Jesus Rules And Reigns

Our recent messages have focused on the events that will take place "On That Day" which is mentioned numerous times in the prophetic books of the Bible. "On That Day" is a timeframe at the end of the Tribulation Period when all that we currently experience will be changed dramatically. Israel with God's help wins two different wars and Jesus Christ returns to earth to rule and reign from Jerusalem for a thousand years. This week's message will describe a series of events occurring at the start of the thousand years.

God's Covenant People started their celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles last Sunday night lasting one week. During this Feast Jewish people construct a temporary hut or tabernacle in their backyards leaving open spaces in the roof to be able to talk with God. Families gather together in these tabernacles to eat their meals and remember to thank God for protecting and providing for them during their 40 years in the wilderness.

How does the Feast of Tabernacles relate to future events that  take place at the start of the thousand years? Isaiah 2:2 says, "In the last days, the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, 'come, let us go up to the mountain of The Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His path.'"

There is a direct connection between Isaiah 2:2 and Zechariah 14:16,17 which say, "Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, The Lord Almighty and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship The King, The Lord Almighty, they will have no rain." All nations must come to Jerusalem to participate in the Feast of Tabernacles and those who do not come will experience droughts.

Yes, Jesus will be ruling and reigning from Jerusalem for all of the thousand years and beyond. Bless His Holy Name!

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

Frank

          

"On That Day" {Continued}

Two weeks ago our message defined the term "On That Day" and described the events that will happen during that time frame. These include the Battle Over Jerusalem, the return of Jesus Christ to earth and the resulting recognition of Jesus as The Messiah of the Jewish people. Bless His Holy Name!

In our message this week, we will look at another battle Israel will face "On That Day" called The Battle Of Armageddon. Does this mean Israel will have to fight two battles simultaneously? Possibly, or at least these two battles are back to back. Only Jehovah God knows!

Revelation 16 describes the Seven Bowls Of God's Wrath. Verses 12 and 16 say, "The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East . . . Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon." The kings from the East and their armies will gather together to battle at Armageddon. When you visit Israel you have the opportunity to look over a very large valley where this battle will take place called The Valley Of Megiddo.

How does Jehovah God react to this battle? In Revelation 19:11-16 John sees this vision . . .

"I saw Heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on His head are many crowns. He has a name written on Him that no one but He Himself knows. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood and His name is The Word Of God. The armies of Heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of His mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nation. He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written;

King Of Kings and Lord Of Lords

The Son Of God Strikes Down The Nations And Comes To Rule With An Iron Scepter. He Comes To Rule And Reign From Jerusalem As The King Of Kings And Lord Of Lords For A Thousand Years. 

HALLELUJAH . . . HALLELUJAH . . . HALLELIJAH . . . HALLELUIJAH

May The Lord Bless You This Day And Every Day,

Frank

    

"On That Day"

Our recent messages have focused on the future wars Israel will face. We started looking at the Psalm 83 War in which Israel will contend with enemies along its borders. We then looked at the Battle of Gog and Magog where Israel is invaded by nations to the North. This week we will study one of Israel's last wars that happens "On That Day."

The term "On That Day" is mentioned numerous times in the Prophetic Books of the Bible. Sometimes it is referred to as the "Day Of The Lord" and "The Great Day Of God Almighty." This event happens at the end of the Tribulation Period when Israel fights its last wars and Jesus Returns To Earth. HALLELUJAH!

In Zechariah 12:3 God says, "On That Day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves." This prophetic word is already happening. Jews, Christians and Muslims all claim Jerusalem as their holiest city. Notice all the worldwide turmoil when President Trump declared Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moved the U.S. Embassy there. All Worldly Events Revolve Around Jerusalem!

How does the God of Israel respond to Jerusalem under attack? Zechariah 12:9 says, "On That Day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem." Jehovah God observes the battle and then destroys Israel's enemies. Additionally, the most important event to happen in the future happens "On That Day" - Jesus Returns To Earth! Zechariah 14:3,4 says, "Then The Lord will go out and fight against those nations as He fights in the day of battle. On That Day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, East of Jerusalem."

What is the result of Jesus standing on the Mount of Olives? Zechariah 14:9 says, "The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On That Day there will be one Lord and His name the only name." Jesus will be The King of Kings and Lord of Lords ruling and reigning over the whole earth from Jerusalem. Also, Romans 11:26 "All Israel will be saved" becomes a reality as the Jewish people recognize Jesus as their Messiah.

To close, last Sunday I saw on the internet a true heartwarming event happening. An 18 month old little girl was describing to her Mother a dream she had. She kept pointing up saying, "He is coming, Abba is coming, look up He is coming." This went on for a few minutes. 

Even So, Come Lord Jesus, Come Quickly!

May The Lord Bless You This Day And Every Day,

Frank   

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