Ezekiel 38 and 39 Part 2

Luke 21:20-22
20 "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.
21 Then let those in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.
22 For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.  NKJV

Luke 21:28
28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." NKJV

Luke 21:36
36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."  NKJV

Notice that Jesus said that “We should pray that we may be counted worthy to escape all of these things and stand before Him…”

Jesus has been describing the events of the Tribulation period, then He tells us to pray that we will be found worthy to escape these things.  We are made worthy to escape by accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

In order for Jesus to remove us from the earth, there will be first a need for a peace plan in Israel, someone who has an answer the problems that we are seeing right now in Israel.

One of two things could happen right now in this current situation in Israel...

1.    All of the turmoil in Israel will settle down and return to some degree of normalcy.
2.    These are the days spoken of by Ezekiel in which all of the prophecies will be fulfilled.

Jesus is about to remove all those who are belong to Him from the earth.  The antichrist will introduce his solution to the all of the turmoil in Israel by way of a peace plan that will be signed in Israel for seven years. 

At just about the same time that the 7 year Tribulation begins and the antichrist is introduced to the world, another event will happen in Israel that we seem to be seeing right now in Israel:

Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 are a description of the attack on Israel, that will also occur in the last days, just after Jesus removes His church from the earth.  Surprisingly, we see all of the key players in position now in the Middle East for the first time in history, ready to fulfill Ezekiel 38 and 39.

Many people do not understand that the attack on Israel is not the same event that has commonly been called “Armageddon”.  They are clearly two separate events happening in two distinct times, at two different places.

The events of Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 are clearly declared to happen in the “Last Days”, therefore, they have not been fulfilled at any time previously in history.

This battle described in Ezekiel chapter 38 and 39, is not “Armageddon”, this event will happen just as Jesus is returning to the Earth after the seven year Tribulation and Great tribulation period, with His Church.

The battle of Armageddon will be a world wide war, involving many nations of the world, with the western powers against the eastern powers.  The powers of the east, will come to fight against Antichrist and his western powers.

In the book of Daniel, as the antichrist is leading his western powers into Africa for the purpose of conquering Africa, as he does he will hear of trouble in the East and out of the North.

Daniel 11:44
But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many.

The Euphrates river will supernaturally be dried up to allow the kings of the east to come together against the antichrist and his western powers as they all meet in the “Valley of Megiddo” for this final battle called “Armageddon”.

Revelation 16:12
Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared.

This entire war will be interrupted by the return of Jesus, where He will destroy the entire armies of East and West with the Words of His Mouth.

Zechariah 14:4
And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south

The battle described in Ezekiel 38 and 39, is a very limited battle with the goal of taking Israel only.  This battle will take place in Israel only.

The nations that come to attack Israel, will be the Islamic nations in southern Russia.

Armageddon involves the nations of the world, and is located in the valley of Megiddo, in the “Valley of the Passengers” which is east of the Dead sea. The, the placement of the these 2 battles are in different locations.

I am just going read what the text in Ezekiel says concerning those nations that will come to attack Israel during a major time of conflict.

I WILL TRANSLATE THE HEBREW NAMES OF THESE NATIONS THAT ARE COMING TOGETHER TO ATTACK ISRAEL GIVING TO YOU THEIR CURRENT IDENTIFICATION...

It is important to remember that chapter 36 of Ezekiel, is where the Lord says that in the last days Israel will again bud forth and become a productive land.

Chapter 37 of Ezekiel, the Lord describes how the Jews who are scattered all over the world will be gathered by the Lord and brought back to the land of Israel as their nation is “Reborn”.
                                                                                                                   
Ezekiel 38:1-2
1 Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2 "Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him,

Notice on the map that “Magog” is the land made up of the former nations of the U.S.S.R, , “Gog” (Russia) is the “Prince of this land, ” The Russians were the prince or former controller of these lands.


These lands of “Magog” include “Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal”.

Historians have identified the land of Magog as “The Scythians”.

They lived in the areas north of the Caucus Mountains between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.

Today we know this area as the southern territory of Russia the people that live there are largely Moslem.

They include the nations of

1.    Lithuania.
2.    Luxembourg.
3.    Liechtenstein.
4.    Czech Republic.
5.    Bosnia and Herzegovina.
6.    Yugoslavia

Today these nations are largely Moslem, The Lord says that they are  coming to attack Israel.

“Meshech” and “Tubal” have been thought to be the ancient “Tibareni”, and “Moschi”, which know to us today as “Moscow” and “Tobolsk”

This means that this confederacy of people who are descending from the North to Attack Israel are, coming from the modern day southern portion of Russia.

Ezekiel 38:3-4
3 and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal.
4 I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. NKJV

Notice that the Lord is the One that is drawing out “Gog” to come down and attack Israel. When these nations come down over the mountains of Israel, it will be the Lord who has drawn them there.

It is interesting that in the past history of the people that dwell inthe areas described by Ezekiel 38, that they have attempted before to wipe out Israel as a nation and a people.

NOW WE COME TO THE NATIONS THAT WILL BE COMING WITH RUSSIA TO ATTACK ISRAEL:

Ezekiel 38:5
5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; NKJV

Persia: Today we know as Iran, they have a mission to take back Jerusalem for the Religion of Islam.

You may not be aware that in the recent Nuclear Missile tests in North Korea, Iran’s leaders were there to attend those missile tests…

Ethiopia and Libya are members of the communist nations that are largely Muslim. in recent history we know that Moamar Khadafi has made it clear that his mission is to destroy the Jews of Israel.

Ezekiel 38:6
6 Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops--many people are with you.

Gomer was the area just north of Turkey.  Again,  a Moslem nation who would like nothing better than to push all of the Jews of Israel in the Mediterranean Sea.

Togarmah, also in the area of the present day Turkey. A nation and people who are Moslem and who are openly against the nation of Israel to the present day, 

These former nations of Southern Russia, descending over the mountains North of Israel with a confederacy of Moslem Nations, in what is apparently “Holy Jihad” against Israel, “A Holy war…”

What is truly amazing about Ezekiel’s prophecy is not the nations that are listed here, but the nations that are not listed…

Notice that Egypt is not named as coming with this confederacy of Moslem nations against Israel.  Recently Egypt has made a peace treaty with Israel.  HOW DID EZEKIEL KNOW THAT EGYPT WOULD NOT BE COMING WITH THESE OTHER NATIONS?

Also Syria, another strong Muslim nation, outspoken against Israel. They are also not mentioned here. Syria had been trying to negotiate peace with Israel in order to regain some of the Golan Heights.

IF YOU HAVE NOTICED, SYRIA HAS BEEN STAYING OUT OF THE CONFLICT WITH ISRAEL, EVEN FURTHER INDICATION THAT WE MIGHT BE AT THIS VERY MOMENT THAT EZEKIEL 38 AND 39 IS SPEAKING OF.

Iraq is also not mentioned, and we know why Iraq is not mentioned, she has been conquered by the United States.  AGAIN HOW DID EZEKIEL KNOW THAT IRAQ WOULD NOT BE COMING WITH THE OTHER NATIONS…?

Jordan is not mentioned as one of the nations descending from the North to atack Israe. In the Bible, Jordan is the one nation that the Antichrist has no power over when he comes to rule the world. For some reason Jordan has chosen to not to be involved in the Arab-Israeli conflict, remaining neutral. This is interesting because Jordan is where the Rock city of Petra is located.  The location where Israel will be protected by the Lord during the last 3 ½ years of the Great Tribulation.

Isaiah 16:4
4 Let My outcasts dwell with you, O Moab; Be a shelter to them from the face of the spoiler. For the extortioner is at an end, Devastation ceases, The oppressors are consumed out of the land. NKJV

Here Isaiah describes the fact that the area of Moab, modern day Jordan, will shelter the Lords' outcast from the face of the spoiler, a common term given to satan.

The new King of Jordan said that he does not want to be involved in the dispute between Israel and the Palestinians.

Now if we were going to put together a coalition of Moslem nations to attack Israel we would choose all of these nations that are not mentioned in Ezekiel 38, as most liekly taking part in  the attack of Israel.

Egypt
Syria
Iraq
Jordan

ISN’T IT AMAZING THAT IN THIS PROPHECY OF EZEKIEL 38, WRITTEN HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO, THAT EZEKIEL KNEW EXACTLY WHICH NATIONS TO EXCLUDE FROM THOSE COMING DOWN WITH SOUTHERN RUSSIAM TO ATTACK ISRAEL IN THE LAST DAYS.

What gives you chills, is the fact that this same prophecy that says that when we see the presence of these nations ready to descend, and the absence of these other nations not willing to participate, then know that the battle is about to begin.

Here is an amazing fact for us today: THESE NATIONS ARE READY AND IN PLACE RIGHT NOW, READY TO COME OVER THE MOUNTAINS OF ISRAEL AT A MOMENTS NOTICE TO FULFILL THIS PROPHECY!

Ezekiel 38:7
7 "Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them. NKJV

Certainly this is the case as we observe each nation that is listed as coming with Russia, ready today to fulfill this prophecy.

Ezekiel 38:8-9
8 After many days you will be visited. In the latter years (OUR TIME) you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely.
9 You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you." NKJV

Before May of 1948 this prophecy could not have been fulfilled.  Beginning in Ezekiel 36 the Lord began to predict that in the “Last Days” Israel as a nation, would begin to blossom and bud forth as a fruitful and productive nation again.

Today Israel is the 4th largest supplier of the worlds fruits and Vegetables!

In Ezekiel chapter 37, the impossible is predicted:

Israel will be “Gathered from all of the nations of the world from where they were scattered , and once again return to their own” land.  A supernatural miracle by the Lords Hand.

Because this has already happened in 1948 and the City of Jerusalem also being captured by the Jews in 1973, today it is possible that we are about to see the exact events that are spoken of in Ezekiel 38 and 39.

Either Just prior to this event, or just after this event, Jesus will remove His church from the earth in the event described by the Bible as  “The Rapture of the Church”.  

If you were really paying attention to verse 8 of Ezekiel chapter 38, you probably noticed the phrase " …and now all of them dwell safely…”

You may be thinking,  “Wait a minute, Israel surely does not dwell  safely in their own land….”

Israel has never dwelt safely in their own land every since they returned there in May of 1948, in fact, they have had 3 wars since their return.

If you have a Hebrew Lexicon and look up the English word "Safety" in Chapter Ezekiel 38:8, you will see that it is the Hebrew word “BETACH” (beh'takh).

This Hebrew word can also be translated “Assurance” or “Confidently”.

One thing for sure about the nation of Israel, they will never again allow themselves to be removed from their land, of this they are “Confident”.  In fact at no other time in all of history has Israel lived in their land with such Assurance or Confidence.

Ezekiel 38:9-11
9 You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you."
10 '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:
11 You will say, 'I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell confidently, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates'—NKJV

In this invasion force against Israel there will be a huge number of personnel, this is not a small army but a major invasion force!

They will come up against “A land of un-walled villages”.  In Israel today, the only walled portion of the city is the old city of Jerusalem where the wall were built by Solomon.

The largest part of Jerusalem is located outside of the original walled section and has no walls whatsoever around most of the city that stretches for miles.

Ezekiel 38:12
12 to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land. NKJV

Here in verse 12 we see the reason that Russia is coming down to attack Israel:

“To take the Valuable resources” of Israel, their vast food supplies, warm water ports, OIL RESERVES, military technology and supplies, their tremendous wealth and prosperity.

One of Russia’s greatest current problems is that they just do not have enough food supplies to feed all of their people.

As small as Israel is, the Lord has mad them extremely fruitful in producing food products, cattle and food supplies.

Ezekiel 38:13
13 Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, 'Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?'  NKJV

Sheba and Dedan are the current nations of Saudi Arabia. Here they are seen as speaking up for Israel and asking the question of those nations attacking Israel, “why are you come to take their resources?”

Notice they are with the “Young Lions”, this is quite possibly the United States, and remember that Saudi Arabia is currently our ally.

Because Saudi Arabia has been favorable to Israel and the United States it is possible that they are fearful that they will be invaded next by this tremendous army.

The Oil reserves and the Financial Riches alone would make Saudi Arabia a very valuable conquest.

It has appeared that Saddam Hussein has always wanted to take Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.  He would have surely continued on to take Saudi Arabia had it not been for the American Forces stopping him before he got there.

One of the major reasons that we stopped Iraq and Saddam Hussein was that we knew that if he took Saudi Arabia our Oil supply would be cut off.  We cannot survive without the oil that comes from Saudi Arabia, it is clear that this was one of the major reasons that the Unoted States invaded Iraq, tp stopped Saddam from overtaking Saudi Arabia.

It is quite well known in the Persian Gulf area that “The one that controls the Oil, controls the worlds economy.”

In recent years  Iran, also called “Persia”, one of those who come with Russia, has been training their troops for a land invasion of Saudi Arabia from the Sea.

Here as Iran comes with Russia, it is possible that they will be attempting to do what Saddam Hussein could not do, conquer Saudi Arabia’s Oil.

This may be the reason that Saudi Arabia is objecting to this invasion force of Moslem nations with Russia against Israel.

There are varying opinions about who the nation is described here in verse 13 called: “Tarshish”. Some say that it is Spain, the most credible sources seem to indicate that this is England.

This places an interesting light on this verse because of the fact that verse 13 also speaks of the “Young Lions of Tarshish”.

The United States was originally established as an English Colony,  and therefore could be the “Young lions of Tarshish”.

If this is in fact the United States, then we will also be concerned about an invasion of Saudi Arabia because it will mean the loss of Much of our Oil supplies.

It does not appear that if this is the United States we do much more than object to the invasion force against Israel and Saudi Arabia.  How is that possible? We are the greatest military power in the world.

When the Rapture takes place, perhaps 1/3 of the people in the United States will be trusting in Jesus as their Savior, even our president (Bush) and many of his cabinet members are believers. 

What would be the effect of a mass disappearance all at once of millions of people in the United States, including the leadership of the Government?

Perhaps as this invasion force will come down from the North against Israel, the United States will have been so weakened by the loss of so many key leaders and the loss of millions of citizens and the chaos and aftermath of that event, that we no longer have the ability to do anything about the invasion force.

Perhaps we are just like Saudi Arabia, we impotently ask "Why have you come to take Israel?" “Is this your object?” It almost sounds like an appeal to the United Nations to sanction these nations for invading Israel.

In post script to this part of the article written in 2002: Today (2009) the Obama administration has developed a United Nations approach to confronting agressive nations, by issuing sanctions and objections, rather than the approach of the Bush administration in using military force.

Conspicuously apparent is the fact that we are NOT going to be moving any of our forces in the agression of Russia and the other nations who come to attack Iasrael, our long time ally.  We simply make a verbal objection.

Ezekiel 38:14-15
14 "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?
15 Then you will come from your place out of the far north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army. NKJV

I want to suggest to you that based upon what the scriptures states, and seeing the current environment in the middle east, that all the key players are in place for either the Rapture of the Church to take place at any moment, or the beginning of the Battle of Ezekiel 38 and 39.

These events will trigger the events of the Book of Revelation and the seven year Tribulation period in which two-thirds of the inhabitants of the world will die in the plaques described.





Ezekiel 39:1-3
1 "And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal;
2 and I will turn you around and lead you on, and leave but the sixth part of you bringing you up from the far north, and bring you against the mountains of Israel.
3 Then I will knock the bow out of your left hand, and cause the arrows to fall out of your right hand. NKJV

5 out of 6 men in the invading force will be destroyed by the Lord. The bloodshed and casualties of this battle will be unimaginable…

It is interesting that in the Hebrew Language the word “Arrows”  “CHETS” (khayts);  is called “A Piercer” This verse could also be translated " I will cause the flying missiles to fall out of your right hand."

It is possible that Russia will launch their missiles at Israel and the Lord will knock them out of the sky.

During The gulf war the United States gave Israel the “Patriot anti-Missile defense system” that has the capacity to knock a missile out of the sky before it gets to it’s target.  Perhaps this is the kind of system that Israel will be using.  This technology did not exist 12 years ago…

Isn’t it amazing that it exists now, of course, just by coincidence.

Ezekiel 39:8-15
8 Surely it is coming, and it shall be done," says the Lord GOD. "This is the day of which I have spoken.

This “Day in which the Lord has spoken”, is a day specially prepared for the final days of the earth.

There are certain events that must happen in order for this day to be a possibility.

It is possible that current event happening around the world at the present moment have made it possible for all of the things spoken of in Ezekiel 38 and 39 to take place.

1.   Israel must be back in their own land again…
2.   There must be turmoil in Israel that is not resolvable by conventional means.
3.   This will make it possible for the antichrist to propose a peace plan that will make peace           between the Palestinians and the Jews and give Israel the right to rebuild their Temple in           Jerusalem.
4.   This peace plan will be proposed to last for 7 years.
5.   When it is signed it will begin the 7 year tribulation period.
6.   The events of Ezekiel 38 and 39 can happen during this time just prior to the signing of the       peace plan, or just shortly thereafter.

It is possible that Before the peace plan is signed, all believers in Jesus Christ must be gone from the earth.

Ezekiel 39
9 "Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and bucklers, the bows and arrows, the javelins and spears; and they will make fires with them for seven years.

This is another indication of the fact that this attack from the North by Russia, along with the Moslem nations, must happen before Jesus returns.

If the events of Ezekiel 38 and 39 happen just prior to the beginning of the seven year tribulation, then verse 9 would make sense, as they take seven years to clean up the armaments of this battle.

Ezekiel 39
10 They will not take wood from the field nor cut down any from the forests, because they will make fires with the weapons; and they will plunder those who plundered them, and pillage those who pillaged them," says the Lord GOD.
11 "It will come to pass in that day that I will give Gog a burial place there in Israel, the valley of those who pass by east of the sea; and it will obstruct travelers, because there they will bury Gog and all his multitude. Therefore they will call it the Valley of Hamon Gog.
12 For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them, in order to cleanse the land.
13 Indeed all the people of the land will be burying them, and they will gain renown for it on the day that I am glorified," says the Lord GOD.

In the previous wars that Israel waged with other nations, whe has gained from her attackers, the implements and weapons of war.

Recently when Israel moved into southern Lebanon to create a “buffer zone” they discovered hidden in the caves, various types of Russian equipment, tanks, mortars, as well as other weapons  and rifles.

In fact, it took three months to remove all of the weapons fromthese caves, in large semi trucks.  Over twenty six trucks, working day and night for three months transferingr this massige stockpile of weapons.

The Israeli government put these weapons on display in Israel for a time. All of the weapons that Russia had moved into southern Lebanon, and had stored in these caves, were in preparation for an invasion. So here again, Israel is  going to profit from these spoils of war

Ezekiel 39
14 They will set apart men regularly employed, with the help of a search party, to pass through the land and bury those bodies remaining on the ground, in order to cleanse it. At the end of seven months they will make a search.
15 The search party will pass through the land; and whenever anyone sees a man's bone, he shall set up a marker by it, till the buriers have buried it in the Valley of Hamon Gog. NKJV

In verse 14 the Lord speaks of “Men who will be hired to search for and bury the dead who are killed by the Lord in this battle.”

The Hebrew word for “Regularly employed” is "TAMIYD (taw-meed') These are Men that are “Specially trained”,  “Hired Professionals”, to bury the dead.

Why Professionals? If these bodies contain nuclear or biological agents they will require special protective clothing, instruments and training to handle and remove the bodies…

In other words, they will be searching for seven months for the bodies that have been destroyed by the hand of God throughout miraculous means.

This could also be an indication that nuclear weapons or biological weapons will be used in the attack of Israel.

The amazing thing for us this morning is that the events of Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 are tied in with the events that are happening in Israel right now.  When a peace plan is signed and Russia hears of the plan, joins with the Moslem nations, descends over the mountains of Israel and makes the attack.

Do you really think that it is just coincidence that the countries that will be involved in Ezekiel's war are now aligned militarily, economically, politically and spiritually? Do you think it a further coincidence that God has placed the world into the exact configuration for Ezekiel's prophesy through the following events:

1917 - World War I - breaks Israel away from the Turks
1917 - Balfour Declaration
1918 - Russian Revolution
1922 - League of Nations approved the British Mandate over Palestine.
1938 - World War II - Establishes the line between East and West according to the Eastern border of the Old Roman Empire.
1947 - UN Resolution to partition Palestine.
1948 - Israel declared her independence, attack by Arab nations.
1956 - Second war in Israel - established broader border.
1964 - PLO formed to centralize leadership of Palestinian resistance groups.
1967 - Jerusalem restored to Israel during the Six Day War.
1967 - UN Resolution 242, Israel to withdrawn from occupied territories.
1969 - Qaddafi took Libya
1971 - Organization of the Islamic Conference.
1973 - Afghanistan falls
1973 - War in Israel - Syria and Iraq declare a Holy War against Israel.
1974 - Ethiopia turns communist and against Israel and the west.
1974 - Arab nations recognize the PLO as the only legitimate representative of all Palestinians.
1976 - Civil war in Lebanon - opens Israel's northern border to terrorists.
1977 - Egypt calls for peace with Israel
1978 - The Shah of Iran falls - Iran becomes a bitter enemy of Israel.
1978 - Iran-Iraq war establishes old Sheba and Dedan.
1978 - Camp David Accords - Israel
1979 - Egypt signs peace treaty with Israel.
1981 - Russia Extends Formal Diplomatic recognition to the PLO.
1982 - PLO expelled from Lebanon.
1982 - Thirty-nine Moslem nations declare a Holy War against Israel (All of Islam)
1983 - Israel reestablishes its northern Biblical borders in the invasion of Lebanon.
1983- 1988 - Unstable Israeli government due to Labor-Likud Coalition.
1987 - Intifada started.
1988 - Labor Party takes over the Israel government, appeasement started with the PLO.
1988 - PLO proclaimed the "State of Palestine" with government in exile.
1989 - Arafat elected president of the Palestine National Council.
1991 - Desert Storm aligned the West and Sheba - Dedan.
1992 - Oslo Accord - PLO and Labor Party agreed to withdrawal from occupied territory on the West bank.
1996 - Likud Party takes the Prime Minister position by popular vote. Israeli government takes hard line against the PLO.
2000 - The Labor party was back in power and restarted the land for peace program.
2001 - The Likud regains control of government with a mandate to stop the terrorism.
2001 - The war on terrorism starts worldwide and the US backs Israel in her actions against the Palestinian Authority and terrorism


It will beduring this time that the Lord will miraculously work in the Nation of Israel. All of Israel will turn to the Lord and know Jesus as their Messiah.

In the book of Zechariah chapter 14 there are a few interesting verses regarding Israel being restored to her own land again.  This attack in the later years by Israel’s enemies around her for the express purpose to destroy the nation of Israel and her people.

But the Lord will fight for Israel and he will strike all of the people that have fought against Jerusalem.

The enemies that attack Israe —“Their flesh shall consume away while they stand on their feet. Their eyes will be consumed in their sockets, and their tongues shall consume away in their mouth.”

It sounds erily like death from a “Neutron Bomb”, a heat generated that is so intense that the flesh burns off of the skeletons before they fall to the ground.

Zechariah 14:12
12 And this shall be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem:
Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet, Their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, And their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths. NKJV

This past week as I was seeking the Lord concerning the events happening in Israel I came across a couple of interesting verses…

In the book of Zephaniah chapter one, the subject is the “Day of the Lord”, the Old Testament code name for “The Tribulation Period”.

Then beginning in chapter 2 of Zephaniah He makes an amazing statement:

Zephaniah is speaking of the nations that come against Israel and the Lords fierce anger that will come after in the great tribulation period…

Zephaniah 2:1-3
1 Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, O undesirable nation, 
2 Before the decree is issued, Or the day passes like chaff, Before the LORD's fierce anger comes upon you, Before the day of the LORD's anger comes upon you!
3 Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden  In the day of the LORD's anger.  NKJV

The Hebrew word in verse 3 “It may be that you are ‘HIDDEN’ in the day of the Lord’s anger…”

The Hebrew word for “Hidden” is “CATHAR”  (Saw-thar) literally  “To be absent”, “To Be kept Secret”, “To Conceal”, or “To keep close"

This is an Old Testament an indication of the Doctrine of “The Rapture”, where we are being “taken out of the earth”, “being absent”, “concealed”, “kept close to the Lord”, while the 7 years of tribulation, the wrath of the Lamb is being poured out ion the earth.

If the events in Israel quiet down and get back to normal, then we are probably not in the time period yet that Ezekiel speaks of…

But if things do not get better but instead as they have now for several months, seem to get worse and worse, it is certain that this will be the time when these things are fulfilled.

Jesus will take us out of the earth, we will meet Him in the Air as 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 describes:

1 Thessalonians 4:15-18
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words…NKJV

Then after we are gone, then that which has been restraining the antichrist from coming on the scene will be out of the way…

That which hinders the revelation of the Antichrist is the power of the Holy Spirit within the church, the witness of the church through the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit Working through Jesus church is what is holding back the Antichrist today. When the church is removed, then God will no longer leave Israel in blindness, will reveal Himself to Israel.

“He will make this 7 year peace plan with Israel and allow them to rebuild their temple…”

3 ½ years into the peace the antichrist  will stop the daily sacrifices in the new temple, enter the Holy of Holies where a statue of himself has been erected. A command will be given for all the world to worship him as their god.

Then the Lord’s Spirit will be poured out upon the nation of Israel, the Lord will seal the 144,000 male virgin Jews, to preserve them. They will be His one of His primary witnesses here on the earth during that seven year period of time.

Where is The church? Outa here. We are gone!

The Jews in Israel will remember Jesus warning to flee Jerusalem when they see this “Abomination that causes Desolation” and flee to the rock city of “Petra” in Jordan where the Lord will protect them for 42 months, or the last 3 ½ years of the Great Tribulation.

During these last 3 ½ years all of the seals, trumpet and bowl judgments described in Revelation 6-19 will be poured out as 2/3rds of the people living on the earth will perish.

Then Jesus will ride out of heaven along with His church and touchdown on the earth as Zechariah 14 describes—at the “Mount of Olives”.

Jesus will set up His righteous Kingdom over the earth for 1,000 years while satan is held in chains in the “Abusso”.

Colossians 3:2
2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. NKJV

Since it appears that these things are upon us, What manner of life should we be living?

If you have not accepted Jesus yet as your Lord and Savior it is time today, if you wait until the seven year tribulation begins, it may be too late.

10 minutes from  now we may all be gone and then you will enter the Tribulation period where you will have to be beheaded if you determine to follow Jesus then.

If you know Jesus but are not following him, today is the day to get your heart right with Him.

If things continue as they are we could be all gone any second now…

So as Jesus said in Luke, “When you see these things begin to come to pass”, now do you think they have begun to come to pass?

Israel needs a peace plan desperately, no man has been able to provide one but the Bible says that after the church is taken out a man will miraculously have the perfect plan!

All things written are now coming to pass, “Look up, lift up your heads because your redemptions is drawing near”.