On that day.............................. Isaiah 24:21-23

Isaiah 24:21-23

New Century Version (NCV)

 ²¹ At that time the Lord will punish
       the powers in the sky above

       and the rulers on earth below.                                   
 ²² They will be gathered together
       like prisoners thrown into a dungeon;
    they will be shut up in prison.
       After much time they will be punished.
 ²³ The moon will be embarrassed,
       and the sun will be ashamed,
    because the Lord All-Powerful will rule as king
       on Mount Zion in Jerusalem.
       Jerusalem's leaders will see his greatness.

     I came across these verses in the Book of Isaiah during my reading and research on further teachings for my series, "The Alternative End Times Scenario".  They do not have anything in particular to deal directly with my thesis that the end of days gathering of nations against Israel, the last days judgement of the earth, the assembling of a conglomeration (caliphate) of Islamic nations, and the long foretold Antichrist arising from within them, is soon.  But, I found these verses really peaked my interest!

     When you read this section of the Prophet Isaiah's book in King James english you can come away a little befuddled.  But there are more contemporary versions that shed some light on this rather striking text.  For teachers and students like myself, you almost get a little giddy at such a find, because within these simple verses, when read with understanding, we find the real backdrop of the End of Days.  

     I will not take the time to go into any real depth as to what God shared with my heart as I read the text.  That is really up to each person to find these truths, and make them both applicable, and active in one's own heart and being.  You may judge them to be old and worthless in our modern 21st Century world.  Or, you may find renewed hope in the coming of that final day when all will be made right in God's sight.

     What I mean for the uninitiated is that what the Word is saying to us here, is what it says continually over, and over again.  That there will come a day when the earth and all of it's inhabitants both human and spiritual will be held accountable and judged.  That a generation will come during a time of great tribulation and the LORD, Jesus, will come to rule the world from Jerusalem.  Just a brief reminder, this was spoken some 500 years before Jesus appeared in earthly form, and some 2500 years from or present time.  

     Now those facts alone, can afford some their own personal attitude of scoffing, at what for others, is truth foretold in advance.  A sort of Missourian mental gymnastics, of "show me, and then I'll believe it!". Whereas logic itself would dictate that faith is believing in something that you cannot yet see...  So there will always be believers, and those who need to see to believe, but when push comes to shove, last minute faith conversions could be either pushing the envelope, or just pointedly, cutting it way too close when it comes down to events of such gargantuan purportions . Either way,  your faith should be the filter in which you see the world and world events on a daily basis.

     The particular aspect of these verses that i would like to point out, is  that when He comes again, it will not be just to judge mankind.  In Isaiah 24:21, it says," and at that time the LORD will punish the powers in the sky above".  This is not the prophet just speaking poetically or in hyberboley.  These words are to be given the same weight, as if you believe that Jesus is coming again to rule from Jerusalem.  And IF you don't accept or believe that, I would humbly suggest that you re-read your bible and examine your faith.

     These verses are like the Cliff Notes for the New Testaments' Book of Revelation by John.  Simple, and compact, they tell us what to expect,  what the outcome of time will be, and what we have to look forward to, if we happen to be alive during those events.  I guess what got me excited the most was the aspect that those heavenly (not God's heaven) powers of the sky will be getting their due in due time.  In the New testament, Paul shares with us, "

Ephesians 6:12

New International Version (NIV)

¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 

     Might I bring this all full circle to today ?  If you are finding yourself in some area that seems to be just too "powerful" to overcome.  Might I suggest that you revisit Ephesians 6:12 ?  That you ask for understanding, and wisdom for your situation, and God's grace and power to be the victor and not the vanquished.     That if so long ago, in Isaiah and in John's revelation, that they saw a day of overall victory over the " powers of the sky above".  That when HE comes again to execute that judgement in total, you will have come to the full knowledge like Paul that we battle both the seen, and the unseen until that day!

" He will deliver us from the Assyrian".....Micah 5:5

     In previous postings, I've shared how it's my belief that based upon an alternative view of the scriptures, there's a distinct possibility that the Antichrist will be a Muslim.  Yet, in our current Church mindset questioning the status quo seems almost heretical by some sects.  But, when scripture is not emphatic on any one point there is the possibility of alternative views being valid.  Most 21st century Christians are not even aware of the fact that a pretribulation rapture eschatalogical view of itself has only been around since the mid 1800's.  But, hearing the way that some teach and preach  this view, you would think that it was an established fact.  Now, it may or may not actually be how the future pans out.  And, I am not posting here to insist on one particular view, but rather to ask the reader to search the scriptures for themselves and ask the Spirit to guide them into all truth.

     This posting in general is an update for those who are following this proposed alternative end times scenario.  Back in November, when we did our first teaching in the church.  We raised the points to keep an eye on Egypt and Syria.  At that time those countries were both in the midst of the upheaval of the Arab Spring.  Currently, after several different elections Egypt is on the verge of having the Islamists consolidate all working power in the country.  Beware of how our American news media reports which parties, and which candidates are "moderate".  Then search those parties, and candidates yourself and see if you agree with the slightly leftist slant of our journalists.

     All during 2011, our President and Secretary of State supported an applauded the democratization of Egypt.  But, as we are seeing happen before our eyes this country will eventually become more and more radicalized.  I would say that in the years to come, it is not outside the realm of possibility that the new Egyptian government completely abandons the Camp David accords.  Whether by official government policy, or simply by looking the other way while allowing surrogates to act on their behalf in this matter.  I strongly believe that how fast or how slow this happens will be directly impacted by the American Presidential elections in 2012.
     The next country to look at was Syria.  I believe that as I said back in November it is only a matter of time before Syrian President Assad is gone.  Syria is a very important country, and will go Islamist because it figures heavily in Bible prophecy.  It is also given an important place in Islamic eschatology.  It is from there that the Islamic Jesus will come back to Earth.  Yes, you Christians heard me correctly!  Muslims believe, probably more so, than most Christian churchgoers that Jesus is literally coming back to Earth in the last days.  According to their traditions, he will land in Syria.  So it is a logical conclusion, that today's " moderate dictatorship" that currently runs that nation will eventually become more radically Islamic.
     Though in the realm of geopolitics events seem to come in fits and starts, they also like waves on the ocean, still continue to move forward until they eventually reach the shore.  We may have seen a lot of movement in 2011, that has seemingly drifted out of the headlines.  But, according to this interpretation of end times events, eventually all of the moderate Middle Eastern nations will fall to become part of a larger Islamic Caliphate of sorts.
     It doesn't take a whole lot of imagination to contemplate what this turning of the tide would do to that region of the world, our global economy, and the effects that it would have on the state of Israel.  So, a praying Christians, we must always adhere to the Lord's request for us to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem".  And because He is above all the Father of all, remember too to pray that the light, and love of His grace shine in the hearts of all mankind so that they see Jesus as their saviour first, before they see Him as their judge.
   The Assyrian in Scripture,

Signs of Our Times

     We live in uncertian times.  Wait, let me re-phrase that statement.  More accurately, we live in very uncertian times! The stock market gyrates like a top on steriods.  The Middle East is seemingly remaking itself geopolitically before our eyes.  Jobs, Pensions, Home Ownership, cannot be taken for granted anymore.  Peace, stability, and things being
"solid as a rock", seem to have lost their meaning in these times.  It just seems to go on, and on, and on.

     Now, let me throw some gasoline on the fire.  All over the internet we see, hear, and read about how we are now even approaching the end of days.  That the end is maybe coming sooner than we may think!  Actually that sounds like a rephrasing of a statement by St. Paul from the Book of Romans.  He said, " the hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed". (Romans 13:11)  So, whether it be 2012, an asteriod, climate change ( formerly known as Global Warming), WWIII, economic armageddon, any and or all of which, could usher in extremely uncertian times;  we just seem to have an inner sense that mankind is living things out on a cosmic linear scale having a set appointment with destiny.
     Yet, within Paul's statement he paints a curious and reassuring twist on all of our doom and gloom.  Let's read it, again.  " The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation nearer", Stop there!  In the midst of what some may see as global demise, Paul sees hope!  He sees real hope and change, not just some cheap political gimic.  At a time when we least expect it, yet may have a gut level instinct that "something's up!", there it will be.  Our hope, the world's ONLY hope, Jesus.  Now, let's remember the world as it was from which Pauls words eminate.  He lived in the glory, depravity, and brutality of ancient Rome.  Yet, he preached hope and change.
     For the believer, the Second Coming of Jesus is the salvation of which he speaks.  It is salvation for the world and the material universe.  It may not be a bed of roses getting to that point.  But, He is coming back to reclaim all that was stolen from Him, and to seperate good from evil.  That is hope that you can believe in!  And, make no mistake about it, He is coming back.
     Jesus stated, referenced, and inferred; this policy position enough in His Word to call you to either accept it by faith as a future truth, or to make Him out to be a liar.  He leaves you no alternative.  He didn't want to have it any other way.
     Well, my original intent was to simply ask you, as I have recently been asking myself, still being cognizant of our times; Where is your heart at?  I mean your spiritual heart.  If, and I say If, we are "closer to (that day) than when we first believed", do you not think that that is a very valid question for all of us?  Would you be overcome with joyful anticipation if you knew His appearing was in say, 6 hours?  Or, would you be in regret and angst over the parting and loss of the pleasures, riches, and wonders of this earthly world?  Honestly, would you have a hard time seperating yourself from the entanglements of life on earth?  These may be hard questions, but I think that they are ones that we should be periodically be asking ourselves on a regualr basis.  Because He is coming back to reclaim what is rightfully His in the first place.
     I hope that you've been challenged, I have been challenged.  And with each passing day of our current era, my antenna perks up, to see if it could be tommorrow?  How's your antenna?  Is it out of tune and alittle rusty?  Or is it always ringing with joyful anticipation of that Day?

Are we being governed by a divine timeclock?

     The following is not a study set in stone, but simply an amalgamation of musings that I have had for many years now.  So please forgive me from the start, if I seem to ramble down a rabbit trial or two, that is certainly not my intention.  I believe that there is a correlation between the rebirth of Israel, and a line of certain major events that have happened to the Jewish peoples over the last 100 years that seem to be playing themselves out along a delineated linear path.  I personally believe that there is so much importance to the rebirth of this nation-state  because it was foretold millenia ago by many of the ancient Hebrew prophets.  These prophets were also given much credence by Jesus Christ ,himself.
     It is a fact that no other nation in history has existed,  then obliterated, dispersed amongst the nations, then almost 2000 years later was reconstituted to live once again.  A  country that did not just end up as one of the Third World nations, but one that in only a generations time has become an economic and military powerhouse.  Even the most skeptical among us, would have to cast an enquiring eye towards this phenomenon.
     If anyone has ever read these Old Testament prophecies, you would definitely have to wonder if God himself was somehow directly involved in the orchestration of the overall structure of the history of the Jews.  If you unleash your own investigative curiosity, you might find that the current history of our 20th and 21st centuries are somehow uniquely intertwined with the state of Israel, and the Jewish people.  It has been said that when asked the question by Queen Victoria, " Mr.Prime Minister, what evidence can you give me for the existence of God?"  To which English Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli replied, " The Jewish people".  This conversation taking place even before the rebirth of the state of Israel, and all of the events of the 20th century.
     Now, that I have either enticed you to listen to my musings, or totally convinced you of my madness,  let us proceed.  As a student of history, I have observed a very peculiar relationship between major events that have happened to or have had a major effect on the Jewish people and the nation-state of Israel,  have occurred in the years ending in 7 or 8.  There are a couple of dates that seem out of place, but overall for the better part of 100 years the pattern holds.  Why?  There seems to be some kind of organized structure, and not just a random flurry of miscellaneous occurrences, like a chaos theoreticians dream.
     Again, I am not an expert in this arena.  Yet, my observations come from years of seeing seemingly coincidental events somehow coalescing, and pointing us in a particular direction.  I leave the verdict up to you, as to where this all maybe leading us.

•      1897:    Theodor Herzl founded the Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland. Created to establish " a secure haven, under public law, for the Jewish people in the land of Israel"
•     1907:  Chiam Weizmann ( who would later become Israels'  first President) establishes under the 8th Zionist Congress, the Palestine Office of the Zionist Movement in Jaffa, (Israel) Palestine.  As an outgrowth of Synthetic/Practical Zionism, they emphasized immigration, rural settlements, and education, all designed to aid movement of Jews to the land of Israel.

•    1917: The Balfour Declaration.  In November of 1917, at the conclusion of WWI, England declared, " He majesty's governments views with favor the establishment in Palestine of a national homeland for the Jewish people"  Britain was in control of the region until the establishment of the state of Israel.( except during WWII)
•    1938;Kristalnacht in Nazi Germany. On November 8and 9th, began a series of attacks on the Jews that began the final solution.  Passports were cancelled, 200 synagogues were burned ( almost all that were in Germany), 30,000 Jewish men taken off to concentration camps, and unspeakable damage to both persons and property.  Then the community was fined by the government several billions of dollars for the clean up of the devastation.  On 11/11/38, Herman Goering announced that Hitler personally wanted " the Jewish question solved now, once and for all, coordinated one way or another".
•  1948  The nation of Israel is established.  This same year the PLO was created by Yasser Arafat.
• 1967, June:  The Six Day War.  This war of survival resulted in Israel recapturing East Jerusalem.  Giving the Jewish people free access to the Temple Mount for the first time in almost exactly 1900 years ( Temple was destroyed in 67AD by the Romans

• 1973  Yom Kippur War.  This war of survival brought the Superpowers attention to this region in a big way.  President Nixon had our forces on their highest nuclear alert to deter Soviet intervention.
• 1978  The Camp David Peace accords created a long standing peace treaty, and economic cooperation between Israel and Egypt.  Who had been mortal enemies since 1948.
• 1987 The First Intifada was begun by the Palestinians to turn world opinion against the Israelis.  The terror organization Hamas ( which now runs the Palestinian Government) was created.
• 1998:  The Clinton Administration more than others before really pressed the issue of Palestinian sovereignty.  Through his term held many meetings, and reached accords all designed to further these means.  This year was really the beginning of the peeling away of US/ Israeli unity over these matters.  The State Dept. in '98 officially recognized the West Bank  & Gaza as one political,economic, and legal entity.  The US Treasury ordered that all imported goods from the region, shall NOT have the name of Israel anywhere on the products. This is also the year of the Wye River Memorandum which Israel implemented, and Yasser
•  2008  The election of President Barack Obama and a decidedly anti Israel stance as compared to past American foreign policy began.  The emphasis now weighing in on the side of the Palestinian cause as opposed to the US's long term ally.  This was also the year of a world stock market crash that was the beginning of a credit contraction not seen since the 1930's
• 2011 ?  Since this year is 7 years prior to 2018, we can only wonder if something significant will start now, that will some how culminate in 2018.  Whereas 7 years is an important number in Bible prophecy. And the year 2018 will be 120 years since the concept of returning to a secure Jewish Homeland was conceived.  It will be 70 years after the birth of that State. It will be some 50 years since the Jewish people had open access to the Temple Mount, and at the same time 70 years since the rebirth of the nation.  For those whose ears are in tune, these numbers all have a significance; to others they may simply be a jumble of numbers like any other, strewn across the rocky paths of our lives.  For me, I would be pricking up my ears to hear..