"From That Day Forward" - Part Three

Ezekiel 39:25,28 says, "Therefore thus says The Lord God; 'Now I will bring back the captives of Jacob, and have mercy on the Whole House of Israel . . . Then they shall know that I am The Lord their God, who sent them into captivity among the nations, but also brought them back to their own land, and left NONE of them captive any longer.'" These two verses talk about our Lord God bringing His Chosen People back to Israel from all the nations. He had scattered them because of their disobedience and unfaithfulness.

Tom Hess is the leader of a ministry in Jerusalem entitled The International House Of Prayer For All Nations located on the Mount Of Olives. People come here to pray from around the world for The Peace Of Jerusalem. Tom assigned a staff member to search the Word Of God to determine how many times Jehovah God says He will bring His People back to Israel. This obviously is important to Jehovah God since there are more than 700 verses describing this prophetic event. Bless His Holy Name!

Please notice in verse 25 God says "Now I will bring back the captives of Jacob." This is not a future event, it is continual and has been happening for many years. When God's People come down the stairs of their airplane in Jerusalem, a major welcoming celebration takes place on the tarmac. As the people of Israel witness God's Word before them, they respond with joy and thanksgiving. This event is also referred to as the Jewish People making Aliyah! 

We should also look in detail at verse 28 in which Jehovah God says that He "Brought them back to their own land and left None Of Them captive any longer." Let us be sure we understand this bold statement by our Lord. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords will bring back to Israel ALL of His Covenant People! 

What A Mighty God We Serve

What A Mighty God We Serve

Angels Bow Before Him

Heaven And Earth Adore Him

What A Mighty God We Serve

Where does the phrase "From That Time Forward" fit into this scenario? Please notice in verse 28 God is saying "Then they shall know I am The Lord" in the midst of His bringing His People home. As a result, we believe "From That Day Forward" is a continuing timeframe while God's People are making Aliyah! Stay Tuned.

May The Lord Bless And Keep You Today And Everyday,

Frank     

"From That Day Forward" - Part Two

Last week we started a new series entitled "From That Day Forward" mentioned in Ezekiel 39:22. We learned Israel will know God is their Lord "From That Day Forward" after God judges Israel's enemies by defeating them in battle.

Our message this week will look at Ezekiel 39:23 that says, "The Gentiles shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity; because they were unfaithful to Me, therefore I hid My face from them." Jehovah God is saying:

Israel Was Sent Into Captivity For Their Iniquity

They Were Unfaithful To God

God Hid His Face From Israel

Why would a loving and caring God do this to His Chosen People? Jehovah God gave Moses on Mt. Sinai The Law for His people outlining how they should live obeying and honoring Him. How did His people respond? A major portion of The Old Testament illustrates God's Covenant People disobeying Him. Hosea 8:4 shows God saying, "They set up kings, but not by Me; they made princes and I did not acknowledge it. From their silver and gold they made idols for themselves."

God's Chosen People broke the Mt. Sinai Covenant in the following manner:

They Rebelled Against God's Law

They Set Up Kings Other Than God

They Made Idols Of Silver And Gold

They Made Princes Not Authorized By God

As a result, God scattered His Chosen People around the world and the majority of them still live where God has scattered them. However, Hosea 8:10 says, "Now I will gather them." Our Lord God has not forgotten His Chosen People and is in the process of bringing them home to Israel. Hallelujah! 

We believe God's Covenant People will know He is Lord "From That Day Forward" in the process of God bringing them home again. Bless His Holy Name! We will examine Jehovah God bringing His People home and its results in more detail in our next message. Stay Tuned!

May The Lord Continue Blessing You Today And Everyday,

Frank     

"From That Day Forward"

Ezekiel 39:21-22 says, "I will set My glory among the nations; all the nations shall see My judgement which I have executed and My hand which I have laid on them. So the house of Israel shall know that I am The Lord their God from that day forward."

Possibly as you are starting to read this message, you are thinking "From That Day Forward" is a curious title. As a result, we are dedicating a number of messages to determine our Lord's meaning in this brief phrase.

We need to start by looking at verse 21 as Jehovah God is saying:

I Set My Glory Among The Nations

All The Nations Shall See My Judgement

The Nations Shall See My Hand I Have Laid On Them

How does God judge people? The Word Of God illustrates many forms of God's Judgement. However, we believe in verse 21 God is saying He will judge the nations for their treatment of Israel by defeating them in battles.

Israel will be involved in two major wars - The Battle Of Gog And Magog and The Battle Of Armageddon. Ezekiel 38,39 studies Gog and Magog where God allows Israel to be invaded by many nations. However, He then defeats these nations for Israel. This illustrates God showing His Glory and judging Israel's enemies. Bless His Holy Name!

In the same manner, The Battle Of Armageddon will take place at the end of The Tribulation Period. The Anti-Christ will gather the largest army in history to invade Israel at the Valley Of Megiddo in order to totally destroy Israel. However, Revelation 20:11-15 describe Jesus arriving in the sky on a white horse with a sharp sword coming out of His mouth, using this sword to destroy the vast army. Again, God is showing His Glory by judging the nations. What A Mighty God We Serve!

We will close our message by looking again at our title "From That Day Forward." We believe "That Day" has multiple meanings. Notice verse 22 says "From That Day Forward" Israel will know that God is their Lord. This message has illustrated that when God wins wars for Israel they will know He is their Lord "From That Day Forward."

We are just getting started. Ezekiel 39:23-29 illustrates numerous current and future events in which our Lord shows His Lordship to Israel "From That Day Forward." Stay tuned!

May The Lord Bless You Today And Every Day,

Frank   

"Then They Shall Know That I Am The Lord" - Part Six

Last week's message showed our Lord God saying "Then They Shall Know That I Am The Lord" after He wins the Battle Of Gog and Magog for His People Israel. This week's message will be the last in this series revealing Jehovah God making this declaration to three different groups of people.

In the beginning of Ezekiel 39, God continues to speak to Gog who is the leader of the nations that will invade Israel. He says in verse 5, "You shall fall on the open field; for I have spoken," says The Lord God. Similar to Ezekiel 38, Jehovah God is declaring that He will win this war for His People.  Then He declares in verse 6 "Then They Shall Know That I Am The Lord." In other words, our Lord is declaring He will win this battle for His People Israel so that their enemies will know that "He Is The Lord."

The second group to which our Lord makes this declaration is the Nations Of The World. Ezekiel 39:7 says, "So I will make My Holy Name known in the midst of My People Israel . . . Then The Nations Shall Know That I Am The Lord, the Holy One in Israel." Jehovah God says He desires to make His name known in Israel. Why is this a desire of The Lord? Verse 7 ends with Jehovah God saying, "Then The Nations Shall Know That I Am The Lord."

At the beginning of this message we explained that our message will show God making His declaration to three different groups. So far we have shown Him making it to the enemies of Israel and to the nations of the world. Who is the third group? Ezekiel 39:21-22 says, "I will set My Glory among the nations; all the nations shall see My judgement which I have executed and My hand which I have laid on them. So The house of Israel shall know that I am The Lord their God from that day forward." Our Lord says He will make His Glory known among the nations so that "The House of Israel will know He is The Lord," Bless His Holy Name!

The last six messages have shown Jehovah God declaring over and over again, "Then They Shall Know That I Am The Lord." Why? We believe Ezekiel 36-39 brings forth a very clear message from our Lord:

He Is The Lord!

He Rules And Reigns As The King Of Kings!

He Rules And Reigns As The Lord Of Lords!

He desires for every person on earth to understand these messages and receive Him as Lord and Savior! If you desire to receive Jesus as your Savior please pray this prayer with me: Jesus, I know I am a sinner; Please forgive me of all of my sins; I believe and declare that Jesus is Lord and God raised Him from the dead; Thank you Jesus for saving my soul. Hallelujah and AMEN!

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

Frank

"Then They Shall Know That I Am The Lord" - Part Five

We are in the middle of a series of messages entitled "Then They Shall Know That I Am The Lord." We have learned that Jehovah God uses this phrase repeatedly in Ezekiel 36-39. In last week's message we also started studying Ezekiel 38-39 that illustrates the Battle of Gog and Magog showing a collation of nations invading the Mountains of Israel.

Possibly answering why God would allow this war against Israel, Ezekiel 38:17-23 is entitled "Judgement of God." Verse 18 shows the Lord God saying, "And it will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel," says The Lord God, "That My fury will show in My face." Remembering that Gog is the leader of the nations that will invade Israel, Jehovah God says when this invasion takes place, "Fury will show in My face." He is going to react to this attack upon His People!

Ezekiel 38:19 says, "For in My jealously and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: 'Surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel.'" Jehovah God will bring about a great earthquake in Israel. In reality, verse 20 says this earthquake will be so extensive it will affect all people on earth who will shake at His presence.

What A Mighty God We Serve

What A Mighty God We Serve

Angels Bow Before Him

Heaven And Earth Adore Him

What A Mighty God We Serve

However, Almighty God is not done! He continues to say in Ezekiel 38:21-22, "I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains . . . And I will bring him to judgement with pestilence and bloodshed."

In conclusion, we raise the question - Why will Jehovah God allow this war to take place and then judge and defeat Israel's enemies:

Then They Shall Know That I Am The Lord . . . Amen And Amen!

May The Lord Bless You Each And Every Day,

Frank   

    

"Then You Shall Know That I Am The Lord" - Part Four

Ezekiel Chapters 38 and 39 are entitled "Attack By Gog" and describe a future war that will take place in Israel. We will be dedicating a number of messages studying these chapters as they can be challenging to understand. Also, we will study them attempting to determine why The Lord says repeatedly "Then You Shall Know That I Am The Lord." 

Ezekiel 38:1-16 illustrates Jehovah God speaking to a person called Gog from the Land of Magog. It is believed Gog is the leader of Russia. Our Lord is calling on Gog to lead a coalition of nations including Iran, Ethiopia, Libya, Turkey and Germany who will invade Israel. They will invade the Mountains of Israel that have been populated by Jews who have moved back to Israel. 

Ezekiel 38:10,11 show God continuing to speak to Gog, "Thus says The Lord God; 'On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind and you will make an evil plan; you will say, I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people.'"

These verses are challenging to understand regarding the timing of this invasion. Please notice it will take place when Israel is at peace with "Unwalled Villages." As a result, this war will not take place any time soon. Current events in Israel reveal uneasiness and tensions realizing terror attacks are a constant threat plus the possibility of rocket attacks from Gaza at any time. Also, a wall divides Israel proper from Judea and Samaria. A strong possible time of this war is during the Tribulation Period when many Israelis believe the Anti-Christ is bringing peace to Israel.

Ezekiel 38:14-16 says, "Therefore, Son of man, prophesy 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 will come up against My People Israel like a cloud, to cover the land.'" In conclusion, note the following in these verses:

Gog And His Army Come From The North - Verse 15

Israel Is Living In Safety - Verse 14

Gog And His Army Cover The Land - Verse 16

This Event Will Happen In Latter Days - Verse 16

We believe the most important and intriguing statement Jehovah God says in Ezekiel 38 is at the end of verse 16 when He says:

"So That The Nations May Know Me"

Is Jehovah God saying He will bring about this war So That The Nations Will Know Him? Stay Tuned!

Many Blessings To You Now And Always,

Frank        

"Then You Shall Know That I Am The Lord" - Part Three

This week's message will use as a source Ezekiel 37 entitled "Vision Of Dry Bones." Ezekiel 36-39 illustrates Jehovah God using the phrase "Then You Shall Know That I Am The Lord" numerous times. In this series we are attempting, with the Lord's assistance, to determine why He uses this phrase?

Ezekiel 37 describes a vision Jehovah God showed to His Son Jesus. Ezekiel 37:1-5 says, "The hand of The Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of The Lord and set me down in the midst of the valley and it was full of bones. Then He caused me to pass by them all around and behold there were very many in the open valley and indeed they were very dry. And He said to me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?' So I answered, 'O Lord God, You know.' Again He said to me, 'Prophesy to these bones and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of The Lord!' Thus says The Lord God to these bones; 'surely I will cause breath to enter into you and you shall live.'"

Jehovah God shows Jesus a valley full of dry bones and says to Jesus "Can these bones live?" Jesus replies, "O Lord God, You know." There are numerous interpretations about the identity of the dry bones. The bones could be a person, a church or a nation.

Notice in verse 5 God causes breath to enter these bones. Jehovah God through Jesus can bring a spiritually dead entity back to life. This can only happen through receiving Jesus as ones Lord and Savior. {Romans 10:9} Then in verse 6 our Lord proclaims . . .

"Then You Shall Know That I Am The Lord."

Our Lord then takes this message a step further. In Ezekiel 37:11 He says, "Then He said to me, 'Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, Our bones are dry, our hope is lost and we ourselves are cut off!'" The Lord God responds, "Behold, O My People, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves and bring you into the land of Israel." He will bring them Spiritually to life again and will bring them back to Israel! Hallelujah!

Ezekiel 37:13 explains why our Lord will accomplish this for all people . . .

"Then You Shall Know That I Am The Lord."

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

Frank