Returning to the Land of Israel.
Ezekiel was the young faithful prophet to the exiles in Babylon. (approx 600 B.C.) With God`s word Ezekiel was to encourage the people that there would come a time of national restoration. After 70 years of being exiled in Babylon they would be able to return to the land of Israel.
Then God gives Ezekiel another prophecy concerning another exile. This occurred in 70 A.D. when the Romans burned Jerusalem and the Jews fled to all corners of the world. Th
The Origins of Russia.
`Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, set your face against Gog, the land of Magog, the prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, and say, Thus says the Lord God; behold I am against you, O Gog, the chief Prince of Meshech and Tubal.” (Ez. 38: 1 - 3)
God`s word tells of the origin of this people, their ethnic group. In Genesis 10 we see that Noah had three sons - Japheth, Ham and Shem.
They and their families went in differe
INTRODUCTION
We live in momentous times. There are many wars and rumours of wars in various places - Afghanistan, Syria, Ethiopia, Armenia, North Africa, Yemen, etc.
Now Russia has invaded the Ukraine and NATO is aiding those against Russia. Many people fear that the world may be plunged into a nuclear war.
What does God`s word say concerning these events and who is involved?
I believe God gave various Old Testament Prophets the details of coming events. Thus it is important
The War.
`Therefore, son of man, prophecy and say to Gog, “Thus says the Lord God: “On that day when my people Israel dwell safely, will you not know it?
Then you will come from your place out of the far north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army.` (Ez. 38: 14 & 15)
The translators have put in `riding on horses,` but that is not what the Hebrew says.
Horses - Hebrew `cuc` meaning moving rapidly.
Toda
The Russian War in the Ukraine.
`I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords.` (Ez. 38: 4)
The description of the army has been translated in old fashioned terms whereas the Hebrew words are -
Horses - `cuc` meaning moving rapidly.
Shields -`
The Opposition.
`Sheba and Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, “Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?” (Ez. 38: 13)
Saudi Arabia - Sheba and Dedan. They originated from the grandson of Cush, a descendant of Ham. (Gen. 10: 7) Today they are the Arabs of the Arabian Peninsula - Saudi Arabia.
Note the Queen of Sheb
The Great Army.
`Persia, Cush, and Phut are with them, all 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.` (Ez. 38: 5 & 6)
This gives us insight into who aligns with Russia.
Iran - ancient Persia.
Ethiopia - Cush from Ham`s descendants. (Gen. 10: 6)
God`s Judgment.
The prophet Joel prophesied that God would be `zealous for His land, and pity for His people.` (Joel 2: 18) He will remove the northern army far from them.
`I will remove far from you the northern army, and will drive him away into a barren and desolate land. With his face towards the eastern sea and his back towards the western sea; his stench will come up, and his foul odour will rise, because he has done monstrous things.` (Joel 2: 20)
God then brings the
God`s Appointed Time.
``I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army...` (Ez. 38: 4)
At God`s appointed time He turns the Russian army around and leads them in another direction. The `hook` I believe is their desire for wealth, oil and gas etc.
`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
MAN`S FINAL REBELLION
God had always purposed that Israel would rule righteously over the nations, and this will come about in the millennium. This is the final opportunity for mankind to turn to God without the influence of Satan.
However, we see that many people still want their own way. If that happens then there will be consequences.
`And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, on them there wi
THE MIGHTY EARTHQUAKE
There is great darkness upon the earth when the world`s armies surround Jerusalem.
`Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will diminish their brightness.` (Joel 3: 14 & 15)
Then through the gloom they see a strange light coming closer to the earth. This supernatural sign is the great glory of the Lord and His angelic hosts leaving heaven a
MOURNING TO JOY
The Lord then sends His angels to the four corners of the earth to bring the Jews back to their own land, Israel. There will be no cars, or trains, or planes etc operating after the great earthquake, the Jews will be brought back on horses, mules and camels.
`Then they shall bring all your brethren for an offering to the Lord out of all the nations, on horses and in chariots and in litters, on mules and on camels, to my holy mountain Jerusalem.` (Isa. 66: 20)
While
LIVING WATERS
When the Lord comes to the Mount of Olives, He will split the mountain in half and living waters will flow out to bring healing to the rivers and seas.
`The Lord will go forth and fight against those nations as He fights in the day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley. Half of the mountain shall move towards the
LIFE IN THE MILLENNIUM
The plagues through the tribulation and the great earthquake that caused the cities of the nations to fall, will cause such great devastation upon the earth that civilization as we know it will cease. No technology, no fuel, no food production, no medical facilities, no businesses of any kind, all will have crumbled, obliterated. There will be only few people upon the earth after the plagues, mass killings and persecutions.
Life in the millennium will have to sta
JUDGMENT
The great earthquake has caused the cities of the nations to fall, and the islands to disappear while the mountains are levelled. Civilisation and all its modern trappings will have been obliterated. Over three quarters of the population of the world will have been killed, (during the tribulation).
The Lord then comes with His angelic hosts.
`...the Son of Man .....comes in His own glory, and all the Holy angels with Him...` (Luke 9: 26)
`So the Lord of hosts will c
God`s Government Through Israel
The kingdoms of the world will then become the kingdoms of the Lord. (Rev. 11: 15)
`Oh, clap your hands all you peoples! Shout unto God with the voice of triumph! For the Lord Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth. He will subdue the peoples under us, and all the nations under our feet. How will choose our inheritance for us.` (Ps. 47: 1 - 4)
The Lord shall appoint those who will rule under Him, in Israel. F
God`s Glory Through Israel
God`s glory will be upon Israel, on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. It is from here that God`s righteous rulership goes forth to the nations of the world.
`For Zion`s sake I will not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem`s sake I will not rest, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burns. The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory.
You shall also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord,
CONCLUSION
When God brings the earth and heaven to a close it is then time for the Great White Throne Judgment. This is for all mankind except the Body of Christ and the just men and women, (Old Testament saints).
`Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was no place found for them.` (Rev. 19: 11)
Those who had rejected Christ`s offer of salvation will be cast into the lake of fire. Those who had never he
ARMAGEDDON
The final Gentile Global Government is headed up by the Antichrist and the False Prophet. In the middle of the tribulation they break the Israel Peace-Covenant and desecrate the Temple in Jerusalem. God steps in and obliterates their capital city - the city of Babylon in Iraq. In great fury the Anti-Christ moves his government over to Jerusalem and then plans to exterminate the nation of Israel. Great persecution follows and finally after three years demons are sent forth to gath
OVERVIEW
We are in momentous times as God`s purposes are unfolding. Soon the Gentile`s Rule will come to an end and Israel, God`s chosen nation will rule the world. Before that happens we know that there will be a period of great conflict and trouble, as Jesus said,
`such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.` (Matt. 24: 21)
It will be a time when the rebellious nations are judged and the nation of Israel has to go under its final
Tribulation.
The Key point here is that the Tribulation is shorter than the seven years of chastisement for Israel. So how do we measure that?
Anti-Christ - rules for 1,260 days.
The Peace negotiator who made the Peace Treaty with Israel at the beginning of the 7 years, sets out to deceive the world. He appears to be mortally wounded and die. However, he seems to miraculously come `alive` again. All the world worships him and Satan. He was given authority to rule for 42 months
Israel`s 7 years.
The Key point here is that God has given Israel 7 more years to complete its chastisement. This chastisement is to finish their 70 x 7 years (490), because of their rebellion against God, in not obeying Him.
`Seventy weeks (unit of 7) are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, (national rebellion)..& to anoint the Most Holy, (sanctuary)` (Dan. 9: 24)
483 years have been up to the time of Christ, and then Israel`s purpo
I have added more detail than the Feasts, however a study from God`s word does reveal -
- when the Holy Spirit was sent to establish the Body of Christ. (John 16: 13)
- when Christ comes to take His body to His throne in glory. (Rev. 3: 21)
- This time frame is called the Day of Christ, plus the specific day when Christ appears for His Body. (1 Thess. 4: 14 - 17)
- when the Lord brings judgments upon the rebellious throughout the tribulation. (Joel 2 & 3, Rev. 8 & 9 ff)
-
