World News Through the Third Lens: The Peace of Jerusalem

 

PM Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with a number of foreign leaders over       the weekend, telling them he would be prepared for an immediate, comprehensive ceasefire with Hamas if the latter agrees to halt all rocket fire from Gaza. Meanwhile, Hamas on television announced a list of its own ceasefire demands, none of which included a cessation of the constant rocket-fire on Israeli civilians that led to the Pillar of Defense Operation. (INN/Ha’aretz) At the present moment it seems like a ceasefire is wishful thinking, much less peace.

 

In the USA, it is difficult to comprehend what life would be like with 850 rockets being launched across our borders within the space of a few days. Yet this is just an intense display of the terror that has been plaguing the nation of Israel for the past 64 years. Some times it has come in the form of attacks on many fronts from many nations (1948, 1967, 1973); other times disguise as a young man innocently passing through a shopping mall or taking a seat on a crowded bus, who detonates the bomb strapped to his chest shouting, "Allahu Akbar!" The last effective ceasefire was the end of the Yom Kippur War on October 25, 1973. Since then virtually every ceasefire arranged with the PLO, PA, Hamas or Hezbollah has been broken. Despite the hope and promise of The Camp David Accords in 1978, the Oslo I Accord of 1993, or the Wye River Memorandum of 1998, peace has remained as elusive as nailing jello to a tree.

 

Throughout these past six decades, Christians have been exhorted time and again to pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May they prosper who love you." Psalms 122:6 (NKJV) This exhortation has come from Zionists (those who believe Israel has a just claim to the land) and from evangelicals who just take the Bible seriously. The understanding of what peace in Jerusalem means varies with ones view of eschatology (end-times events).

 

Through the Third Lens of Scripture: The peace of Israel and Jerusalem is a topic spoken of frequently in the context of end-times. The angel Gabriel gave Daniel insight into this matter over 2500 years ago. "Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate." Daniel 9:27 (NKJV) Without going into detail, this speaks of a 7 year peace treaty confirmed by one who, after 3-1/2 years will break the covenant, will enter the (rebuilt) temple and commit "the abomination which causes desolation."

 

Jesus speaks of this event (remember it takes place 3-1/2 years into the last 7 year period, often referred to as the Tribulation) during His discourse on the Mount of Olivet. ¹⁵ "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), ¹⁶ then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains." Matthew 24:15-16 (NKJV) In Matthew 24, Jesus answers His disciple's questions concerning the end of this present age and the Second Coming pretty much in chronological order. Note that He speaks of the days following the "abomination" this way: ²¹ "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
²² And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened." Matthew 24:21-22 (NKJV) Following the words of Jesus, we discover that the event which will cut short the Great Tribulation is His Second Coming, which is  immediately preceded by signs in the heavenlies. You can track all of this in Revelation 6, which culminates with signs in the heavenlies, and the declaration that the "great day of their wrath has come." (v.16)

 

As Revelation continues, we see that two classes of people are protected from the wrath of God in two different ways. 144,000 Jews will remain on the earth during this time and are protected by a seal on their foreheads (Revelation 7:3), while the saints of God will be taken from the earth via the Rapture (Revelation 7:14). Paul is inspired by the Holy Spirit to write about these events also. Again, this is just a summary of some of the headlines. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 he writes about the Rapture and the Resurrection (other details are provided in 1 Corinthians 15). Paul continues in 1 Thessalonians 5 reminding us that while the Rapture (immediately followed by the Day of the Lord's wrath) will occur during times and seasons of which the prepared Christian is aware, it will come upon the unbelieving world as a "thief in the night." (v. 1-2) The believer is encouraged with the words ^"For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ," 1 Thessalonians 5:9 (NKJV)

Paul continues to give us insight in his writings to the church in Thessalonica:
^{1 "}Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you,
² not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.
³ Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition," 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 (NKJV) 1950 years ago people were trying to distort the clear teaching of Jesus concerning the end-times. Paul makes it clear that the Rapture/Day of the Lord had not already come (v. 1-2) and would not come until two things happened: 1) a great apostasy or rebellion against God and His truth, and 2) the revealing of the man of sin (Antichrist) spoken of by Daniel and Jesus (see above).

The next peace to come to Israel and Jerusalem will be a false peace. How it comes about will probably be unknown to most of the world, but they will be grateful for it. That peace will be short-lived and will be followed by a time of unprecedented persecution. Those days will be cut short by the Resurrection/Rapture/Day of the Lord, after which Jesus will set up His Millennial Kingdom. Then the Prince of Peace will sit upon David's Throne and the government will be upon His shoulders. Then our Psalm 122:6 prayer will be answered. I just wanted you to have a good idea of what needed to happen before it would come to pass.

 

 

 

   

World News Through the Third Lens: Israel On Her Own

US IS UNDERMINING MILITARY THREAT AGAINST IRAN:

Israel’s Vice Premier Moshe Ya'alon said Friday he feared the Islamic Republic did not believe it faced a real military threat from the outside world because of mixed messages from foreign powers, including the US. "We have an exchange of views, including with our friends in the United States, who in our opinion, are in part responsible for this feeling in Iran," he said. "There are many cracks in the ring closing tighter on Iran. We criticize this." Ya’alon also censured UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for traveling to Tehran last week. (Reuters)

DEMPSEY DOESN’T WANT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH ISRAEL IN A STRIKE AGAINST IRAN: Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey said late last week he did not want to be "complicit" if Israel chose to strike Iran's nuclear program, positing that a premature attack would dissolve the international pressure on the Islamic Republic. Speaking to UK journalists, Dempsey said an assault would clearly delay but probably not destroy Iran's nuclear program. He explained the international coalition pressuring Iran could be undone if it was attacked prematurely. "I don't want to be complicit if the Israelis choose to do it," he said. Dempsey’s harsh language may very well be understood by Israeli decision makers as a shot across the bow that cannot be ignored, while the popular interpretation will be that Israel cannot rely on the US and needs to take matters into its own hands. (J.Post/Ha’aretz)

 

NETANYAHU: SUMMIT IN TEHRAN IS A DISGRACE TO HUMANITY: Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced Thursday he will address the UN General Assembly next month in New York. "In Tehran today, the representatives of 120 countries heard a blood libel against the State of Israel and were silent," Netanyahu said. "This silence must stop. Therefore, I will go to the UN General Assembly and, in a clear voice, tell the nations of the world the truth about Iran's terrorist regime, which constitutes the greatest threat to world peace." The prime minister on Wednesday strongly condemned the Non-Aligned Movement summit taking place in Tehran. "Today, over 120 countries are meeting in Tehran, while the regime there denies the Holocaust, and works to destroy the Zionist state. This is a disgrace to humanity," the prime minister said. Netanyahu continued that the presence of these 120 states in Iran is a sign that the world's pledge "never again" after the Holocaust, is hollow. (J. Post)

These are just three of many headlines which have appeared around the world in the past three days (although most of them probably were missed by the main stream media). This post may seem, at first blush, like a rehash of one from a month ago, but I believe it is necessary. What is happening on the world scene with respect to Israel should be viewed as ticks on God's prophetic clock as we come ever closer to the End of the Age.

THROUGH THE THIRD LENS OF SCRIPTURE:

I would first like to refer the reader back to the post made one month ago in which the 12th Chapter of Ezekiel was used to sound a warning to any nation that would , as some headlines have recently phrased it, "Throw Israel under the bus!" The headlines cited above indicate that many nations, including the USA, have ignored the warning. Presidential Candidate, Mitt Romney, has promised to reverse that course if he is elected president. However, the concept of a "two state solution" to the land referred to as Palestine is still a plank in the Republican platform. That should be enough said, without even trying to explore any of the mystical relationship between Mormonism and the 10 Lost Tribes of Israel.

Suffice it to say that Israel has biblical, theological, legal and practical claims to the Land. Liberal theologians, Muslims, ultra-orthodox Jews and Christian groups embracing replacement theology all say otherwise, which complicates the matter for many.

As the messianic prophesies start out very broad and general ("And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel." Genesis 3:15 (NKJV) and over time become more and more specific (Abraham's seed, Genesis 12:3, through Isaac, Genesis 22:18, His tribe, Genesis 49:10, His place of birth, Micah 5:2, et al), so it is with the promises concerning the nation and the land.

The land promises which begin in Genesis 12 are repeated to Abraham in Genesis 13, 15, 17 and 22. The promise is confirmed with Isaac in Genesis 26, with Jacob (Israel) in Genesis 28, and assumed in the predictions to Jacob's 12 sons in Genesis 49. God fulfilled His promise concerning the exile of Abraham's descendants in a strange land for 400 years, followed by a return to the land (Genesis 15:13-16). The boundaries of the land are described in Numbers 34, Deuteronomy 28-30. The Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7:4-17) promises that a descendant of David will sit on the throne forever - assuming not only a king, but a kingdom over which to rule. This promise has been interrupted because of Israel's unfaithfulness, but never abrogated.

Theologically, it is important to remember that when God ratified His covenant with Abraham, it was a unilateral covenant; an unconditional covenant. Abraham prepared the sacrificial animals, but then he fell asleep and God alone performed the ritual binding of the covenant. Repetition of key elements of the covenant throughout the Old Testament, and Paul's teaching in Romans 9-11 makes it clear that the church has not replaced Israel in God's program "for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance" (Romans 11:29).

Legally, there is a maelstrom of disagreement surrounding the existence of the modern state of Israel. To access a good overview of this complicated topic, I recommend Fast Facts on the Middle East Conflict by Randall Price. It's important to note that "legal" here does not mean a mis-application of biblical and theological from above. God will fulfill that in due time. Suffice it to say that the restoration of Israel as a nation in 1948, while accomplished by God's behind the scenes sovereignty, took place while Israel was yet in unbelief (see Romans 11:23). It was a socialistic, irreligious segment of Jewish society that pioneered the the modern state. And as flawed as it is, it has been a series of legal decisions dating back to the 1922 British Mandate, which has resulted in legitimate claims to the land today.

Practically speaking, just consider the plight of so-called Palestinian refugees. In the 20th century, more Jews were dispossessed of lands and possessions in Arab lands than ever before. Yet tiny Israel has taken in over 700,000 disposed Jews from around the world since 1948. Consider the sad fact that the oil-rich Arab world surrounding Israel has done precious little to offer havens of relief for Palestinian refugees. Consider the fact that Palestinian refugees in the Israeli controlled portions of the West Bank live at much higher standards than the refugees in PLP/PLA portions. The entire Gaza strip fell into social and economic squalor once 9000 Jews were forcefully evacuated.

I will conclude this by encouraging those who read this to keep your eyes on Israel, and even further on Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. I believe that Joel Rosenberg correctly labeled these as "Epicenter" in his book by the same title, written in 2006. The political battles here at home seem to focus on the economy, with virtually no one connecting our economic plight to our national views towards the sanctity of life from conception, the sanctity of biblical marriage and family, and the blessings and curses associated with national dealings towards Israel. Pray, pray, pray! Vote as the Holy Spirit dictates. Be about the Father's business and keep looking up, for your redemption draws near!

World News Through the Third Lens: Israel's Solitary War

Israel is on its own in war against terrorism (Diana West, Washington Post, July 22, 2012)

Yes, the headline is nine days old, but the news has been around for decades. The very next day after being re-established as a nation in 1948 Israel was fighting vor her very survival, and 64 years later little has changed. The report in the Post article concerned the continuing omission of Israel from a U.S.-sponsored organization called the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF). U.S. undersecretary of state, Maria Otero, in a recent speech to the group titled "Victims of Terrorism" did not even mention Israel.

AMAZING! "At an international conference devoted to victims of terrorism, the world's leading victim or, better, leading target of terrorism - Israel - was nowhere in sight or mind. Welcome to the GCTF - U.S. counterterrorism's new normal. When this 30-member organization got its official start last September, Hilary Clinton, ensconced amid ministers from Turkey, Egypt, Algeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, et al, she said, "From London to Lahore, from Madrid to Mumbai, from Kabul to Kampala, it's innocent civilians who have been targeted....." What about Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Ashkelon? Missing in action! And the GCTF? It's center will be in Abu Dhabi (whose national airlines just happens to be the named sponsor of the "U.S." Open series of tennis tournaments being played in the USA this summer), 11 of the member nations are Islamic and belong to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, a bloc of 56 Islamic countries working to impose Shariah law on the world. 6 of those 11 also belong to the Arab League. Both groups define terrorism in such a way that Israeli victims are excluded and terrorists do not include groups dedicated to the destruction of Israel.

While the USA has been Israel's friend and supporter for decades, that support has had some pretty strange boundaries at times. In the Gulf War, President George H.W. Bush's "international coalition" was without Israel. Same was true of G/W/ Bush's "coalition of the willing" in Iraq. These omissions were in no way due to any unwillingness on Israel's part to join the war on terrorism. Agreeing with their Islamic "allies" both Bushes agreed that Israel just wasn't fit to fight on Islamic sand. Then, however, Israel was at least recognized for its consistent resistance to terrorist attacks. Now, she doesn't even rate mention as a victim. It appears that "Big Satan" is about to throw "Little Satan" to the sharks.

Through the Third Lens of Scripture:

Jesus said, "Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!" Matthew 18:7 (NKJV) If you'll allow, I'd like to stretch the application of this Scripture a bit, while tying it to some other Scriptures. The Bible makes it clear, as does history, that those who bless Israel will be blessed. It goes all the way back to God's promise to Abraham.
Now the Lord had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you.
I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." Genesis 12:1-3 (NKJV)

The nation that sprung from Abraham's loins entered into covenant with Almighty God at Mount Sinai (Horeb) in the giving of the ten Commandments, and renewed some 39 years later on the Plains of Moab. At the heart of the covenant was the requirement of the people to keep the Law (covenant obligations). Perfect obedience was not expected, but a sincere and honest desire to obey. Provisions were contained in the covenant to remove the guilt of sin and to restore the people to God. Willful disobedience and apostasy were another matter.

When God had enough of that, the curse of the Law became their lot and the nation of Israel was virtually destroyed. With the final destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C., Israel's national sovereignty was gone and was never fully recovered until 1948. Over the years, God had regathered His people from the four corners of the earth and brought them back to the land. Among the many Scriptures that prophesied this, several of them imply that Israel would first return in unbelief and at a later time they would turn to the Lord and He would give them a new heart and restore all blessings (Deuteronomy 30:1-10; Isaiah 11:10-12; Jeremiah 30:3; Ezekiel 36:22-28).

So here is Israel, in the land promised to them by Almighty God, and little by little it appears that they will ultimately stand there alone, until this Scripture comes to pass:
"Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem.
And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it." Zechariah 12:2-3 (NKJV)

It would not be wise to be among those nations who come against Israel and its capital - Jerusalem.
In that day," says the Lord, "I will strike every horse with confusion, and its rider with madness; I will open My eyes on the house of Judah, and will strike every horse of the peoples with blindness. Zechariah 12:4 (NKJV) It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. Zechariah 12:9 (NKJV)

Immediately following this great victory which God shall bring to pass, the remnant of Israel shall see the Lord Jesus Christ for who He is. "And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn." Zechariah 12:10 (NKJV) What a glorious day that will be. and woe to any nation that would seek to ignore God, much less attempt to thwart His plans.

World News Through the Third Lens: Air Force Fire

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Air Force Rejects Faith--Plane and Simple

(Family Research Council, June 22, 2012)

"In the U.S. Air Force, the one thing leaders are throttling back is faith. When President Obama took office, his policies had a chilling effect on religion across the military--but no branch has taken Christian censorship to extremes like the Air Force. To most people, the turning point came last year after a service-wide memo from Gen. Norman Schwartz. It was a stern warning that religious favoritism and proselytizing would not be tolerated in the Force. Instead, Gen. Schwartz urged "neutrality"--which has since turned to hostility--on faith.

Assaults on religion have come in almost daily waves since then, and service members are still struggling to cope with the changes. One by one, officers started flushing God out of their everyday routines--an overcorrection that has left several airmen confused about their rights. First, the Air Force suspended a 20-year-old class on "Just War Theory" because it included scriptural references. Next came the stripping of "God" from the Rapid Capabilities motto and the purging of Bibles from Air Force Inn checklists. At Christmas, the Academy ordered cadets to stop promoting a Christian charity for needy kids. Leaders even removed an article from a Squadron Office School curriculum for referencing chapel. FRC started to notice a change in 2010--before Schwartz's memo--when Andrews Air Force Base rescinded my invitation to speak at a prayer breakfast.

"When viewed individually," Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.) said, "any of these actions is concerning. But taken together, they highlight an alarming pattern in the Air Force that we do not see in other branches of the military." The tension is so significant that the Air Force Times published a long expose about the new climate of political correctness and how it's affecting morale. Several servicemen emailed the paper anonymously, many concerned that believers are being forced into the closet. "Christian airmen say they're constantly walking on eggshells at work to avoid offending their non-believing colleagues." Another said, "I don't think the Air Force pushes religion on anyone. The only thing I have seen is the push to take any reference to Christianity out."

So far, Gen. Schwartz's strategy seems to be having the desired effect. In a Military Times poll, Air Force members were less likely than those in any other branch to say that "religion plays a larger role in their lives today than it did when they joined the service." In other words, the Air Force is systematically driving a wedge between the troops and their greatest source of solace and strength. What a tragedy. Our military was designed to protect religious liberty--not impair it. As Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) said, "When our sons and daughters join the military, they are not signing away their First Amendment right to religious liberty." He and 65 other House members are so outraged by the Air Force's pattern of religious hostility that they're calling on Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to conduct a full investigation. "Censorship," they write, "is not required for compliance with the Constitution and should not be required for compliance with military directives." We applaud the dozens of Congressmen who signed on to this letter to support the troops when they need it most."

There is no prophetic pronouncement being made in connection with this report which appeared on June 22, 2012, and the following report from MSNBC on June 27, 2012. Just read the reports, then read  "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." Galatians 6:7 (NKJV) and draw your own conclusions.

"Colorado Springs Fire Chief Rich Brown called the Waldo Canyon Fire a "monster event" that is "not even remotely close to being contained." The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Tuesday night, the community of Mountain Shadows, northwest of Colorado Springs, appeared to be enveloped in an orange glow.
People were "freaking out" as they fled Tuesday night, local resident Kathleen Tillman told the Denver Post. "You are driving through smoke. It is completely pitch black, and there is tons of ash dropping on the road."
"This is a fire of epic proportions," Brown said at a briefing Tuesday night.
"It was like looking at the worst movie set you could imagine," Gov. John Hickenlooper added after flying over the fire. "It's almost surreal. You look at that, and it's like nothing I've seen before."
Among the evacuees were cadets and staff at the U.S. Air Force Academy, where flames crested a ridge high above its campus on Tuesday when more than 2,100 residents were told to get out.
A new class of 1,045 cadets was to have reported to campus on Thursday but will instead check in at another facility."

I believe that if revival is going to happen in the USA, it will not be for the purpose of returning us to the days of Leave it to Beaver of Happy Days, but that it will take place in the midst of an ever worsening moral climate and the resulting physical calamities. A description of the person touched by revival will be: "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." James 1:12 (NKJV)

World News Through the Third Lens: Hoof Beats

While this post, like all of my posts, makes no attempt to link specific news events with particular Scriptures, I must say that it appears that the sound of the hoof beats of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are getting louder.

So many things are breaking on the world scene that it is hard to ignore the fact that something of unprecedented proportions is about to break. It is wise to refrain from trying to set a date since Jesus said,  "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only." Matthew 24:36 (NKJV) However, Jesus did answer His disciples questions, "...and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" It blesses me to see the parallel between Jesus' answer to these questions in the Olivet Discourse and the revelation given to John in Revelation 6.

Matthew 24:5 and THE FIRST SEAL (Revelation 6:1-2).

Matthew 24:6-7a and THE SECOND SEAL (Revelation 6:3-4).

Matthew 24:7b and THE THIRD SEAL (Revelation 6:5-6).

Matthew 24:7c-8 and THE FOURTH SEAL (Revelation 6:7-8).

Matthew 24:9 and THE FIFTH SEAL (Revelation 6:9-11).

Matthew 24:29 and THE SIXTH SEAL (Revelation 6:12-13).

Notice also that the 5th seal only hints at the persecution of the Antichrist. Jesus spoke of his appearing in Matthew 24:15 with a warning (which would be primarily to the Jews, since it takes place in Jerusalem) for those in close proximity to flee. I'm not saying that the Antichrist is a Muslim, but he will be against (anti) both the Saturday and the Sunday people, as radical Muslims are today. Jesus reveals more detail about him with the parenthetical insertion of Revelation 13. The timing of the appearance of the Antichrist is clear from the agreement of several Scriptures (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:2-3; Revelation 6:9-11) - midway through Daniel's 70th week and prior to the Lord's Second Coming.

The Lord's Second Coming will be immediately preceded by cosmic disturbances (Joel 2:30-31; Matthew 24:29 & Revelation 6:12-13) and will consist of several events (The great appearing, trumpet call and gathering of the elect [rapture/resurrection], Matthew 24:30, 36-41; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3; Revelation 7:9-17), followed by the Day of the Lord (Revelation 6:15-17) and the wrath of God (Revelation 15:1).

There is so much more to be said on this subject. The good news is that God has not appointed the saints to suffer His wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9) and we know that events leading up to God's wrath (the Day of the Lord) will happen like birth pains do in a woman about to give birth (Matthew 24:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:3). These birth pains, which increase in both frequency and intensity, could be compared to hoof beats which get louder and louder as they get closer. May the Holy Spirit grant the church revelation with these things as a backdrop for some of the bulleted news events in our world over the past week or so.

• "The overall chairman of the National Day of Prayer event in Washington each year is Shirley Dobson, the wife of Dr. James Dobson. The military and every branch of government was represented -- except for the Administration -- as President Obama did not send a representative." -Wm. Murray, rfcnet.org
• "Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani's Iranian attorney has been convicted for his work defending human rights, leaving the persecuted pastor without legal representation." -ACLJ.org
• "The very real threat remains that Iran will get a nuclear weapon and we continue to pray on two fronts: that God will act sovereignly in shaking the nation of Iran and that he will use Israel militarily against Iran." ifi.org.il
• DOZENS OF DEATHS CONTINUE IN SYRIA DESPITE CEASE-FIRE PLAN jnnnews.com
• Iran's Navy has the ability to deploy its vessels three miles off the U.S. east coast, a high-ranking Iranian Navy commander was quoted as saying by the Fars news agency. watch.org
• A new report finds that Christians are the target of religiously motivated physical attacks, intolerance and discrimination more than the people of any other faith in Europe. (WorldNetDaily)
• "Islam as a tool for judgment!" Bill Wilson, KIN

World News Through the Third Lens: The last item in the above list might rightly be seen in light of the first chapter of Habakkuk. Habakkuk cries out to God in the first four verses concerning the sin that was part of daily life in Israel. He wonders how long God is going to allow wickedness to continue. God's answer (verses 5-11) was that He was going to use a fierce and ungodly people, the Chaldeans (Babylonians) who were a law unto themselves as an instrument of judgment against Judah. Habakkuk questions this response, saying, "You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, And cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on those who deal treacherously, And hold Your tongue when the wicked devours A person more righteous than he?" Habakkuk 1:13 (NKJV) God makes it clear that in His time, justice will be served, declaring,  "Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith." Habakkuk 2:4 (NKJV)

May we be filled with faith that God has everything under control, no matter how "out of control" things seem to get. May we say with the prophet,
¹⁷ Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls--
¹⁸ Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
¹⁹ The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills. To the Chief Musician. With my stringed instruments. Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NKJV)

Yes, may this be our praise and our song!

World News Through the Third Lens: Egypt and Islam

EGYPTIAN OFFICIAL: WAR WITH ISRAEL WITHIN THREE MONTHS: Egyptian Presidential Candidate Tawfiq Okasha declared last week that the Egyptian Army will engage in armed warfare against Israel, the United States and the EU within three months. The declaration also said that “like the Nazis, the Jews aim to rule and own the world.” He then went on to say that Israel, America and the European Union are planning to destroy three institutions in Egypt with
“exceptional malice,” namely the Egyptian general intelligence agency, the Egyptian armed forces, and the Egyptian military intelligence. He then declared, “As of today, the war effort of the people has begun. The Egyptian army will open fire on the armies of the enemies,” he proclaimed. When asked exactly when an armed war would begin, he replied, “within three months.” (INN) as reported by JNN News, Feb. 23, 2012.


REPUBLICANS: THE FACTS ARE CLEAR THAT OBAMA IS NO FRIEND OF ISRAEL: The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) has released a statement entitled “Security,” highlighting the discrepancy between President Obama’s rhetoric regarding his support for Israel’s security and his actions. The ad states: “These are dangerous times for Israel. Iran is threatening Israel’s
destruction. Hizbullah has armed itself with over 40,000 rockets and missiles to rain down on innocent Israelis. Shockingly, President Obama has dramatically cut proposed critical support for Israel’s defense program - the same systems Israel needs to protect itself from these threats. President Obama’s rhetoric would have you believe he is doing all he can for Israel’s security. The reality is that he wants to slash American support for Israel’s critical defense.” RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks said that at this dangerous time, no true friend of Israel would talk about cutting funding to its joint missile defense programs with the Jewish state. (Arutz-7)


Through the Third Lens of Scripture: "The Lord said to Abram, 'Leave your country, your people, and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples of the earth will be blessed through you'" (Genesis 13:1-3).


It is not always a pleasant task to view developments on the world scene and how they are connected to prophecies in the Holy Scripture. First, the view is often troublesome, at least in the short term. Second, there is always the concern that I will not overstep proper bounds and that what I write will be guided by the Holy Spirit. Some things are so very clear in God's Word that they must be proclaimed, with conviction. So it is with the above promise which God made to Abram. The promise was restated by God several times, and was even pronounced in a solemn covenant (Genesis 15). The covenant was confirmed in Genesis 17 through the rite of circumcision, and Abram's name (meaning "exalted father') was changed to Abraham (meaning "father of many." The greatest promise to Abraham in this covenant was that God promised to be Abraham's God (Genesis 17:7). The greatest promise to the world was the blessing in Genesis 12:3 which, as history unfolded, was to be the Messiah, Jesus the Christ, Savior of Jew and Gentile alike.


Included in God's covenant promise to Abraham and his descendants was the promise of the land (Genesis 15:18-21). The covenant was an everlasting covenant (Genesis 17:7-8). The covenant concerning the land was fulfilled briefly under King Solomon, and has since been diminished, interrupted, and restored in part through the interaction of Israel's disobedience and God's sovereignty. Eventually the full scope of the covenant promise will be established forever. From A.D. 70 until A.D. 1948 it looked like God was either unable or unwilling to fulfill His promise as the "promised land" lay under the rule and domination of other people. Then, miraculously, on May 14, 1948 the nation of Israel was born.


Never before in history had a people been without a country while still maintaining their identity. Attempts had been made to wipe this people from the face of the earth, including the 6,000,000 who died in the Holocaust between 1933 and 1945. No sooner had the United Nations declared Israel to be a sovereign nation that the surrounding nations attacked her. Several times, most notably in 1948, 1967 and 1973 she was attacked by forces superior in number and might but God always protected her. The people were drawn back to the land in unbelief, just as the Bible prophesied.


Through it all, promise of Genesis 12:3 has remained true. The Messiah did come through the line of Abraham. Those nations that have chosen to bless Israel have in turn been blessed by God. Near the top of that list is the United States of America. I personally believe that it has been our support of Israel that has forestalled God's judgment upon our land for the way we have turned our collective back on Him, especially through the legalized genocide called abortion. While there has been some progress in reducing the number of abortions performed in this country, that's not very comforting considering the fact that some 3,000 innocent babies die in the USA every day. All the while, our support for Israel seems to waver and wane with each passing year.


What does this have to do with Egypt? Egypt is an interesting country, with a history far greater than ours. Throughout the centuries, Egypt has also developed an interesting history with Israel. It was Egypt which provided a place of refuge for Abraham (Genesis 12:10-20) during a time of famine. Egypt rescued the 70 which Abraham had become through Isaac, Jacob and Jacob's 12 sons during a time of famine (Genesis 41:53 - 50:26). The fertile land of Goshen was enjoyed by Israel, and they grew in numbers, until a king arose in Egypt "who did not know about Joseph" (Exodus 1:8) who then made slaves of the Israelites (Genesis 1:11) and sought to reduce their numbers by murdering all the baby boys (Genesis 1:16). We all know of Moses, who would deliver his people from the slavery of Egypt and bring them into the land promised to Abraham some 400 years earlier.


Some 1500 years later, Egypt would become a temporary refuge for our Lord and Savior as the baby Jesus and his parents fled to Egypt to escape the paranoid wrath of King Herod (Matthew 2:13-23). All this is said to be a brief example of the parallels between Egypt's treatment of Israel and that of the USA. Sometimes it's been good; sometimes not so good. The Lord inspired Ezekiel to prophesy against Egypt (Ezekiel 29-32) and the outcome is not good. The Arab Spring uprising in Egypt and the overthrow of a secular government officially at peace with Israel may well be a fulfillment of Isaiah 19:1-4. Other parts of that chapter seem to await fulfillment, such as the four prophecies of "in that day" (Isaiah 19:16-25).


Will the USA be dealt with in the same manner as Egypt? We have not yet joined in persecuting Israel yet. Pray that we don't. Egypt suffers greatly at the hand of God but in the end they will turn to the Lord (Isaiah 19:22). Is it too late for the USA to repent or will she too suffer judgment at the hand of God? Egypt is now on the verge of being governed completely by sharia law. The United States has a president who has shown himself time and time again to be a at least a Muslim sympathizer, if not an actual Muslim vainly trying to hide in plain sight as a Christian.


The people of God, those who are truly His through saving faith in Jesus Christ, must heed the Lord's command to patiently endure, and thus reap the promise to be kept from the "...hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.' (Revelation 3:10).

World News Through the Third Lens: Closed!

"What if your church was evicted tomorrow?" read the subject line in an email dated January 28, 2012 from the Family Research Council. There are probably thousands, if not millions, who call themselves Christians here in the United States who either don't care to consider the question or who are unaware that it is happening right now............RIGHT NOW in the land of the First Amendment! As is often the case, persecution against a particular group of people (those of the Christian faith in particular) usually begins on the margins. Wholesale attacks against the main body of that group are rare in the beginning.


Marginal attacks tend to cause the main body to think, "Oh, it's just those radicals, so we have nothing to worry about." Or the thinking goes, "That's just happening in _______, but nothing like that would ever happen there," or "If we just don't make any waves, that will blow over." In times like this I often think of the words of Martin Niemoller.


"First they came for the communists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for the Catholics and I didn't speak out because I was a Protestant.
Then they cam for me and there was no one left to speak out for me."


The above captioned email says that unless a change is made, "on February 12, 2012, as many as 100 churches in New York City face eviction on February 12, as the school board's ban against the use of property by religious congregations goes into effect. The evictions could be devastating to small congregations and church plants in the city and......opportunities for ministry in many areas of the Big Apple would be effectively shut down." All of this is happening in spite of the fact that: 1) The Lamb's Chapel decision by the Supreme Court several years ago guaranteed equal access to government buildings by all groups (even religious groups), and 2) the churches using schools in New York City have been model tenants, providing much needed revenue and services to the city.


Through the Third Lens of Scripture......There are some prophetic portions of Scripture that tell us that there will come a time when such incidents will not be isolated or infrequent. In fact, because all of the last days events are described as "birth pains" we can expect that they will increase in both intensity or severity. Consider: "But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness......You will be hated by all for my name's sake" (Luke 21:12-13, 17). This whole passage could serve as a summary of the life of the Apostle Paul.


This confirms that such persecution of the followers of Christ has been around for almost 2000 years, but remember the birth pangs. One of the agonizing results of our military intervention in the countries of Iraq and Afghanistan (in addition to the loss of so many of our finest and bravest) has been the increase of persecution of Christians in these countries. Many have died and many more have fled for their lives. Some of the places to which Christians have fled are Muslim countries, formerly ruled by moderate, secular governments, but which, in the name of "democracy" have undergone revolutions, only to be ruled by the Muslim Brotherhood (e.g., Egypt). Since becoming "democratic" persecution of Christians has increased in these countries.


"Of course," you might say, "the persecution mentioned in Luke 21 is future, not now," or, "New York City is not the Bible belt," or, "Egypt is not the USA!" May I remind you, there were a lot of things Martin Niemoller was not, but he spent 5 years imprisoned at Dachau. The Bible makes it clear that there is a time coming when persecution of true Christians will be world-wide. "And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. It was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them.** And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of the Lamb who was slain." (Revelation 13:5-8).


Just because Christians have been being persecuted from Acts 3 until this day, make no mistake about it; the events spoken of in Revelation 13 are the same as those spoken about by Jesus in Matthew 24 depict a time like never before seen in history. "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved [physically].But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short." (Matthew 24:21-22) Those days will be cut short, as you follow the sequence of Matthew 24, by the Coming of the Son of Man, or the Rapture. It is obvious that the church does not escape exposure to the Great Tribulation. Death will be the portion of many, but it is said of them, "And they have conquered him [the devil] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death." (Revelation 12:11)


So, how can we be encouraged in the midst of such dire predictions, predictions which are seeing early (from a western viewpoint) signs of fulfillment? What can and should we do? I believe this is a time when every commandment, every promise in the Word of God, when rightly viewed in the light of unfolding prophecy should be considered with the utmost urgency. The followers of Christ need to:

1. Read, understand and practice, with all seriousness, the Great Commandment(s). "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30-31)


2. Read, understand and practice, with all seriousness, the Great Commission. "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20)


3. Read, understand and begin to find ways to practically live within our own culture as the early church did (Acts 2:42-47).


At some point, the Lord willing, we will explore these three points in much greater detail. Until then, encourage others with, and be encouraged yourselves by the fact that Christ has died, Christ has risen, and Christ will come again. When He does, it will be obvious "....that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:18)