Free Will

FREE WILL

Consider the following Bible reasons validating the fact that God gives each individual the right to choose good or evil. Moses said to Israel, “I have set before you life and death-choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19). John 3:16 is the champion verse of free will.

Read the following:

Romans 2:6-16, Malachi 3:6, Romans 9-11, Joshua 24:15, Psalm 119:30, Isaiah 7:15, Isaiah 66:3, Matthew 16:24, 1 Corinthians 7:37 and Revelation 22:17.

If divine election is true for Gentiles, why go to church, or witness, or evangelize? If God has already determined who will go to Heaven and who will go to hell, why pray, why read the Bible?

Divine election is a fact for some of the Jewish people who are a “remnant”, but it simply does not apply to gentiles.

God began his covenant with the Jewish people with Abraham. Abraham was selected out of paganism to become the father of all who believe. At the time Abraham was chosen, he had no knowledge of God, and so could not have chosen God. God chose Abraham. Abraham’s “election” is easy, God had to begin somewhere. God began in Genesis 12 with the father of all who believe “I will bless those who bless you and I will curse those who curse you, and in you all families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Isaac & Ishmael: Paul presents the case for election with the birth of Isaac and Ishmael. The Arabs are descended from Ishmael, while the Jews (God’s chosen people) are descended from Isaac (the younger son). This started a feud between the Jews and the Arabs that has continued until this day. While both were the sons of Abraham, Isaac was born supernaturally by the power of God and was chosen to lead the “children of promise” (the Jews).

Jacob & Esau: For this is the word of promise, “At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.” And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to the election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), it was said to her. “The older shall serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” (Romans 9:9-13) Paul makes clear in Romans 9:11 that this was done “that the purpose of God according to election might stand. God knew that Esau would be a wild man who would produce the Edomites, who would attack the children of Israel as they came out of Egypt, bound for the promised land. Esau’s descendants would produce a lineage that would attack and destroy Jews for centuries to come. Esau’s descendants included Haman, who attempted to have all the Jews living in Persia killed. Adolph Hitler was a descendant of Esau, which is recorded by John Toland in his book (Adolph Hitler).

Divine election & the Jews: Romans 9-11 is a codicil intended exclusively for the Jewish people. The Bible speaks of Israel as an elect nation. Isaiah wrote “For Jacob My servant’s sake, and Israel My elect, I have even called you by your name.” (Isaiah 45:4) Jesus said “And unless those days were shortened (the tribulation), no flesh would be saved, but for the elect’s sake (the Jewish people) those days will be shortened.” (Matthew 24:22)

Free Will: Romans 9:17-19, For the Scripture saith of Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. You will say to me then, “Why does He find fault? For who has resisted His will?”

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) It is apparent that not all men will come to repentance, like Pharaoh, some will choose to reject God, and follow humanism, secularism, hedonism, materialism, Satanism, aetheism and many, many other so-called gods and religions.

As for the word harden in Romans 9, Paul says “You will say to me then, why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will? But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “why have you made me like this?” Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? (verses 18-21)

Lessons from the potter. A pot cannot give advice to the potter, anymore than a human can find fault with what God does in the persons life. You may not understand what God is doing, but you are just the pot. God has absolute sovereignty in your life. Sovereignty means He can do what He wants, when He wants, if He wants, as long as He wants without explanation to you or anyone else, ever. You are given the opportunity to turn from your evil ways, but if you don’t it is just for God to destroy you.

If all God wanted to do was send people to hell, He would not have given us His word (the Bible), nor sent His Son (Jesus) to die for our sins so that we could come to repentance. If we fail to come to repentance, God has every right to condemn us to hell and will most certainly do so.

The remnant

A remnant shall be saved (Romans 9:27-29) Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, the remnant will be saved. For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, because the Lord will make a short work upon the earth”, and as Isaiah said before “Unless the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we would have become like Sodom, and we would have been made like Gomorrah.”

Paul quotes directly from Isaiah 10:22 when he writes, “And it shall come to pass in that day that the remnant of Israel, and such as have escaped of the house of Jacob-for though your people, O Israel, be as the sand of the sea, a remnant of them will return-with righteousness.”

It’s obvious that the remnant is Jewish, although some in the church say that it represents the church. They base this on the false belief that God is a God of love, and He wouldn’t send anyone to an eternal hell. Then why does the Bible state “Broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14). The Scriptural history of the word remnant reveals: In Deuteronomy 3, there is a description of a battle between the Israelites, who were passing through the wilderness after leaving Mount Horeb, and the Amorites, under the command of King Og of Bashan. King Og was the only one remaining of the Rephaim, who had been defeated earlier. Here in Deuteronomy we read, “Only Og king of Bashan was left of the remnant of the Rephaites.” In 2 Kings 19, when King Hezekiah was besieged and mocked by Sennacherib and the Assyrians, he sent to Isaiah to ask him to pray for the Jewish remnant that is left. Isaiah answered Hezekiah saying that God promised a remnant would be spared from the Assyrians and would flourish for a time like a fruitful tree.

“Once more a remnant of the house of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above. For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. (2 Kings 19:30-31) Based on Biblical text we have a basis for saying that the remnant is a band of survivors. What greater group of survivors on planet Earth today than the Jewish people, who survived Hitler’s Holocaust and have a thriving economy in the Middle East even though they are surrounded on every side by their sworn enemies.

The Jews also survived Titus and the Romans, Hadrian and the Romans, the Roman Catholic Crusades and the Spanish Inquisition in addition to the Holocaust.

God promises that by His sovereign grace a remnant would be saved by the grace of God, a group of survivors who have the opportunity to receive the Messiah, who is a Jewish rabbi known to the world as Jesus of Nazareth. 700 years before Jesus was born, Isaiah predicted that He would be born of a virgin. (Isaiah 7:14). We are told the time of His birth in Daniel 9, the place of His birth in Micah 5, the details of His life and death are recorded in Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53, the fact of His resurrection is stated in Psalm 16. The only person in human history who meets all of these qualifications is Jesus of Nazareth.

Christ, the stumbling stone

CHRIST (THE STUMBLING STONE)

Romans 9:32-33

For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. As it is written,

“Behold I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, and whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

Paul closes Romans 8 with questions from Isaiah 8:14

He will be a sanctuary, but a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to both the house of Israel, as a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

and 28:16.

Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sue foundation, whoever believes will not act hastily.

THE STUMBLING STONE BECOMES THE CAPSTONE

He has no form or comeliness, and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. (Isaiah 53:2-3)

The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone, the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. (Matthew 21:42)

Jesus Christ of Nazareth-is the stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone. (Acts 4:10-11)

Parallels between Joseph and Jesus

JOSEPH AND JESUS-PARALLELS

Joseph	Parallel	Jesus
Genesis 37:3	His father loved him dearly	Matthew 3:17
Genesis 37:2	A shepherd of his father’s sheep	John 10:11 and 27
Genesis 37:13 and 14	Sent by father to brothers	Hebrews 2:11
Genesis 37:4	Hated by brothers	John 7:5
Genesis 37:20	Others plotted to harm them	John 11:53
Genesis 39:7	Tempted	Matthew 4:1
Genesis 37:25	Taken to Egypt	Matthew 2:14-15
Genesis 37:23	Robes taken from them	John 19:23
Genesis 37:28	Sold for the price of a slave	Matthew 26:15
Genesis 39:20	Bound in chains	Matthew 27:2
Genesis 39:16-18	Falsely accused	Matthew 26:59-60
Genesis 40:2-3	Placed with 2 other prisoners, one who was saved and the other lost	Luke 23:32
Genesis 41:46	Both 30 years old at the beginning of public recognition	Luke 3:23
Genesis 41:41	Exalted after suffering	Philippians 2:9-11
Genesis 45:1-15	Forgave those who wronged them	Luke 23:34
Genesis 45:7	Saved their nation	Matthew 1:21
Genesis 50:20	What men did to hurt them God turned to good	1 Corinthians 2:7-8

Science and the Bible are not incompatible

SCIENCE AND THE BIBLE ARE NOT INCOMPATIBLE

In the 16^th and 17^th centuries modern science flourished in the center of a growing Christian civilization in Europe. Science was not seen as a challenge to the Bible and neither did Christianity oppose science.

The world-renowned Royal Society, founded by Britian’s leading scientists in the 17^th century, dedicated their efforts to the glory of God the Creator, and the benefit of the human race.

Professor Arnold Wolfendale upon being appointed Astronomer Royal in England, declared in 1991 I think the hand of God can be seen everywhere.

Far from all scientists being atheists, many believe in God. The Research Scientists Christian Fellowship has 700 members in Britian, and its counterpart in America has over 2,000 members.

The more that astronomers learn about the origin and development of the universe, the more evidence they accumulate for the God of the Bible. (Hugh Ross. Ph.D.)

Many of the early scientists were deeply committed Christians.

Francis Bacon (1561-1626) saw God’s works in nature and His words in the Bible as the twin facets of His self-disclosure.

Isaac Newton (1642-1727) has been called the greatest scientist of all time.

Robert Boyle (1627-1691) the father of modern chemistry and famous for Boyle’s law.

Michael Faraday (1701-1867) a pioneer in the field of electro-magneticism. We owe most of the basic discoveries in electricity to Christian believers. Faraday was arguably the greatest experimental scientist of all time.

Gregor Mendel (1822-1884) pioneered early work about genetics and was the Abbot of a monastery.

The fact that many scientists are Christians does not, in itself, prove that Christianity is true. It does show that Christianity and science are not incompatible. Both can be trusted with total integrity. There is no competition between Christianity and science.

Testimony from a non-Christian scientist: Is it really credible that random processes could have constructed a reality, the smallest element of which (a functional protein or gene) is complex beyond our own creative capacities, a reality which is the very antithesis of chance, which excels in every sense anything produced by the intelligence of man? Alongside the level of ingenuity and complexity exhibited by the molecular machinery of life, even our most advanced artifacts appear clumsy. We feel humbled, as Neolithic man in the presence of

twentieth-century technology. (Michael Denton, molecular biologist)

Some scientists see the scientific quest for knowledge about and understanding our world, and a religious, Christian and biblical faith as collaborators and allies, rather than, and not, enemies and opponents. (John Young in Teach yourself Christianity)

Ezekiel's war-The Russians are coming

EZEKIEL’S WAR-THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING

(NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH ARMAGEDDON)

Although the name “Russia” is not in the Bible, God thru Ezekiel made some very clear and specific revelations in the Bible concerning the rise of a great power to the north of Israel that will destroy the peace and stability of the world at the end days.

Daniel 9:27 informs us that there will rise on the world’s scene a man of supernatural power, who, Daniel says, “shall destroy many in their prosperity” (Daniel 8:25). This man will come out of the European Union (the revived Roman Empire) and will and will try to resolve the Islamic/Israeli dispute now raging in the middle east.

This charismatic personality will make a covenant with Israel for 7 years, guaranteeing them safety and protection as a nation.

In Scripture, he is called the antichrist “the son of perdition” meaning Satan’s chief son. (2Thessalonians 2:3).

The Jewish people are confident that the European powers will protect them from any outside aggressor or invader. Israel is aware that Russia is its enemy. For years Russia has been helping Iran develop nuclear weapons to be used against Israel.

Just before the end of the age the worlds military powers are divided into 4 sectors. (see Daniel 2:31-35). These 4 powers are know as the king of the North, the king of the South, the king of the East and the king of the West. It is important to remember that all directions in Scripture are based on their geographic relationship to Israel.

THE KING OF THE NORTH (RUSSIA)

And the Word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him (Ezekiel 38:1-2).

Gog is a word for ruler, which literally means “the man on top”. The verse tells us that Gog was “chief prince” of the land of Magog. Chief, which means head, is the Hebrew word Rosh. In his ancient Hebrew lexicon, Gesenius (1786-1842) the great Hebrew scholar, identified Rosh as an ancient name for Russia.

Ezekiel puts extreme emphasis on the fact that Israel’s greatest enemy would come from the uttermost north. It is mentioned in Ezekiel 38:6 and 15 and again in 39:2.

The King James Bible doesn’t translate this as accurately as the RSV or the Amplified version. The Hebrew word that qualifies north means either “uttermost” or “extreme north”. Any map will instantly verify that the extreme north from Israel is Russia.

The theological phenomenon that helps us to further identify Gog and Magog with Russia: And say, thus saith the Lord God, behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of MESHECH and TUBAL. (Ezekiel 38:3)

Throughout history, God has said that He is against certain nations that oppress the Jewish people. God destroyed Egypt for their persecution of the Jews and God set his face against Babylon for the destruction of Jerusalem. Now comes a nation out of the North in the last days that will attack Israel, and God says, “I am against thee”. Ezekiel is prophesying about a nation that has not even come into existence yet. God says He is against it because that nation would be an atheist nation.

All the nations prior to Russia were polytheistic, meaning they believed in many gods. At the beginning of time God did not give a specific commandment against atheism, His first 2 commandments were against polytheism. “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3) and “you shall not make for yourself a carved image-any likeness of anything that is in Heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth” (Exodus 20:4).

Through King David, God covers the topic of atheism in one verse “The fool has said in his heart, there is no God” (Psalm 14:1).

WHO ARE MESHECH AND TUBAL?

In order to determine this, we must go to Genesis 10 where we read about the generations of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth (Genesis 10:1).

In verse 2, the sons of Japheth are given as Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. All of the nations referred to in Ezekiel 38 are the sons of Japheth.

Ethnologists (specialists who track the migrations of people) tell us that after the flood, the Japhethites migrated from Asia Minor to the north, beyond the Caspian and Black seas. They settled in the area of Rosh that we know today as Russia. Wilhelm Gesenius states that the Greek name Moschi, derived from the Hebrew name Meshech, is the source of the city of Moscow.

WHY WILL RUSSIA COME TO ISRAEL?

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. (Ezekiel 38:4)

Russia will come to Israel because they need a warm-water entrance into the oceans of the world. The middle east offers that. Russia, under Putin’s leadership, made a $50 billion oil contract with Saddam Hussein and has allowed Russian scientists to direct Iran’s nuclear weapons programs to destroy Israel. Putin is the former director of the KGB who has removed the democratic process from Russia and charmed the West into neutrality.

Russia needs oil to regain its superpower status. Russia hungers for Arabian oil. They must have it to regain their global influence, which they lost in the collapse of the former Soviet Union.

The mineral deposits in the Dead Sea are so great they can’t be properly appraised on today’s market. It is estimated that the Dead Sea contains 2 billion tons of potassium chloride, which is potash needed to enrich the soil that is being depleted around the world. The Dead Sea also contains an estimated 22 billion tons of magnesium chloride and 12 billion tons of sodium chloride.

Throughout its history Russia has been anti-semitic and, in its final form will be led by a dictator who will lead an Arab coalition of nations to crush Israel. God makes it clear that He will judge Russia in the land of Israel, and Russia will not come out alive.

In Ezekiel God names the allies of Russia in its invasion of Israel:

Persia (Iran), Ethiopia, and Libya with them, all of them with shield and helmet, Gomer and all its troops, the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops-many people are with you. (Ezekiel 38:5-6)

When Ezekiel writes concerning Russia in Ezekiel 38:6, he says that “many people are with you.” He repeats that concept in verse 9. “You (Russia) will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.”

This seems to be a clear indication that American influence with Arab nations will become practically non-existent, while Russia’s influence will increase as they join forces against Israel at the end of this age.

What’s the payoff for the Arabs? They believe the Islamic fanatical

vision of exterminating the Jews can be realized with Russia’s help. Absolute control of Jerusalem as the capital of a new Palestinian state is their goal. However, there is a major problem facing Russia and its Arab allies, and that problem is God Almighty, whom the Russians defy and the Islamics denounce, has brought this evil axis of power into Israel to bury it before the eyes of the world. The destruction of Russia and its Islamic allies is going to be the most powerful object lesson the world has seen since Pharaoh and his army were drowned in the Red Sea.

Ezekiel writes to the Russian leadership of this Russia-Arab coalition of nations saying “Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you, and be a guard to them.” (Ezekiel 38:7)

A better translation of the phrase “be a guard for them” is actually “be thou a commander unto them”. Ezekiel leaves no doubt that Russia is leading the attack.

In verse 8, Russia makes its move into Israel. “After many days you will be visited. In the latter years (at the end of the age) you will come into the land (Israel) of those brought back from the sword.”

In verse 11 Israel has made a covenant with the false messiah out of the European Union who promises Israel peace and safety. But the Bible warns, “for when they say, peace and safety, then sudden destruction comes upon them.” (1 Thessalonians 5:3)

In Ezekiel 38:11, Russia is addressing all its allies, suggesting they go into Israel, which is called the land of the unwalled villaged. Russia says “I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely.” Why is Israel at rest? It is at rest because its leaders are trusting in their peace treaty with the European Union to guarantee their safety from Russia and its Arab allies.

WHAT IS AMERICA’S ROLE?

Where is America in this picture? In verse 12, Russia and its allies are going into Israel “to take plunder and to take booty.” Russia is going to move against Israel from the north to seize the great mineral wealth and natural resources that are there. They will promise the Islamic nations control of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. What will be America’s response to this brazen invasion of Israel? Ezekiel answers in verse 13.

Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish (that is, the Western powers)

will be upset when Russia invades Israel. These nations, and all their young lions (England’s symbol is that of a lion. America is an offspring of England, hence the term young lions) will not come to Israel’s rescue. The West will simply make a passive diplomatic response, saying “Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?” (Ezekiel 38:13)

Why won’t America respond? It is likely that after the extended war in Iraq, the next administration will be Democratic and will withdraw our troops from Iraq, vowing to stay out of the Middle East in the future.

America no longer has the perseverance for long protracted ground wars with casualties on both sides. We are only interested in short high-tech wars, where we can be in and out in a matter of weeks at the most and then have our celebrations and parades.

A Russian-Arab invasion of Israel will simply be beyond our will to respond. This army will be one of the most massive military machines ever assembled and America and Europe will simply not have the will to go into this kind of war. As Ezekiel says “This army will cover the land.”

A description of the invasion is found in Ezekiel 38:16. You will come up against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes.

Although America and Europe will not come to Israel’s rescue, God will!!!

Ezekiel reveals a day coming when God’s fury explodes against the nations that have tormented His chosen people for so long. Ezekiel writes God’s description of His anger “My fury will show in My face.”

THE WEAPONS OF WAR

God will destroy Russia and its Arab allies with 3 weapons of war that He has used before in Scripture.

1. A mighty earthquake

2. Every man’s sword against his brother

3. Raining from Heaven of fire and brimstone

Ezekiel 38:19-22

When did God use these weapons before? When Moses leadership was being contested by Korah, Dathan, and Abiram in Numbers 16,

God told Moses to get away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram because He was about to give Israel an object lesson on not listening to His chosen leader.

“But if the Lord creates a new thing, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, an they (those who were rejecting Moses’ leadership) go down alive into the pit, then you will understand that these men have rejected the Lord.” Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men of Korah, with all their goods. (Numbers 16:30-32)

We are now heading towards God’s 2^nd object lesson. Ezekiel makes it clear that God will send an earthquake that will swallow up the enemies of Israel, just as an earthquake swallowed up the enemies of Moses.

God will use the sword of brother against brother as the 2^nd weapon of war. When God sent Gideon to destroy the Philistines, Gideon commanded his meager fighting force of 300 men to sound the trumpets and to break the pitchers. The Philistines turned their swords against each other in massive confusion and slaughtered each other. (Judges 7).

God will bring this battle-tested tactic to wage war against Russia and its allies when they invade Israel. God will cause confusion to come among them as they turn and fight each other, slaughtering each other in history’s greatest demonstration of friendly fire.

The 3^rd weapon in God’s arsenal is great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. This is the weapon with which He so utterly destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, that no trace of them has ever been found.

When Russia and its allies invade Israel and America and Europe fail to respond “He who sits in the Heavens shall laugh” (Psalm 2:4) as He crushes the Russian-Arab tormentors of the apple of His eye. He will crush them as He crushed Pharaoh, Haman, and Hitler so that Israel and the world “shall know that I am the Lord.” (Ezekiel 38:23)

In Ezekiel 39 God reveals the outcome of His meeting with the Russian-Arab coalition. And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north

parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel.

(Ezekiel 39:2)

God declares that He will destroy all but one sixth of the Russian-Arab coalition that invades Israel. Five out of 6 soldiers will die, a death rate of 82% within a few hours.

God continues with His strategy of war by saying:

Then I will knock the bow out of your left hand, and cause the arrows to fall out of your right hand. You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you. I will give you to birds of prey and the beasts of the field to be devoured. And I will send fire on Magog (Russia) and on those who live in security in the coastlands. Then shall they know that I am the Lord.

(Ezekiel 39:3-4, 6)

The last verse suggests that judgment is coming not only to the invading Russian force but also on the headquarters of that power and upon all who support the attack on Israel.

Notice the words “I will send fire upon those who live in security in the coastlands.” Coastlands of isle in Hebrew is ‘iy.’ The word was used by the ancients in the sense of continents today. It designated the great Gentile civilizations across the sea, which were usually settled most densely along the coastlands, just like America.

This fire Ezekiel sees coming to those living securely in the coastlands could be a direct judgment of God by hurricanes and tsunamis, or it could describe a nuclear war via an exchange of nuclear missiles. It could be that America, who refuses to defend Israel from the Russian invasion, will experience nuclear warfare on our coasts. That’s where most of our population lives today and, in addition, California alone possesses the worlds 6^th largest economy and any nuclear strike on California could destroy that and take the rest of America down with it.

Why would God allow this? “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you.” (Genesis 12:3)

How extensive will be the judgment of God upon the Russian-Arab coalition? Ezekiel 39:9 states that it will take Israel 7 years to collect and burn the weapons of war brought into Israel by the invaders.

How many dead will there be? According to verses 11 and 12, the physical death toll is going to be so massive that it will take every

able-bodied man in Israel 7 months to bury the dead. Those traveling in Israel from north to south have to travel “stopping their noses” because of the stench from the bodies of the enemies of Israel destroyed by the mighty hand of God.

Jerusalem-the city of GOD

JERUSALEM, THE CITY OF GOD

The Bible says, “I, (God) have chosen Jerusalem, that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually, in Jerusalem, which I have chosen, I will put My name forever”. (2 Chronicles 6:6, 7:16, 33:7)

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God, beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion, the city of the great King, God will establish it forever. Walk about Zion (Jerusalem), and go all around her, count her towers, mark well her bulwarks, consider her palaces, that you may tell it to the generation following, for this is God, our God forever and ever. (Psalm 48:1-2, 8, 12-14).

For the Lord has chosen Zion, He has desired it for His dwelling place. (Psalm 132:13).

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. (Psalm 137:5-6).

For those who boast of sophisticated intellects and deny that the Bible is true, what possible explanation is there for the reality of Hezekiah’s tunnel? Plainly recorded in Scripture (2 Kings 20:20, 2 Chronicles 32:30), the tunnel was rediscovered by archaeologists in 1880. The “Siloam Inscription” commemorating the breakthrough in the tunnel by the workers, states: The tunneling was completed, while the hewers wielded the ax, each man toward his fellow, there was heard a man’s voice calling to his fellow, the hewers hacked each toward the other, ax against ax, and the water flowed from the spring to the pool, a distance of 1,200 cubits.

The end times-part 2

THE END TIMES-PART 2

Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3)

There are 10 prophetic signs in Scripture that describe the world in the last days.

Sign	Scripture
The knowledge explosion	Daniel 12:4
Plague in the Middle East	Zechariah 14:12-15
The rebirth of Israel	Isaiah 66:8-10
The Jews will return home	Jeremiah 23:7-8
Jerusalem no longer under Gentile control	Luke 21:24
International instant communication	Revelation 11:3, 7-10
Days of deception	Matthew 24:4
Famines and pestilence	Matthew 24:7-8
Earthquakes	Matthew 24:7-8
As in the days of Noah	Matthew 24:36-39

The anti-Christ and armageddon

THE ANTICHRIST & ARMAGEDDON

In Revelation 13, we have a description of the antichrist, who will be the head of the European Union. This charismatic political wonder will do these things. His full resume is given by the prophet Daniel in chapter 8.

The false messiah and chief son of Satan will:

1. Have supernatural demonic powers to know the unknown. The Bible says he will have “a fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences KJV or understands sinister schemes” (Daniel 8:23 NKJV). It will not be possible to keep anything a secret from him because of this satanic power.

2. “Cause craft (or deceit) to prosper” (verse 25 KJV). Hitler came to power in Germany because the economy of Germany was in a shambles. He rebuilt the economy of Germany, bring prosperity

and pride to a nation that had been crushed by the Peace Treaty of Versailles in 1919. As Germany’s “messiah” he became a monster, sweeping the world into the Holocaust and bringing 12 years of living hell to the earth.

The coming antichrist will come to power at a time of international crisis. He will cause craft and deceit to prosper. No man will be able to buy or sell anything without having the mark of the beast on his right hand or forehead (Revelation 13:17). This antichrist will control the world’s economy totally. The economy of the world will flourish. Then, like Hitler, he will drag the world into the Battle of Armageddon, a literal bloodbath the equal of which the world has never seen.

3. Make a 7-year peace treaty with Israel, which he will break at the end of 3-1/2 years. He “by peace shall destroy many” (Daniel 8:25). He will be shot in the head and miraculously recover, emulating the death and resurrection of Christ. At this point he will turn on the Jewish people. Daniel writes that he “shall destroy the mighty and the holy people” (verse 24).

The “holy people” are the Jews. They are the authors of the Word of God. They produced the patriarchs and the prophets. They are the source of knowledge about Christ and the 12 disciples. Without the Jewish contribution to Christianity there would be no Christianity.

When the antichrist begins to attack the Jewish people, they will flee to Petra in Jordan where they will be supernaturally protected by God Himself.

4. Be a prideful power monger. This false messiah “shall exalt himself in his heart” (Daniel 8:25). Revelation 13:5 confirms this by saying “He was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for 42 months,” or 3-1/2 years. This demonic world leader will create a one-world government, a one-world currency, and a one-world religion. One need only be a casual observer of current events to see that all three of these things are coming into reality.

5. Oppose Jesus Christ Himself. “He shall even rise against the Prince of princes” (Daniel 8:25). At the Battle of Armageddon, this chief son of Satan, this false messiah with enormous demonic power, will oppose Jesus Christ Himself. However, he will not be successful. He will be bound and cast into the bottomless pit by the Conqueror of Calvary.

WHEN DOES THIS HAPPEN?

In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 the apostle Paul describes the rapture, when the church is caught up to meet the Lord in the air. 3-1/2 years after this takes place, the antichrist, who will be the head of the European Union, is going to be given power “over every tribe, tongue, and nation. (Revelation 13:7).

How can one man have such worldwide power? With Russia and the Arab powers gone, everyone who could contest the antichrist’s right to world authority has been removed. As head of the European Union he represents the king of the West.

The following events should take place in the near future:

Israel and/or America must confront Iran regarding its nuclear weapons program. If Israel and/or America is required to use military force to guarantee Israel’s safety and fail to crush all 8 nuclear sites at one time, Ezekiel’s war will follow shortly.

When Russia and its allies are destroyed on the hills of Israel by the hand of God, a power vacuum will exist. At this point, the king of the West, the antichrist, the head of the European Union, the false messiah to Israel, will emerge center stage and form a one-world government and a one-world religion. For a brief period, he will be a one-world dictator.

That leaves only the king of the East, which is China. China’s economy is booming. The sleeping giant is awake and has the most competitive capitalistic economy in the world.

The Bible warns of the rising importance of the king of the East. Revelation 16:12 says:

And the sixth angel poured out his bowl upon the great river, the Euphrates, and its water was dried up, that the way might be prepared for the kings from the east.

John described an incredible marching army of 200 million soldiers from the Orient, marching down the dried up riverbed of the Euphrates toward Israel. Why would China make this move? Just as Russia is, China is also thirsty for Arab oil.

Until America invaded Iraq, China purchased most of its oil here, but the American invasion has made China try other ways of getting the oil it needs to keep its economy going. China actually tried to buy one of America’s foremost oil companies. Had they been successful, such a purchase could have been a serious blow to our national security.

The 2 kings that remain on the earth at this stage in prophecy will be the king of the West (the antichrist) and the king of the East (China). These 2 kings and their armies will meet to battle for world supremacy on a battlefield in Israel called Armageddon.

THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON

John said, and I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon (Satan) and out of the mouth of the beast (the antichrist) and out of the mouth of the false prophet (the religious leader for the antichrist), 3 unclean spirits like frogs, for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for a war of the great day of God, the Almighty, and they gathered them together to the place that in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon. (Revelation 16:13-14, 16)

This passage says that the satanic trinity consisting of Satan, the antichrist and the false prophet are calling all the nations (not aligned with China) to war. The call is for every nation to send their armies to Israel to destroy China, the last great superpower on the earth.

WHERE IS ARMAGEDDON

Har-Magedon means “the mount of Megiddo”. One can stand at Megiddo and look across the Jezreel Valley as far as your eyes can see.

In 1799 Napoleon stood at Megiddo before the battle that thwarted his attempt to conquer the East and rebuild the Roman Empire. Contemplating the plain of Armageddon, he declared, “all the armies of the world could maneuver their forces on this plain.”

In the Old Testament, this valley is called “the Valley of Jehoshaphat”. Joel says “I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat” (Joel 3:2). Joel then describes the Battle of Armageddon:

Proclaim this among the nations:

“Prepare for war. Wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near, let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears, let the weak say, “I am strong.” Assemble and come, all you nations, and gather all around. Cause Your mighty ones to go down there, O Lord.

Let the nations be wakened and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations. Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, go down, for the winepress is full, the vats overflow, for their wickedness is great.

(Joel 3:9-13)

In the book of Revelation John declared that blood will flow up to the bridle of a horse for a space of 1,600 furlongs, which is approximately 200 miles. (Revelation 14:20). It will be a sea of human blood.

From the northern part of Israel to the southern point is about 200 miles. The message, the battlefield will cover the nation of Israel.

It is beyond human comprehension to envision a sea of human blood drained from the veins of those who have followed Satan’s plan to try to exterminate the Jewish people and prevent Christ from returning to the earth.

As the battle between the king of the East and the king of the West begins, the unexpected happens.

Before these great armies can prepare their weapons for assault, there is an invasion such as Earth has never seen before. It is not an invasion from the north, south, east or west, but from Heaven itself.

John describes this invasion with these words:

Now I saw Heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He that sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies of Heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:11-16)

At this point the antichrist and the king of the East forget their hostility towards each other and “gather together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.” It will be Jesus Christ of Nazareth who sits upon the white horse.

In this battle, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords captures the antichrist and the false prophet and casts them alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.

“And the rest (hundreds of millions) were killed with the sword that proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.” (verse 21)

We now stand on the verge of the best and worst of times. It is the worst because man’s rebelling against God and His purpose for Israel makes it necessary for God to crush Israel’s enemies.

Behold, He who keeps Israel

Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

(Psalm 121:4)

Before us now is a nuclear confrontation with Iran, followed by Ezekiel’s war, and then the Battle of Armageddon. The end of the world as we know it is rapidly approaching. But, through it all, God promises “All Israel will be saved.” (Romans 11:26)