November 4, 2014

In his book, the prophet Daniel said this in chapter 12, verses 8 & 9 ... "I heard, but I did not understand.  So I asked, 'My Lord, what will the outcome of all this be?'  9) He replied,  'Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end.' "

This week I wanted to talk about all the prophetic end-time signs that are currently inundating us from all directions. .. Every category of biblical prophecy is exploding before our very eyes! ... Simply, it is amazing when one compares the written Word with what is taking place in our world right now. ... Having considered all this, and because so much is going on, I've decided to spread this teaching out over a 6-part series. .. The topics will include:
   *Israel ...
   *The Signs of nature ...
   *The Signs of Society ...
   *The Spiritual Signs ...
   *The Signs of World Politics ...
   *The Signs of Technology ...

My goal is to lay out each subject clearly from a biblical perspective and to also give you as much scriptural documentation as possible so that you will have a clear understanding of just how absolutely true the Bible's teachings are. ... In addition, I hope it will provide you with 'ammunition' to share with others as to why all this craziness is taking place. ... If it strengthens your faith, or gives those on the fence even a glimmer of interest, then it will be worth every moment spent in preparation. .... So her we go .....

*Israel .....

Looking back to about one hundred years ago, there was not one single, measurable sign that indicated we were living in the final days leading up to the return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. .. But then, in 1917, we saw the Balfour Declaration which was issued by the British government. .. The Turkish territories, called the Ottoman Empire, contained the ancient homeland of the jewish people - an area the Romans had named Palestine after the last Jewish revolt in 132-135 AD.

In 1917, Palestine included all of modern Israel and Jordan. .. In the plan the Allies put together for dividing up the German & Turkish territories after their defeat, Britain was alloted Palestine, and this is what prompted the Balfour Declaration. .. In that document, Lord Balfour, the British Foreign Secretary, declared that it was the intention of the British government to establish in Palestine a national home for the Jewish people.

Now, the leading Evangelical in England at the time was F.B. Meyer. .. He immediately recognized the prophetic significance of this Declaration, for he was well aware that the scriptures prophesy that the Jewish people will be regathered to their homeland in unbelief right before the return of the Messiah. (see Isaiah 11:11-12) ...Simply, there is no doubt that these events in 1917 marked the beginning of the end times because they led to the worldwide regathering of the Jewish people to their homeland and the re-establishment of their state.

Moving forward, Let's remember that any and all signs that relate to Israel are the most important of all because the Jews are God's 'prophetic time clock.' ... What is meant by this is that Scriptures often tie a prophesied future event with something that will happen with the Jews, and when the prophesied event concerning them occurs, we can be sure that the other prophesied events will also occur.  ... An example can be found in Luke 21:24 where Jesus prophesied that the Jews would be dispersed from Jerusalem and be led captive among the nations. .. But then He added that one day they would return to re-occupy Jerusalem, and when this happens, the end time events will occur that will lead to His return. ... (Other possible examples to pay attention to are events that involve jewish holidays ... events such as 'The Shemitah' and 'The Blood Moons.')

There are many prophecies concerning the Jews in the end times, many of which began to be fulfilled in the last century. ... Let's now focus on four of them:

   *The 1st was the worldwide regathering in unbelief (Isaiah 11:11-12 - which we already discussed briefly) ... At about the time of the Balfour Declaration, there were only about 40,000 Jews in Palestine. .. By the end of World War Two, that number had risen to 800,000. .. Today, there are some six million who have come from all over the world. .. The prophet Jeremiah says twice that when history is completed, the Jewish people will look back and conclude that their worldwide regathering was a greater miracle than their deliverance from Egyptian captivity (Jeremiah 16:14-15 & 23:7-8) .....We are truly living in momentous times!

   *The 2nd key prophecy concerning the Jews is a natural consequence of their regathering. .. It is the re-establishment of their state which occurred on May 14th, 1948 (Isaiah 66:7-8) ...

   *The 3rd key prophecy is the re-occupation of Jerusalem which took place on June 7, 1967 during the miraculous Six-Day War (Zechariah 8:4-8) ...

   *The 4th key prophecy is the one whose fulfillment we are witnessing today - the re-focusing of world politics upon the nation of Israel (Zechariah 12:2-3). ... All the nations of the world, which now includes the United States, are coming against Israel over the issue of the nation's capital - the City of Jerusalem. ... The Vatican wants the city put under its control. .. The United Nations wants it to be internationalized. .. The European Union is demanding it be divided between the Arabs and the Jews. .. The Arabs want it all! ...

The bottom line is this ... Today, most every nation on this planet hates the Jews! ... The United Nations Human Relations Commission says they are the worst violators of human rights of all, while disregarding the likes of The Sudan, Iran, North Korea ... to name just a few! ... As the prophet Zechariah stated some 2600+ years ago, in the last days they will be hated, isolated, and surrounded by all who's sole desire is to destroy them!

Here's just a brief list of some other Scriptures as they relate to Israel in these times:
   *Romans 9:27 - The revival of messianic Judaism ...
   *Ezekiel 36:34-35 - Reclamation of the land of Israel ...
   *Zechariah 12:6 - Resurgence of the Israeli military ...
   *Ezekiel 38-39 - Russian coalition threat to Israel ...
   *Ezekiel 35-36 - Arab threat to Israel

That's enough for now ... By the length of just this one subject, you can see why I must break it into other parts.
Next week, I will share with you the Sign of Nature, probably the most 'scoffed at' by the 'scoffers' ... but after we look, I think even the doubters will take a pause to at least think! ...

Love you all .. and know that I am praying for each of you, and God knows exactly who each of you are, and what your needs are. ... I know I say this each week, but I CANNOT emphasize how important it is to pray for each other in these rapidly declining days of darkness. .. This is where we will realize the strength we will need to fend off the powers of darkness. ... Please pray for me as well. ... Lord knows I need every one of you!
... May God richly bless you this day! ... Hallelujah!

Until next time,

Red