a census ordered by God through Moses (see Numbers Chapter 1 and following). If the 144,000 Jews are symbolic, then what is the purpose of specifically stating 12,000 from each tribe? Or using any numbers at all? Or going to the trouble of listing all twelve tribes?

Certainly, some numbers in the Bible have consistent meaning and significance, but the numbers themselves are quite literal. Twelve in Scripture—twelve sons of Jacob, the twelve tribes, and twelve disciples—represent God’s cohesive administrative authority on earth for the nation of Israel and later the Church, composed of Jew and Gentile alike. Twelve is also the multiplied number of three (perfection of divinity) and four (number of the earth, i.e. four seasons, four directions and others).

There were 12,000 sealed (chosen) from the 12 tribes of Israel … 12,000 x 12 equals 144,000. It doesn’t get any more real (literal) than that. I’m referring to both the number and those sealed by God … Jews and Jews alone. There is absolutely no symbolizing taking place with the identity of each tribe and the number from each of those tribes.

“What about the seal,” you might ask? “Is it literal, too?”

You bet it is. Just as literal as the mark that Nero will require on the forehead or right hand of everyone who wants to buy and sell anything and everything to stay alive during the Tribulation. How providentially ironic, however, that God first seals this select group of 144,000 Jews. Antichrist Nero’s mark is a copy-cat imitation to further advance his counterfeit copy-cat kingdom, but one that is pure evil in marked contrast to the perfectly good Kingdom of God that will be established on the earth.

There is, however, a slight difference between the 12 tribes listed in Revelation and those listed in Old Testament passages. In Revelation we see that the tribe of Joseph has replaced Ephraim and Levi has replaced Dan. An entire article could be written just to explain the Biblical history of why the tribe of Joseph became two tribes (his sons Ephraim and Manasseh) and why the tribe of Levi is not listed in the Old Testament census (there is a reason … perhaps you know or might want to read up on it). Actually, there was more than one census; the second one for a different purpose (Numbers Chapter 26).

A brief commentary for purpose of today’s article will simply summarize by saying that Ephraim and Dan are excluded in the list of the twelve tribes of Revelation primarily because of some bad things that Jews from these tribes did in terms of their rebellion and idolatry; apparently even worse than what the other ten tribes did that led to God’s discipline of all twelve tribes.

As a memory refresher, soon after King Solomon’s death the twelve tribes of Israel split apart with only Judah and Benjamin comprising the southern kingdom called Judah. The other ten tribes retained the name of Israel, referred to as the northern kingdom. In 722 B.C. God allowed Assyria to completely conquer Israel and exile them to other nations. In 586 B.C. the same thing happened to Judah, but with Judah’s conqueror as the mighty empire of Babylon, which had vanquished Assyria.

A Stunning Feature of the 144,000

Now that we’ve answered the question of exactly who the 144,000 are and from where they originate, we need to appreciate the astounding implication of what’s going on here. Many Eye of Prophecy articles have been devoted (some partially, others more fully) to the subject of spectacular Old Testament prophecies of the Jews providentially returning to Israel after being banished to the four corners of the earth. It took nearly 2000 years, but it’s happening before our 20^th and 21^st century eyes. It is nothing short of miraculous.

Yet, there are really only two tribes, Judah and Benjamin, through which a few Jews can trace their lineage … emphasis on few. Some Jews have been identified (mostly through DNA) from the tribe of Levi; thereby, qualifying to be priests in the new Temple that many Jews say is just around the corner. Yes, a third temple will be rebuilt (see Eye of Prophecy articles, A Third Jewish Temple and A Third Jewish Temple Part II, posted 4-26 & 5-3-14).

So what about the ten tribes, the so-called Lost Tribes of Israel? What happened to them? We know that Assyria exiled them to other nations and they eventually intermarried enough to lose much of their heritage or identity as Jews. Are there any of those Jews left? Where are their descendants?

(No, they are NOT Mormons living in America, as the misnamed Church of Latter Day Saints would have us believe. There is absolutely no archeological or genealogical or historical evidence at all to substantiate such a ludicrous entitlement. Mormons claim that many of their membership descends from the tribe of Ephraim. Do you suppose that’s another reason why Ephraim is not listed in Revelation?)!

Are the Jews alive today throughout the world and/or the Jews living in Israel only from the tribes of Judah, Benjamin or perhaps, Levi? No, Scripture is replete with prophecies that God will return his people to Israel from all over the world, from both Israel (ten northern tribes) and Judah. Such as:

“I will preserve a remnant of the people of Israel and of Judah to possess my land. Those I choose will inherit it, and my servants will live there” (Isaiah 65:9). There is no repetition or duplication here. Both Israel and Judah are identified for a reason. At the time the prophecies were made and until they are fulfilled, these two kingdoms remain divided. Thus, the Lord referred to them as Israel and Judah, the northern kingdom and southern kingdom, respectively.

Sometimes the two kingdoms are referred to just as Israel in order to emphasize that all twelve tribes will one day be united, especially when the prophecy focuses on the Promised Land of Israel belonging to God’s special possession, the Jews. Such as:

“I will bring my exiled people of Israel back from distant lands, and they will rebuild their ruined cities and live in them again … I will firmly plant them there in their own land. They will never again be uprooted from the land I have given them, says the Lord your God” (Amos 9:14-15).

In another passage (one of literally hundreds in Scripture applicable to Israel’s restoration) we read:

“Nevertheless, the time will come when I will heal Jerusalem’s wounds and give it prosperity and true peace. I will restore the fortunes of Judah and Israel and rebuild their towns. I will cleanse them of their sins against me and forgive all their sins of rebellion. Then this city will bring me joy, glory, and honor before all the nations of the earth! The people of the world will see all the good I do for my people, and they will tremble with awe at the peace and prosperity I provide for them” (Jeremiah 33:6-9, italics for emphasis).

My generation is nearly 70 years into this remarkable reestablishment of Israel and the Jews. The only thing remaining concerning national restoration is true peace, immediately preceded by spiritual revival of God’s chosen people through and to their Messiah.

One day (soon), “…all Israel will be saved…” (Romans 11:26).

When will all Israel be saved, both physically and spiritually? Answer: At the very end of the Great Tribulation as it gives way to the magnificent millennial reign of Messiah Jesus on the earth.

Who or what is (at that time) all Israel? None other than Messianic Jews, beginning with the 144,000 Witnesses and ending with the full remnant of Jewish tribulation saints. To be saved is to be redeemed and to be redeemed is to be saved—by personal trust in the death, burial, and resurrection of Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Christ).

The personal will then become the national restoration of Israel.

Let’s look at another extraordinary prophecy of Israel’s and Judah’s reunion as found immediately after the passage known to many as the Valley of Dry Bones (depicting Israel’s miraculous rebirth), that brings the ten northern tribes together with the two southern tribes:

“…This is what the Sovereign Lord says, ‘I will take Ephraim and the northern tribes and join them to Judah … I will gather the people of Israel from among the nations. I will bring them home to their own land from the places where they have been scattered. I will unify them into one nation on the mountains of Israel. One king will rule them all; no longer will they be divided into two nations or into two kingdoms” (Ezekiel 37:19-22).

*Note: In the Old Testament, Ephraim is sometimes used in place of Israel for the ten northern tribes. However, Ephraim’s absence as one of the 12 tribes in Revelation doesn’t alter the fact that some Jewish descendants from that tribe will undoubtedly be part of the 12,000. Reason: Ephraim’s father was Joseph, and the tribe of Joseph is listed as one of the twelve tribes in Revelation. However, it doesn’t appear that any of Dan’s descendants will be among the 144,000 sealed. If not, that can simply be deferred to the sovereignty of God.

Thus, the Lost Tribes of Israel have never been lost to God. He knows each one and to which tribe they belong. And one day they, too, will know.

An equal number will be sealed from each tribe as post-Rapture Tribulation Messianic Jews. Why do we know they are Messianic? Easy answer, as found in the next (and final) passage about the 144,000, that clearly tells us:

They are Messianic Jews

In the Revelation Chapter 7 passage, it’s logically and logistically evident that the 144,000 Jews sealed by the Lord are not in the same place (together) at that time. One very viable reason is that John didn’t actually see them; rather, he “…heard how many were marked with the seal of God—144,000 were sealed from all the tribes of Israel” (Verse 4). Also because this is fairly early in the Tribulation, and their mission for God had just begun by God anointing them from all over the world … mostly, I believe, in Israel. Nearly half of all Jews alive today live in Israel.

In Revelation Chapter 14 we do find them all together with Messiah Jesus, having completed their task, as we read about their service to the Lord in the past tense. Beginning with:

“Then I saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him were 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads” (Revelation 14:1).

The Lamb is obviously Messiah Jesus, as shown in numerous passages throughout the book of Revelation. The 144,000 couldn’t be a different (numbered) group than those identified in Chapter 7; if for no other reason than they have the seal—specifically identified as the name of God and Messiah “written” on their foreheads.

Thus, they are what we already see and call Jews in today’s world who have acknowledged and accepted Jesus as their Messiah, a term that has just taken hold in the 20^th and 21^st centuries. They are literally Jews for Jesus (also the name of a world-wide Messianic ministry). They are, in fact, Messianic Jews.

Let’s look at a passage that would lend substantial credibility to the fact that the 144,000 Messianic Jews specifically selected and supernaturally sealed are, indeed, tremendous testifiers to the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Here’s what John did and what the angel said after John received another magnificent prophetic vision from the angel:

“Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said, ‘No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers and sisters, who testify about their faith in Jesus. Worship only God. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus’” (Revelation 19:10).

Back to Revelation Chapter 7: “…until we have placed the seal of God on the foreheads of his servants” (Verse 3, italics for emphasis).

The angel equated God’s servants with those who testify of their faith in Jesus as we just read in Chapter 19. There’s every reason to make this same connection to the 144,000, as witnesses (testifying) for the Lamb. Even more so, with the emphatic reminder that they were sealed (chosen) from among billions left behind after the Rapture. Hence, they are a unique group with a distinct mission, one that will produce a tremendous impact on the entire world, especially in Israel. Coupled with the spectacular achievements of the two witnesses portrayed in Revelation Chapter 11, the global testimony of the 144,000 will generate the greatest evangelical explosion of the Gospel of Jesus Christ ever seen.

(Concerning the identity and accomplishment of the two witnesses of Revelation Chapter 11, please refer to Eye of Prophecy articles, The Two Witnesses, Part I, II, III, posted 6-7, 6-14, & 6-21-14).

I will clarify that observation by pointing out that a few Messianic Jews today are spreading the gospel despite anti-missionary resistance from orthodox Jews. In that sense, the God-given responsibility to his chosen people, the Jews, is being fulfilled … to be a light to the Gentiles, through first sharing the Gospel to their brethren (to the Jew First). I’m convinced that between God’s massive judgments on mankind to demonstrate that he means business and the amazing appeal that these 144,000 born-again Jews will have through their testimony for Jesus, millions upon millions of those left behind will be saved, Jew and Gentile alike.

(In English It Says: Blessed Is The Name of The Lord Yeshua (Jesus)

On Pentecost, the Lord, through the Messianic Jewish Apostle Peter, saved 3,000 in just one day. What if that many or more embrace Jesus as Messiah as a result of each of the 144,000 proclaiming the truth of God’s magnificent salvation to a world teetering on the brink of annihilation?

Just do the math. Literally! (144,000 x 3,000 equals 432 million) Who knows!

What Else Do We Know About the 144,000?

“This great choir sang a wonderful new song in front of the throne of God … No one could learn this song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. They have kept themselves as pure as virgins, following the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been purchased from among the people on the earth as a special offering to God and to the Lamb. They have told no lies; they are without blame” (Revelation 14:3-5).

It’s clear from this final passage that the 144,000 Messianic Jews’ commitment and devotion to God and Messiah is unequaled. Their lives—who they are, all they have, and what they will do—belong completely to God. Without hesitation, without any worldly encumbrance, without looking back, they follow Messiah Jesus wherever he leads them. They are disciples extraordinaire of our Lord.

The vast majority of the book of Revelation including the meaning of mysteries explained to John (indeed, nearly all of Scripture) is knowable … correct understanding and application of the text and context. But this is one of just a small handful of prophetic passages that we cannot be sure about.

Meaning that it’s uncertain if the 144,000 are “redeemed from the earth … as a special offering to God and to the Lamb,” because they killed by “those who belong to the world.” Or if they were spared through God’s supernatural protection, then taken to heaven without dying. Whether by death or by conveyance to heaven in the fashion of Elijah and then born-again believers at the Rapture, I do believe that it will be all or nothing. Either all 144,000 will be killed or none of them will die before their transport to the presence of the Lord, because they are always referred to as the (group of) 144,000. Either way, all of them will finish their amazing assignment to accomplish exactly what Jesus said would happen at the very end of days.

Said Jesus to his twelve disciples: “And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).

Personally, I believe the 144,000 will be martyred for their wonderful witness of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of Heaven on earth; but will be protected in the same fashion as the two witnesses (Moses and Elijah) before the appointed time of their deaths.

Indeed, they are “redeemed from the earth,” and redeeming means to literally purchase (pay a price) someone in order to free them or release them from a situation of bondage or peril or persecution. If Revelation only told us that they would be redeemed, then I would lean toward the option that they were taken from the earth without dying.

But, Revelation 14 also tells us that they were “purchased from among the people on the earth as a special offering (first fruits or the best of the harvest) to God and to the Lamb.”

This would be an offering of praise or thanksgiving as opposed to a sin or guilt offering; however, all offerings require a sacrifice. Thus, the stronger application of the passage is that the 144,000 will be killed (sacrificed) for their incomparable testimony for Messiah Jesus and God the Father. Like the two witnesses of Revelation Chapter 11, so will the 144,000 be killed at the hands of the Antichrist beast (Nero). These 144,000 witnesses plus 2 will die near the end of the Tribulation.

We then see them standing on Mount Zion with Messiah Jesus. They will join him there much in the same manner that all raptured believers will join the Lord during the final battle of Armageddon.

“The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses” (Revelation 19:14).

Also, the fact that the 144,000 are actually numbered fits well with what the angel told the tribulation saints murdered earlier in the Tribulation as we previously saw in the 5^th seal: “…And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters—their fellow servants of Jesus who were to be martyred—had joined them” (Revelation 6:11, italics for emphasis).

Things to Ponder

Jesus said he is the “light of the world” (John 8:12 & 9:5). And God’s original purpose was for the Jews to be a light to the Gentiles. The two go together. Messianic Jews, especially the 144,000, will fulfill Israel’s divinely orchestrated destiny by proclaiming the light of salvation (Messiah Jesus) to the whole world.

By modern technology and transportation, the Good News is being disseminated over the globe in the 20^th and 21^st century like never before. Nevertheless, it will also take the two witnesses (Moses and Elijah), the 144,000, and angels themselves (Revelation 14:6) to proclaim the magnificent Gospel of salvation through Messiah Jesus to the world, one last time. It will also take God’s wrath poured out on the earth to get the full attention of those left behind, then turn that attention to those who will tell and show them how they can be saved from the terrible penalty of their sins and rebellion.

And then the end (of this age) will come … when Jesus returns to complete the physical and spiritual restoration of Israel and the Jews.

When that day comes:

“…People from nations and cities around the world will travel to Jerusalem. The people of one city will say to the people of another, ‘Come with us to Jerusalem to ask the Lord to bless us. Let’s worship the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. I’m determined to go.’ Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord of Heaven’s Armies and to ask for his blessing.

… In those days ten men from different nations and languages of the world will clutch at the sleeve of one Jew. And they will say, ‘Please let us walk with you, for we have heard that God is with you’” (Zechariah 8:20-23).

One Hundred Forty-Four Thousand Messianic Jews … Part I

23 Saturday Apr 2016

Posted by garybowers in The Rapture

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Revelation, Tribulation saints

Tribulation Saints

Although this week’s article is not about Biblical numbers as such, certain numbers bear a great deal of significance in Scripture. Numbers like: Three, Four, Twelve, Forty, and above all—Seven. In one of the more fascinating, but also enigmatic passages of Scripture, we find the number One Hundred Forty-Four Thousand. Many students of the Bible may immediately recognize this as the number of Tribulation Saints—among what will undoubtedly be millions— chosen separately by God to receive his special seal (of approval and service) during the Great Tribulation.

What/who is a Tribulation Saint? Do we even find that term in Scripture? Quick answer: No, we do not. Rather it is a logical juxtaposition and combination of the two terms, Saint and (Post-Rapture) Tribulation which we do find in the Bible.

The “Great Tribulation” (Revelation 7:14) is derived from the seven-year period of time based on a treaty orchestrated by the Antichrist with Israel, found in Daniel Chapter 9. Saint is a frequently used description in the New Testament for all believers who have been redeemed by Messiah Jesus as a result of personally believing and receiving him as Lord and Savior. They are true Christians (Christ ones), not in name only. A Biblical saint is NOT someone who has been canonized by the Roman Catholic Church. For more details on this subject please refer to Eye of Prophecy article entitled, What is a Saint? Posted 10-11-14.

Those of us who truly care about the eternal destiny of our family, friends, and people the world over, including salvation of non-Messianic Jews, have prayed for and/or cautioned others that, after we die, there is no second chance to receive God’s eternal pardon for our sins if we have not accepted God’s Only Son, Messiah Jesus as the substitutionary sacrifice for the penalty of those sins. And sometimes we have said or implied imprecisely that it is also too late for unbelievers after the glorious Rapture of saints from this earth. Whereas it will be incredibly difficult to choose Jesus during the Tribulation—on pain of deprivation and almost certain death—there will still be an opportunity for those left behind to embrace the true Messiah over the anti-Messiah.

The first reference to what we call Tribulation Saints can be found in the sixth chapter of Revelation. In fact, it is actually the fifth of the seven seal judgments (in the first set of three sets of seven … seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments during the Tribulation).

“When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their testimony. They shouted to the Lord and said, ‘O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?’ Then a white robe was given to each of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters—their fellow servants of Jesus who were to be martyred—had joined them” (Revelation 6:9-11).

For the most part, the sequence of events depicted in the Book of Revelation are chronological, with a couple of exceptions in what can be called an interlude or parenthetical interruption to show us a broader picture of all that will transpire during the Tribulation … how those interludes interface with the chronological chain of spectacular events. Such things as found in Revelation Chapters 12, 13, and 17. However, all of the twenty-one seal, trumpet, and bowl events are in sequence, including the one we just examined.

With a great deal of study and correlation, I firmly believe that we can also identify the approximate time frame of all twenty-one judgments (catastrophes) within and relative to the seven year span of the Tribulation.

Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

It’s interesting, perhaps a little puzzling, that depiction of martyred post-Rapture believers (tribulation saints) would be one of the seven seals; technically it’s not a judgment per se.

Or is it?

I believe it is in the sense (context) of the first four seals; what many people, including unbelievers, readily recognize as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. By means of an initial false global peace (First Horse), then world-wide wars (Second Horse), economic collapse including wide-spread famine (Third Horse), all resulting in death of one-fourth of the world’s population (Fourth Horse), the first four seals are man-made devastations, not actual judgments from God. The tribulation saints identified in the fifth seal are victims of the Four Horsemen.

The man-made carnage metaphorically shown through the Four Horsemen coupled with world-wide murder of Christians (mostly, I believe, at the hands of Muslims) is a tragic result of the first four seals broken by Jesus to permit mankind’s consummate terror and horror of evil to be unleashed. Subsequently, the Antichrist’s (Nero) government will kill many more tribulation saints … the full number of their brothers and sisters. Not until the sixth seal do we see the first of God’s direct judgments on the earth. Followed by the seventh seal and first four trumpet judgments on the earth that will result in both Christian and non-Christian casualties.

We understand this because the martyred saints ask the Lord, “…how long before you judge the people who belong to the world…” The clear conclusion is that God had not yet begun to pour out his wrath on the world.

With a great deal of certainty, we can also know that all seven seal plagues and the first four trumpet judgments will take place in the first half of the tribulation (3 ½ years). How do we know this?

For the following reasons: As stated in Revelation Chapter 13, full authority given by God to Satan and Satan to the Antichrist beast is for 3 ½ years … with the obvious inference based on all other end-times prophecies of the Antichrist especially Daniel 11 and Revelation 19 (when Antichrist and his armies are vanquished by Messiah Jesus upon his return to the earth) that this will be during the last half of the seven-year Tribulation. It begins when Nero will break his treaty with Israel (Daniel 9:27).

When Nero initiates his reign of terror, God will also begin his own (holy) campaign of terror against Nero’s ten-kingdom confederation and against all nations and peoples who defy the Lord and who have persecuted the Tribulation Saints (including Messianic Jews), but also Israel and non-Messianic Jews.

(Please refer to the three Eye of Prophecy articles examining terrorism in today’s world and also terror inflicted by God during the end days of the Great Tribulation. Terror, Terror, Terror … Part I & Part II, posted 12-12 & 12-19-15. Then, Trilogy of Terror, published 12-26-15.)

Furthermore, not until the fifth trumpet judgment do we see that God’s wrath is directed exclusively against the beast and his followers, e.g. the locusts (demons) tormenting, “…only the people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads” (Revelation 9:4). This conclusion is confirmed because of the reaction of unbelievers:

“But the people who did not die in these plagues still refused to repent of their evil deeds and turn to God … And they did not repent of their murders or their witchcraft or their sexual immorality or their thefts” (Revelation 9:20-21).

(Depiction of the Fifth Trumpet Judgment)

The evidence is exceptionally strong in Revelation: no tribulation saints will die directly from God’s judgements on unbelievers in the fifth trumpet judgment nor (directly) from the first six bowl judgments. However, there undoubtedly will be “friendly fire” tribulation saint casualties in the sixth and seventh seal and the first four trumpet judgments, then again in the final 7^th bowl catastrophe. Although the sixth and seventh trumpet judgments may also result in some “friendly fire” casualties, these last two “terror” judgements will be directed against unbelievers.

In fact, the sixth trumpet entails another massive conflagration when an army of 200 million (demons) will kill one-third of the people left on the earth. Then the seventh trumpet (the third divine terror against those who belong to the world) initiates the seven bowl judgments, but also includes another earthquake and a “terrible hailstorm.” The last time that God sent such a hailstorm, only Pharaoh and the Egyptians were targeted … the Israelites weren’t touched by this plague.

The most important thing to grasp is that the vast majority of Tribulation Saints (including Messianic Jews who are themselves Tribulation Saints) who perish will be murdered by unbelievers, those … “who belong to this world…” (Revelation 17:8). Whereas, “…the people who belong to this world (who) worshipped the beast…” (Revelation 13:8) will die during wars against each other and from the wrath of Almighty God when he judges the earth for the second and last time (the Great Flood being the first).

The 144,000

Although the 143 Eye of Prophecy articles to date (posted every Saturday since this project began in July, 2013) have covered a broad array of subjects—as contained in the four main categories, Current Events, Prophecy in General, Rapture, Antichrist—for whatever reason I have not written about the one hundred forty-four thousand as found in Revelation Chapters 7 and 14. But then I realized there is a reason, which I didn’t think about until just before I began to write this week’s article.

As with all Eye of Prophecy articles, one way or another each week’s title and topic and discernment and creativity come from the Lord, and are written to exalt him. As stated in the sub-title of this Web site, “…For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus” (Revelation 19:10b). With regard to the audience, the articles are intended to introduce, reinforce, and clarify (also correct) prophetic Biblical, historical, and contemporary correlations or connections that many readers have known or have not known, have misunderstood, or were misinformed.

You may have already figured out where I’m going with this. Today’s Eye of Prophecy article is the 144^th (consecutive) post, the topic of which is 144,000 saints specifically chosen and sealed by God during the Great Tribulation. Of all end times prophecies of the Old Testament or from the book of Revelation, the 144,000 is one of the more difficult to process—in terms of why they are selected by the Lord, what they will do, and whether they are martyred or escape death during the Tribulation.

But there is one thing that is crystal clear: Who they are.

The more I study the passages about the 144,000, the more I’m convinced that the most important feature of or reason for the Lord telling us about them is because of who they are, not so much what they do or what is done to them. In fact, if we recognize exactly who they are, then there will be much less speculation why they are chosen, what they (might) do, and what might be done to them.

In next week’s article we’ll examine in more detail the two passages in Revelation that tell us about the 144,000. For now, let’s read John’s introduction of them:

“Then I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds so they did not blow on the earth or the sea, or even on any tree. And I saw another angel coming up from the east, carrying the seal of the living God. And he shouted to those four angels, who had been given power to harm land and sea. ‘Wait! Don’t harm the land or the sea or the trees until we have placed the seal of God on the foreheads of his servants.’ And I heard how many were marked with the seal of God—144,000 were sealed from all the tribes of Israel: from Judah 12,000 … from Benjamin 12,000” (Revelation 7:1-8).

Between Judah and Benjamin, the other ten tribes are identified … each tribe with 12,000 Jews sealed (set apart for God).

*Note: As an example of how we can make contextual correlations (comparing Scripture with Scripture and with history and current events when applicable), let’s pause here to make a connection.

Notice that the four angels were about to do great damage (harm) to the land and sea, with a strong implication that whatever they would do to the earth and the oceans would also mean that many people will perish. They were commanded by another angel coming from the east, who carried the seal of the living God, to wait until the 144,000 were sealed. As most know, the term angel means messenger. Whenever we see angels in Scripture, they are usually (who we understand as) the majestic beings created by God. But not always. In some instances the “angel of the Lord” is none other than the pre-Incarnate Messiah. We can determine the difference by how the context describes the “angel” and what he says and does.

(For more detail on the Pre-Incarnate appearances of Messiah Jesus in the Old Testament, please refer to Eye of Prophecy articles, Does God Really Have a Son? Part I & II. Posted 10-31-15 & 11-7-15).

In this scene, I believe the angel from the east is, in fact, Christ Jesus. For two reasons: (1) he comes from the east, which the Bible tells us is the direction from which Messiah will come upon his glorious return to Jerusalem at the end of the Tribulation. There’s really no other reason for John to tell us that this messenger comes from the east. (2) He is the one who actually carries God’s seal. Meaning the one who has authority to convey and apply the seal of the living God; in the same vein that only Jesus is qualified to break the seven seals beginning in Chapter 6.

We can make another correlation by matching the four angels in this scene (Chapter 7) to the first four (trumpet) angels of the very next chapter (Revelation 8:6-13). Why can we make this connection? Because the first four trumpet judgments describe devastation to one-third of the trees, grass, sea, springs of water, and the heavenly bodies (sun and moon) that directly affect the physical dynamics of the earth and sea.

Then the last three angels (of the seven trumpets) begin the trilogy of Terror, terror, terror (Revelation 8:13…) which target unbelievers. Thus, we have two sets of angels that make up the seven trumpet judgments … one set of four and another set of three.

Make sense? Personally, seeing these kind of parallels within Scripture and with history and current events makes me love God’s Word that much more.

Returning to the 144,000. Because so many cults have deliberately distorted, and because (even) some believers have unclearly understood the 144,000, let’s first discuss:

Who They Are Not

Because time/space in this article does not permit an in-depth analysis and because other astute Bible students have reliably refuted the inaccurate interpretations of who the 144,000 are and are not, I will limit any response to more of a statement; one, however, based solidly on Biblical evidence. Statement: Although there are others, the primary (incorrect) suppositions about 144,000 come from two main sources:

Religious Cults:

(Mormonism): This religion claims that the 144,000 will be Mormon men who have become gods. Actually all Mormons who make it through whatever level of Mormonism is required are purported to become gods, each with their own planet. Apparently, however, the 144,000 are exceptionally special gods!

(Jehovah’s Witnesses): The 144,000 actually represents the very core of this cult. According to the JWs, the Kingdom of God is already on the earth and only 144,000 JWs have or will be qualified as “spiritual” members of the 144,000.

(Seventh Day Adventists and Other Lesser Known Cults): Also claim in some fashion to (now) be qualified or will qualify to belong to this group.

All except Mormonism (the 144,000 man-gods!) make a symbolic “spiritual” application; including the notion that members of these cults will have the elite privilege of belonging to the 144,000 as “spiritual Jews.”

*Note: In next week’s article, we’ll read that the 144,000 were “standing on Mount Zion” with the Lamb (Messiah Jesus). As preposterous as it is for any of these cults to claim exclusive status in this God chosen group of people, for sake of argument what if they are all correct? If so, Mount Zion is going to be very crowded! Of course that is a facetious remark, but for good reason. They all can’t be the 144,000. If even two of these cults are accurate, then the count would be 288,000, right! Fact is, all of them are absurdly and pathetically wrong.

True Believers:

Unfortunately, but at least not in any way blasphemous as are the cults, some born-again Christians, including ardent Bible students, have misunderstood and misapplied the 144,000, with the mistaken assumption that all those who become believers during the Tribulation, both Jew and Gentile, are among the 144,000. In other words, they do not subscribe to the 144,000 as being a literal number chosen by God. Nor do they necessarily recognize the indisputable evidence that the 144,000 are actual Jews.

Although both Jews and Gentiles can be “spiritual” (in the sense of those who are interested in and who pursue more than just material things), there is no such thing as a spiritual or symbolic Jew. The Apostle Paul tells us that Gentile believers have been grafted into the promises given to Israel and we are, therefore, spiritual (born spiritually from above) offspring of Abraham. But that doesn’t make me as a Gentile believer, a Jew. Nor does a Jew who accepts Jesus as Messiah become a Gentile Christian. Both Gentile and Jew who believe in Jesus are (spiritually) Messianic. But they are still a Jew or still a Gentile. Neither is a symbolic Jew or a symbolic Gentile (Christian).

The Branches of the Tree of Israel

Although I have written on the matter of Jew and Gentile in several Eye of Prophecy articles, in today’s post I will defer to a Messianic Jew by the name of David Stern, who completed an excellent translation of the entire Bible, called The Complete Jewish Bible.

In his book, Messianic Judaism … A Modern Day Movement with an Ancient Past, David Stern precedes the excerpts that I will quote with an astute analysis of Romans 11:13-24, under the heading of Olive Tree Theology (pages 47-59). I would enthusiastically encourage you to read that passage in Romans 11; indeed all of Romans 9, 10, & 11.

(Jew and Gentile, Natural & Grafted-in Branches–One in Messiah)

Early on page 56, David Stern writes:

“The wild branches (Gentiles) have been grafted in through faith in the Messiah, ‘brought near in the blood of Christ’ (Ephesians 2:13), so that they are now included in the commonwealth of Israel. But they are not, as Replacement Theology would have it, a New Israel. Nor do Jewish and Gentile believers together constitute a New Israel, since the cut-off branches (meaning Jews) too are still identifiable as Israel…”

I’ll pause here to say, “Amen,” to Mr. Stern’s commentary on the insidious teaching of Replacement Theology. To also, if you haven’t, encourage you to read Eye of Prophecy articles entitled, Replacement Theology (Part I & II), posted 7-19 & 7-26-14.

David Stern continues: “Thus unsaved Jews (cut-off branches), saved Jews (natural branches attached to the tree), and Gentile believers (grafted-in wild branches) each have their own kind of ongoing participation in the one Israel; and this fact needs to be taken into account in any correct theology of Israel and the Church. Not a word is said in the “olive tree” passage or anywhere else in Scripture about splitting the promises into earthly ones for the Jews and heavenly ones for the Church.

“However, God has made two kinds of promises. In regard to the promise which relates to individual salvation, there is neither Jew nor Gentile (Galatians 3:28), no distinction between them (Romans 10:12), no dividing wall of hostility (Ephesians 2:14-19). On the other hand, there remain promises to national Israel, the Jewish people, in which Gentile nations corporately and Gentile believers individually have no direct share …” (all previous quotes from page 56).

Another pause is in order … to quote more of the passage in Ephesians Chapter 2 referenced by David Stern.

“Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called ‘uncircumcised heathens’ by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us … He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people” (Ephesians 2:11-15).

Once again: In terms of God’s specific promises to his chosen people the Jews (as found in the Abrahamic and Davidic Covenants), there is no such thing as a Gentile becoming a symbolic or spiritual Jew. Although Judaism allows Gentiles to convert and, therefore, become a Jew for purpose of practicing the tenets of Judaism (what could be called a Gentile Jew), both Old and New Testaments are clear: Gentile converts to Judaism are still Gentiles. God refers to them as “foreigners.”

“Native-born Israelites and foreigners are equal before the Lord and are subject to the same decrees … The same instructions and regulations will apply to you and to the foreigners living among you” (Numbers 15:16).

Let’s return to Ephesians 2. “He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us. So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit” (Ephesians 2:17-22).

Do you see what’s going on here? Christ Jesus has so completely torn down the wall of separation between Jew and Gentile that the Gentiles are no longer foreigners. Not, however, as applied to the actual nation of Israel … the Jewish race. Jew and Gentile are one in Messiah, and together we are citizens (of heaven … Philippians 3:20). Both Jew and Gentile are members (adopted children) of God’s new family. Individually and together we “become” a holy temple for the Lord, where the Holy Spirit indwells both Jew and Gentile who have been redeemed by Christ Jesus, the cornerstone foundation of this spiritual house.

But a Jew is still a Jew and a Gentile is still a Gentile as applied to God’s promises to the nation of Israel and to the Jewish race. Putting it another way: God’s (plan of) salvation results in one new man (and woman) in Messiah—individual Jews and Gentiles alike. God’s plan for the physical descendants of Abraham and their corporate identity as the nation of Israel is not for the Gentiles. However, Gentile nations will be richly blessed through these national promises to Israel.

Once again: Concerning the Kingdom of Heaven (currently in the hearts of redeemed Jews and Gentiles), there is neither Jew nor Gentile. Regarding the physical Kingdom of God to be ushered in when Messiah Yeshua returns at the end of the Tribulation, the Jews will inherit the promises given by God to Abraham and King David through covenants with each. The Abrahamic Covenant is the right of the Jews to live and prosper in the God-given land of Israel. The Davidic Covenant is the promise that a (Jewish) King will govern them and the Gentile nations from Jerusalem.

And who is that King? None other than Messiah Jesus … King of all kings, Lord of all lords!

He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world! (John 1:29). He is the Lion from the Tribe of Judah! (Revelation 5:5).

(Note: Regarding Gentiles who “convert” to Judaism, they, indeed qualify to be Jews, but only under the traditional system of rabbinical teachings or precedents. There is nothing in Scripture that indicates a Gentile actually becomes a Jew (spiritually or physically) simply by adhering to the Mosaic Law. Under the Covenant of the Law, God granted permission for Gentiles to observe and participate in his decrees, regulations, and ordinances given to the Jews—which obedience to and observance of would ensure that they remained in the Promised Land, but not as a means to salvation).

Summary

When it comes to God’s numerous promises to Israel, not the least of which is physical restoration to the physical land of Israel accomplished by the returning physical descendants of Abraham and Isaac, these promises are exclusively for the Jewish people. Biblically this is true despite, for example, Israel’s immigration policy allowing Gentile converts to Judaism to become citizens of Israel. Though these promises are to the Jewish race, Gentile nations (the foreigners) can and will be blessed, with many of them citizens of Jerusalem and Israel during the Millennium and beyond. All born-again Jews and Gentiles are and will be citizens of heaven and the New Jerusalem, with freedom to come and go on the earth in our worship of and service to our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ and his Father who is our Father in heaven!

God’s instructions concerning the foreign Gentiles allows them to practice and follow the Mosaic decrees including Passover (see Exodus 12:48-49 … even then a Gentile male had to be circumcised to participate in the Passover). But keeping the civil and ceremonial laws handed down by the Lord does not make the Gentile a direct descendant of Abraham.

Conversely, a Jew (whether by physical birth or by spiritual rebirth in Messiah) is still a Jew, and can keep—voluntarily because it’s now an option—all of the Jewish festivals or dietary laws, but not for salvation or a right standing before God. Redemption is exclusively through faith in the sacrificial system that was completely fulfilled once and for all by the substitutionary sacrificial death atonement of Messiah Jesus. Rather, the festivals are kept for the express purpose of rejoicing in the New Covenant salvation, as every single festival was a prototype or shadow of the coming Messiah and what he would do for Israel (and the whole world).

Beginning with Pesach (Passover) sacrifice of the Lamb of God, whereby God will spare (pass over) born-again Pre-Rapture believers from the Great Tribulation and ultimately from the eternal penalty of our sins, which gives us the awesome privilege of everlasting life in heaven. Ending with Sukkot, the Festival of Tabernacles, which is Messiah Jesus dwelling (tabernacle) with his people forever.

(Jesus Spoke These Words During His Celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles)

Apparently I did get sidetracked, but not all that much! The main purpose for this in-depth examination of Jew and Gentile is to dispel beyond any doubt whatsoever that the 144,000 consist of anyone other than Jews.

Click on to next week’s Part II article; we’ll look more closely at the 144,000 Jewish Tribulation Saints.

Things to Ponder

Most Bible scholars and many Christians refer to the 144,000 as The One Hundred Forty-Four Thousand Witnesses. But the term witness is not used at all in Revelation concerning this group. Will they, then, be witnesses for Jesus?

To answer that question and also as a prelude to next week’s article requires some conjecture, but in a very small dose. It’s what could be considered “sanctified” speculation based on the remarkable phenomenon that they will be chosen from millions of Jews and even more millions of tribulation saints who are Gentiles. The fact that they are even mentioned at all in Revelation, let alone in such dramatic fashion, makes a strong case that they will follow the Lord in the mold of God’s mighty prophets and apostles.

They will serve in the same powerful pattern of Noah, Moses, Joshua, Debra, Gideon, Samuel, King David, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, John the Baptist, Peter, John, James, and Paul … and post Biblical evangelists like Charles Spurgeon, D.L. Moody, Billy Graham, and Greg Laurie. As well as contemporary Messianic Jews like the recently departed Zola Levitt and the still alive Jonathan Bernis, David Stern, and Michael Brown.

Along with the two Tribulation witnesses (Moses and Elijah), they will be the final servants of God appointed to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the last days, a time that will immediately precede the glorious return of Messiah Jesus and usher in the Kingdom of God on earth.

That time is soon, so very soon!

“And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang:

‘Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.’

“And the four living beings said, ‘Amen!’ And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshipped the Lamb” (Revelation 5:13-14).

The Myth of Al Aqsa Mosque

16 Saturday Apr 2016

Posted by garybowers in Current Events

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Dome of the Rock, Hajj, Kaaba

The Myth of Al Aqsa Mosque on Temple Mount

Myth: “a person or thing having only an imaginary or unverifiable existence. An ill-founded belief held uncritically esp. by an interested group” (Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary).

First to clarify: The Al Aqsa Mosque itself is not a myth. It is located in Jerusalem on what the Jews call Temple Mount and what Arabs refer to as the Noble Sanctuary, which also includes the more well-known structure, the Dome of the Rock. Many, including a large number of Muslims themselves, confuse Al Aqsa Mosque with the Dome of the Rock; they are different buildings. I’ve personally walked on Temple Mount, right up to the steps of the Dome of the Rock, but I did not approach the mosque.

The myth is in the historical and contemporary significance this mosque bears regarding Muslim claims to Temple Mount and to Jerusalem … indeed, to all of Israel. Was the legend that the Prophet Mohammed travelled from Mecca to Jerusalem in one night, then ascended to heaven from the Noble Sanctuary, fact or fiction? Whether Mohammed’s mysterious trip can be considered credible depends heavily on identifying Al Aqsa Mosque as the site (mosque) of his supposed visit. Should the Noble Sanctuary be classified a sacred Muslim shrine at all, let alone the third holiest site of Islam?

Distinguishing between fact and fiction is of vital importance because it is Temple Mount in Jerusalem that is the very heart and soul of Israel and the Jewish people. The status of Temple Mount is the core of the current conflict (dispute) between Jew and Arab in Israel; although there are certainly other reasons, not the least of which is the ancient animosity between the two peoples.

Quoting Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu:

“Our generation had a great privilege—we saw the words of the prophet come true. We saw the rise of Zion, the return of Jewish sovereignty in the Land of Israel, the ingathering of exiles and our return to Jerusalem. We will make sure Jerusalem’s golden light will shine on our people, and spread the light of Jerusalem to the whole world. We will protect Jerusalem, because Israel without Jerusalem is like a body without a heart … Our heart will never be divided again.”

Benjamin echoed the prophetic promise of God through Isaiah:

“Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you. Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you. All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance. Look and see, for everyone is coming home! Your sons are coming from distant lands; your little daughters will be carried home” (Isaiah 60:1-4).

So, too, do Palestinian Arabs claim Jerusalem as theirs. In fact, they think all of Israel belongs to them. It is predominately the Al-Aqsa Mosque that rivets Muslim attention, and generates overt Arab hostility against the Jews, such as intifada.

(Temple Mount, Dome of the Rock right center / Al-Aqsa Mosque in left center, directly left of the trees)

Muslim intifada is simply a terroristic uprising, a strategy employed when it became all too evident that Arab nations could not defeat Israel in war. That was proven in the miraculous Israeli victory over Egypt and Syria in the Six-Day War. Then again through Israel’s stunning victory in the Yom Kippur War of 1973. Thereafter, terrorist cells such as Hamas and Hezbollah resorted to propaganda, BDS, and missile/mortar launchings into Israel. With the Palestinians staging the first large intifada in 2000, when former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon stepped foot on Temple Mount on September 28^th, 2000. It was the “desecration” of the Noble Sanctuary by Ariel Sharon that sparked this five year period of violence—mostly suicide bombings in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem that killed scores of innocent Israelis—given the name, “Al-Aqsa Intifada.”

Muslims contend that Temple Mount does not belong to the Jews, partially because it is the third holiest location in Islam. Never mind that Temple Mount is the HOLIEST place, the most sacred of all sites to Judaism and the Jews! That’s irrelevant to the Arabs and seemingly to much of the world. As a result of blatant lies from none other than Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who incited his people by falsely accusing the Jews of desecrating or intending to desecrate holy sites in Jerusalem (especially Temple Mount), young Palestinians instigated their “knife intifada” last October. These lone wolf attacks which also included car rammings, Molotov cocktails, and shootings soon became a concerted effort by individual Palestinians to kill as many Jews as possible. Thankfully, the number of attacks have subsided.

Using (the Myth of) Al-Aqsa to Accomplish the Palestinian Agenda

It’s crystal clear that the two intifadas, the BDS movement, the insidious propaganda—that fosters a heart of hatred and a mentality of murder in their children through indoctrination beginning in elementary school—are all part and parcel of Palestinian intent to protect the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque from “the filthy feet of the Jews” (as Abbas stated in an attempt to incite Palestinian uprisings).

Some, and I agree with them, have gone so far as to say that without misguided Palestinian passion for and unwarranted defense of their Temple Mount claims, there would be less violence in Israel. Indeed, there would be minimal cause (excuse) for the Palestinians to launch their intifadas or a basis to justify (rationalize) their actions to the world other than dishonest assertions of Jewish takeover or desecration of the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque.

For example: Just a few weeks ago the grand mufti of Jerusalem, Sheikh Muhammed Hussein, declared that Muslims should make a pilgrimage to Al Aqsa Mosque to, “defend the mosque from Israel’s attempts to Judaize it.” (Whatever that means?)

Oh, there’s always the allegation of Jewish “settler occupation” of the West Bank, but those inaccurate accusations have been going on for decades. The latest Palestinian choice of confrontation centers on the more ancient and ostensibly more religious rationale that protection of the Noble Sanctuary supposedly supports their agenda to harass, terrorize, and attack the Jews.

Thus, it’s imperative that we examine the historical basis for Islamic motives to defend their holy sites. In doing so, we will once again confirm that Muslim attempts to rewrite the history of this ancient conflict have no basis in fact. We will see the rest of the story, the empirical evidence that will undermine Palestinian claims that they alone have rights to Temple Mount. Hopefully, this will help dispel the flawed opinions or imprecise impressions that many in the Western world (as well as Muslims themselves) have concerning Jewish and Islamic heritage of Temple Mount … indeed, of all Jerusalem and Israel.

First, however, I would like to present some excerpts from one of several Eye of Prophecy articles that touch on the subject of Jewish versus Arab history, regarding Israel.

In italics the following excerpts are from the Eye of Prophecy article, A Palestinian State? (No, Say Many Arabs), published 1-11-14.

Then, in June, 1967 one of the most amazing conflicts in military history began and ended in less than a week! To this day it is still referred to as the Six-Day War, in which Israel soundly defeated a coalition of Arab nations, and once again against staggering odds. Although Israel took the offensive in this war, they had no other choice; it was crystal clear that surrounding Arab nations, particularly Syria and Egypt, planned to attack Israel. In order to assure victory and protection against further invasion, Israel seized the following territories that had previously been under Jordanian, Syrian, or Egyptian control.

Golan Heights: A high mountainous area near Israel’s northern border with Syria … a crucial strategic location to prevent Syrian incursions in and attacks on Israel.

Gaza Strip: A fairly narrow strip of land along the southeast coast of the Mediterranean Sea, in which Jews lived alongside a majority of Arabs.

West Bank: So-called because of its location along the west bank of the Jordan River, in the east central portion of Israel. Historically and rightfully called Judea and Samaria as regions in Israel’s ancient homeland. Now occupied predominately by Palestinian Arabs.

Sinai Peninsula: The large, mostly desert southern land mass that currently separates Israel from Egypt proper.

East Jerusalem: Technically, a segment of the West Bank; but, nevertheless, still an integral and indispensable part of the entire city of Jerusalem.

Unfortunately, Israel partially bowed to international pressure exerted primarily by the United Nations and, over varying intervals of time, returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt, the Gaza Strip to Egypt, and most of the West Bank to Jordan. Egypt and Jordan subsequently allowed the Gaza Strip and West Bank Arabs to govern themselves. The only sector that Israel didn’t relinquish to any degree was the Golan Heights; it was simply too dangerous to return this tactical high ground to the Syrians…

However, the most significant of all was the Israeli decision, soon after the Six-Day War, to return East Jerusalem to Jordanian control, including the Temple Mount itself. This was a colossal concession; in fact, to many Jews then and now, a monumental mistake.

To comprehend just how painful this world-opinion induced surrender (of the Temple Mount) was to the vast majority of Jews, listen to the message delivered by Israeli Chief Army Chaplain Rabbi Shlomo Goren to the IDF paratroopers who liberated all of Jerusalem, including the beloved Western Wall in June, 1967: “Soldiers of Israel, God be with you valiant warriors! I am speaking to you from the Western Wall, remnant of our Holy Temple. The dream of all the generations has been fulfilled before our eyes. The City of God, the Temple site, the Temple Mount, and the Western Wall—symbol of the Jewish people’s messianic redemption—have been delivered this day by you, heroes of the Israel Defense Forces.”

I vividly remember watching on television battle hardened IDF soldiers weeping at the Western Wall, which is also called the Wailing Wall. They shed tears of grief over hundreds of years of oppression and defeat; but mostly tears of joy over the astounding capture of Jerusalem and rightful return of Temple Mount to the Jews. It was, as heralded by Rabbi Goren, truly an event of messianic proportion (a prophetic precursor to the imminent return of Messiah). I shed tears of joy with them at this stunning historical event, only to be filled with sorrow when the Temple Mount was relinquished back to the Arabs…

Concerning today’s Temple Mount, Jews are not allowed to express any gesture of worship or prayer or planned assemblies on the Temple Mount. All such activity must be confined to the Western Wall just below Temple Mount. Can you imagine that? If not, then imagine that you as an American citizen would not be permitted to set foot on the hallowed ground of the Statue of Liberty. It’s pretty much the equivalent of restrictions placed on Jews with regard to the Temple Mount, their most holy place, in the most holy city of Jerusalem, in the holy land itself.

Rest assured: One day God will change all that and return all of Jerusalem including the Temple Mount back to the Jews through their (our) Messiah! Listen to what the Lord says concerning the end times restoration of Israel … which is taking shape in Israel daily, i.e. the massive return of Jews to the reborn sovereign State of Israel.

“And I will make a covenant of peace with them, an everlasting covenant. I will give them their land and increase their numbers, and I will put my Temple among them forever. I will make my home among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And when my Temple is among them forever, the nations will know that I am the Lord, who makes Israel holy” (Ezekiel 37: 26-28). *Note: the word holy means separate, distinct, set aside for a special purpose.

What else does God say about Jerusalem and the Temple Mount? “In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house will be the highest of all—the most important place on earth. It will be raised above the other hills, and people from all over the world will stream there to worship. People from many nations will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.’ For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem. The Lord will mediate between peoples and will settle disputes between strong nations far away. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore” (Micah 4: 1-3, italics for emphasis).

The Three Holiest Sites of Islam

Let’s continue today’s article by looking more closely at the history of Al-Aqsa Mosque in the context of two other (holier) places in Islam.

Holiest Place in Islam

Mecca: Site of the Kaaba (including the Black Stone) and the AL Haram Mosque. According to Muslim tradition, Abraham and his son, Ishmael, built the Kaaba as a symbol of the house of God, at which time God (Allah) established the Hajj rituals. Obviously, such an event can be found nowhere in the Bible, which is the case for nearly all Muslim writings or traditions. Whenever Muslims refer to Abraham, he is always (only) the father of Ishmael. Rather, than Isaac, who Scripture unequivocally declares is the Promised Child chosen over Ishmael … the child who would continue the Jewish Race and be the ancestor of the Messiah. Nor is there any evidence of Abraham ever being in Mecca. In short, it is a tradition that is not affirmed by historical records, including any such reference to the Hajj. That came later after Mohammed started the Islamic religion.

(The Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia)

Second Most Holy Place

Medina: Next in line of the most sacred sites is the Masjid Al Nabawi Mosque, built by Mohammed next to the house where he lived, with his tomb located in the mosque. Muslims normally include this mosque in their Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, required of every able-bodied Muslim at least once in their lifetime. According to Mohammed, Allah commanded him to reinstate all of the rituals of Hajj just as (also according to Mohammed) they were established by Allah through Abraham. Again, there is no historical record of such rites until the time of Mohammed. But that is the case with most of Islam, i.e. invention or reinvention of Biblical history to suit this new religion, which (in a Johnny-come-late fashion) surfaced over 2,500 years after God called Abraham to be the father of the Jewish nation and over 1,500 years after King David made Jerusalem the capital of Israel.

Third Holiest Place

Jerusalem: The first two holiest places in Islam are understandable given the history that Mohammed and the Arabs lived in Saudi Arabia, particularly Mecca and Medina. However, Jerusalem as the third holiest Islamic site is utterly baffling (more like implausible), beginning with the Al-Aqsa Mosque itself. In Arabic, Al-Aqsa simply means, “the farthest.” Both the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque were built AFTER Mohammed allegedly had been whisked away from Mecca to Jerusalem in one night’s travel, then ascended to heaven from the Noble Sanctuary.

Despite Muslim attempts to rewrite history by maintaining that neither Solomon’s nor Herod’s Temple ever existed or if they did exist not on Temple Mount, Biblical and secular history overwhelmingly proves otherwise. Let’s look at some dates and sequence of events to see how they match up with the Islamic narrative … whether Mohammed even set foot in Jerusalem, thereby, making it holy only to Muslims for that reason alone.

Mohammed was born in 570 AD and died on June 8, 632. In the year 620, he was said to have travelled from Mecca to Jerusalem on a winged steed, from where (Temple Mount) he visited both heaven and hell. Whereas, there’s no real problem with these dates, there are enormous inaccuracies with the rest of the story.

(Depiction of Mohammed’s Winged Steed)

The dilemma begins with the historical evidence that the Al-Aqsa Mosque was built in 696 AD by Khalif Abdul-Malik Ibn Marwar who had earlier built the Dome of the Rock; or in 705 AD by Mohammed’s son, in memory of Mohammed’s magical journey. Whichever date is accurate, neither can accommodate the timeline of Mohammed’s fanciful journey. The reason: the after-the-fact story told by Mohammed’s followers is that the “farthest” mosque was purportedly located in Jerusalem.

Question: How could Mohammed have travelled to a (any) mosque in Jerusalem in 620 AD when, in fact, there wasn’t a single mosque in Jerusalem until the Al-Aqsa was built decades later?!

Here is a quote from the Qur’an: “Glory be to Him Who made His servant to go on a night from the Sacred Mosque to the remote mosque of which We have blessed the precincts, so that We may show to him some of Our signs, surely He is the Hearing, the Seeing.”

Although this Quranic verse mentions a night trip made by Mohammed (servant) from the Sacred Mosque in Mecca to “the remote mosque,” it does not actually specify that this farthest mosque was in Jerusalem, or even that Mohammed then ascended to heaven. Moreover, when the Al-Aqsa was built to commemorate this enigmatic expedition (to another far away mosque that didn’t exist in Jerusalem), Muslims eventually designated Al-Aqsa as the actual remote mosque referenced in the Koran! Talk about arguing in a circle (circular reasoning)!

There’s more. Initially Islamic scholars firmly believed that the farthest mosque was a metaphor, signifying some unknown place between heaven and earth, not a specific physical location. In his earliest biography, Muslim historians depict Mohammed’s passage to heaven as a spiritual one only; additionally, this journey (in spirit) was directly from Mecca to heaven, not from Mecca to Jerusalem, then to heaven. Apparently, in the effort to make Mohammed’s mystical travels more plausible, Muslim historians changed the story to that of a physical pilgrimage to the farthest mosque or the “remote mosque” which they later decided should be in Jerusalem, that didn’t have a mosque until some 70-80 years afterward—what is now called the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

(Arabic Map Showing Mosque in Mecca and Temple Mount, Alleged Beginning and Ending of Mohammed’s Travel to Jerusalem)

Even more contradictory is the fact that the Koran refers to Israel as the adna al-ard, translated in English as the “closest land.” If Muslim tradition holds that Mohammed was taken to the farthest mosque (Al-Aqsa) or land (wherever that might have been), then how could that have been Jerusalem (Israel), which they claim is the nearest land?

The historians should have stuck with their initial interpretation, that Mohammed’s imaginative journey was spiritual only. To change it to a physical occurrence is to further reduce it to nothing more than a myth, what with the conflicting timelines and contradictory legend (language) of nearest (Israel) and farthest (mosque in Jerusalem) places where this event supposedly occurred.

A Stunning Statement by an Egyptian Scholar

The following is taken from the April, 2016 edition of the Levitt Letter, an online and printed newsletter published by Zola Levitt Ministries:

“In an interview with Egypt’s CBC TV, Youssef Ziedan, director of the Manuscript Center and Museum at the Library of Alexandria, noted that the Koran never mentions Mohammed ascending to heaven, from Jerusalem or any other location. Citing ancient Islamic scholars, Ziedan continued: ‘The Prophet Mohammed, after being harassed by the Quraysh (tribe in Mecca), went to the city of Ta’if. On the road to Ta’if, there were two mosques: Al-Adna (‘the nearest’) Mosque and Al-Aqsa (‘the farthest’) Mosque.’

“Ziedan explained that the ‘Al-Aqsa Mosque (in Jerusalem) did not exist back then, and the city was not called Al-Quds. It was called Aelia, and it had no mosques.’ The stunned interviewer wondered if that meant that ‘there is no justification for the war (over Jerusalem), and we should just leave Al-Aqsa, which has nothing to do with us?’ Ziedan maintained, ‘Neither we nor the (Jews) have anything to do with it. That’s what I’m saying. People should think about this.’

‘Where would that lead us?’ asked the host.

Ziedan’s response: ‘To peace.’”

*Note: Only Messiah Jesus, the Prince of Peace, can and will bring lasting peace to Israel and to the world. Nevertheless, Zeidan’s response was on track. At the very least the Palestinians could/should no longer use religious heritage—based on the myth that the Al-Aqsa (or any mosque) had been visited by Mohammed in Jerusalem—to claim superiority over Jewish rights to Temple Mount, with Judaic jurisdiction meticulously documented by both Biblical and secular history and by archeological evidence.

During subsequent control of Jerusalem by the Crusaders, then again by the Arabs (Saladin) then the Ottoman Turks followed by the British in 1917, the Dome of the Rock gradually fell into disrepair. This and other historical evidence (factors) demonstrate that neither Muslim Arabs in surrounding countries nor even Palestinian Arabs in Israel placed much significance at all on their Noble Sanctuary. That is, not until Jews recaptured all of Jerusalem including Temple Mount during Israel’s spectacular Six-Day War victory. That changed everything. Since then, Palestinians have hotly disputed the rights to Temple Mount; including, but not limited to, their non-negotiable contention that Jerusalem (at least East Jerusalem) belongs to them and will be the capital of a Palestinian State.

Likewise, most Israelis contend that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Israel, and must never be divided into two capitals, or divided at all.

To further confirm Arab noticeable lack of pre-1967 interest in Jerusalem or the Muslim structures on Temple Mount, Daniel Pipes, President of the Middle East Forum stated in 2001 that, “the British government recognized the minimal Muslim interest in Jerusalem during World War I.”

The British understood how little significance Arabs placed on Jerusalem when they did not include the city as part of assigned Arab territories preceding the Balfour Declaration of 1917. Whatever (minimal) importance the Arabs placed on Jerusalem didn’t matter, as they turned down the partitions of the Balfour Declaration as well as the portion of Israel allocated to them in the United Nations resolution of 1947. The historical record is unmistakable: It’s not that the Arabs desperately wanted Jerusalem or control of Temple Mount (not until 1967). In fact, they had marginal interest in Jerusalem, and did little to maintain or improve the city’s infrastructure for hundreds of years.

Here is a quote from British negotiator, Henry McMahon, when Great Britain chose not to include Jerusalem as part of Arab controlled regions in the 1917 partition of Israel between Jews and Arabs: “…there was no place … of sufficient importance … further south of Damascus to which the Arabs attached vital importance.”

Another quote taken from Breaking News Israel article posted by contributing writer Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz on 3-16-16, citing Daniel Pipes who said: “A fourteen-century long pattern suggests that so long as Israel controls Jerusalem, Muslims will respond by focusing on the city and wanting to seize it. The knife-intifada is this moment’s tactic toward that end; after it duly fails, one should expect another—and another after that.”

Then Adam Berkowitz quotes Moshe Feiglin, chairman of the Zehut party in Israel and former Deputy Speaker of the Knesset: “This is part of the Islamic culture and their concept of a national entity, which is unlike the Western concept or that of the Jews. The Muslims believe that if they can conquer it (Jerusalem), culturally and then physically, the city belongs to Islam, even if it as no historical or religious connection to Islam.”

From our examination of the true history of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, we now see more clearly that neither the mosque, nor Dome of the Rock, nor Noble Sanctuary (Temple Mount) have any real historical relevance to or connection with Islam’s purported interest in Jerusalem. Rather, they are merely a convenient excuse for Muslims to continue their concerted effort to expel or even eliminate (if they could) all Jews in Israel. It is not question of even one square foot of land on Temple Mount or anywhere else in Israel. It is a question of whether Palestinian Arabs and Muslim nations will ever recognize the sovereign state of Israel and the right of Jews to live in their ancient land, given to them by God himself. A land they occupied (in the positive connotation of the word) long before the Arabs, hundreds of years before Mohammed started the religion of Islam.

Ever so sadly, the conflict continues. Anti-Semitic animosity toward Jews has intensified not only in Muslim nations, especially Iran, but also in Europe and even the United States. Palestinian Arab hostility incessantly manifests itself in deceitful and sometimes absurd ways.

For example: PA Authority President Mahmoud Abbas intends to submit yet another resolution to the United Nations, demanding condemnation of Israel’s actions in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Because there are no such Israeli “actions” to condemn, undoubtedly Abbas will fall back on the “Jewish occupation” of the West Bank including the worn-out lies about the illegal Jewish “settlers.”

Please refer to Eye of Prophecy article entitled Israeli Occupation … Fact or Myth? Posted on 5-16-15. Also, Jerusalem … A Capital without a Country, published 6-13-15.

Cameras on Temple Mount

Recently flyers were posted on Temple Mount encouraging Palestinians to destroy the surveillance cameras that will be installed, via an agreement between Israel and Jordan, which has custodial authority over Temple Mount as given to them by the Israelis. Ironically, the security cameras were originally suggested by Jordan’s King Abdullah II to US Secretary of State, John Kerry, who enthusiastically endorsed the idea. The cameras would show proof positive pictures of exactly who was doing what to whom or to what on Temple Mount. The idea was rejected by the Palestinian Authority with the ridiculous rationalization that the cameras would be used to, “arrest Palestinians under the pretext of incitement.”

What pretext? There is no pretext. The cameras will be monitored by Jordan as guardian over Temple Mount, which directly undermines the PA claim that Temple Mount authority belongs to them by virtue of the Al-Aqsa Mosque being there. Moreover, the surveillance would clearly show that no Israelis are “desecrating” anything on Temple Mount nor is the Al-Aqsa Mosque in any “danger” as preposterously alleged by the PA. Nor is there any “plot” by the Jews to change the “status quo” on Temple Mount. Conversely, the cameras would expose the constant harassment of Jews on Temple Mount by Palestinian rioting, particularly during Jewish holidays.

(Why Palestinians Do Not Want Cameras on Temple Mount … They Show Everything)

As said by Dr. Reuven Berko in an article posted by Israel Hayom on April 13^th, 2016:

“The surveillance grid set up in the area is meant to finally point to the real provocateurs who endanger the holy site, but the Palestinian Authority, which is ‘profoundly concerned’ with the integrity of Al-Aqsa mosque, is the one trying to sabotage this project, as it stands to undermine the influence of the site.”

Dr. Berko continues: “The project (camera installations) also undercuts the Palestinian Authority’s absurd attempts to use Al-Aqsa mosque as the anchor to its demand to have east Jerusalem as the capital of the future Palestinian state, especially given the fact that all of Islam’s other holy cities—Mecca, Medina, Qom, Karbala, and Najaf—are not capital cities.”

Things to Ponder

Yes, the Al-Aqsa Mosque is a myth. Not its current existence; rather the supposed ancient connection of Islam to Jerusalem based on Muhammad’s alleged travel to a “remote” mosque that didn’t exist at the time in Jerusalem. Muslim scholars also said that Israel was the “nearest land” to Mecca. Which is it … nearest or farthest? It can’t be both. Actually it’s neither. And, of all things, why wouldn’t Mohammed, himself, have included this miraculous journey to heaven in the Koran?

A strong clue to the answer: Just like the Koran contains no real miracles or fulfilled prophecies (of which the Bible is replete with both), Mohammed and his followers couldn’t risk the possibility that such a tale contained in the Koran might be disproven in succeeding generations.

Yet, Islam in general and Palestinian Muslim Arabs in particular base their rights to Temple Mount exclusively on this illusion. If their claim is even remotely possible, you would think that their holy book, the Koran, would mention Jerusalem just one time. But it doesn’t, and the reason is obvious: Not until 1967 did Muslims or Arabs give a hoot about Jerusalem, let alone contend that Jerusalem belongs to them and must be the capital of the Palestinian State.

Even Mecca, the most sacred site of Islam, is not the capital of Saudi Arabia! Nor is Medina! Where, then, does Jerusalem really rank in Islam?

(Riyadh, Capital of Saudi Arabia)

But the Bible is not a myth. Hundreds of prophecies concerning Messiah were fulfilled in Jesus Christ and the return of the Jews to Israel. More remain unfulfilled until the glorious Day of the Lord, which is nearly upon us.

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of all who have believed and received his Son, Messiah Jesus … He is the true and living God. He made man (and woman). All other gods are man-made.

His promises are forever true … worthy of our trust! His glory is great … worthy of our praise!

What the Lord says will happen, happens. What he says he will do, he does.

Listen to him:

“The Lord says, ‘Shout and rejoice, O beautiful Jerusalem, for I am coming to live among you. Many nations will join themselves to the Lord on that day, and they, too, will be my people. I will live among you and you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies sent me (Messiah Yeshua) to you. The land of Judah will be the Lord’s special possession in the holy land, and he will once again choose Jerusalem to be his own city. Be silent before the Lord, all humanity, for he is springing into action from his holy dwelling’” (Zechariah 2:10-13).

Separation of Church and State … For or Against? (Part II)

09 Saturday Apr 2016

Posted by garybowers in Current Events

≈ 1 Comment

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Kingdom of Heaven, Nation of Priests

Separation of Church and State

Last week’s article began by quoting the famous First Amendment of the Bill of Rights:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Since that was such a great introduction, let’s do it again. (The greatness of the introduction is the incomparable First Amendment itself, not me quoting it!)

But this time we’ll fast forward 87 years from the birth of our nation in 1776 to another famous proclamation; the source of which is more easily recognized than whether the freedoms listed above came from the US Constitution or the Declaration of Independence or the Bill of Rights.

What you’re about to read was a remarkable reminder that our nation’s inalienable birthrights and legal birth certificates (documents) would expectantly ensure the existence of the greatest representative democracy on the face of the earth—the Republic of the United States of America. That, even during our country’s greatest crisis, the noble aspirations of our founding fathers would not be forgotten.

It begins with:

“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”

Got it yet? No … then the final words will surely turn on the light:

“…that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

Of course you knew. President Abraham Lincoln uttered these historical words on November 19, 1863, in what has become known as the Gettysburg Address, delivered a few months after the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War in and near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Concerning, then, our two-part Eye of Prophecy inquiry and investigation: Can the lofty ambitions of a government that guarantees individual freedoms, a government that is of, by, and for the people be better accomplished if Church and State functions are shared or are separated?

Before we look at some Biblical historical precedents, we need to remember that Church, State, and Religion must first be defined, as they were in last week’s Part I article. Thus, if we’re describing religion properly (man-made set of rules, regulations, and rituals) and Church accurately (a hierarchal clergy-run institution or organization claiming supremacy over the laity and over true Christian salvation of individuals based solely on God’s plan and purpose as found in the Bible), we can conceivably get a more balanced perspective on the interaction between God and man, and between peoples … nationally and internationally.

An Intriguing Premise

I’d like to present a premise that might startle those who passionately defend the government envisioned by our forefathers and confirmed convincingly by Abraham Lincoln—a government that I, too, ardently admire and strenuously support. Indeed, it is a constitutional system of checks and balances that is the envy of people the world over. As much as individual pride, power, and pleasure will allow, the United States of America is, in principle and practice, a nation for the people.

“But that’s not all”, you might reply. “It’s also, of and by the people.”

Yes, that is what President Lincoln said. That also is what the Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution, and Bill of Rights intended, because these freedom documents were both of and by sincere representatives of the people who wanted independence from Church States and State Churches.

Moreover, as alluded to in last week’s article, Scripture is crystal clear that God and Messiah Jesus never meant for individual believers to be part of or subservient to a central, organized ecclesiastical system such as found in Roman Catholicism, or in Mormonism, or in the Church of England or any other systematized “ism.”

In that regard and by that definition, there should be a separation of Church and State, because the Lord never envisioned such a Church in the first place. Which is why God worked in, through and for those who revolted against the oppressive autocracy of the Church States of Europe. Notice, however: Our founding fathers didn’t leave God out of their hopes and plans; because they fully understood that freedom of religion should not be equated with freedom from religion. The majority of them acknowledged God as the ultimate source and sustainer of individual liberties that can better flourish within a republic. That both the people and their elected officials could express their beliefs without the existence of or need for a centralized structured religious system to force those beliefs on anyone, at any time, for any reason.

In today’s world, however, many have misused, abused, and distorted the balance between Church and State for two basic reasons: (1) wrong thinking and defective definition of religion and Church (especially the Christian faith), as detailed in last week’s article.

(2) Because they have dismissed anything to do with God and his plan for the human race, there are those who contend that we must eliminate all vestiges of “religion” in government, which ultimately results in expelling all references to and symbols of God in public places. Under the pretense of maintaining Church separation from State (in which the concept itself is misunderstood and misapplied), they have misled many in this country to unwittingly think and act on the (false) premise that there must be freedom from religion. Which is fundamentally true for both unbelievers and believers alike, if religion and Church are properly defined. But is simply not true if individual Christian rights are denied; thereby, resulting in a classic case of reverse discrimination.

In reality, many leaders and their followers and groups like the ACLU are trying to accomplish their “hidden” agenda so pointedly pronounced by King David (yes, he was a king … we’ll get to that shortly):

“Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans? The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against his anointed one. ’Let us break their chains,’ they cry, ‘and free ourselves from slavery to God’” (Psalms 2:1-3).

The Premise: Until Messiah Jesus returns to establish the Kingdom of God, the very best form of government on this earth is one that is for the people, but not exclusively of or by the people!

Stated another way: For government to be supremely successful for the people, it must be of and by God … from and through God. Ultimately, it must also be for God and his Son (for his glory) who, as Scripture says, is the “Beginning and the End.”

The Bible clearly shows us that our Creator is Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent. He is truth, light, and life. He is perfect in every way. He wants the best for us and he knows what’s best for us; including, but not limited to, the ideal form of leadership and administration of daily life in the human race. Yet, he gives us free will to choose. Who and what we choose can literally be a matter of life and death … individually and nationally.

Said God to the people through Moses: “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” (Deuteronomy 30:19-20).

The Lord never intended for a city, state, or nation to be governed by a “church” because he never meant for there to be a “religion.” God’s original plan was for every man and woman to have a personal relationship and fellowship with him, based on uncompromising love for him, total obedience to him, and unwavering trust in him. If Israel (all peoples) would have listened to the Lord and held tightly to his instructions, they would have been governed by God, himself.

Indeed, that was the plan from the time that God chose Abraham and told him, “…All the families on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3).

A Kingdom of Priests

Soon after the Lord delivered the Israelites from slavery and shortly before he gave the Ten Commandments to the entire assembly of Israel (Exodus Chapter 20), God told Moses:

“…Give these instructions to the family of Jacob; announce it to the descendants of Israel: You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation. This is the message you must give to the people of Israel” (Exodus 19:3-6, italics for emphasis).

The Ten Commandments were the beginning of the source of light and blessing to Israel, but also Gentiles who acknowledged and accepted the existence and authority and goodness of God Almighty. Subsequently, God gave detailed instructions to Moses concerning their personal relationship with God and interpersonal relationships with each other and with the Gentile nations. This included the Levitical Sacrificial System that required individuals to present innocent animals for sacrifice (sin, guilt, peace, praise offerings) and annual observance of the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) for the entire nation. Although the High Priest and other priests supervised and regulated the administration of this all-important sacrificial structure (forgiveness of sin and restoration to God), every Israelite was part of (what was for a while and what could have been indefinitely) a holy nation—set apart for a special purpose.

Israel was meant to be a nation of priests, with the optimum form of government—a Theocracy, defined by Webster’s Dictionary as, “having God as the central interest and ultimate concern.”

A government which was of God, by God, and for God. Therefore, for the people because God promised he would bless them if they made him the center of their lives; unlike the Gentile nations that worshipped man-made gods and sacrificed their children to these detestable gods (demons). The Jews were to be an example for and share God’s truth with the Gentiles; unfortunately, they did not do this.

If we as a nation acknowledge God as our Creator, then trust him completely to bless us with needed protection and provisions, there would be no cause or concern for any such thing as separation of Church and State. Because there would be no centralized Church or church system. Rather the Kingdom of Heaven would be (is) in the hearts and minds of individuals who believe and receive Christ Jesus as personal Savior. Both believers and unbelievers can then serve in various levels of government without forcing their beliefs on each other. God alone will determine the success and welfare of a nation, depending on the nature and extent of the people’s recognition of his sovereignty.

Whether this is a Parliamentary or Democratic Representative Republic, an Absolute or Constitutional Monarchy, or any other form of government other than Fascism or Communism, wouldn’t matter as much as we think it does. None of the leaders of those governments need compel any one to believe in God or accept Jesus as Lord and Savior or behave in a certain manner as long as it is legal and peaceable. Conversely, secular unbelievers should not insist (falsely) that the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness is only possible if the State purges itself of anything and everything that is Christian.

In just a generation or two after Joshua led them into the Promised Land and God gave them victory over their enemies, the Israelites began to abandon the Lord in favor of pagan gods and practices. They soon lost sight of the fact that it was faith (trust) in God, himself, to lead, protect, and to forgive them when they sinned. The keeping of the Mosaic Law, including the sacrifices and festivals, became a matter of rote, ritual observance that wasn’t from their heart. Eventually, even the priests and scribes became corrupt.

They failed to make the all-important distinction between a right standing before and relationship with their God through faith alone, contrasted to obedient observance of the ceremonial and civil laws as a condition for remaining in the Promised Land … but not for individual redemption.

Individual disobedience (sin … which all men commit) could be and was pardoned by God through the sacrificial system. But national (the greater majority of the people) rejection of the Lord by deliberately removing him from their daily affairs and replacing the Lord with false man-made gods of fertility (sex), crops (abundance and prosperity), and protection (victory in battle and security), led to discipline—mainly in the form of famines and persecution by their enemies. Inevitably it led to being conquered and exiled to Gentile nations … Assyria and Babylon; then later defeat at the hands of the Romans, with dispersion to the four corners of the earth that would last for nearly 2,000 years.

From a Nation of Priests to a Nation of Kings

After they conquered and inhabited the Promised Land of Israel, the Jews decided they would be much better off with a king to lead and govern them … like that of the Gentile nations. Instead of being an example and model to the Gentiles of what a near-perfect (as much as human error will allow) government could be and actually was for a while, they preferred a king over what was already working well in Israel—priests and judges who administered the ceremonial and civil laws (and justice), respectively. See Deuteronomy 17:1-13, as an example.

In this same chapter (setting), the Lord knew that his people would want a king to rule them, so years in advance he told the people through Moses:

“You are about to enter the land the Lord your God is giving you. When you take it over and settle there, you may think, ‘We should select a king to rule over us like the other nations around us.’ If this happens, be sure to select as king the man the Lord your God chooses. You must appoint a fellow Israelite; he may not be a foreigner” (Deuteronomy 17:14-15).

(Note: Remind you that a President of the United States must be a natural born citizen)?

The Lord then imposed conditions for the king (chosen by God), such as severing all ties with or influences from their former rulers in Egypt; not taking multiple wives because they would turn the king’s heart away from the Lord; not accumulating a lot of wealth, which can and often does corrupt a leader. Or, if not the wealth itself, then the power that goes with it.

Next came some profound but practical (Church-like and State-like) instructions that the Lord gave to them when (not if … the Lord knew it would happen) Israel switched from the harmonious and successful administrative blend of priests and judges to a nation ruled by a king.

“When he sits on the throne as king, he must copy for himself this body of instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. He must always keep that copy with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear (respect, hold in awe) the Lord his God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees. This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens. It will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way. And it will ensure that he and his descendants will reign for many generations in Israel” (Deuteronomy 17:18-20).

Wow!

Do we see what’s going on here? Do we recognize that the success of a king (Prime Minister, President) and the welfare of his or her kingdom is predicated on these profound precepts given by God to Moses? Indeed, in all of Scripture. Shall we appreciate these principles and see how they could apply to all governmental levels of the Republic of the United States; for that matter, to any government whose leader(s) would at least acknowledge and respect the true and living God? Can we fit them into whatever view we hold on the issue of church and state separation? Better yet, shouldn’t we fit our opinions into God’s Word?

Do we grasp that genuine motivation to read, study, and apply Biblical truths and guidelines will shape the mind and heart of the king (or any leader), so as to humble him. To help him (or her) understand that they are not above the law or superior to their fellow citizens. That regular exposure to Judaic-Christian values as contained in Scripture will enable a government’s successors to continue with recognition of God and service to the people in the way God intended. That leaders will set an example for all the people to do what Scripture declares so that the Lord will direct, protect, and provide for them.

“…O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Fear the Lord if you are wise! (Micah 6:8-9).

Can we also see what is not going on in God’s instructions to Moses for kings (leaders)?

Nowhere is it stated or even implied that the king shall force God’s Word or Ways on his subjects (constituents), either by executive decree or by legislation. For example, a National Day of Prayer is a wonderful idea, one to which a nation would do well to practice. But it’s completely voluntary, subject to each individual’s preference to observe or not to observe.

When God permitted Israel to change from a Kingdom of Priests to a Kingdom of Kings, he also made allowances for the faults, frailties, and failures of the people. Thus, the Lord’s instructions to the king did not, by compulsion, mandate that the people do the same thing. It would be much better for them individually and as a nation if they did seek and acknowledge God in both private affairs and affairs of state; but above all, God still gives the human race free will to choose. No better exemplified than America’s freedom to vote someone into office, but then accept the consequences (good, bad, or indifferent) of that choice.

A Priest or a King, but Not Both

With divine foreknowledge the Lord knew all too well that unrestrained, unconditional power corrupts and that the vast majority of national and international leaders throughout history would be or become malevolent monarchs instead of benevolent, he also told Israel that the same man could not be both king and priest.

In that respect, there was a (balanced) separation of kingly duties and priestly duties. What we would probably identify in today’s society as some semblance of Separation of Church and State.

For one thing, no one person had the time or energy to occupy both offices. Also, if a king was wicked—which the vast majority of Israel’s king were, as were nearly all Gentile kings—the priests and the people that faithfully followed the Lord could still live and prosper in the land because of God’s faithfulness to keep his promises (of blessing).

As the leader(s) of a nation goes, so do its people often go? Right? Of course, right. Unless, that is, the greater populace seeks God’s mercy as so powerfully proclaimed by God to King David’s son, Solomon. In that context, David set the benchmark for a godly king who, despite a couple of grievous wrongs, consistently followed and obeyed the Lord. Something that virtually none of the kings of the ten northern tribes and only 3-4 of the kings from Judah accomplished.

Listen again to the well-known words that vividly explain God’s grace and mercy if people as a nation turn to him:

“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land” (II Chronicles 7:14).

Then, the Lord declares to Solomon: “As for you, if you faithfully follow me as David your father did, obeying all my commands, decrees, and regulations, then I will establish the throne of your dynasty. For I made this covenant with your father, David, when I said, ‘One of your descendants will always rule over Israel.’ But if you or your descendants abandon me and disobey the decrees and commands I have given you, and if you serve and worship other gods, then I will uproot the people from this land that I have given them…” (Verses 17-20).

Make no mistake … this beautiful land of opportunity that we call the United States of America was, in fact, given to us by the true and living God. The surest way to lose our freedoms, if not the land itself, is to as a nation (all three branches of government) abandon, reject, and mock our Creator and Savior. Ironically, this is being done by many who claim they are protecting those liberties by eliminating all things shown, said, or done that smack of religion, with practically everything they do directed against Christians (true believers). Their real agenda is to eliminate the name of Jesus and take away the rights of those who name the name of Christ, including freedom of worship, speech, press, and assembly, in say a meeting room on a high school or college campus.

I firmly believe if we and especially our presidents, senators, representatives, governors, mayors, and judges adhered to (the basic) truths and principles found in Scripture, at least acknowledging God’s ultimate authority and thanking him for all of his blessings, there would be no need to debate the issue of Church and State separation. Our leaders would fully comprehend what it means to serve both God and the people. This service would not need to in any way, shape, or form result in a man-made religion or hierarchical religious denomination or institution to impose a distorted view of government ON the people.

(Based on the Senate’s Resolution, President Lincoln called for a National Day of Prayer … Optional of course)

So, what about a kingdom of priests for Israel? Did God’s plan fail?

I think not. God always (ultimately) accomplishes his purpose, whether the people fail or not.

And what about the absolute best model for the human race to be governed? Is that an impossible dream? Is it the stuff that myths are made of? Comparatively speaking, the United States would appear to be the most successful governmental enterprise of human history; with emphasis, however, on comparative. Meaning in contrast to dictatorships where separation of Church and State was a foregone conclusion … any State presumption or perception of interference by someone’s “religious” beliefs could mean instant death. Or compared to Islamic countries whose government is of, by, and for only those who are Muslims … the ultimate example of an oppressive State Religion.

Likewise, the misguided, unbiblical, anti-Christ(ian) monarchies of pre-Renaissance Europe that were bedfellows with the Roman Catholic Church or Church of England; or whose kings and queens fought for supremacy against those dubious paragons of religion.

There’s no doubt: The ACLU and other organizations and individuals like them have grossly mislead the American public. When placed in the context of the aforementioned Church-State paradigms, there simply doesn’t exist in this country the slightest form, whatsoever, of anything resembling or threatening to duplicate a State Church. Nor is the cry of “wolf” logical or appropriate in duping us to think there may be the slightest risk of a Church State in this country.

On the contrary, there is an ever-growing secularism and socialism that is trending to the opposite extreme … a godless intolerant government that will eventually yield its authority to one man. An evil ruler whom the Bible calls the man of lawlessness, the beast, and the Antichrist.

There is increasing discrimination and persecution (mostly through legal actions in Western countries, but also terrorism; plus physical persecution in Islamic nations, including murder) of Christians by those who claim tolerance and plurality as the only way to live. Which, translated, means no Christian rights or, worse, no Christians at all; because they believe that Messiah Jesus is the only Way, Truth, and Life. Anti-Christians are motivated by a convoluted logic and twisted mindset that doesn’t concede the obvious: It requires a heavy dose of intolerance to criticize, marginalize, and ostracize those they claim are intolerant!

Essentially and ultimately they are attacking our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For it was he who said that unless a person is born again, he/she cannot enter the Kingdom of God (John 3:3). That he is the only way to God, the Father. That only he can give us eternal life … and so on.

Current Kingdom of Priests

Getting back to our question regarding a nation of priests. The answer is a resounding, yes!

Though the awesome sacrifice of Messiah Jesus, a new race has been born. Both Jew and Gentile who believe and receive Christ as Lord and Savior have become one new person.

“For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us … He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death” (Ephesians 2:14-16).

If we agree with God’s Word that Jew and Gentile and Gentile and Gentile can be one in Christ, no walls of separation would be needed … period. Except one wall: between truth and lies.

Says God through the Jewish Apostle Peter to all believers: “…for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light” (I Peter 2:9).

But that’s not all. God will complete his marvelous plan to establish the ultimate kingdom with the greatest King of all time to rule and reign. It will be the perfect form of government, a Theocracy of and by God for his glory and for the everlasting Shalom (peace and well-being) of all who choose life in that Kingdom over everything this worn-out, wicked world of ours can offer.

In that regard, permit me to again quote from a previous Eye of Prophecy article, Kingdom of God (published 1-17-15). In italics as follows:

Paul proceeds to tell us more about God’s splendid plan for the human race. In fact he calls it a mystery, because at the time that God gave it to him even the new Christians didn’t completely understand the eternal implications of what Christ would achieve at his first coming and would continue at his second coming. Listen to these extraordinary words:

“God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth” (Ephesians 1:9-10).

That plan is none other than: THE KINGDOM OF GOD (on earth). Revealed by Messiah Jesus himself as recorded in the Gospels; and consolidated into the everlasting tenets of the Christian faith by the authors of the epistles and Revelation.

Jesus spoke often of the Kingdom of God; for example, comparing it to a mustard seed … the smallest of seeds that when planted grows into an enormous tree. Which is exactly what has happened to the body of Christ; an exponential growth down through the ages, to now consist of believers from virtually every nation and language on earth. It is the Kingdom of Heaven in the hearts and minds of those who have been redeemed by the shed blood of Christ. Next, will come the final physical Kingdom of God on this earth; at which time all people, all governments, all nations will be brought under the authority of God’s magnificent Son. He will rule the nations with firmness, but fairness.

Isn’t that what most people want? They want: law, order, equality, safety, peace. And they want someone who has the kind of authority to realize those dreams, but also someone who is kind and considerate with that authority. One who truly cares about people and what’s best for them; who can rule and judge with impartiality and kindness. A truly wise and benevolent King whose attributes perfectly reflect who and what he is: Love, Truth, Justice, Mercy.

Kings and queens rise and they fall. Kingdoms come, kingdoms go. Nations wax and wane. Soon, very soon we will witness the rise of a Royal Kingdom and a Righteous King who will rule and reign supreme on the earth: The Kingdom of God.

Things to Ponder

“Fear of the Lord leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm” (Proverbs 19:23).

“When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan” (Proverbs 29:2).

Of Messiah (Jesus), God through his prophet Isaiah promises:

“His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!” (Isaiah 9:7).

Yes, Lord … make it happen!

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~ "For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus" (Rev.19:10)

Author Archives: garybowers

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