Israel Can Attack Iran By Itself

Last week's message revealed how the Israeli leadership is expressing that they must maintain a strong defensive posture as Iran continues to develop nuclear capability. This week the rhetoric has become even more intense to include the United States government.

As Israel celebrated its 65th Independence Day, the Israeli government stated they have the ability to attack Iran's nuclear sites even without help from other governments. At the same time, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed a resolution stipulating that the United States will assist Israel diplomatically, economically, and militarily if Israel is forced to attack Iran. It is expected to also be adopted by the Senate.

Has some event happened to elicit these bold statements? Yes, the United States Defense Intelligence Agency now believes North Korea may be able to miniaturize its nuclear warheads and fit them on ballistic missiles, meaning if this is true, Iran will also soon have the same capability. Israeli leaders are monitoring developments in North Korea very closely.

The leaders in Israel and the United States need God's wisdom desperately. Proverbs 2:1-5 says "My Son, if you receive My words, and treasure My commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of The Lord and find the knowledge of God." We should be led to pray this word of God into effect for the leaders of Israel and the United States daily.

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You In His Care,

Frank

"A Strong Defensive Force"

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke at the ceremony to honor Israel's fallen soldiers earlier this week during Remembrance Day and said "We have been forced as a nation to fight for our right to exist. Since our formation we had to fight for our freedom. Haters prosecuted us in each generation, harmed us and sought to erase Israel off the face of the earth. But throughout the generations we learned that only a strong defensive force can ensure we will not be harmed." 

Netanyahu shared how Israel has had to defend itself through many wars in its history and needs today a strong defensive force. We hear almost every day of rockets fired into Southern Israel from Hamas in Gaza. The conflict in Syria has overflowed into the Golan Heights with stray gunfire and rockets. Since the beginning of 2013, Palestinians have thrown 1,195 rocks at Israelis in Judea and Samaria actually killing a baby and his father. This week missiles were fired into Eilat, a tourist town on the Dead Sea, from Egypt.

However, the biggest threat is from Iran as it draws ever closer to nuclear capability. Iran is working with North Korea in developing nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles and North Korea just threatened the United States. These new events could possibly accelerate an attack on Iran by Israel to slow down its nuclear planning dramatically.

Psalm 83 seems to address Israel's current scenario showing Israel threatened by almost every surrounding country. Verse 4 quotes the enemies of Israel saying "Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more." Certainly sounds like the day and times Israel is experiencing. However, verses 13 - 18 are a prayer asking our God to intervene and defeat Israel's enemies so that "His name will be most high over all the earth." Let us be about praying these kinds of prayers for Israel!

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

Frank

Ezekiel 36 - One More Time

The last couple of weeks we have studied together Ezekiel 36 and have learned about the Mountains of Israel or Judea and Samaria - past, present and future. However, to receive a complete picture of this very prophetic book, I sense it would be good to finish our study by looking at the last nine verses.

We have learned the nations around Judea and Samaria have made it desolate but our God is judging them; He is bringing His people back to His land; and He will cleanse them and give them a new heart and put a new spirit within them.

Today's message shows our Lord is doing miracles to the physical land of Judea and Samaria itself. Remember there was a time when the land was considered desolate. Verses 29, 30, 35 and 36 illustrate:

{29} "I will deliver you from all your uncleanesses. I will call for the grain and multiply it, and bring no famine upon you."

{30} "And I will multiply the fruit of your trees and the increase of your fields, so that you need never again bare the reproach of famine among the nations."

{35} "So they will say, this land that was desolate has become like the Garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited."

{36} "I, The Lord, have spoken it, and I will do it."

Has The Lord fulfilled His word? Absolutely! Recent reports from Israel reveal that because of Jewish immigration the Jewish majority in Judea and Samaria will be 80% in the near future. Israel's economy is growing at 14.7%. Just this week, Israel started pumping natural gas into Israel proper from a very large find in the Mediterranean Sea. Israel ranks 20th out of 80 countries in a survey of "Best Countries In Which To Be Born." 

Be encouraged in your support of Israel and its people in thought, word, and deed. They need it desperately and you will be blessed. May The Lord bless you and keep you this day and each day.

Blessings,

Frank

A Prophecy To The Mountains Of Israel

I would think the title of our message this week has aroused your curiosity since it is a prophecy not only to the people of Israel but to the mountains. Ezekiel 36 is a very prophetic book in which our God is bringing a very encouraging word to the Mountains of Israel in verses 1-15.

Last week's message identify the Mountains of Israel as Biblical Judea and Samaria and not the West Bank. Ezekiel 36:1-7 illustrates this land in the past had "borne the shame of the nations" but now God in "His jealousy and fury will cause these nations to bear their own shame" because of their treatment of the Mountains of Israel.

Our Lord continues His uplifting message to the Mountains of Israel in verses 8-17 proclaiming "My people Israel are about to come." The Jewish people are coming back from all over the world to inhabit their land. Our Lord continues "I am for you and will do better for you and then you will know I am The Lord." The Jewish people have been coming back to Israel for many, many years.

Ezekiel 36:24-28 also brings forth from our Lord a very positive message for the people of Israel. He says upon their return He will "Cleanse them from all filthiness; give them a new heart; and put a new spirit within them; and He will be their God." As part of their return, they will come to salvation through Jesus Christ as their Messiah. Hallelujah!

Maundy Thursday is remembered as when Jesus communed with His Disciples just before going to the cross. The Disciples were surprised when Jesus washed their feet during their time together. Philippians 2:7 says "Jesus took the form of a servant." My prayer for each of us as we approach Resurrection Sunday is we will have a similar servant's heart towards the Jewish people and everyone.

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You Now And Forever,

Frank

The West Bank

"But you, O Mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit, to My People Israel, for they are about to come. For indeed I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown. I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, all of it; and the cities shall be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. Yes, I will cause men to walk on you, My People Israel; they shall take possession of you." Ezekiel 36:8-10, 12.

During one of my trips to Israel, I asked our tour guide why the Biblical areas of Judea and Samaria were referred to as The West Bank. His simple and truthful answer was "The West Bank is a political term." How true this is! The term West Bank is not found in The Word of God. Geographically, Judea and Samaria encompass a major portion of the mountains of Israel which run along the west bank of the Jordan River. Thus the term West Bank which the Palestinians and world media use to describe this land claimed by the Palestinians.

Well, what is the truth according to God's Word?  Jesus conducted a major portion of His ministry on earth in Judea and Samaria. Currently, our Lord is using Judea and Samaria, referred to as the Mountains of Israel in scripture, as the major location to settle the Jewish people as they return to Israel. Notice in Ezekiel 36:8,10,12 mentioned above that The Lord says He is bringing My People Israel back to the Mountains of Israel or Judea and Samaria. No mention of the West Bank in this Biblical scenario.

As always, we who have a heart for Israel and the Jewish people, need to proclaim the truth of God's Word concerning the land of Israel. Ezekiel 36 is very clear about the Mountains of Israel and its current and future use in God's Prophetic timeline. Let us be those proclaimers of the TRUTH!

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You Now And Forevermore,

Frank

Whose Land Is It?

The above question has been one that people have pondered as far back as the time of Abraham. This tiny sliver of land called Israel in the Middle East is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt. Additionally, one might notice that Israel is mentioned in the world media almost every day and wonder why.

The word of God is very clear in defining who has inherited this land from God. The Lord said to Abram in establishing the Abrahamic Covenant "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates," Genesis 15:18. In reality, this original land given to Abraham and his descendants included almost the entire Middle East. However, history reveals this land has been divided up many times by man resulting in their judgment, Joel 3:2.

The enemies of Israel claim that Ishmael and his descendants are also descendants of Abraham and the land is theirs. There is a major problem with this type of thinking since God established His everlasting covenant with Isaac and his descendants in Genesis 17:19. Numerous other scriptures also validate that God gave this land to His original covenant people - Amos 9:15; Jeremiah 31:35,36; Ezekiel 37:24.

Why is the land of Israel in the news so often?  Prophetically, all world events revolve around Israel since Jesus is coming back to the Mount of Olives, Zechariah 14:4 and He will set up His throne in the City of God, Jerusalem. Zechariah 14:9; Philippians 2:10,11.

We can be participants in this continuing debate by speaking the truth when The Lord gives us opportunity and by praying "Thy Kingdom Come And Thy Will Be Done On Earth As It Is In Heaven." Matthew 6:10. As we pray this Scripture we are asking Jesus to come back to earth soon and establish true peace on earth. . .PRAISE THE LORD! 

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You In His Care Now And Forever,

Frank 

Reconciliation

An entire section of Ephesians Chapter 2, Verses 11-22, is entitled "Reconciliation of Jews and Gentiles." Paul, The Apostle, clearly and effectively proclaims that through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, Jews and Gentiles have been made "one new man" in the sight of God. Ephesians 2:14 says "For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of division between us."

Romans Chapter 11 addresses the same issue but with different nomenclature. Israel is declared as an olive tree with Jesus as the root. Verse 17 of Chapter 11 describes Christians as the wild olive tree which is grafted in among them - the family of Israel - by the life and blood of Jesus Christ. The result is a living spiritual family tree supported by the common root, Jesus Christ as The Messiah.

Sadly, there are those who preach that the Church has replaced the Jews in God's eyes. This is known as Replacement Theology which is totally contrary

to the Word of God mentioned above. Additionally, in Genesis 12:2-3 The Lord declares to Abraham "I will make you into a great nation. . . .and  in you all the nations of the world shall be blessed." Of course, this nation became Israel.

God's Word Does Not Change And Cannot Be Changed By Man To Satisfy His Own Desires as referenced in Revelation 22:18-19. Let us be those who proclaim this truth, which blesses Israel and Christians alike, also pray for those functioning in Replacement Theology to come into the truth of the Word of God.

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You In His Care Today And Each Day,

Frank