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: 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: Israel Again!

Jerusalem - Israel OK's 1100 new East Jerusalem settlement homes. (msnbc.com news service) US calls building in area coveted for 'Palestinian Capital' counter-productive to peace talks. The US also said that this move will complicate an international effort to diffuse the crisis caused by the Palestinians bid for statehood recognition at the UN. According to US State Department spokesperson, Victoria Nuland, this is "counterproductive to our efforts to resume direct negotiations between the parties and we have long urged both parties to avoid actions which could undermine trust, including Jerusalem, and we will continue to work with parties to try to resume direct negotiations."

Through the third lens of Scripture - I know this is the second time in a row that the topic of this blog has been Israel and Jerusalem, but because this is the epicenter of God's end-times fulfillment of so many prophetic promises, it probably will not be the last. Scripture has so much to say about this, but I will try to be succinct here.

Jerusalem will be a problem to the nations until God finally says "No more!" "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).

In Luke's account of the Olivet discourse, a long and short term implication is given concerning Jerusalem when Jesus said, "And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled" (Luke 21:24). The first part of this statement was fulfilled in A.D. 70. The latter part has been on-going ever since. Even since 1967 Jerusalem has not been completely under Israeli control, especially the Temple Mount.

Again we read, concerning the temple and its courts (located in Jerusalem), "But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months" (Revelation 11:2). So Israel, and Jerusalem in particular is a problem for the world. So much so that the US appears more troubled by the construction of homes in this area that it is by the continued rocket attacks against Israel (even in land defined as pre-1967). Irrationality flows through the issue like a water through a 5" hose. Yet........

Peace will come. I don't know how much more volatile the situation must become before peace is so desired that it will finally be accepted as brokered by the man of Daniel 9:27 and Revelation 6:2. This is what we are to be looking for. When? I don't know, but I suspect soon. According to 2 Thessalionians 2:3 this individual will not be revealed until the middle of the 7 year peace treaty, so there is no use trying to guess his identity now.

I only urge the saints, in the middle of everything else that you do to fulfill the purposes God has for you, to keep an eye on Israel. She is God's prophetic time clock, and as we do so, we shall not be ignorant of the "times and seasons" (1 Thessalonains 5:1).

World News Through the Third Lens: Israel Dominates the News

Israel dominates the headlines, but not in the United States. I found none of the following stories in the local paper, either yesterday or today. Life goes on in the West, with precious little concern for the land of God's promise, or the people to whom He promised it. Meanwhile things are heating up on all sides surrounding the little strip of land called Israel. US Veto of PA Bid for UN State Recognition Not the End of the Matter (Jerusalem Post). Palestine could still gain recognition as a non-member state, with observer status. This would require only a simple majority vote of the General Assembly. 120 countries have already recognized Palestine. A decision is expected before the end of September.

UN Secretary General: Palestinian Statehood is Long Overdue. (Ha'aretz) Ban-Ki-Moon went on to say, "The two state vision where Israel and Palestinians can live side by side in peace and security -- that is still a valid vision and I support it." As illogical as was the original Road map to Peace, it at least contained certain conditions that Palestine must keep for the process to move forward: 1) recognition of Israel as a legal state in the region, 2) renounce terror against the Jewish nation, 3) dismantle all terrorist groups within its territory, 4) end all forms of anti-Israel incitement within its systems. Not one of these conditions has been met, and yet the UN is about to recognize Palestine as a legal state. To Islamists, the two state solution is neither a reality nor a vision.

Israel Faces Worst Crisis With Egypt for 30 Years as Diplomats Flee (INN). Hundreds of protesters tore down the protective barrier in front of the building housing the Israeli embassy, stormed the building and entered the floors of the embassy, destroying hundreds of documents in the process, while 86 embassy members were air-lifted to safety. Egyptian security forces did not intervene, even as the Israeli flag was torn down and burned. This is the new face of "democracy" in Egypt which was supported by President Obama. The peace between Israel and Egypt has now been strained to the breaking point.

Jordanians Planning March on Israeli Embassy (INN). A group in Amman has called for one million people to gather at the large mosque near the Israeli Embassy, and to then march on it and do what protesters did in Cairo just last Friday.

Turkish Warships to Challenge Israel (DEBKA). Turkish PM, Tayyip Erdogan announced that Turkish warship would henceforth accompany any aid ships on route to the Gaza Strip. This is in spite of the fact that this piece of land was given over to the Palestinians by Israel, and included in the cost was the displacement of over 9,000 Israeli citizens. The Palestinians destroyed most of the infrastructure left behind, killed many of their own during the infighting between Hamas and Fatah, and then continued to bombard the south of Israel with rockets and missiles. This lead to Operation Lead Cast in which Israel defended herself as any sovereign nation would, only to incur false defamation on the part of UN inspectors. Even now, rockets and missiles are fired into Israeli settlements, with no regard for targets.

Through the Third Lens of Scripture: "The burden of the word of the Lord against Israel. Thus says the Lord, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him: '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 12:1-3). It's beginning to take shape, just as the Lord declared it. The problem in the Middle east, with Jerusalem the epi-center, will get so intense that peace will be sought at all cost; and to the relief of the un-believing world, it will be gained. Even the majority of Israel, gathered in the land in unbelief, will accept this 7 year peace agreement.

This will be the time for the saints of God to be watching and waiting for the return of their Lord and King. It will mark the beginning of Daniel's 70th week and the opening of the first seal in Revelation 6. It will be a time when faith must be strengthened, and trust renewed, for this will mark the beginning of sorrows. Follow the drama in Matthew 24. This will be a time when deception runs rampant, man-made and natural disasters increase, persecution of the true church intensifies, false prophets abound and apostasy runs rampant. This will lead right up to the "abomination of desolation" spoken of in Daniel 9:27, followed by the worst persecution the church has ever faced. Those days will be cut short by the return of Christ, who will raise the faithful dead, and in an instant transform those living in Him, gathering them all together to meet Him in the air (Matthew 24:22, 31; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

This is just a brief summary of events to expect in the future, and in no way is meant to predict the timing of Christ's return. However, it is important to say to anyone reading this, "Let no man deceive you..." There is much deception out there concerning the return of Christ, ranging from exact date predictions (like last May 21st) to an "any-time rapture." While we do not, and will not know the day or the hour of Christ's return, He has gone to great lengths to give us the signs. That is why Paul said, "...concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write you" (1 Thessalonians 5:1). He goes on to say that "the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night" (1 Thessalonians 5:2). Don't be deceived into thinking that the day of the Lord is the entire seven years of Daniel's 70th week. It is not! The day of the Lord is not unbelieving man's wrath against the church, neither is it the wrath of Satan through the Antichrist against the church. The church must go through all of this, by which she will be purified and made spotless. The day of the Lord comes and He pours out His wrath upon the world, sometime well into the second half of the 7 year period, and only after He has gathered His saints unto himself - thereby cutting short the Great Tribulation. This happens between the 6th and 7th seals of Revelation. The signs are all there. Today's headlines are just harbingers of the signs that are yet to come..........shortly, it seems.

"And when you see these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift your heads; for your redemption draws near" (Luke 21:28).

World News Through the Third Lens: Israel and the Apocalypse

Local ministers don't think today is the last day read the headlines in today's Johnson City Press. In the same issue, another headline declared Israel's leader rejects U.S. plan on borders. Thus this blog will look at two current event items through the third lens of Scripture. In an effort to not make this blog too long, only the surface will be scratched. The first headline was prompted by the proclamation of Harold Camping, 89-year-old retired civil engineer and the leader and founder of the fringe ministry group with the innocuous title: Family Radio Worldwide. Camping claims that his study of the Bible and numerological calculations make it clear that the end will come beginning at 6 P.M. on May 21, 2011, beginning in New Zealand. As I write this blog, it is now 6:40 A.M. on May 22, 2011 in New Zealand and I have heard no reports of their demise or of any of the other nations now on the other side of 6 P.M. the 21st.

Most pastors interviewed for this article, and several others, judging from posts on facebook, base their rejection of Camping's wild claims (which hundreds bought into and poured themselves and their resources into proclaiming the message) on Jesus' statement: "But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only" (Matthew 24:36). The Scripture is true and accurate, but it is far from the best reason for Camping's prediction being declared false. Camping's claim that the end of the world is today includes the claim that true believers will be raptured (taken up) by Christ. And here is where it gets a bit messy. A short blog is no place to mount all the defenses that the truth of Scripture provide, so I will make just a few statements, with limited Scriptural reference.

The article in the Johnson City Press states, "The Rapture - the belief that Christ will bring the faithful into paradise prior to a period of tribulation on earth that precedes the end of time - is a relatively new notion compared to Christianity itself, and most Christians don't believe in it." This ludicrous statement underscores the concern I have when somebody like Mr. Camping gains some notoriety. 1. He will be proven false, and by analogy, many sincere people with an interest in eschatology (the study of the last days) who have been called with a prophetic voice at this time in history (I believe I am one) will be labeled as false, fringe or fanatical. 2. Articles will be written which have little biblical foundation, but will be read and believed by the uninformed. 3. Many will conclude that Christianity as a whole is a joke, or irrelevant

The Rapture is not a new notion in Christianity, unless you want to label the inspired writings of Paul as "notions"; unless you you consider A.D. 49-54 as "recent." In Paul's two letters to the church at Thessalonica (a church founded by Paul over a period of about 3 weeks), he addressed concerns that this young church had about the Second Coming of Christ. In the first letter, he dispels their concern that the people in the church who had already died would miss the Second Coming. He did this by making it clear that the resurrection of all those in Christ would take place first at His Coming followed immediately by all the living Christ-followers being changed in the twinkling of an eye (1 Thess. 4:13-18 and 1 Cor. 15:51-52) and all would be gathered together to meet Christ in the air, and forever be with Him.

The Rapture will take place, but not without signs preceding it. In fact, in Matthew's Gospel, just before Jesus spoke about no man knowing the day or the hour, these are the things He spoke about preceding the Rapture: 1. Deceivers and false Christ's, 2. wars and rumors of wars, 3. famines, pestilence and earthquakes (all labeled "the beginning of sorrows"), 4. Great tribulation and martyrdom, 5. more false prophets and deception, 6. a great falling away or apostasy, 7. the abomination which causes desolation (which requires the building of the third temple in Jerusalem and which will serve to reveal the Antichrist), 8. the actual sign of His coming (cosmic disturbances. Thus far, Matthew 24 parallels Revelation 6. Then the Rapture (Matt. 24:31, 37-42), the exact day or hour of which is unknown, but which is preceded by signs and the surety of which is a obvious as is summer following the budding of the fig tree (Matt. 24:32-35).

There is much more I could write in this vein, but now we'll move to the second headline concerning Israel and our president's exchange with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Our president is in office for a time such as this. God raises up one leader and He puts down another. Our president sided with the overthrow of Mubarak in Egypt and Mubarak was, in addition to being a dictator, was a secularist and he honored Egypt's peace treaty with Israel. There is precious little hope that the Muslim Brotherhood will do the same. Bashar Al-Assad, the president of Syria is also a dictator, and has killed hundreds of Syrians who have been protesting for reform, but the USA has done little against him. He is a hater of Israel and is aligned with Iran in a desire to exterminate her. I could go on and cite pages of evidence which display President Obama's true feelings towards Israel.

So, with Obama's ascension to power, God is now on the verge of being in a position to justly judge the United States for all of the innocent blood shed in the land (well over 50 million abortions and those are just the ones reported). God is now in a on the verge of being able to justly judge the USA for making a mockery out of His rules for marriage and family. I don't mean to sound like I am in a position to determine when God can and cannot act; it just seems like He has been withholding judgment for a long time now. It seems entirely plausible that the only thing that has kept the sword from falling is God honoring this promise: "I will bless all those who bless you, And I will curse all those who curse you" (Genesis 12:3a). Insisting that Israel withdraw to the pre-June 1967 borders is tantamount to cursing Israel. Those borders included a section of Israel less than 9 miles wide. It would make Israel virtually defenseless (one reason that we know it was by YAHWEH's intervention in 1967 that Israel captured the land that she did. Netanyahu rejected Obama's plan. But concurrent with the USA's backing of Israel diminishing under the present POTUS, we have seen our country ravaged by recession, mounting debt and potential insolvency, natural disaster upon natural disaster, and an influx of illegal aliens adding their burdens to an already strained system.

I have said it before and I will say it again, a diminished USA superpower seems to be inevitable for a one world government/economy/religion to prevail. Joel Rosenberg wove this theme into his last days novel, Dead Heat, I found very interesting in spite of his error in the timing of the Rapture. It grieves me to think that our brave men and women in uniform, who have been putting themselves on the line to defend us, have been able to do little to defend us from the real enemies - the enemies within. As a reward for their selfless service, they have been used as guinea pigs in social experimentation. May God pour out special grace upon them, especially as Memorial Day approaches.

World News Through the Third Lens:The War of Gog & Magog?

RUSSIAN, IRANIAN AND TURKISH LEADERS MEET, reads the headlines today (AP/RIA Novosti, June 8, 2010). "As Israel becomes increasingly isolated from the world, Russia, Iran and Turkey are meeting today in Istanbul, Turkey to discuss how to form a closer alliance......Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov told RIA Novosti Monday that in Istanbul, Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan will also discuss bilateral cooperation....Putin said he will meet with Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Istanbul Tuesday ahead of a UN Security Council vote to impose a fourth round of sanctions on Tehran."

Through the Third Lens of Scripture: I will make very little comment here, other than to point out some of the modern names for countries listed in Ezekiel's prophecy. While there is not unanimous agreement among Bible scholars, the majority seem to agree on these names. Most also agree that Ezekiel is not describing the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16, 19) nor any other event which takes place during the 70th week of Daniel, but rather some yet future event which will precede this last 7 years of human history as we know it.

Ezekiel 38 begins with these words: "Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 'Son of man, set your face against God, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, and say, 'This says the Lord God: "Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out with all your army, horses and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all of its troops; the house of Togarmah from the north and all its troops - many people are with you....After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely." (Ezekiel 38:1-6, 9)

Ezekiel goes on to describe a vicious war in which God intervenes, wiping out the combined forces arrayed against Israel, granting her victory. To understand how today's headlines might be a portent of this event, it helps to know the modern names of the nations.

Gog probably refers to the name of the ruler of Magog.

Magog was identified by Josephus as the land of the Scythians, now occupied by Russia.

Rosh, Meshech and Tubal - parts of modern Turkey.

Persia - Iran

Ethiopia - Ethiopia and northern Sudan

Libya - Libya

Gomer - Eastern Turkey

Togarmah - part of Turkey bordering with Syria

Land of those brought back from the sword - modern Israel

This is not a time to be caught up in the temporary pleasures of the world. It is a time to remain prayerful and alert. It is a time for watchmen to mount the walls and blow the alarm. "....When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life." (Ezekiel 33:2-5)

World News Through the Third Lens: Ezekiel's War

The "New Hizballah" built by Syria sparks ME summer war fear;

Gates: US has no policy for stalling Iran's nuclear drive.

Thus read the headlines of two exclusive reports posted by DEBKAfile on April 18, 2010. I will attempt to summarize these two reports, followed by a biblical commentary. DEBKAfile's military sources stated that Syria has increased the flow of smuggled Syrian and Iranian weaponry across the Lebanese border to Hizballah, transforming the 25,000 man militia into an organized, mobile army.

The new Hizballah is being trained to carry out offensive operations such as capturing parts of Israel's Galilee, and launching missiles, such as the Syrian M-600, to knock out warplanes, warships, and armored units as well as the Dimona reactor in southern Israel. This new arsenal will be added to the 40,000 rockets that Hizballah has been allowed to stockpile since the 2006 Lebanon war. Iran and Syria's joint training will produce 5 Hizballah commando brigades. While Jordan's King Abdullah has expressed concern that a Middle East war will break out this summer because of the Israeli-Palestinian diplomatic stalemate (pinning the blame on Israel), sources in Israel claim that war this summer depends on 2 actions: 1) a decision by US and/or Israel to launch strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities, or 2) a decision by Tehran to unleash its allies against Israel, spearheaded by Hizballah, to preempt such an attack.

In another report, the NY Times, Sunday, April 18 revealed a secret memo from US Defense Secretary, Robert gates, determining that the White House has no effective policy for dealing with Iran's steady progress towards nuclear capability. Israel's leaders have been assuring people that it was safe to line up behind the US's strategy for preventing Iran from developing or obtaining nukes. Gates confirmed that there was no strategy to line up behind.

Through the third lens of Scripture: The prophet Ezekiel spoke of a day when a coalition of nations to the north of Israel, along with some North African nations (Ethiopia and Libya) and Persia (the name by which present day Iran was known until 1935) would attack Israel. The prophet speaks of Israel as being a land recovered from war and whose inhabitants have been gathered from many nations. The land would be made up of unwalled cities and be living in relative peace. (Ezekiel 38:1-11) In spite of tensions, 2009 was one of the most peaceful years Israel has experienced in her 62 year history. One of the objectives of the attack would be the looting and plundering of goods. (Ezekiel 38:12-13) The prophet also foresees God sovereignly involving Himself in behalf of Israel, supernaturally defeating her attackers. (Ezekiel 38:18 - 39:6)

As a nation, Israel has been fighting against a numerically superior enemy since day one. President Harry Truman, against the counsel of his political and military advisers, was the first head of state to acknowledge the fact and right of Israel's existence among the nations of the world. Since then, Israel has (understandably so) sought the love, affection and support of the nations, especially the USA. In their desire to be like the USA and to be liked by the USA, God has this to say: "You say, 'We want to be like the nations, like peoples of the world, who serve wood and stone.' But what you have in mind will never happen." (Ezekiel 20:32)

While it is not this writer's objective to state that the war, prophesied by Ezekiel, will occur in the Summer of 2010, it is clear that things are heating up. It's as thought many prophecies yet to be fulfilled are rushing towards a period of convergence when they will be fulfilled within a very short time span. Events and nations are lining up on the world stage to play their respective roles at the Director's command. Israel is about to become extremely wealthy due to the discovery of resources beneath the surface, namely oil and natural gas. God has a purpose for Israel to fulfill, and it will be fulfilled. Despite all of the power the enemy can muster to destroy her; despite all of the deception the church can purvey through replacement theology, God's purpose for Israel will be fulfilled. It will not be easy for Israel. Continue reading in Ezekiel 20 and and you will see that Israel goes through a judgment and a purging (v. 35, 38).

We must continue to pray for Israel and for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalms 122:6). Pray that God would raise up leaders like David - men of prayer AND action. Pray that the USA would not abandon Israel, perhaps the one remaining strong reason for God to bless our nation. And let us keep our eyes on Israel, that we would not fall asleep during these critical days.

World News Through the Third Lens

Obama and Netanyahu meet twice at the White House: by Les Young: It has been reported various ways by various media that President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met at the White House on Tuesday, March 23, 2010. On the heels of the U.S. scolding Israel for announcing the proposed start of 1600 new housing units in East Jerusalem during U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's visit, Netanyahu came to the United States. On Monday, March 22, 2010 Netanyahu addressed the AIPAC's annual convention, attended by a record 7,800 people. While Netanyahu had apologized more than once for the untimeliness of the housing announcement, explaining that it had been in the works for years, he drew a line in the sand at the AIPAC's meeting, when he declared, "The Jewish people were building Jerusalem 3000 years ago, and the Jewish people are building Jerusalem today. Jerusalem is not a settlement. It is our capital. But there is one thing I will never compromise - and that one thing is Israel's security.

The next night, the Obama administration again put it's arrogant and antagonistic attitude towards Israel on display, this time by the President himself. An hour plus into the meeting, the president excused himself to have dinner, while Netanyahu and his party were ushered into the Roosevelt room to wait. Obama's parting remarks were something like, "If anything changes, let me know." A while later, Obama returned from dinner and the meeting resumed for another 35 minutes. What a snub! Can you imagine having important guests at your house, and you leave the conversation in the living room while you go to the dining room alone to eat!!!? This is on top of the fact that no photographers were invited to the meeting, yet Obama has no problem doing smiling, cuddly photo-ops with Marxist dictator, Hugo Chavez.

Oh, while I'm on a roll here - while the U.S. hierarchy, from Obama to Hillary to Mitchell were tying themselves in knots over the Jerusalem housing announcement, what were the Palestinians doing? They were dedicating a square in Ramallah to the woman terrorist, Dalal Mughrabi, who, in 1978, led a terrorist team that hijacked a bus and killed 37 Israelis (13 children) and one American and wounded 80 others. Our American leaders said nothing - totally ignoring this incident. They just keep demanding that Israel divide her land until she is reduced to a large ghetto, believing that once that is done, the Palestinians and the Muslims will love them and everyone else. And there was more, much more, but we must move on to part II.

A Third Lens (Biblical) Perspective: God said that he would bless those who bless Israel and would curse those who curse her. (Genesis 12:3) Speaking of the days in which we are now living and fast approaching, Zechariah prophecies: "I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it shall be injured." (Zechariah 12:2-3) I am afraid that our president, with all of his anti-Semitic upbringing, has no idea who he is dealing with. He is not just insulting Mr. Netanyahu, or the nation of Israel, he is insulting Almighty God, and God has said that the penalty would be judgment. "In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgment against them concerning my inheritance, my people Israel, for they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land." (Joel 3:1-2) At times Obama acts as though he were the sovereign lord of Israel, but he is terribly wrong. Yeshua is the Sovereign of Israel and Jerusalem (Zion) is His City. And the U.S.'s current fuss with Israel has happened at the same time that the largest advance towards socialism in the history of our country has been pushed onto the American people in the form of health care reform.

Brothers and sisters, "...let us not be asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us put on faith and love as a breast-plate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 5: 6-9)

World News Through the Third Lens

ISRAEL WARNS BAD OPTIONS ARE NEARING

Les Young commentary (Fox News as reported by JNN): The two "bad options" for Iran, letting the country develop nuclear weapons, or using force to destroy its nuclear capabilities, are closer than they were a year ago, Israel's U.N. Ambassador said Tuesday. Gabriela Shalev warned: "...our intelligence tells us....Iran is racing towards this type of nuclear capability." former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, warned earlier this week that Israel has just two choices: a strike aimed at Iran's nuclear facilities, or a nuclear Iran. "Israel has limited time to prepare its next steps," he said. "If Israel is going to use force, it needs to do it sooner rather than later." High ranking Israeli and U.S. government and military leaders this week are discussing whether a military strike could stop Iran's nuclear program.

A BIBLICAL (THIRD LENS) PERSPECTIVE: Many are the Old Testament Scriptures upon which Israel relied as God's promises for victory in the face of their enemies. "O Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me. Many are saying of me, 'God will not deliver him.' But you are a shield around me, O Lord, you bestow glory on me and lift up my head" (Psalms 3:1-3) God's many promises concerning the land (much bigger than the current State of Israel, even including the so-called occupied territories) were made to Abraham and passed on to his son Isaac and passed on to his son Jacob. Jacob later had his name changed, like so many others, after an up close and personal encounter with God - changed to "Israel." We read also in the Psalms: "You are my King and my God who decrees victories for Jacob." (Psalms 44:4) Those who fear the Lord do not want to be messing with Israel. Those who disregard the Lord, attack Israel at their own peril. God promised Abraham (and through him, the nation that would be birthed), "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse..." (Genesis 12:3) Our supportive relationship with Israel, which has been stretched thinner and thinner since 1990, may be the one thing that is keeping God from bringing terrible judgment against the United States because of all the other abominations in the land. Judgment seems, for the moment, to be coming slowly, in an agonizing and excruciating manner paralleling the implementation of socialism in this country. "Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him." (Psalms 32:6)

World News Through the Third Lens

US BACKS OFF SPEEDY IRAN SANCTIONS PROMISED ISRAEL (DEBKAfile, 3/2/10) Commentary by Les Young: Washington eased the threat of harsh sanctions hanging over Iran's head because of its nuclear program at the very moment it was beginning to take effect and Tehran was showing signs of stress. Tuesday, March 2, US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton told reporters on her plane to Buenos Aires: "We are moving expiditiously and thoroughly in the Security Council, I can't give you an exact date, but I would assume sometime in the next several months." This abrupt reversal of US tactics on Iran's nuclear activities took place when Israeli Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, was hardly out the door from Washington after receiving assurances from administration officials that a new round of tough sanctions would be in place by the end of March, with or without the Security Council.

The news release goes on to say that Clinton had assured the same thing to a Senate panel last week and that she and US Defense Secretary, Robert Gates, were so sure of that timetable that a return visit to Washington by DM Barak had already been scheduled for a date that would be after the sanctions were in place.

A BIBLICAL (THIRD LENS) PERSPECTIVE: "Again you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' But I tell you, 'Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by earth, for it is God's footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No' be 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.'" (Matthew 5:33-37) Jesus speaking here, tackles what had become a tradition of the Jewish people. They felt that if a person swore an oath, and swore by something divine, then it was really binding. If one swore an oath by something common, it was somewhat binding. Jesus said in essence, "Never mind all that dead traditional stuff. I'm telling you that everytime you say a simple "Yes" it should mean "Yes!" Similarly, a simple "No," should mean "No!" And how about this from the Old Testament? "It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin..." (Ecclesiastes 5:5-6a)

LIEBERMAN: HEALTH CARE WILL PASS (Norwich Bulletin, 3/2/10) Commentary by Les Young: U.S> Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, I-Conn., believes a version of health care reform will get through Congress this year..... Speaking with the Norwich Bulletin's editorial board on Monday, Lieberman said he believes a health care bill based on one that passed the Senate will be worked through the House of Representatives with enough compromises to pass. He also believes it will pass again in the Senate by the politically risky move of reconciliation, by which the Democratic majority can pass it with 51 votes while warding off a Republican filibuster. He went on to say that it wouldn't be easy and that nobody has seen the bill language.

Most observers of this donkey and elephant show concerning government health care reform are convinced that the bill that may be "forced" through by a process called "reconciliation" (Can you see Huxley's "double-speak" at work here?) will contain provisions for abortion on demand being funded by tax-payer dollars. Concerning a government takeover of health care in general, I could cite several Scriptures as warning shots. Today I'll use two. "He (God) said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His eyes, if you pay attention to His commands and keep all His decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you." (Exodus 15:26) "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." (Psalm 20:7) Regarding the taking of innocent life in the womb for any reason, consider that among the things that God hates, yea even detests, are "hands that shed innocent blood." (Proverbs 6:17).

And here's a scary thought for you. Since 1988, Washington Correspondent Bill Koenig of watch.org and some of his colleagues have been keeping track of something that has gone way beyond coincidence. It seems that over the last 22 years every time the U.S. government has acted so as to: 1) advance the pro-death agenda (abortion, euthanasia, etc.), or 2) advance the GLBT agenda, or 3) advance the exchange of land for peace agenda in Israel, or otherwise squeeze Israel or reduce support for Israel, some sort of calamity visits the U.S. Sometimes its of the natural variety (flood, fire, hurricane, etc.) and other times it's financial (stock market fall, ENRON, S&L, Madoff, etc.). They've kept the records and it always happens: sometimes within minutes, other times within a week or two. Based on the above two news items, we are probably in for one hit and perhaps a "double whammy." There is no time like the present to begin trusting the Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

World News Through the Third Lens

1,000 VISITORS TO JOSEPH'S TOMB IN SCHECHEM (as reported by INN, 2/28/10) Commentary by Les Young: The ancient Jewish Biblical sites in Judea and Samaria continue to make headline news: Following the mass entry into Jericho and an ancient synagogue there last week, and after PM Benjamin Netanyahu included the Machpelah Cave and Rachel's Tomb on the new National Heritage Site List, it's now the turn of Joseph's Tomb in Schechem. A crowd of over 1,000 people from across Israel made their way to Joseph's Tomb on Wednesday night, in honor of the Fast of Esther. MK Danny Danon expressed dismay at the Arab vandalism he saw there, especially the site's smashed dome. "It's shocking to see the barbarism of those who are supposed to be our partners in peace," Danon said.

A BIBLICAL (THIRD LENS) PERSPECTIVE: "And Joseph's bones, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, were buried at Schechem in the tract of land that Jacob bought for a hundred pieces of silver from the sons of Hamor, the Father of Schechem. This became the inheritance of Joseph's descendants." (Joshua 24:32) It is this writer's opinion that incidents such as this stir up so many outcries of hatred and even violence for two reasons: 1) The discovery of such sites, or the reclamation of them is just further proof that the Bible is true. Many do not want to reckon with this notion, because to do so is to have to reckon with the God of the Bible and the fact that we are all accountable to Him. Often, those who do not wish to seriously consider biblical claim respond to them with anger; 2) They are reminders of God's special dealing with Abraham and his descendants, including promises concerning the land. Again, to accept such claims as valid will ultimately draw one into an encounter with many other biblical claims. I'll mention just two from Paul's letter to the Romans. "...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Romans 3:23). "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23) These are truth claims that should be seriously considered by every one of us.

World News Through the Third Lens

U.S. SLAMS ISRAEL OVER DESIGNATING HERITAGE SITES by Les Young.

I searched and searched my local paper and I couldn't find anything with respect to this report out of Israel, so the report cited here is from Bill Koenig at watch.org., the Washington Post and other Internet news sources.

The Obama administration criticized Israel Wednesday for designating two shrines on Palestinian territory as national heritage sites, calling the move "provocative" and unhelpful to the goal of getting the two sides back to the table. The criticism came as Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton said she hopes long-stalled peace talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians will resume. Clinton told a Congressional committee that groundwork is being laid to restart the talks with the help of US envoy, George Mitchell. Her remarks came amid a flurry of U.S. diplomatic activity in the region, even as efforts are underway to convene another meeting of the Quartet in Moscow on March 19th.

U.S. with the designations of the Cave of the Patriarchs in the flash point town of Hebron, and the traditional tomb of the biblical matriarch Rachel in Bethlehem has been conveyed to senior Israeli officials, according to State Department spokesman, Mark Toner. Jews revere the site - the Cave of the Patriarchs - where the Bible says the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were buried along with three of their wives. Muslims call it the al-Ibrahimi mosque, reflecting the fact that Abraham is considered the father of Judaism and Islam. The Palestinians also claim all of the West Bank as part of the future state of Palestine.

A BIBLICAL (THIRD LENS) PERSPECTIVE: Before introducing any Scriptural commentary, I would like to ask a couple of questions which require thoughtful answers. What solutions do the final status talks contain? Who can deliver a plan that the Palestinians will accept? [It has been clearly stated by so-called Palestinian leaders and allies - actually terrorists in business suits - that there will be no satisfaction until the little Satan (Israel) and the big Satan (the USA) are destroyed]. And, what is Palestine and who are the Palestinians? The term wasn't even used until introduced by Yassar Arafat in 1967. Without trying to answer any of those questions, I will stipulate that the situation is extremely complex and will not be settled until a false peace is effected by the anti-Messiah. About that, Scripture does speak.

"...the people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. [done in AD 70 by Roman General Titus] The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. He [the ruler of the people to come] will confirm a covenant with many for one seven [7-years]. In the middle of the seven he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple [a rebuilt 3rd temple, obviously a condition of the covenant], he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him. (see Revelation 19:17-21) (Daniel 9:26-27) Jesus also spoke of this man in His prophetic discourse recorded in Matthew 24-25. "So when you see standing ion the holy place the abomination that causes desolation, spoken of through the prophet Daniel - let the reader understand - then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains." (Matthew 24:15-16) Paul spoke of this peace and the man who implements it, who remains somewhat hidden until the middle of the 7-year covenant, when he desecrates the rebuilt temple. "While people are saying 'peace and safety,' destruction will come upon them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, but they will not escape." (1 Thessalonians 5:3) [For a further development of these times, read the blog "Birth Pangs and Fig Trees on http://www.endtimesencouragement.blogspot.com/] Paul speaks further of this event: "Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God [that's why he is known as the Antichrist] or is worshipped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God." (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)