The Future Of Israel - Part Two

Last week's message started a series entitled "The Future Of Israel." We studied Psalm 83 showing current day Israel is surrounded by enemies. Psalm 83 does not prophesy about an exact future war but illustrates the continual threat of war.

This week we will shift our focus and look at portions of Ezekiel 36-39 that many prophetic scholars believe predict the next war Israel will experience called the Battle of Gog and Magog. Ezekiel 36:1,6,7 says, "And you, son of man prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say, 'O mountains of Israel, hear the word of The Lord!' . . . Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel, and say to the mountains, the hills, the rivers and the valleys, thus says The Lord God: 'Behold, I have spoken in My jealousy and My fury because you have borne the shame of the nations.' Therefore thus says The Lord God: 'I have lifted My hand in an oath that surely the nations that are around you shall bare their own shame.'"

These few verses of God's Word are multi-faceted since they explain the past, present and future aspects of life in Israel. Notice verse one shows God speaking to the "Mountains Of Israel." Looking at at a map of Israel we see the land along the Mediterranean Sea is flat but as we approach Jerusalem we are now in mountains continuing to the Jordan River. This mountain region is called Judea and Samaria which was the heart of Jesus' Ministry on earth.

Judea and Samaria have been conquered numerous times as explained in verses two and five. Currently, the mountains of Israel have towns housing Palestinians and towns housing Jews. The World Media calls this area The West Bank.

Now we turn to God's prophetic future for Judea and Samaria. Ezekiel 36:6 says Jehovah God is "Jealous and Furious" because nations have brought shame to this land that God gave to His covenant people in Genesis 15:18. He will correct this situation! Verse 7 says He Will Bring Shame To The Nations That Have Shamed Israel. Hallelujah!

Does God Keep His Word? Yes, He Does Absolutely! All we have to do is look at countries and empires that once controlled parts of Israel and notice today they either do not exist or are not currently empires. A few examples are the Ottoman Empire, the Babylonian Empire, Edom, Moab, Gaza, Tyre, Assyria and Ethiopia.

Jehovah God has brought shame on Israel's enemies and will do so again in the future! Stay Tuned!

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

Frank

      

The Future Of Israel

Our message this week will be the first of a series illustrating the future of Israel. These messages taken from the Word Of God will briefly describe current day Israel. We will then transition to the events that will take place in Israel from now until Jesus Christ, Messiah and Savior of the world, physically returns to Jerusalem on the Mount Of Olives.

Presently, the atmosphere in Israel is tense since Israel is surrounded by enemies. The relationship with Saudi-Arabia, Jordan and Egypt have improved somewhat. The proposed Peace Plan of President Trump shows the establishment of a Palestinian State in  parts of Judea and Samaria and parts of East Jerusalem. Israel's government is in the process of annexing Judea and Samaria meaning if a Palestinian State is developed it will be under Israel sovereignty. This will take place so Israel can control the Jordan Valley.

As we start our study of the Future of Israel, we will begin by looking at Psalm 83:1-5 saying, "Do not keep silent, O God! Do not hold Your peace, and do not be still, O God! For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; and those who hate You have lifted up their head. They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, and consulted together against Your sheltered ones. They have said, 'come and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more.'"

The future of Israel appears to start with Psalm 83 that describes the current climate in Israel and its possible immanent future. Verses 2 and 3 describe the enemies of Israel "consulting together" against God and Israel. They are planning to destroy Israel! Who are these enemies of Israel? Remember, we said earlier Israel is surrounded by enemies. Verses 6 to 8 of Psalm 83 identifies them as Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Gaza and Iraq.

The last couple of verses of Psalm 83 are a petition to Jehovah God to defeat the enemies of Israel. Psalm 83 verses 13 - 15 says, "O my God, make them like the whirling dust, like the chaff before the wind! As the fire burns the woods, and as the flame sets the mountains on fire, so pursue them with Your tempest, and frighten them with Your storm."

The above verses would be an appropriate prayer for all of us who love Israel to pray daily. We need to pray this prayer for Jehovah God to protect the people of Israel but also so the world will know God is "The Most High Over All The Earth." {Psalm 83:18}

May The Lord Bless You Today And Every Day,

Frank         

"Comfort, Yes, Comfort My People" - Part Five

This is the last message in a series showing Jehovah God comforting both Jew and Gentile during life's difficulties. We all needed these messages during this worldwide crisis. Bless His Holy Name!

We saved this week's message for the end because it is the most important. This message will describe the ministry of Jesus Christ when He came to earth as the Son of God. The ministry of Jesus is so important to God that He describes it three times. We have learned when Jehovah God repeats a message we should pay attention.

What is this message? We will share all three versions:

"I, The Lord, have called You in righteousness,

and will hold your hand;

I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people,

as a light to the Gentiles, 

To open blind eyes, 

to bring out prisoners from the prison,

those who sit in darkness from the prison house." Isiah 42:6-7 

"The Spirit of The Lord God is upon Me,

because The Lord has anointed Me

to preach good tidings to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives,

and the opening of the prison to those who are bound." Isiah 61:1

"The Spirit of The Lord is upon Me,

because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, 

to preach deliverance to the captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to set at liberty those who are oppressed." Luke 4:18

As mentioned in Matthew this is a partial list of the miracles performed by Jesus when He was present on the earth:

Healed all kinds of sickness - 4:23

Healed a leper - 8:3

Healed Peter's Mother-in-law - 8:15

Cast out demons - 8:32

Returned sight - 9:30

Restored speech - 9:33

Healed Gentile woman's daughter - 15:28

Be comforted, God's people, Jesus is still performing miracles all over the world! Philippians 4:6-7 says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

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

Frank

  

"Comfort, Yes, Comfort My People" - Part Four

This is the fourth in a series of messages illustrating how Jehovah God is continually comforting all people both Jew and Gentile during this worldwide crisis. There will be one more message in this series and then we will start a series called "The Future Of Israel."

Isaiah 41:11-13 says, "Behold, all those who were incensed against you shall be ashamed and disgraced; they shall be as nothing, and those who strive with you shall perish. You shall seek them and not find them - those who contented with you. Those who war against you shall be as nothing, as a nonexistent thing. For I, The Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'fear not, I will help you.'"

We will start this message concentrating on the Jewish people who have been persecuted all of their existence. Anti-Semitism started in Egypt and continued in Spain and Russia. The most severe form was the loss of 6 million Jews during the Holocaust in Germany. Anti-Semitism is still very much evident today. Last year in the United States Anti-Semitism was at its highest level in history. This can also be said of many countries in Europe. 

Our references in Isaiah 41 proclaim that the inhuman treatment of God's Covenant People is going to end! Verses 11 and 12 illustrate God saying that those who persecute His people "Shall Be As Nothing" and they will be "As A Nonexistent Thing." Be comforted, God's people, He says in Isaiah 41:13 "Fear Not, I Will Help You!"

This word of comfort is also for Born-Again Christians. Remember, Jew and Christian are "One In Christ." Reports indicate that Christians are being persecuted worldwide on a regular basis. Churches are being destroyed, Christians must meet in secret, some are imprisoned and some lose their lives standing up for their faith. We can even look at the current pandemic situation where Christians cannot attend church as a form of persecution.

Be comforted and encouraged, Born-Again Christians, Jehovah God has a battle plan for us. Please read Ephesians 6:10-18 which indicates how to, "Put On The Whole Armor Of God." God is still in control!

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

Frank     

"Comfort, Yes, Comfort My People" - Part Three

We are continuing our series about Jehovah God providing comfort to all of us during this pandemic. In our first two messages, we have learned that God provides comfort by defeating our enemies past, present and future. He also provides comfort as our Shepherd providing for all our needs.

Isaiah 40:21-22 says, "Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundation of the earth? It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in."

Twice in Isaiah 40 in verses 21, 28 God asks these two questions - Have you not known? Have you not heard? Why did He use such a unique approach? We believe it was a way for Jehovah God to get our attention. The messages following those two questions are so important that God is reminding us that we have Already Known Of Him. Romans 1:19 says, "Because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them."

This very important message from God is that He is the creator of everything and controls everything past, present and future, that He is Lord God Almighty! Isaiah 40:22 says that God spreads out the heavens like a tent for all of us to dwell in. When we look at the sky, we are observing the heavens even though we cannot see them. God desires us to see them as a covering of His protection over us similar to the covering of a tent.

What A Mighty God We Serve,

Angels Bow Before Him,

Heaven And Earth Adore Him,

What A Mighty God We Serve.

In conclusion, we should also look at Isaiah 40:28-29 saying, "The Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary . . . He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength." Our Mighty God is always there to exercise His might and power to protect us and take care of us. He even shares His power with us in our times of weakness. He causes us to "Fly like eagles, run and not be weary, walk and not faint." {Isaiah 40:31}

We can all be comforted by knowing we serve a Mighty God who is the King Of Kings and Lord Of Lords and at His Name every knee should bow. {Philippians 2:9,10} Bless His Holy And Mighty Name!

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

Frank  

"Comfort, Yes, Comfort My People!" - Part Two

This is the second in the series of messages about Jehovah God providing comfort to His people at all times even during the current pandemic. We learned last week that God brings comfort by defeating our enemies now and in the future. This week we will learn that God brings us comfort by being our Shepherd. Isaiah 40:11 says, "He will feed His flock like a Shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young."

There are a number of familiar scriptures that refer to The Lord as our Shepherd. Psalm 23 starts with "The Lord Is My Shepherd." What does a shepherd do? A shepherd continually watches over his sheep providing for all their needs. Philippians 4:19 says, "And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." 

Psalm 23:4 says, "Yea, Though I Walk Through The Valley Of The Shadow Of Death, I Will Fear No Evil, For You Are With Me; Your Rod And Your Staff, They Comfort Me." Possibly, during this pandemic some of us have felt like we were walking through the valley of the shadow of death. We believe God is saying - Do not fear, I will always be with you, no matter what you might face in this life and I will bring you comfort. Hallelujah!

John 10:11 says, "I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep."  Jesus, the true Son of the one true God came down to earth with the assignment from God to die on a cross. Jesus became the Shepherd of all of us and shed His blood and gave His life to provide forgiveness of sins to the lost people of the world. Bless His Holy Name!

We have learned in this message that God provides comfort by being our Shepherd. Additionally, we can receive the ultimate comfort from God by knowing Jesus as our Lord and Savior and knowing our sins are forgiven. If you are not a saved child of God, please pray this with me:

Jesus, I know I am a sinner,

Please forgive me of all my sins,

Please become my Lord and Savior,

Granting me eternal life.

Thank You Jesus.

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

Frank

"Comfort, Yes, Comfort My People"

In these challenging and uneasy times, we feel a series of messages about Comfort that can come only from Jehovah God is appropriate and will bring encouragement to all of us. Notice in the title from Isaiah 40:1 that this Comfort from God is for all people since we all are His people. We believe The Lord desire for us to receive His Comfort everyday. There are five sections about various aspects of God's Comfort in Isaiah Chapters 40-45.

Isaiah 40:1-2 says, "Comfort, yes, Comfort My People!" says your God. "Speak Comfort to Jerusalem and cry out to her that her warfare is ended." Jehovah God starts this message by saying He desires to Comfort all His people but then becomes more specific and singles out the people of Jerusalem. However, we need to understand that as a result of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ we now are all one in God's eyes. Ephesians 2:14 says about Jesus, "For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of division between us." Jew and Gentile are one in Christ.

Isaiah 40:2 says that God wants His people's Warfare to be ended. Jehovah God is already ending the Warfare of His people and will totally defeat His people's enemies in the future. The Corona Virus is an enemy to all people. Reports indicate that 100,000 people have received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior even during the virus Warfare. God Is On The Move!

Long term, the day is coming when God through Jesus will defeat ALL the enemies of His people. {Revelation 19:11-21} Isaiah 40:10 says, "Behold, The Lord God shall come with a strong hand and His arm shall rule for Him." A similar reference is the birth of Jesus in Isaiah 9:6-7 that refer to Jesus as "Mighty God" and "His government will bring peace."

Be encouraged, God's People, He is in the process of bringing Comfort now even during a pandemic and will do so in the future. We pray that all will be Comforted by this new series of messages. Stay Tuned!

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

Frank