Ezekiel 38, 39 - Part Three

Our last two messages were part of a Mini Series about Ezekiel 38, 39 that predicts a number of nations led by Russia will invade Israel. Jehovah God will respond strongly and defeat these invaders with an earthquake, plaque and bloodshed. We raised the question as to why would God allow this to happen and we learned that in the process God will show His greatness and holiness.

However, there is a bigger lesson to be learned in the study of the Battle of Gog and Magog. Notice Ezekiel 39:23 God says, "The nations will know that the people of Israel went into exile for their sin, because they were unfaithful to me." The God of Israel wants everyone to know how He dealt with His people because of their unfaithfulness. Jehovah God scattered them all over the world and hid His face from them. This is a powerful lesson for all of us showing the importance of obeying our God, loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind and serving Him faithfully.

Praise The Lord, this is not the end of the message! Ezekiel 39:25, 28 says, "Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will now bring Jacob back from captivity and will have compassion on all the people of Israel . . . I will gather them to their own land not leaving any behind." Once again, there is much for us to learn, God dispersed His people but is already in the process of bringing them back to Israel. Verse 25 says He will have compassion on all His people and not only bring them home but will love them and take care of them. We Serve A Loving God!

God says in verse 28 that He will not leave ANY of His people in other nations. This raises a very important thought! The statement appears to correspond  with Romans 11:26 that says, "ALL Israel will be saved." To take this message a step further verse 29 says Jehovah God "Will pour out His Spirit on the House of Israel." We will address both of these scenarios in future messages.

Wow! What A Mighty God We Serve, Angels Bow Before Him, Heaven And Earth Adore Him, What A Mighty God We Serve! 

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You This Day And Everyday,

Frank
      

Ezekiel 38 & 39 - Part Two

Last Sunday I heard a message about our God being a Sovereign God. What does this mean? It means our God is in total control of everything that He created. Isaiah 40:10 validates this concept when it says, "See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and His arm rules for Him."

We all need to understand this Biblical truth as we start our message this week. Last week we began our study of Ezekiel 38, 39 which describes the battle of Gog and Magog learning it  is totally controlled by our Sovereign God. We find this fact quite curious and raise the question why would a Sovereign God control an invasion of Israel?

Ezekiel 38:16,23 answers this question, "In days to come, O Gog, I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me when I show Myself holy through you before their eyes . . . And so I will show My greatness and My holiness and I will make Myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am Lord." The constant theme of these verses is that Jehovah God wants all mankind to know He is The Holy One Of Israel! He also shows His greatness in how He will respond to Israel's enemies.

How will Jehovah God show His greatness? Ezekiel 38:19,21,22 says, "In My zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that time there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel . . . I will summon a sword against Gog on all My mountains . . . I will execute judgement upon him with plaque and bloodshed." God Will Show His Greatness By Defeating Israel's Enemies!

One last point concerning God's Sovereignty. Ezekiel 39:7 says, "I will make known My Holy Name among My people Israel. I will no longer let My Holy Name be profaned, and the nations will know that I The Lord am The Holy One of Israel." Please notice, God WILL NOT let His name be profaned any more in proving His Holiness.

As we are studying current day Israel to include battles in their future, I am reminded of Joshua 1:5 saying, "No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you or forsake you." Our Sovereign God will not forsake His people Israel!

May The Lord Bless You This Day And Everyday,

Frank 

Ezekiel 38 - 39 Part One

Psalm 83 was the focus of our last two messages since it describes probably the next war in which Israel will have to confront their enemies. This Psalm describes in detail Israel's enemies on their borders and how these enemies are working together to destroy Israel. The Psalm 83 Battle is also referred to as the battle involving Israel's inner circle of enemies.

This week we will start a series of messages identifying Israel's outer circle of enemies or those who will try to destroy Israel in the Battle of Gog and Magog illustrated in Ezekiel 38 and 39. Ezekiel 38:1 shows Jehovah God speaking to a person known as Gog located in Magog. Who is Gog and where is Magog? It is believed that Gog is the leader of Russia and is also the leader of the nations involved in the invasion from the far North since Russia is directly North of Israel. 

What is most intriguing about Ezekiel 38 and 39 and the Battle of Gog and Magog is that God is in control of all the events. Ezekiel 38:4-6 show God speaking to Gog and saying, "I will turn you around and bring you out with your whole army . . . Persia, Cush and Put will be with them . . . also Gomer with all its troops." God is planning an invasion of Israel. Why? We will keep you in suspension and answer this question next week.

For this week's message, we will identify those nations invading Israel and the timing of this battle. Ezekiel 38:5 identifies these invading nations with God using their names when Ezekiel was written. Again, Russia will be the leader but Iran also is involved which was called Persia at that time. This is no surprise! Other countries involved are believed to be those between Israel and Russia including Turkey.

Let us now try to pinpoint the timing of this battle, this is more challenging. Some believe it will happen just before the Tribulation Period. I believe the Word of God validates it being part of the Tribulation Period. Ezekiel 38:8 says with God speaking to Gog, "You will invade a land that has recovered from war . . . now all of them live in safety." Ezekiel 38:11 says a similar message, "Gog will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people." 

When will Israel live in safety and be unsuspecting? We know that the Anti-
Christ in the beginning of the Tribulation Period establishes a peace treaty with the people of Israel. As a result, for a short period of time, Israel lives in peace and is an unsuspecting people. Could this be the timing of the Battle of Gog and Magog?

Currently, are there any signs of this battle being close at hand? Well, both Russia and Iran have troops in Syria on Israel's border. Also, the relationship between Turkey and Israel is very tense. Stay Tuned!

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You This Day And Every Day,

Frank      

Psalm 83 - Part Two

We are currently presenting a series of looking at the events and atmosphere in current day Israel. We have learned that between now and that Glorious Day when Jesus Christ returns to earth, Israel will be involved in a number of wars. Last week we started a study of Psalm 83 which illustrates Israel's enemies on her borders are "Consulting Together To Destroy Israel."

One enemy not mentioned last week and listed in Psalm 83 are the Ishmaelites. In order to properly identify them, we need to look at Genesis 16. Sarai, Abram's wife, "Had borne him no children." Sarai recommended  to Abram that their maid Hagar should bare him children. An angel of The Lord said to Sarai in verses 11 and 12, "You are now with child and you will have a son. You shall name him Ishmael. He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers."

Notice this prophetic message says, "Ishmael will be a wild man and his hand shall be against everyone." Certainly, we come to the conclusion that current day descendants of Ishmael are enemies of Israel living among them and on its borders.

Additionally, as we observe conditions on Israel's borders and realizing the Psalm 83 War could be close at hand we need to look at the scenario along Israel's border with Syria. Syria has been involved in a Civil War for many years with their citizens trying to overthrow the Dictator Assad. Iran has been involved backing Assad and trying to draw Israel into the conflict. 

Please witness the following recent events showing how close war could be:

A Russian made Syrian jet was shot down over Israel by the Israeli Air Force. 

Seven terrorists enroute to Israel were killed by an Israeli helicopter.

Iranian trained Syrian forces are now on the border with Israel.

Israel has stopped shipments to Syria of food and medicine for refugees.

Bomb shelters in Northern Israeli towns are being supplied with food.

Isaiah 62:1, "For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet." For Zion's sake, now is not a time to be quiet! We need to Pray And Proclaim! Pray for God's protection for His people and proclaim the truth that God gave all of Israel and more to His Covenant People.

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You This Day And Every Day,

Frank     

   

Psalm 83

Last week's message showed how current day Israel is surrounded by enemies. However, we also learned that Jehovah God will always protect Israel (Jeremiah 31:35-36.) History also validates this prophesy since Israel has fought ten wars and God has protected them in each battle - Bless His Holy Name!

The future of Israel according to the anointed Word of God shows Israel participating in a number of future wars. The exact number of battles and their timing can be open to interpretation. As part of our study of current day Israel, we feel it necessary and appropriate to identify these future wars along with showing current signs of the approaching battles.

We will start with analyzing Psalm 83 that combines showing Israel's enemies plotting to destroy them plus a passionate and urgent prayer petitioning the God of Israel to intervene. Verse one starts this passionate prayer by saying, "O God, do not keep silent; be not quiet, O God be not still." The urgent plea in this verse is for God to notice what the enemies of His people are planning and for Him to get involved.

Verses three to five shows distinctly who Israel's enemies are and what they are planning, "With cunning they conspire against Your people; they plot against those You cherish. 'Come' they say, 'Let us destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more.' With one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against you." They are plotting to destroy Israel so it will not be remembered any more.

Who are these enemies? Verses six through eight identifies them, "The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the descendants of Hagar, Gebal, Ammon and Amalek, Philistia, with the people of Tyre. Even Assyria has joined them to lend strength to the descendants of Lot."

During the time this Psalm was written, current day Lebanon was called Tyre and Gaza was called Philistia. We learned last week both of these are now enemies of Israel. Also, Assyria is current day Iraq from which the terror group ISIS emerged. Verses six through eight are happening right before our eyes. In fact, many Bible scholars believe the Psalm 83 War is close at hand.

Psalm 83:13-17 show this urgent prayer for Jehovah God to get involved and to defeat Israel's enemies. The Psalm ends in verse 18 by saying God should do this so Israel's enemies will know "He Is Lord And The Most High Over All The Earth."

How can we who love Israel also get involved? Let me recommend that we pray Psalm 83 each day in addition to all our other prayers for Israel!

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You This Day And Every Day,

Frank