The Future Restoration Of Israel - Part Three

To date we have learned in our series that Jehovah God is in the process of Restoring Israel but the total Restoration will take place when Jesus Christ physically returns to Israel as mentioned in Revelation 19:11-21. We also learned that current day Israel is a beautiful place of cities, towns, parks, lakes, farms, mountain resorts, a strong economy and God's city Jerusalem. Bless His Holy Name!

In addition to the physical Restoration of Israel, God is in the process of restoring His People. Ezekiel 36:17-20 says, "Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own ways and deeds . . . Therefore I poured out My fury on them . . . For their idols with which they had defiled it . . . So I scattered them among the nations . . . When they came to the nations, wherever they went, they profaned My Holy Name."

God's Covenant People were disobedient and unfaithful to Him both in Israel and in the countries of the world. He was especially disappointed and angry when His People set up their own idols to worship not obeying the First Commandment. Even the people in foreign countries found it hard to believe that these were God's People.

However, Jehovah God Is Restoring His People Israel! Ezekiel 36:21-23 says, "But I had concern for My Holy Name, which the House of Israel had profaned among the nations wherever they went. Therefore say to the House Of Israel, thus says the Lord God: 'I do not do this for your sake, O House Of Israel, but for My holy name's sake . . . And I will sanctify My great name . . . The nations shall know that I am The Lord.'"

God's People profaned His Holy Name both in Israel and around the world. He is in the process of correcting this failing on the part of His People so that all people will know He Is The Lord! Very important - Jehovah God loves His Chosen People and desires their total restoration but the primary reason He is restoring them is so the Whole World will know He Is The Lord!

In next week's message, we will learn how God will "Sanctify His Great Name." 

BLESSINGS,

Frank             

Future Restoration Of Israel - Part Two

Studying the Restoration of Israel illustrates two realities. The total and complete Restoration of Israel will take place when Jesus Christ physically comes back to earth and rules and reigns from Jerusalem for 1,000 years. In the meantime, partial restoration is already happening as illustrated in Ezekiel 36:8,9 that says, "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."

Chapter 36 of Ezekiel is very curious and interesting because Jehovah God is telling Ezekiel to speak to the Mountains of Israel. We learned last week that the Mountains of Israel include Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria. When we look at the early years of the 20th century, Israel was primarily a desert and swampland. Today, Israel has thousands of beautiful trees and its fruit crop is desired all around the world. Yes, Israel is partially restored.

Additionally, Ezekiel 36:10 says, "I will multiply men upon you, all the House of Israel, all of it; and the cities shall be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt." Again, looking at the early years of the 20th century, Israel's population was only a few hundred people. Today the population of Israel is over nine million people. In fact, for the first time in history, there are more Jewish people in Israel than Jewish people living in the rest of the world. Yes, Israel Is Partially Restored! 

In closing, we should spend more time examining verse 10. Please notice Jehovah God, through Ezekiel, is saying He will multiply men upon "ALL" of the House of Israel. We believe this verse has a number of important meanings. Last week we learned God is in the process of bringing His Covenant People home from the world. Ezekiel 39:28 says He will bring "ALL" of them home. Is this why verse 10 says "ALL" of Israel will be inhabited?

We should also look at the land God gave to His People in Genesis 15:18. Please take note it is much larger than current day Israel. This much larger Israel will be in place during the reign of Jesus Christ during the thousand years mentioned in Revelation Chapter 20. Israel will then be able to house "ALL" of God's People who have returned. 

What A Mighty God We Serve!

We trust this new series of messages is helping all of us believe Jehovah God does exactly as He proclaims! Israel is now partially restored and will be totally restored in the future.  Hallelujah!

Blessings!

Frank      

Future Restoration Of Israel

In our recent series we looked at Jerusalem - It's past, present and future. We feel it is appropriate to now look at the "Restoration Of Israel." This raises the question - Why does Israel need restoration? The history of Israel illustrates disobedience and unfaithfulness to God. Also, the majority of Israelis do not recognize Jesus as their Messiah. 

However, Jehovah God has not abandoned His Covenant People and has a glorious plan of restoration. This will be the focus of our new series with Ezekiel the source for our messages. Ezekiel 20:33,34 says, "As I live," says The Lord, "Surely with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm and with fury poured out, I will rule over you. I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm and with fury poured out."

A major emphasis from the Word of God about restoring Israel is that God will bring His Covenant People back to Israel from all over the world where He scattered them, this process has been happening for many years. In Ezekiel 39:28 The Word of God declares that "ALL" will come back to Israel in the future. 

Of equal importance, Ezekiel 20:40-44 says, "For on My holy mountain, on the mountain height of Israel," says The Lord God, "There all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, shall serve Me . . . I will accept you as a sweet aroma . . . then you shall know that I am The Lord . . . And there you shall remember your ways and all your doings which you were defiled and you shall loathe yourselves."

Verse 40 indicates God will bring His people back to His Holy Mountain. Jehovah is bringing His people back to Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria. Jerusalem has an elevation of 2,500 feet plus Judea and Samaria are the mountain range of Central Israel. These both are referred to as God's "Holy Mountain."

There is another very important message in Ezekiel 20:41-44. God says He will accept them as a "Sweet Aroma." Also, His people will "Loathe Themselves" because of all their sins. Jehovah God is bringing His people home to Israel and in the process, they are repenting of their sins. This Is Truly A God - Ordained Restoration! Bless His Holy Name!

In conclusion, as we travel through Ezekiel observing God "Restoring Israel" please notice He continually declares He is doing all this so all people will know:

He Is The Lord

Blessings In The Name Of The Lord,

Frank          

Jerusalem, The City Of God - Part Seven

This message will conclude our series about Jerusalem in which we have learned the Word of God refers to three Jerusalems. There is the existing earthly Jerusalem that is the capital of Israel and is where the Jewish Temples existed and where Jesus died and was resurrected. We also learned Heaven is called the Heavenly Jerusalem with continuous worship before the Throne of God.

We will now study the New Jerusalem that will descend from the Heavenly Jerusalem to the location of the current Jerusalem. As a result, all who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will spend eternity in the New Jerusalem on earth. The Heavenly Jerusalem will descend to earth at the end of the 1,000-year reign of Jesus Christ. A detailed study of the New Jerusalem is a series of messages from Revelation 21 in itself, because of this we will just highlight its Glory and Magnificence.

John, the Revelator, in Revelation 21:2-3 describes the New Jerusalem coming down to earth, "Then I, John saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from Heaven saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men and He will dwell with them and they shall be His People and God Himself will be with them and be their God.'"

John also learns in the first five verses of Revelation 21: 

God Will Be Present With His Saved People

There Will Be No More Tears Or Death

There Will Be No More Sorrow, Crying Or Pain

All Things Will Be Made New

Possibly, you might be wondering how can all the "Saved" people from all over the world fit into the New Jerusalem? This is a very good question. Revelation 21:16 describes the size of the New Jerusalem, "And the city is laid out as a square and its length is as great as its breadth. And He measured the city with the reed; twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth and height are equal."

When we convert furlongs into miles, we learn the New Jerusalem will be 1,500 miles long, 1,500 miles wide and 1,500 miles high. It is believed this is large enough to house one hundred thousand billion people! What A Mighty God We Serve!

We have described what happens to those who know Jesus as Savior when they pass on either to the Heavenly Jerusalem or the New Jerusalem. If you desire this certainty of life after death please pray this prayer:

Jesus, I Know I Am A Sinner

Please Forgive Me All Of My Sins

I Proclaim Jesus Is Lord And . . . 

God Raised Him From The Dead

Please Come To Live Within My Heart To Be My Savior

Blessings!

Frank  

                

Jerusalem, The City Of God - Part Six

This week's message might come as a surprise when we proclaim there are not two but three Jerusalems mentioned in God's Word. There is the physical Jerusalem that is the Capital of Israel and the City Of God. Also, there is the New Jerusalem that will come down to earth at the end of the 1,000 Year Reign Of Jesus Christ.

However, there is a third Jerusalem referred to in Hebrews 12:22. "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the Heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels." This verse is describing believers in Jesus Christ coming to the Heavenly Jerusalem and also to a very large number of angels. It is apparent that this verse is describing Heaven as Mount Zion and the Heavenly Jerusalem.

There are numerous other verses of God's Word that describe the continuous worship of Jehovah God in the Heavenly Jerusalem. Revelation 5:11,12 says, "Then I looked and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures and the elders and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: 

'Worthy Is The Lamb Who Was Slain

To Receive Power And Riches And Wisdom

And Strength And Honor And Glory And Blessing."'

Notice the continuous worship of God by the many angels, the 24 elders and the thousands upon thousands of "Saved People." Additionally, it is believed one of the primary ways to worship God in the Heavenly Jerusalem is by playing the harp mentioned in Revelation 5:8 and Psalms 149 and 150.

Can we as born-again Christians be able to partake in the continuous worship that is taking place in the Heavenly Jerusalem? YES! There is a ministry in Jerusalem worshipping God continually through prayer, praise and harp music. The name of the ministry is Jerusalem House Of Prayer For All Nations. It is located on the Mount Of Olives since this is where Jesus will return to earth. {Zechariah 14:4} Please log onto the web site www.JHOPFAN:org and then click on Harp Worship. You will be blessed to hear worshippers continually praising and blessing God with their harp music.

We serve a loving and caring God who has made a way for us to worship Him along with the angels, elders and saints before His Throne! Bless His Holy Name.

Blessings!

Frank        

Jerusalem, The City Of God - Part Five

We have shown in this series of messages that Jerusalem is the City Of God validated by numerous verses from the Word of God. Additionally, Jesus Christ is coming back to Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives from where He ascended into Heaven. This week's message will center on the current atmosphere in Jerusalem.

We feel it appropriate to start by examining how we have arrived at the current atmosphere in Jerusalem. King David made Jerusalem the capital of Israel and King Solomon built the first temple on the Temple Mount. The exiled Jews lamented over Jerusalem in Psalm 137:5-6 saying "If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her skill! If I do not remember you, let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth - if I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy." Jehovah God commanded Jews to come to Jerusalem three times a year for Holy Convocations. Jerusalem is mentioned 800 times in the Word Of God.

What is the current daily scene in Jerusalem? Let us begin by understanding Satan knows Jesus is coming back to Jerusalem to establish eternal peace. Because of this, he is doing all he can to prevent God's plans for Jerusalem. As a result, the struggle between Arabs and Jews over Jerusalem has been present for a very long time. In the news almost every day we learn of some type of an attack. The old city of Jerusalem within the walls is divided into three sections - Jewish, Arab and Christian Sections adding to the constant struggles. The primary reason for this tension is to answer the very old question - who owns Jerusalem and all of Israel?

This question is clearly answered in The Word of God in Genesis 15:18 when God said to Abraham, "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates." Jerusalem and all of Israel was given by Jehovah God to His Covenant People - The Jewish People! In fact, the current size of Israel is only a portion of the land God's People will occupy during the 1,000 Year Reign Of Christ. Notice Genesis 15:18 shows the land God gave to His People is from Egypt to current day Iraq! 

We trust this message has illustrated that according to the Word Of God why Jerusalem is in a constant state of turmoil. This message also emphasis why Jehovah God desires for us to pray for the Peace Of Jerusalem every day as stated in Psalm 122:6.

Jesus Christ, The True Son Of The True God, Is:

Coming Back To Jerusalem

Will Rule In Jerusalem For 1,000 Years

Will Be King Of Kings Eternally From The New Jerusalem

Blessings!

Frank        

Jerusalem, The City Of God - Part Four

Acts 1:9-11 describes Jesus speaking to His Disciples just before He ascended back to Heaven "Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And when they looked steadfastly toward Heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into Heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into Heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into Heaven.'"

This is another proclamation that Jerusalem is the City Of God. Jesus, the True Son of the True God, was born near Jerusalem, performed three years of miracles in Jerusalem, died and was resurrected in Jerusalem and will return to Jerusalem to set up His Kingdom. Jeremiah 3:17 says, "At that time Jerusalem shall be called The Throne Of The Lord and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem."

How and when will Jesus establish "The Throne Of The Lord" in Jerusalem? The Word Of God illustrates seven years of difficult times for Jerusalem when the Anti-Christ rules. This is described as the Tribulation Period. However, Jehovah God is still in control and at the end of the seven years Zechariah 14:4 describes Jesus returning to the Mount Of Olives. "And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount Of Olives." Jesus will return to the Mount Of Olives just as described in Acts 1:9.

Jesus returning to the Mount Of Olives is also the fulfillment of Psalm 2:6-8 saying, "Yet I have set My King on My Holy Hill of Zion. I will declare the decree; The Lord has said to Me, You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give you the nations for Your inheritance and the ends of the earth for Your possession."

In closing, Romans 11:26 says, "And so all Israel will be saved." It is believed that when Jesus returns to the Mount Of Olives, the Jewish people will see Him as their Messiah and will be saved. However, all who have read this message and desire to be saved now should pray this prayer with me:

Jesus, I Know I Am A Sinner

Please Forgive Me Of All My Sins

I Proclaim Jesus Is Lord And Believe

God Raised Him From The Dead

Please Come To Live In My Heart

Grant Me Salvation And Eternal Life

Thank You My Savior And Lord

 Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Blessings,

Frank