Saturday, March 19, 2011

Unified Destruction

And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
Zechariah 12:9

I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.
Joel 3:2

Are we seeing a foretaste of the fulfillment of these verses?  It seems all of the world is focused on events in the Middle East.  Today's news about air strikes in Libya is actually a foreboding warning of the terrible events the prophets of both Testaments warned about.  As was mentioned a few days ago in a post called "Globalization", those unawares are being taught to think globally nearly daily.  The news of a UN ratified no fly zone makes me wonder if this same thing will soon take place against tiny Israel.  Unlike Moammar Gadhafi, Israel has the Almighty LORD of Hosts commanding their defense.  It would be a futile and foolish mistake even if all of the nations of the world gathered themselves together.  Isaiah truly understood this as he wrote, "Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing" (40:15).  

Every area of life will come under the one world government.  From the cradle to the grave, the anti-Christ's policies will control mankind.  Even the problem of playground bullies would be monitored by the world governmental agencies.  I know!  That seems like a silly topic.  Or is it?  Did you notice the world outcry against bullying in just the last two weeks?  




Before I go on, Bullying is a serious problem.  I have seen the effects that bullying has on children from years in public education.  It is a situation that needs attention.  Yet, when did the playground bully become a world concern?  It certainly has never been of international consideration before.  That is the point!  Even something that normally was a local problem can fall under the watchful eye of the entire world in moments.  The above video was found on news sites worldwide and has caused a firestorm of political attention and news room chatter.  

Take this to Libya, why are we helping to install a new government?  Why is the UN vote about military action seen as necessary?  Sooner or later the UN will be voting about the legitimacy of other local governments until men realize that there needs to be one single unified world body of government.  You are seeing its birth pains now.  The world community is involved in Japan, the Middle East, and even the local playground.  You are seeing the formation of a biblically prophesied world government in the making.  

The straw that will break the back of this unification is the attempt to uproot the covenant land away from those whom God Himself has given it too.  Soon, and very soon the world will understand Isaiah's statement about the nations being a drop in the bucket.  Israel, who is constantly asked to cede land to terrorists, is only 8,019 square miles.  The land of the earth is 197,359,320.7 square miles.  Israel is only around 0.01% of the earth's total land mass.  The David and Goliath story has nothing on this.  Israel is only a tiny fraction of the world yet it is the center of all the world's attention.  Surely, if all of the world joined against this blip called Israel, the outcome is sure!  Right!  Wrong!  Hidden behind this tiny nation is an Omnipresent God who is greater than man's feeble mind can comprehend.  It is this all powerful, and everywhere present God who protects Israel with unconditional covenant promises.  



The day will come when the world will unite against God.  It many ways, it has happened already.  The surprise will come when all of the world realizes that they are powerless against the Holy One!  That little red dot of a nation in the following picture will prove to be unconquerable.  It is not because of her righteousness or worthiness, but because El SHADDAI Himself protects her for His own name and His divine purposes.  Look carefully at the news.  I think you will begin to notice the world uniting.  More specifically, I think you will see it uniting against this tiny nation.  If you watch carefully and prayerfully enough, I think you will also see the world preparing itself for under unified destruction.  The stone which the builders rejected shall soon strike and fill the whole world and those kingdoms will come crashing to the ground.  From the crash will rise one righteous government, but it is that small babe of Bethlehem who sits in the place of universal authority.  Jesus is that stone!  


Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
Daniel 2:34-35

Israel and the Middle East-God's Prophetic Timepiece










Hamas to Israel: Don't test us - Israel News, Ynetnews  Hamas--Don't test the LORD.  I know--you will soon because of your hard heart and we will see you squashed like flies and embarrassed!

Posted by at 1 comment:

Friday, March 18, 2011

It Will Come To Nought

Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.
John 12:9-11
Religion--man's pathetic attempt to please God with offerings of his own choosing.  It did not work in the beginning when Cain offered an unacceptable sacrifice that was the result of pride in his own labor.  It will not work today either.  Religion does not work.  It is the enemy of Christ and the apex of human pride.  Religion is what nailed Jesus to the cross, what led the religious leaders of Jesus' day to try and eradicate all evidence of His teaching and power, and why His church is suffering worldwide at the hands of men's lies.  It will never work because man cannot be his own savior.  There is only one acceptable means and He was prophesied about and shines above the masses of humanity as no other.  He is God, yet  He is man.  He is the bridge between heaven and earth--Jesus!  

The plan seemed to make sense.  Get rid of Jesus and this new sect will go away.  Get rid of Lazarus and people will forget about the miracles.  Kill His followers, destroy His teachings, hunt down every last Christian and we can prove that God is not among them.  Has it worked?  The harder the first century church was persecuted, the more it grew.  The greater the pressure from the next 10 Roman Emperors, the greater the outspread of truth.  Men and women (like Perpetua, a nursing mother, killed in March of 203 or Stephen, the first Christian martyr) stepped up to gladly give their lives as martyrs--witnesses-- since they had found the only acceptable means to the Father--Jesus Christ.  He who worked miracles, taught with authority, laid down his life as a sin offering, and who could not even be held down by death itself had done what they could not do by any means.  He did what religion could not do--give free access to heaven by grace through faith.  It took eternal blood to wash away the eternal crimes against the throne of He who inhabits eternity.  By the way, the plan to stop His church did not work!  It came to nought.

We see religion again waging an unholy war against the body of Christ.  Since it can't produce evidence of its viability, it kills to stay in existence.  It brainwashes and humiliates and relies on law at the point of a sword because it cannot reproduce the precious influence of the Holy Spirit.  It does not have a sinless Savior, but a man that robbed and marauded, and that had multiple wives with one being a mere child of 9.  It does not have the ability to propagate itself on the merits of God's love, acceptance, and forgiveness or a vicarious, atoning sacrifice, so it kills all who reject it with a strange dependence on hate, violence, and bloodshed.  It cannot explain an empty grave, so it fills multiple graves with those who have seen the living Savior lest revival and truth break out in the land it controls with rifle and bomb.  It can kill the body but cannot touch the soul.  Yet, it kills its own members and forever destroys the souls of its followers.  Without prophecy, power from above, miracles, signs and wonders, and that all important sin cleansing blood it does just as Cain did--kills the righteous due to jealousy.  Like Cain, its followers will be shocked to see that their efforts did not appease the righteousness of God.  It opposes God because the LORD will not accept its putrid sacrifices.  All men's attempts to reach Heaven by their own merit are nothing but the stinking work of corrupted flesh and an abomination to the very plan of redemption of God it Christ.


Religion is destined to failure.  There is coming a day soon when all that is false--whether it calls itself Christian or some other name--will be destroyed forever and forgotten.  Those who by faith accept the sacrifice that God himself ordained on their behalf will be forever blessed in the presence of their Great King.  That King is soon coming.  He will avenge Himself of those who will not repent and who molest His bride!


Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people,...And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
Acts 5:34a & 38-39


Christian Persecution


Ethiopia in Crisis
Persecution of Christians upped in Ethiopia (OneNewsNow.com)
Ethiopia PM blames Muslim sect over church attacks | Top News | Reuters
Ethiopia : 4000 Christians displaced, one killed
Jimma University Muslim students stand with Christians against extremism - Jimma Times
Thousands of Ethiopian Christians in need after fleeing violence | Christian News on Christian Today
Pakistani Christian Villagers Come Under ‘Wrath’ of Local Muslims and Police
Malaysian Christians Accuse Government Of Defacing Bibles « Eurasia Review
69 Churches Razed in Ethiopia, 10,000 Christians Displaced


Israel and the Middle East


Uruguay Recognizes PA State, France: "Not Yet"
Al Jazeera Forum: Arab revolts herald a new world order *****
Malaysia: Equipment Headed to Iran Suspected to Make Nuclear Weapons - FoxNews.com
Zealots slam UK’s 1st Muslim Miss Universe entrant
Iranian film: Invade Israel to usher in Muslim 'messiah'  It definitely will come to nought!
Iran launches rocket with monkey doll into space - Israel News, Ynetnews
Libya: We will hit civilian targets in response to foreign attack - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News


End Time Technology


Human GPS Microchipping: Embrace it or ban it?

       
Posted by at No comments:

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Get Your Thoughts In Order--Finality

The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid. Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.
Zephaniah 3:13-15

Redemption.  All that God does has one purpose--redemption.  The Book of Zephaniah, like most of the other prophetic books, has awesome and terrible judgments described in it.  Do you want to be here when every bird and fish dies?  Would you want to see a time described as, "...a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers" (1:15-16)?  Why does God send such strong and absolute judgment?  It is about redemption.

Sin mars our relationship with God and attaches the heart of humans to that which is temporal and fleeting.  In an effort to redeem some, God sends punishment designed to get us to pay attention.  Sadly, most do not stop to consider eternity.  They do not look to the God of grace and mercy for help.  They love darkness rather than light.  However, there is always a remnant.  It is the remnant that God is seeking.  Each trouble sent on the world is designed to get some to look to the Redeemer.   

God is protecting Israel with a strong hand.  He will soon defend Israel from an onslaught by their neighbors that will cause all of the world to take notice.  Though many may suffer, a remnant will survive.  He has covenant promises to accomplish given to Abraham, Issac, and Jacob.  He will raise up a Savior to sit on David's--His father's--throne.  Yet, David said of this Son that he was his Lord.  "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool" (Psalm 110:1).  Only Yeshua ha'Mashyiach fulfills this verse.   He will perform that which He has promised.  A remnant of Israel will be sanctified and enter the Reign of Y'shua Messiah!  

Those who accept the Messiah now are Zephaniah.  The name means, "the LORD has hidden."  Do you want to be Zephaniah?  Do you wish to fulfill this verse, "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3)?  Call to Him.  There is still time.  You too can be hidden in Him before the dark days of trouble catch the world.  The judgments will become greater and more frequent.  Turn to Him today!   

The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

Israel and the Middle East







As in the Days of Noah--Godlessness in the Last Days






   
Posted by at 1 comment:

Monday, March 14, 2011

Get Your Thoughts In Order--Half Hearted Service

Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city! She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God. Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow. Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.
Zephaniah 3:1-4

The people of Judah, God's witness for that generation, were having some serious problems in their relationship with Adonai.  Zephaniah reveals three areas where their service was out of sync with a proper witness for those trusting in the Lord.  Years of godless leaders in the political, religious, and business sectors had left them with an improper view of God and a half hearted faith.  God's concern in these areas is very evident in both chapters 1 and 3.  He would have no lukewarm service.  As many know, God will have all of your heart or none of it.  


Their compromised devotion is most noted in this verse where God denounces, "them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham" (1:5).  Malcham--also translated Moloch--was a Caanite idol to whom followers sacrificed their children.  In essence, chapter 1:4-6 shows the split allegiance found throughout the land.  The roof of God's holy temple had an observatory for worship of the celestial bodies.  Others were worshipping Ba'al, a fertility god, right in the house of God.  


Many looked for reform not in a repentant heart and full fledged return to the LORD, but they pinned their hopes on the leaders of the nation.  The two prior kings had both made alliances with the wicked Assyrians rather than turn to God for divine leadership.  While the current king, Josiah, would lead a great revival, repentance may not have pierced them clear to the soul.  God wanted a people to repent and turn to Him completely and he would bring godly leadership. The LORD was so tired of this attraction to the world's leadership that he said, "I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel" (1:8b)


Others were so caught up in their worldly wealth that they thought of little else.  Much of their worship, then, was to mollify God for blessings of field, home, and market.  "Give us more, God and we will shout a few more Hallelujahs", seemed to be the message they were sending.  Since money was their god, the living God promised judgment, "for all the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off"  (1:11b)    


It is always easy to point an accusatory finger at someone else, isn't it?  However, it appears that we need to see the beam in our own eyes.  The church is in need of sincere repentance. We are equally as mixed up in and there are scores of godless pastors and members of congregations across this land that are trying to mix up a simple gospel.  Jesus did not stutter when he claimed to be the one and only acceptable means to the Father.  I am sure that He is not too pleased with the amount of paganism and false religion brought into organizations bearing His name.  Look at the following photo as proof.  Rather than seek to repent of sin and leave it at the cross, many are excusing it in the name of a false view of God's love.  



Not only are many attempting to amalgamate other "religious" concepts, but many in the church are living in outright sin.  Divorce is rampant in "Christian" circles.  Homosexuality is seen by some a a viable option to a heterosexual scripturally ordained marriage.  Some even sacrifice their unwanted children at the altar of abortion as if God doesn't mind.  If someone is confronted about error even in a loving manner as is prescribed in the New Testament, they pull out the same card the Sodomites used on Lot, "Don't judge me."  Rather than deal with the sin at the cross, they run to another church carrying the same wrong from fellowship to fellowship.  These are always the signs of worship of another god.  It is the idol of self at the altar of pleasure.  Repent!  

Well, at least we are not caught up in trusting in politicians and public personalities to reform our nation.  I mean no God fearing man or woman would align themselves with unbelievers to bring about revival in the land.  We would not let "Assyria" dictate how we ought to live for God.  Right!  Maybe you should think again. Ouch!  Strike two.


Hopefully, we are not too trusting in the uncertain riches of this world!  There is no reason to even try to expose this heresy--it is rampant everywhere in pulpits across this nation.  God's church is being fleeced by charlatans. Strike three.


It may be time for some searching to go on.  You can ask God to search your heart for anything wayward.  Or God will do the searching Himself!  Either way, there is a time of searching that will soon take place.  You need to ask what will be found in that search.  Will you be found in Christ wholeheartedly or found to be a half hearted worldling? 

 "And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil."   
 Zephaniah 1:12

  
Earthquakes in Diverse Places  
The sin of Aachan affected all of the nation of Israel.  The sin of a government can also affect a whole land.  When nations choose to aid the enemies of God, they bring reproach upon  their land.   God has been sending stronger and stronger judgments on the land for its treatment of Israel and their treatment of His church.  He has redemptive purpose for Israel and He will keep his word to Abraham as far as his covenant with them.   Notice that in the days prior to the earthquake that the nation of japan was aiding the PA with huge sums of cash for water treatment facilities and food.  


  Japan Donates 32.5 mln USD for PNA Projects


Palestine News & Info Agency - WAFA


asahi.com（朝日新聞社）：POINT OF VIEW/ Lukman Faily: Arab world in transition looks to Japan - English


Israel and the Middle East


Lieberman: Hamas can take over West Bank - Israel News, Ynetnews


DEBKAfile, Political Analysis, Espionage, Terrorism, Security


Hamas ordered five Israelis murdered following secret Islamist Khartoum parley 


US 'deeply concerned' by new settlement construction


Itamar Massacre Fails to Change Obama’s Anti-Settlement Policy - Politics & Gov't - Israel News - Israel National News
Posted by at 1 comment:

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Get Your Thoughts In Order--Engraved Invitations

"Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests. And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD'S sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel."
Zephaniah 1:7-8

Have you ever given a back-yard barbecue? Maybe you have hosted some sort of banquet or dinner party?  Then I am sure that you have noticed that there are two classes of people in relation to your meal.  There are those who are invited and then there are those who are not.  Would it be any different with the Lord?  Zephaniah houses much of his work in the context of a sacrifice feast.  Strange!

Nearly all of the commentaries and study helps referenced through the years make light of this allusion to a feast.  However, nearly all of them have God as inviting guests and then "sacrificing" them.  That doesn't seem too hospitable.  Possibly, there is another thought here.  The word for "hath bid", qadash, has the following meaning: to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate.  Again, many commentaries see God as sanctifying the world for a sacrifice.  If his guests are the sanctified offering who then is enjoying what the Lord has prepared?  It seems that there may be two groups involved in the LORD's sacrifice also--the invited and the uninvited.

Remember Zephaniah 2:3?  It was a part of the text that this whole series started on.  It says, "Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger."  Surely those hidden in Christ are those who are separated (sanctified) for the dinner feast.   Maybe God is saying that there are those uninvited who feel they deserve a place at the table of the Lord?  Yet, God chose to invite the meek, humble, and righteous clothed in the imputed righteousness of YHWH Tsidkenue--the LORD our Righteousness.  

Let's get straight to the point.  Zephaniah seems to explain a sudden hiding--a rapture. Those hidden are separated from the world which is being prepared as the sacrifice.  While God's wrath is poured out His hidden ones are gathered together feasting in the presence of the LORD.  Their invitations to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb were given with engraved invitations.  They were engraved in the bloody, nail scarred hands of Jesus Christ.  Are you ready?  God's day of sacrifice is quickly approaching.



The signs of the Marriage Feast and a trumpet blast are all around us.  John McTernan (whose blog is linked to the right) pointed out many of the disasters we have recently faced.  These are news events that I have been following as well.  China is facing its worst drought in history with major crop loss. New Zealand just had a major city destroyed by a series of earthquakes since September. The Arab nations are spinning in chaos. Australia has had the worst flooding in its recorded history with huge crop loss. Gas prices are skyrocketing giving ominous warnings of a possible deepening economic crisis. Many Middle Eastern countries are on the verge of war. The streets of the US are in an uproar over unions. Russian fields are ablaze with thirty percent of their crops lost. Now Japan has been hit by a cataclysmic earthquake that threatens to destroy their economy that is in worse shape than ours. Finally, we have just entered a solar maximum period that some experts feel could devastate our electrical grid with one massive flare and ensuing solar wave. This has all has happened in the last few months. Are you looking up?


Earthquakes in Diverse Places
I mentioned that I was not going to post Thursday.  If you remember, I wrote on impending disaster as God tries to wake us up and get our attention.  This was one of several statements from that post made hours before the destruction of Japan, "I was not going to post today, but world news and God's prompting is leading me to share some thoughts about the nations of the world being judged......Truly the nations of the world have aligned themselves against the LORD and His Christ.  We will soon see many more judgments against the world as the rebellion intensifies." When I wrote that I did not know that the nation of Japan was to be hit with a historic and devastating earthquake just hours later.  

 Quake moved Japan coast 8 feet; shifted Earth's axis - CNN.com


Rescuers scramble to save lives as aftershocks jolt Japan - CNN.com


YouTube - Incredible HD Footage of Japan Tsunami


Explosion Occurs at Japanese Nuclear Plant While Quake, Tsunami Death Toll Rises - FoxNews.com


Godlessness and Apostasy in the Last Days


Maryland Gay Marriage Bill Dies With No Final Vote - FoxNews.com


Gay Male Secretary for the White House - NYTimes.com


Megan Quinn: Visiting minister separates Jesus from Christ - Boulder Daily Camera


Hollywood's War On America Eurasia Review


Indiana Church Behind Provocative Sex Billboard - FoxNews.com  How about a strong focus on winning the lost?  ???????


AFA Threatens Boycott if ABC Airs 'Good Christian B*tches', Christian News, The Christian Post


Israel and the Middle East


MK Danon to Netanyahu: Do Not Cede Land to Arabs - Politics & Gov't - Israel News - Israel National News


Jean-Jacques Jihad - Andrew C. McCarthy - National Review Online


Syria Wants Libya's UNHRC seat


Sen. Graham Wants Intel Chief Gone After He Claims Russia, China Pose 'Mortal' Threat - FoxNews.com


Netanyahu blames Palestinian incitement for Itamar attack
Posted by at No comments:

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Get Your Thoughts In Order--Globalization

The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.
Zephaniah 3:15

I was not going to post today, but world news and God's prompting is leading me to share some thoughts about the nations of the world being judged.

Zephaniah's vision of the Day of the Lord tells of God sending strong judgment on all of the world.  "I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant" (3:6).  I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the LORD. I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the LORD."  (1:2-3)  The world is seen as joining together in rebellion against Him and God begins to send judgment after judgment in hopes of redeeming many.  Eventually, the judgments will turn to wrath as the wicked heart of man rebels against its Maker.  Therefore, we can look for more universal troubles as we await the coming of Christ for His bride.  

Why would such strong judgment be sent on all of the earth?  Could it be that we are seeing a previous scenario playing out as found elsewhere in scripture?  There is a definite move towards globalization.  Think of the recent news.  Here are a few articles to consider on the topic.  




In each of these articles, and many others like them, the world is seen joining together to solve a problem.  It may be starvation, war, oil, science, or any other topic, but there is a real trend in the popular secular news to view every crisis from the vantage point of a united world and not as independent sovereign nations.  We are subtly being sent the message that men need to unite worldwide to solve all of their ills.  In the process, God is left out.  Let me be more specific.  A god in general is not left out.  The God of the Bible, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God who revealed redemption solely on the merit of the cross of Jesus Christ, He is the God being left out.  Without God, the world weighs in on every calamity.  It used to be that a country could fight a civil war and the world waited to see who came to power.  (Aren't you glad the world did not intervene in the rebellion against the British we call the Revolutionary War or mess with us during the American Civil War?)  Today, it becomes a world concern and coalitions are formed to solve the world's newest dilemma. 

As a result, the world is becoming increasingly hostile towards "stubborn Christians" who see Jesus as the only means of salvation.  Since the true believer sees himself/herself as a citizen of another Kingdom, they need to be ostracized.  Jesus said this would happen! Consider this article.  

On another post below there is a story about Christians being barred from being foster parents for their stance on homosexuality.  We also have seen believers in colleges who are being banned from law and psychology degrees for their faith. 

Israel also reminds a godless world of the God of the Bible.  Therefore, the world is turning against Israel and standing behind blood soaked, murderous terrorists.  God has not forgotten Israel, however.  He has promised that they will one day all receive their Messiah.  There will  be a revival in Israel and the name of Y'shua Mashiyach (Messiah Jesus transliterated in Hebrew) will be on the lips of all.  That is what the above text verse is referring to.  Jesus will come down!  This is the central message of the Bible--God comes down.  Jesus returns and the nations and peoples who proudly joined in rebellion against Him will be crushed.  

Here is the first Biblical shadow of what will soon happen found in Genesis:
  Genesis 11:1-9  A Sovereign God
a.  Introduction-all the earth has one language(11:1) Men United against God
     b.  People settle in Shinar (11:2)
          c.  Resolution of the people  (11:3-4)  “come let us”
               d.  Center :  God comes down  (11:5)
          c.  Resolution of God (11:6-7)  “come let us”
     b.  People dispersed from Shinar  (11:8)
a.  Conclusion:  All of the earth now has many languages (11:9) We are the reverse of this pattern in a way.  Men are starting with many languages.  Zephaniah saw all the nations with one language again and unified under Christ's rule.  (Zephaniah 3:9 "For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent."

Truly the nations of the world have aligned themselves against the LORD and His Christ.  We will soon see many more judgments against the world as the rebellion intensifies.  What they do not realize is that the are following the strategic plans of the god of this world--Satan.  Don't worry dear Christian!  He is a loser and he can't even harm you without begging your LORD for permission to test you.  Remember, OUR GOD REIGNS!

Those who choose to follow the world: however, are in for the judgments that a Holy God will send.  As they align themselves against God's final prophetic plans for Israel or rail against his Blessed Church, they are going to face catastrophe after catastrophe until they fulfill Zephaniah 1:2-3!   Jesus will shield Israel and take away their reproach.  God will also protect His church and soon call His ambassadors home as He declares all out war on an errant world. We will talk about the recall of the ambassadors and the feast they share in His presence another day.  God Bless!

Israel and the Middle East

PA: No IDF in Jordan Valley

US official: Iran seeks nuclear weapons capability

'NATO seizes Iranian arms smuggling en route to Taliban'

Gaddafi blows up Libya's oil pipes as tanks are turned on civilians | Mail Online

US split on if Islam is more violent than other religions  When your head is split open maybe you won't be split in your assessment of this "religion of peace".    Islam: Making a True Difference in the World - One Body at a Time

U.S. official: Iran moving to brink of nuclear weapons capability - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News  The LORD will not allow nukes there.  He will act mightily to prevent this!

Qaddafi Showers Strategic Oil Port With Rockets - FoxNews.com

US: Syria 'can't be allowed' to block IAEA nuclear probe

Spotlight on UN Hypocrisy Regarding Qaddafi - Defense/Middle East - Israel News - Israel National News

Signs in the Sun, Moon and Stars/Earthquakes in Diverse Places

Major Solar Flare Erupts, May Make Auroras Visible in Northern U.S. - FoxNews.com

Large quake hits NE Japan; no damage - The China Post

China earthquake kills 24, injures 200 - World - CBC News
Posted by at 2 comments:

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Get Your Thoughts In Order--The Deceitfulness of Riches

"Therefore their goods shall become a booty, and their houses a desolation: they shall also build houses, but not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof. The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly." 
Zephaniah 1:13-14

Quite by chance I found a small book on the bookshelf in my office that I had never read before about a week ago.  I am not even sure where the book came from to be honest.  It was a little prayer book published in 1955 called Teenagers Pray*.  When I found it, I opened and read a  paragraph from the first page and put it down.  (I have never been much for these type of books filled with scripted prayers.)  This morning I passed by that book, picked it up again, and read one of the prayers entitled "For A Thankful Heart".  A part of the first paragraph--one entire sentence--said, "Dear Father in heaven, every time I open my eyes I see the things that you have given me--home and clothes, friends and school, a free country, luxuries from science and industry..."  It was thought provoking and I did find myself blessing the Lord for all He has done for me.  Yet, the "luxuries" statement, while true, also caused me to begin a cautious prayer for protection.  "Lord keep me from any snare that this world has to offer.  While your blessings are many, let me not be so captivated by the gifts of your gracious hand that I forget to seek the greater blessing of seeing your face in a personal relationship." 

Zephaniah addresses many things in this short letter.  In chapter one he addresses business leaders, political leaders, and religious leaders.  Chapter 1:10-13 was geared towards the business sector.  It appears that he spoke of the fish gate since it was to the north of Jerusalem.  It is feasible that he is mentioning this area because a future invasion on the city would likely come from the north.  However, this was also a market district.  So were the other areas mentioned.  Verse 11 agrees with this assessment, "Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off."  He may very well be pointing to an economic collapse near the coming of the Lord's Day.  It makes sense.  Were it true and a political leader joined the world together to combat poverty and stabilize the new one world government.....I think you know where this is going.  The anti-Christ may very well rise to power on the heels of such an event.    

Jesus addressed a church that said, "...I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked" (Revelation 3:17)  This church (Laodicea--which means the peoples justice or the peoples church) was so captivated by their wealth that they assumed temporal resources were a sign of divine blessing, sanction, and authority.  Jesus, who is longing to get in to this godless organization bearing His name, is seen outside knocking on the door.  The Faithful and True witness then says that He will spit them out for their worldliness.  


Do you know that it is estimated that the church just in America spent 500 billion dollars in the last fifteen years on buildings and programs?  How many were saved with such a great expenditure?  The church has flat lined and it is actually losing members.  Several denominations which were once filled with evangelistic fire could be out of existence in a decade without renewal. Yet, they have vast holdings of land and possessions.  In countries where prayer is their main source of power, the church is blossoming.  Such is the vanity and deception of wealth.  What we need is to let Jesus in.  He needs to be the Lord of the church.  The Holy Ghost needs to baptize us afresh with power to be a witness.  God must be God!  If all we seek Him for each Sunday is His blessings, who is being served?  If all we are doing is shouting His praises in a half hearted, placating attempt to get Him to pour more of this world on us--who is being served?      

Could God be warning the church that there might come some sort of economic collapse that will dislodge our faith in the things of a decaying world that are fleeting at best and focus us on eternal purposes?  Could God allow us to see that His power and witness are the greatest blessings?  Would He send an economic tsunami so that we focus on the mission of winning the lost without the might and power of this world but by the power of His Holy Spirit?  The message of Zephaniah is clear.  God would strip anything from Judah that they attached their affections to.  He was sending judgement with mercy and redemption attached.  He is trying to get them--and maybe His modern church too, soon--to see the He is all we really need. 

Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land. 
Zephaniah 1:18

*William Kramer, Editor;  Teenagers Pray
St. Louis, Concordia Publishing House
1955  Page 4

An Economic Tsunami










Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)