“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
The winds of war are blowing. Signs everywhere indicate that the times foretold by the ancient Hebrew prophets and by Jesus are almost upon this world. See Isaiah 13, 24 …. Jeremiah 25 …. Ezekiel 38, 39 … Daniel 12 …. Matthew 24 to name a few.
Jesus said the generation that would see the fig tree (Israel) “put forth leaves” (Matthew 24:32) would see His return. In 1967 in the miracle Six Day War little Israel, born in 1948, “put forth leaves” and acquired the Sinai, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank (Judea and Samaria of the Bible), East Jerusalem where the temple of Solomon, and Herod once stood (now the hottest piece of real estate on the planet) and the Golan Heights up in the north.
A generation is normally considered 40 years. 1967+ 40 comes to 2007. Between now and the possible Second Coming at that time we need to have the Rapture of those truly saved and a “shortened.” We are close, close, close ! ! !
The Holy Spirit tells us through the Apostle John that early in the tribulation one fourth of the population of the planet will die. (Revelation 6:8)
I believe that the Church will be in heaven with Jesus by that time. It was our Lord Himself who instructed us, “Watch, ye, therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” (Luke 21:36)
O happy day!
Meanwhile we “occupy” (Luke 19:13) till He comes for us. I often pray that God will open a door for me to speak to someone about Jesus and His love. Often He answers that prayer. Even though the person may not immediately respond, a seed has been planted. Hopefully in the tribulation period they will repent and yield their life to Jesus. Then martyrdom and eternity in heaven with us.
God’s judgement is coming on America soon. No matter what the size of our military, judgement is coming. Other nations may be as sinful as the United States, but no land has been so flooded with Gospel light. We are without excuse.
Pray for our leaders. Talk of a Palestinian state side by side with Israel is contrary to the Bible. God gave all that land to Abraham and his descendents through Isaac, not Ishmael. “And I will give unto thee, (Abraham) and to thy seed after thee the land wherein thou art a sojourner, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” (Genesis 17:8)
“Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children, but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.” (Romans 9:7)
Israel may allow the Palestinians to live on their land — as long as they behave themselves. Something their leadership is not doing now.
And Israel? Yes, God will deal with Israel too. To this day, by and large, “As concerning the gospel, they are enemies ….” (Romans 11:28) God has punished Israel in the past and will do so severely in the tribulation.
Yet our task is to love that people, bless them in any way we can, and stand firmly with the word of God that the land belongs to them. Their ownership of the land in no way depends on their performance either in the past or in the present. Almighty God Himself says they are “the apple of his eye” (Zechariah 2:8)
“A deep sleep fell upon Abram ….” (Genesis 15:12) when the covenant for the land was being made. God did this to show that He alone was responsible for the perpetuity of the covenant independent of the faithfulness of Abraham or his descendants.
Our Lord loves both the Jew and the Palestinian. Many from both peoples are coming to Jesus. Praise the Lord! Yet the land belongs to Israel.
At the judgement of the Gentile (non Jewish) nations after Armageddon, the reigning Christ will judge them “… for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.” (Joel 3:2)
“Parting my land” among other things means a Palestinian state on Israel’s land. Again, pray for our leaders. The word of God “… I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee; ….” (Genesis 12:3) is still valid today. Let us not curse Israel by attempting to “divide” their land.
I continue to teach the books of the Bible line by line in season and out of season. Day by day there is a growing desire in my heart to pray, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:20) Come to take your bride away.
I do believe that in looking forward to His return for us, and longing to be with Him is a form of worship. And perhaps it is a form of high worship. Something to ponder.
In Jesus,
Jerry