Prophecy Series- Message # 14
By Gary "Gabe" Hulin
“Dukes of Edom: Fate of the Palestinians”
“Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace,
and be not still, O God. For, lo, thine enemies
make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. They have taken crafty counsel against thy
people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.
They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation;
that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent:
they are confederate against thee: The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the
Hagarenes; Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants
of Tyre; Assur also is joined with
them:
they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah. Do unto them…O my God, make them like
a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.
As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth
the mountains on fire; So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy
storm. Fill their faces with shame;
that they may seek thy name, O LORD. Let them be confounded and
troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish: That men
may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH,, art the most high over all
the earth.” (Psalms 83)
“Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O
nation not desired Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as
the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day
of the LORD's anger come upon you. Seek ye the LORD, all ye
meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek
meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD's anger For
Gaza shall be forsaken: and Ashkelon a desolation they shall drive
out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up. Woe unto the inhabitants of
the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites!
the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the
Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant. And the seacoast shall be
dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks. And the coast shall be for the remnant
of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon
shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them,
and turn away their captivity. I have heard the reproach
of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have
reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border. Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of
hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the
children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual
desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of
my people shall possess them. This shall they have for
their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the
people of the LORD of hosts. The LORD will be terrible
unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship
him, every one from his place, even all
the isles of the heathen.” (Zeph 21-11)
preface
The above passages from scripture have incredible implications
considering the perilous time in which we live and the current situation in the
Middle East We can determine from the
above verses that there is going to come a time when the evil enemies
of God’s chosen people, Israel, will “lift their head” and
conspire together with the intentions of “making Israel a nation no
more.”
Joining the Palestinians in this series of wars will be the modern day
nations of Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan and Egypt. It seems highly probable, in light of
scripture, that it will ignite a Holy war leading to the prophesied total
destruction of Kuwait, the ruin of Damascus, nuclear destruction on Iraq,
devastating destruction in areas of Israel and Jordan, and, the decline of the
United States leading to a forced military arming of the European Union under
the anti-christ.
It is important to distinguish the difference between these wars and the
war between Russia and her allies that will follow near the
midpoint of the seven-year tribulation.
It is our belief that the “wars and rumors of wars” spoken of in this
message are currently preparing to unfold. These wars are only a part of a campaign
that eventually gathers all nations to Armageddon. Many of these wars (battles) occur in the beginning of the
tribulation or even before the tribulation begins.
God will bring judgment on the specific peoples mentioned above. The reason for His judgment is clear: He
will be known among the nations as the only God, the One capable of
protecting His chosen people against their enemies in this dying world. The Dukes of Edom, the
Palestinian terrorists and those nations that support them will soon be “consumed”
by God’s wrath. The prophets have revealed many sorrows both past and
present that have been the result of Gods judgment upon the enemies of Israel.
This message seeks to reveal some of the soon to come judgments upon the
descendents of Essau and Ishmael.
Beyond these early tribulation “battles” the ultimate wrath of God
will further cleanse the world from sin at the second advent of Jesus Christ. See message #12: "The Second Coming of Jesus Christ"
Historical Connections/Abrahamic
Covenant
The
covenant between God and Abraham establishes an area of the Mid-East, which God
Himself has determined is the birthright of His chosen people. This geographic
area so much in contention today was given to Abraham’s descendants Isaac and
Jacob (Israel) and to their succeeding generations. The following scriptures detail this covenant and make clear
God’s intentions to allow Israel possession of the land forever.
“As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a
father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any
more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of
many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of
thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
And I will establish my covenant between me and
thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant,
to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee,
the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting
possession; and I will be their God…
And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and
thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for
an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee:
Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him
exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. But my covenant will I
establish with Isaac…” (Gen 17:4-8, 19-21)
“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from
thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew
thee: And I will make of thee a great
nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a
blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him
that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be
blessed.” (Gen 12:1-3)
God has clearly revealed that those nations which war against the Nation of Israel will be cursed and those that bless Israel will be blessed. Thus the United States has been blessed as we have supported Israel, for the most part, through her modern existence. May God help us to remain steadfast in our support of Israel lest we also be cursed. Any support for a Palestinian state should be viewed against God’s Word.
In 1948 Israel was reborn again after over 2000 years of being dispersed among the nations of the world (See Message # 2: “Re-establishment of Israel as a Nation”). Since that time the Palestinians have become dependant upon the Israelis for employment.
“For the LORD will have
mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and
the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the
house of Jacob. And the people shall take
them, and bring them to their place: and the house of Israel shall possess
them in the land of the LORD for servants and handmaids...” (Isa 14:1-2)
Further clarification of Gods covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel) is revealed in the following scripture, Genesis Chapter 28:
“And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and
charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of
Canaan. Arise, go to Padanaram, to
the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of
the daughers of Laban thy mother's brother.
And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful,
and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to
thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a
stranger, which God gave unto Abraham. And Isaac sent away Jacob:
and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah,
Jacob's and Esau's mother. And Esau seeing that the
daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father; Then went Esau unto
Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of
Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife. And, behold, the LORD
stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God
of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;
And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to
the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and
in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I am with thee,
and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee
again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that
which I have spoken to thee of.” (Gen 28:1-15)
Israel becoming a nation
again in 1948 began Gods revealing of the prophesies pertaining to the “end
times” or “later days”. The enmity,
that age old hatred between the descendents of Isaac and Ishmael again
lifted its ugly head (See Message #3 “Mid-East Stumbling Stones”). This enmity has been festering and poisoning
the hearts of many in these last days as can readily be seen in your nightly
news. “Thorns and briers” (terrorists) fill the television
networks with homicide bombings and other evil activities born of the devil
himself.
Throughout history there are examples of the intense hatred born of this age-old feud. Many may remember reading childhood bible stories concerning Israel’s continual battles with the Philistines. The scriptures below are only two examples of this hatred being directed by the Philistines toward King Saul, and by the Edomites toward Moses when he was guiding his people to the Promised Land.
“So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his
enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of
Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and
against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed
them.” (1 Sam 14:47)
“Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through
the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the
wells: we will go by the king's high way, we will not turn to the right hand
nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders. And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass
by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword.”. (Num 20:17-18)
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Command the children of Israel, and say unto them When
ye come into the land of Canaan; (this is the land that shall fall unto you for
an inheritance, even the land of Canaan with the coasts thereof:) Then your
south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the coast of Edom,
and your south border shall be the outmost coast of the salt sea
eastward:” (Num 34:1-3)
The Dukes of Edom
The following scriptures are intended to focus on the
recipients of God’s coming wrath in the Mid-East. There will be many “wars and rumors of wars”
that lead up to the final battle of Armageddon as we have learn from the
discourse given by Jesus to His followers in Matthew 24. The following scriptures refer to SOME
of these wars, which will see the enemies of Israel brought to justice for
their hatred and vengeance upon the nation of Israel, God’s chosen people.
“Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom. Esau took his wives of the
daughters of Canaan; Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Aholibamah the
daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite; And Bashemath Ishmael's daughter, sister of
Nebajoth. And Adah bare to Esau
Eliphaz; and Bashemath bare Reuel; And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these are the sons of
Esau, which were born unto him in the land of Canaan. And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his
daughters, and all the persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his
beasts, and all his substance, which he had got in the land of Canaan; and went
into the country from the face of his brother Jacob. For their riches were more than that they might dwell
together; and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them because
of their cattle. Thus dwelt Esau in mount
Seir: Esau is Edom. And these are the
generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir: These are the names of Esau's sons;
Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel the son of Bashemath the wife
of Esau. And the sons of Eliphaz were
Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz. And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau's son; and she
bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau's wife. And these are the sons of
Reuel; Nahath, and Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah: these were the sons of Bashemath
Esau's wife. And these were the sons of
Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon, Esau's wife: and she
bare to Esau Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah.
These were dukes of the sons of Esau: the sons of
Eliphaz the firstborn son of Esau; duke Teman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke
Kenaz, Duke Korah, duke Gatam, and
duke Amalek: these are the dukes that came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these
were the sons of Adah…These are the sons of Esau, who is Edom, and these are
their dukes…” “And these are the
names of the dukes that came of Esau, according to their families, after their
places, by their names; duke Timnah, duke Alvah, duke Jetheth, Duke Aholibamah,
duke Elah, duke Pinon, Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar, Duke Magdiel, duke Iram: these be the dukes of
Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their possession: he is
Esau the father of the Edomites.” (Gen Chapter 36:1-19, 40-43)
Today’s news reports out of Israel often refer to Palestinians “taking
vengeance” for a previous act that may have been done by the
Israelis. Although Israel only responds
to terrorist acts as a means of survival, many legions of “thorns
and briers” are forcing the Israelis to become the hand of vengeance of
God Almighty (Ezk 25:14). This cycle of
vengeance is perpetual, never ending and continues to escalate “waxing
worse and worse”. God, however,
say’s “vengeance is mine”
(Rom 12:19).
“Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because that Edom hath dealt against the
house of Judah by taking vengeance, and hath greatly offended, and revenged
himself upon them; Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also
stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it;
and I will make it desolate from Teman; and they of Dedan shall fall by the
sword. And I will lay my
vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel: and they shall do
in Edom according to mine anger and according to my fury; and they shall
know my vengeance, saith the Lord GOD.
Thus saith the Lord GOD;.” (Ezk 25:12-14)
The “Dukes of Edom” can clearly be traced from scripture to the modern day Arab nations. They are descendants from Abraham through the lines of Ishmael and Esau; thus, they are not heirs to the birthright given only to the descendants of Jacob who is Israel (Gen 35:10).
The failure of the Oslo peace process in 2000 and the current uprising reveal poignant issues involving the Palestinian leadership. The most obvious is the fact that the Palestinian Authority has no intentions of peace with Israel. After being offered 93% of all that they asked for, the Palestinian leadership refused the far reaching concessions offered by Israel and have chosen instead a path that will force Israel to react as a means of self-survival. There seems to be no logic to Arafat’s choice that will lead to the destruction of many of Israel’s enemies. The issue of Jerusalem is the one stipulation that Israel is not willing to give up. Jerusalem represents their very existence. It is the “stumbling block” and the “burdensome stone” which God says will perplex the nations in the last days. “And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.” (Zech 12:3)
Philistines (Palestinians)
“And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the
pride of the Philistines.” (Zech 9:6) Yassar Arafat was born in the Gaza strip in
1929.
Modern day Palestinians
are the direct descendants of the Philistines that were at constant war
with Israel in biblical history. The fate
of the Palestinians, in the context of the “last days”, is clear
according to God’s Word. They are going
to be “dissolved” or “consumed” and made to “be
no more”. Very soon Israel is going
to be forced into making this decision in order to survive as a
nation. They have offered the
Palestinians a return of most of the land they have won by wars started
by the Arabs in exchange for “peace”.
However, the scripture is also clear that the Palestinians seek to
“MAKE ISRAEL A NATION NO MORE.”
Because these nations seek to destroy Israel there are also those who
still feel that Yassar Arafat, the illegitimate “leader” of the
Palestinian cause, should be allowed to continue his deceitful and
insane policy of terror. Thus,
the sealed fate of the Palestinians has been the result of these policies that
reflect little wisdom and fails to quench the several millennia of hatred
embedded in man’s sin nature nor the ongoing enmity that began as a family
dispute over a birthright. The
destruction of the Palestinians is seen as final and total being the
result of “a consuming fire coming from out of the center of Israel”.
“Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that
smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent's root shall come forth a
cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent. And the firstborn of the
poor shall feed, and the needy shall lie down in safety: and I will kill thy
root with famine, and he shall slay thy remnant. Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou,
whole Palestina, art dissolved: for there shall come from the
north a smoke, and none shall be alone in his appointed
times. What shall one then answer
the messengers of the nation? That the LORD hath founded Zion, and the poor of his
people shall trust in it.” (Isa 14:29-32)
“The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom;
We have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent among the
heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle. Behold, I have made thee small among the
heathen: thou art greatly despised. ….” (Obadiah 1-2)
“How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden
things sought up! All the men of thy
confederacy have brought thee even to the border: the men that were at peace
with thee have deceived thee, and prevailed against thee; that they eat thy
bread have laid a wound under thee: there is none understanding in him. Shall I not in that day, saith the
LORD, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the
mount of Esau? And thy mighty men, O Teman,
shall be dismayed, to the end that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut
off by slaughter. For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall
cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever….” (Obadiah 6-10)
“…and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. And the house of Jacob shall be a fire,
and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they
shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of
the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it. And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they
of the plain the Philistines:…” (Obadiah 18-21)
There will come forth a fire out of the center of Israel, which will destroy the Palestinians. Many cities mentioned in these scriptures are yet to receive the level of judgment and destruction, which God clearly says, will come upon them. Thus, these scriptures are yet to be fulfilled Please refer to the attached diagrammatic map, which seeks to locate some of these cities and areas that will be destroyed by the weapons of God’s Indignation (Israel) during the tribulation, and, ultimately by the Son of God at the end of the tribulation at the final battle (Armageddon).
“Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines, and
to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remaineth: for the
LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor. Baldness is come upon Gaza;
Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou
cut thyself?” (Jer 47:4-5)
“for I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time that I will visit him. If grapegatherers come to thee, would they not leave
some gleaning grapes? if thieves by night, they will destroy till they have
enough. But I have made Esau bare, I
have uncovered his secret places, and he shall not be able to hide himself:
his seed is spoiled, and his brethren, and his neighbours, and he is not. Leave thy fatherless
children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me. For thus saith the LORD;
Behold, they whose judgment was not to drink of the cup have assuredly drunken;
and art thou he that shall altogether go unpunished? thou shalt not go
unpunished, but thou shalt surely drink of it.
For I have sworn by myself, saith the LORD, that Bozrah shall become
a desolation, a reproach, a waste, and a curse; and all the cities thereof
shall be perpetual wastes. I have heard a rumour from
the LORD, and an ambassador is sent unto the heathen, saying, Gather ye
together, and come against her, and rise up to the battle. For, lo, I will make thee
small among the heathen, and despised among men. Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of
thine heart, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the
height of the hill: though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I
will bring thee down from thence, saith the LORD. Also Edom shall be a desolation: every one that goeth by
it shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues thereof. As in the overthrow of Sodom
and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD, no man shall
abide there, neither shall a son of man dwell in it. (Jer 49:7-18)
The cause of God’s judgment upon the Philistines is again made clear.
“Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and
have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for
the old hatred; Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will
stretch out mine hand upon the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethims,
and destroy the remnant of the sea coast.
And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious
rebukes; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall lay my
vengeance upon them.” ( Ezk 25:15-17)
Canaanites
Throughout
this message many references are made to the “Canaanites” and the land
of Canaan. The following is but
one scripture referencing their demise as a people.
“The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the
inhabitants of Palestina. Then the dukes of Edom shall
be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the
inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.
Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness
of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O
LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased. Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in
the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, In the
Sanctuary, O LORD, which thy hands have established. The LORD shall reign for ever and ever.” (Ex. 15:14-18)
Teman
Teman is an ancient city found in Southeast Edom on the route from Damascus to Mecca in the northern part of the Arabian Peninsula toward the Syrian Desert. Today the city survives as Teyma about 250 miles southeast of Damascus. This area also is mentioned in scripture as receiving God’s wrath as he deals with the descendents of Ishmael and Esau.
“But
I will send a fire upon Teman, which shall devour the palaces of
Bozrah.” (Amo 1:12)
“Concerning
Edom, thus saith the LORD of hosts; Is wisdom no more in Teman? Is
counsel perished from the prudent? is their wisdom vanished?” (Jeremiah 49:7)
“These were dukes of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the
firstborn son of Esau; duke Teman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz, … (Genesis 36:15)
“Therefore hear the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against
Edom; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the inhabitants of Teman:
Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their
habitations desolate with them.” (Jeremiah 49:20)
“Therefore
thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom,
and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from
Teman; and they of Dedan shall fall by the sword.” (Ezekiel 25:13)
“And thy mighty men,
O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one of the mount of
Esau may be cut off by slaughter.” (Obadiah 1:9)
Amelek
Enmity between the Israeli descendants of Jacob and the descendants of Ishmael and Esau has continued for nearly 4000 years. Hal Lindsey has correctly stated, “This hatred is the flame that will ignite the fuse of Armageddon”. The “latter end” will be that they will “perish forever”. Amelek, the grandson of Esau, is still another Arab descendent that will perish in the “latter days”.
“the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have
war with Amalek from generation to generation. (Exodus 17:16)
“Duke
Korah, duke Gatam, and duke Amalek: these are the dukes that came of
Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these were the sons of Adah.” (Genesis 36:12)
“Therefore
it shall be, when the LORD thy God hath given thee (Israel) rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land
which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it,
that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven;
thou shalt not forget it.” (Deuteronomy
25:19)
“And when he looked on Amalek,
he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations;
but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.” (Numbers 24:20)
Gaza
and Tyre
The Gaza strip today
is the home of thousands of refugees displaced from previous Arab/Israeli
wars. The plight of these descendents
of Ishmael and Esau is not the result of “Israeli occupation or oppression”, as presented by the
anti-christ media; but, rather, it is the result of insane policies by rogue
nations that seek only the destruction of Israel. The ultimate power of the wicked is
found to be in Satan who struggles to influence the policies of nations: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of
this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Eph 6:12) The
rulers of this world are leading us into what will be a series of wars at
the beginning of the tribulation that among other equally devastating
events will result in a “consuming”
of the Philistines living in the Gaza strip. The Gaza strip has become a
breeding ground for Islamic terrorists and homicide bombers. Decades of lies and indoctrination of the
Palestinian children has a whole generation of “thorns and briers” ready
to do the bidding of the Islamic devils who rule from high places and seek to
utterly destroy the “nation not
desired” (Israel). However, the
“remnant” of Israel that comes to know Jesus Christ as their Messiah at the
middle of the tribulation will be given the “promise of the birthright” in
full in the Kingdom of God at the return of Jesus Christ (the
Advent). His exhortation is clear that they (Israel)
should seek the Lord before it is too late.
By accepting Christ as savior now one may avoid the coming tribulation
on earth.
“And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets. Behold, the LORD will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire. Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited” (Zech 9:3-5).
“Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O
nation not desired; Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as
the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day
of the LORD's anger come upon you. Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have
wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be
hid in the day of the LORD's anger. For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall
drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up. Woe unto the inhabitants of
the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against
you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that
there shall be no inhabitant. And the sea
coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks. And the coast shall be for the remnant
of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon
shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them,
and turn away their captivity.” (Zeph 2:1-7)
Ammon/Moab
(Jordan)
The land of the Ammonites refers to the modern day area of Northern Jordan while Moab is mainly the area of Southern Jordan. These descendents of Esau today have many living in the West Bank and Golan Heights constituting perplexing problems for those who would seek peace in the region. Modern day “Ammonites” seek to push back the Israeli settlements near the border. This area is very strategic considering our military plans for war in Iraq. It is the only buffer between Iraq and Israel and is a part of the land given in the covenant to Abraham. It is today a breeding ground for Islamic terrorist recruiting as well as a number of terrorist organizations such as Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Fatah.
“Concerning the Ammonites, thus saith the LORD; Hath
Israel no sons? hath he no heir? why then doth their king inherit Gad, and his
people dwell in his cities? Therefore,
behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will cause an alarm of war to
be heard in Rabbah of the Ammonites; and it shall be a desolate heap… and
her daughters shall be burned with fire: then shall Israel be heir unto them
that were his heirs, saith the LORD.
Howl, O Heshbon, for Ai is spoiled: cry, ye daughters of Rabbah, gird
you with sackcloth; lament, and run to and fro by the hedges… And afterward
I will bring again the captivity of the children of Ammon, saith the LORD”
(Jer
49:1-6)
“I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the
children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves
against their border.
Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely
Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the
breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue
of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall
possess them. This shall they have
for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves
against the people of the LORD of hosts.” (Zeph 2:8-10)
“The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
Son of man, set thy face against the Ammonites, and prophesy against them; And say unto the Ammonites,
Hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou saidst,
Aha, against my sanctuary, when it was profaned; and against the land of
Israel, when it was desolate; and against the house of Judah, when they
went into captivity; Behold, therefore
I will deliver thee to the men of the east for a possession, and they shall
set their palaces in thee, and make their dwellings in thee: they shall eat thy
fruit, and they shall drink thy milk.
And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels, and the Ammonites a couching
place for flocks: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. For thus saith the Lord GOD;
Because thou hast clapped thine hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced
in heart with all thy despite against the land of Israel; Behold, therefore
I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and will deliver thee for a spoil
to the heathen; and I will cut thee off from the people, and I will
cause thee to perish out of the countries: I will destroy thee; and thou
shalt know that I am the LORD… And I will execute judgments upon Moab; and they shall
know that I am the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because
that Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and
hath greatly offended, and revenged himself upon them; Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also
stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it; and
I will make it desolate from Teman; and they of Dedan shall fall by the sword. And I will lay my
vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel: and they shall do in Edom
according to mine anger and according to my fury; and they shall know my
vengeance, saith the Lord GOD. Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because
the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance
with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the old hatred; Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will
stretch out mine hand upon the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethims,
and destroy the remnant of the sea coast. And I will execute great vengeance upon them with
furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them.”
(Ezk 25:
1-7,11-17)
“Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia,
triumph thou because of me. Who will bring me into the
strong city? who will lead me into Edom?
Wilt not thou, O God, which hadst cast us off? and thou, O God, which didst not go out with
our armies? Give us help from trouble:
for vain is the help of man.
Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that
shall tread down our enemies.” (Psalms
60:8-12)
Mt. Seir
Mt. Seir is an area in Edom that will also receive
judgment for what is specifically referred to as a “perpetual hatred”
clearly revealed in the house of Esau toward the people of Israel. It is easy to relate the daily graphic
scenes of murdered Israeli children and the blood of innocents to the following
scripture. Note also that God tells us the
reasons for the harsh judgment that is to come upon this people who
are the descendents of Esau: Mention is
made that they seek to possess two nations (both Jacob and Esau); and, they
are wrought with blasphemies against the True God. Envy, Hatred and Strife are the
fruits of Satan and are followed by blasphemy against the God of Gods. I can think of nothing more blasphemous than
a statement I heard recently from one Muslim who proudly claimed “Allah killed your God”. Another blasphemy of equal respite is
Islam’s claim of killing innocents in the name of Allah, their God. Those who do not believe we are in a
religious WAR, and, that Islam is a peaceful religion I say WAKE UP!! It may already be too late for America as a
nation. Ultimately, judgments on the Dukes of Edom will have the
effect of bringing the remnant in Israel to rely upon the “Lord of
Hosts”. This acceptance of Jesus
Christ as their messiah, by the REMNANT will finally occur at the
midpoint of the tribulation. Until then
Antichrist will arise to power until he exalts himself as God in
the Temple of God referred to as the “Abomination of Desolation” in
Daniel (see message #6:"Daniel's Vision of the Seventy Weeks").
“Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir,
and prophesy against it, And say unto it, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O mount Seir, I am
against thee, and I will stretch out mine hand against thee, and I will make
thee most desolate. I will lay thy cities waste,
and thou shalt be desolate, and thou shalt know that I am the LORD. Because thou hast had a perpetual hatred, and hast shed the
blood of the children of Israel by the force of the sword in the time
of their calamity, in the time that their iniquity had an end: Therefore, as I live, saith
the Lord GOD, I will prepare thee unto blood, and blood shall pursue thee:
sith thou hast not hated blood, even blood shall pursue thee. Thus will I make mount Seir
most desolate, and cut off from it him that passeth out and him that returneth.
And I will fill his mountains with his slain men: in
thy hills, and in thy valleys, and in all thy rivers, shall they fall that are
slain with the sword. I will make thee perpetual
desolations, and thy cities shall not return: and ye shall know that I
am the LORD. Because thou hast said, These two nations and these
two countries shall be mine, and we will possess it; whereas the LORD was
there: Therefore, as I live, saith the
Lord GOD, I will even do according to thine anger, and according to thine
envy which thou hast used out of thy hatred against them; and I will make
myself known among them, when I have judged thee. And thou shalt know that I
am the LORD, and that I have heard all thy blasphemies which thou hast
spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, They are laid desolate, they
are given us to consume. Thus with your mouth
ye have boasted against me, and have multiplied your words against me:
I have heard them Thus saith the Lord GOD; When
the whole earth rejoiceth, I will make thee desolate. As thou didst rejoice at the inheritance of the house
of Israel, because it was desolate, so will I do unto thee: thou shalt be
desolate, O mount Seir, and all Idumea, even all of it: and they shall
know that I am the LORD.” (Ezk Chap 35)
The perpetual hatred spoken of by Ezekiel is a hatred born out of the
bowels of Satan. This enmity is even
recognized by some Arabs such as the founder of Saudi Arabia, al Riyadh Saud,
who said, “The power struggle between Israel and the Arabs is a long- term
historical trial. Victory or defeat is for us questions of existence or
annihilation – the outcome of an irreconcilable hatred.”
Kuwait (Kedar)/Iran (Elam)
The modern Arab nation of Kuwait sits in an area,
which ancient maps refer to as Kedar.
These descendents of Ishmael were primarily Bedouin tent dwellers that
extended across the northern portion of Saudi Arabia to the area of
Kuwait. The self- proclaimed reincarnation
of Nebuchanezzar (Sadam Hussein) has more than once tried to invade
Kuwait. One can recall the
graphic images of burning oil fields against the dark desert sky of
Kuwait at the end of the 1991 Gulf War.
Hussein may yet destroy the palaces of the princes that rely on the
protection of the United States. The
following scripture reveals that will happen “in the latter days” (v.
39). In the 1991 Gulf War he attempted to destroy as much of Kuwait as he could
before being driven out by coalition forces lead by a “wealthy nation”. Saddam attempted to destroy the oil fields
of Kuwait by setting them on fire, so, it should not surprise us if he is more
successful a second time. Note also,
the scripture refers to Elam (modern Iran) as also undergoing judgment; and, it
gives the time element of the fulfillment of this prophecy as “the “latter
days”.
“Concerning Kedar, and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor, which
Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon shall smite, thus saith the LORD; Arise ye,
go up to Kedar, and spoil the men of the east. Their tents and their flocks shall they take away: they shall
take to themselves their curtains, and all their vessels, and their camels; and
they shall cry unto them, Fear is on every side. Flee, get you far off, dwell deep, O ye inhabitants of
Hazor, saith the LORD; for
Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath taken counsel against you, and hath
conceived a purpose against you. Arise, get you up unto
the wealthy nation, that dwelleth without care, saith the LORD,
which have neither gates nor bars, which dwell alone. And their camels shall be a
booty, and the multitude of their cattle a spoil: and I will scatter into all
winds them that are in the utmost corners; and I will bring their calamity
from all sides thereof, saith the LORD.
And Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons, and a
desolation for ever: there shall no man abide there, nor any son of man dwell
in it.” The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet
against Elam in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah,
saying,Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will break the bow of Elam,
the chief of their might. And upon Elam will I bring
the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward
all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam
shall not come. For I will cause Elam
to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and
I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, saith the LORD; and I will
send the sword after them, till I have consumed them: And I will set my throne
in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the
LORD. But it shall come to pass in
the latter days, that will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the
LORD.” (Jer 49:29-39)
Damascus
“Concerning Damascus.
Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they
are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet. Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to
flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a
woman in travail. How is the city of praise
not left, the city of my joy! Therefore her young men
shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that
day, saith the LORD of hosts. And I will kindle a fire in
the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Benhadad” ( Jer 49:23-27)
When God uses such terms as “latter days”, “at that time”, “in that
day”, etc., reference is being made to the last days of this age prior to
the implementation of a new dispensation wherein Christ Himself will dwell
among men (Rev. 21:3). It further
refers to a period of time, which roughly equates to when the end time
prophecies began literal fulfillment.
This can be recognized by most students of prophecy as beginning in
1948 with the return of Israel as a nation
(refer to message #2: “The Reestablishment of Israel as a Nation”). The point is that the utter destruction
mentioned in the verses above and below refer to a time at the end of
this age. The fact is that given
all the wars throughout history that have been fought in and around Damascus at
no time has the city been made “a ruinous heap”. Some of the prophecies presented in this
message, while historical in context, are nevertheless, duel prophecies that
have their literal fulfillment in the near future (i.e. in the “last days”). Thus, the following prophecy is yet to be
fulfilled and I submit will be one of a campaign of Middle East battles that
will lead up to the final battle of Armageddon.
“The burden of Damascus. Behold,
Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall
be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid. The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim,
and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall
be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the LORD of hosts. And in that day it shall come
to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his
flesh shall wax lean. And it shall
be as when the harvestman gathereth the corn, and reapeth the ears with his
arm; and it shall be as he that gathereth ears in the valley of Rephaim. Yet gleaning grapes shall be left
in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two or three berries in the top of
the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof,
saith the LORD God of Israel. At that
day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the
Holy One of Israel. And he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands,
neither shall respect that which his fingers have made, either the groves, or
the images. In that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough,
and an uppermost branch, which they left because of the children of Israel:
and there shall be desolation. Because thou hast forgotten the God
of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength,
therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange
slips: In
the day shalt thou make thy plant to grow, and in the morning shalt thou make
thy seed to flourish: but the harvest shall be a heap in the day of grief and
of desperate sorrow. Woe to the
multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to
the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty
waters! The nations shall rush like
the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee
far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and
like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. And behold at eveningtide trouble;
and before the morning he is not. This is the portion of them that spoil
us, and the lot of them that rob us.” (Isaiah Chapter 17)
Babylon
The approaching wars
centered in the Middle East will greatly affect the existence of modern day
Iraq. Before that great battle of
Armageddon, which pits the God of the universe against the accumulated
forces of the power of darkness, it appears that Modern Babylon, the city
and political entity, will experience a devastating war which occurs about
seven years prior to the final battle at the beginning of the tribulation. It is very plausible that given the timing
of other related prophecies that the devastation of physical Babylon, the
land of the Chaldees will occur at or near the time of the rapture of the
church. One cannot be dogmatic about
this. However, it is as sure as God’s
Word is Truth that as these things continue to unfold we are being given
enlightenment by His prophets first.
Physical Babylon will be destroyed by what appears to be some form of
weapon of mass destruction (WMD) “Thus saith the LORD; Behold,
I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the midst of
them that rise up against me, a destroying wind;” (Jer 50:51)
Today, the physical land of the Chaldees is ruled by a self-proclaimed reincarnation of Nebuchadnezzar. Saddam Hussein has been exposed to the world for the atrocities he has committed; yet, his obvious evil escapades are often ignored by a world that has made “right to appear wrong” and “evil to appear good”. The murder of his own people and the threat of WMD is overlooked by many nations that are dependent upon Iraq for their oil; therefore, it appears that It has become incumbent upon the United States to bring military havoc on Babylon. Israel, however, God’s “weapon of Indignation”, may yet be the source of the destruction of literal physical Babylon. Regardless of what happens in this early battle one thing remains clear. The ULTIMATE destruction of physical Babylon will come in the Day of the Lord. At the second Advent of Jesus Christ God will bring final judgment upon these major enemies off His Plan. We who are the children of God will be with Christ at the Advent having been raised (raptured) at the beginning of the tribulation (refer to the message #12:"The Second Coming of Jesus Christ"
The following scripture describes what is to be the final fate of literal Babylon in
the Day of the Lord:
“The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did
see. Lift ye up a banner upon the
high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into
the gates of the nobles. I have commanded my
sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even
them that rejoice in my highness. The noise of a multitude in
the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of
nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the battle. They come from a far country, from the end of
heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the
whole land. Howl ye; for the day
of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.
Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt: And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows
shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they
shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames. Behold, the day of the LORD cometh,
cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall
destroy the sinners thereof out of it…”
(Isa 35:1-9).)
In the verses above the prophet Isaiah has described the terrible Day
of the Lord when Jesus Christ will return to earth, with
His saints, as the nations gather in the valley of Megiddo. This is seen as the ultimate destruction
of Babylon, judgment from Almighty God upon both the physical land of the
Chaldeans as well as the entire fallen world society. It would be well to
mention again that Babylon in scripture is seen as “a religious whore”
in Revelation Chapter 17 (refer to message #8:"Mystery Babylon - The Mother of Harlots"
In Revelation Chapter 18 Babylon is
described as a powerful economic system represented by a “great city”
that is twice fallen (New York?). In
the Tribulation, prior to the establishment of His Kingdom, God’s judgments are
to be poured upon the physical land around Babylon. In the broadest sense, however, it is seen as calamity brought
upon the whole earth and judgment upon a world that has rejected God’s
provision of salvation. This
judgment upon mankind is a final part of God’s Plan of cleansing the Iniquity
of Man and returning to that special relationship with him that existed in
the garden before the fall.
Unlike the Isaiah scripture above which described Babylon in the day of
the Lord, Jeremiah references what appears to be a day of destruction
upon Babylon that will come prior to the day of the
Lord perhaps at the “time of His visitation” (Jer 50:27), the rapture
of His Church. The words visit and
visitation may describe the Rapture.
When Jesus returns to earth to establish His millennial kingdom
He will then remain and dwell among men.
At the “rapture” He visits earth to “raise the dead” and those
“alive in Him” to meet Him in the clouds and forever be with the Lord (1
Thess 4:16). There is a difference
between the words establish and visit.
“Establish” is a coming to stay while on the other hand “visit” means a
very brief time.
Often scriptures can be viewed from both historic and future prophetic points of view. Often prophecy will have double meanings. When this occurs the Truth revealed in one understanding of the prophecy does not offset nor diminish Truth that is revealed in the other understanding. In light of the fact that many would see the above scripture as being historical only, attention should be drawn to the fact that verse 42 refers to the “daughter”: of Babylon. The “daughter” implies a prophecy to occur in the latter days. A similar dichotomy is often used in prophecy. Another example is the use of the “remnant” of Israel referring to those Jews who have come to realize Jesus Christ as their Messiah in the last days, i.e., those who will ultimately receive the fullness of the “promise to Abraham” in the Millennial Kingdom of God.
United
states Involvement
Serious students of bible prophecy have often debated
where, or if, the United States is mentioned in the thousands of prophetic
verses of scripture pertaining to “the latter days”. As a current major player in the Mid-east, the United States is
certainly “involved” politically and economically as we prepare for war in
Iraq. We should be concerned and act to
ensure that our nation does not waiver in our support of Israel. We should rethink our support for a
Palestinian state in the land that God has so clearly given to be a
continual possession to Israel. As
long as the United States is supportive of Israel we may well continue to
prosper. However, the scripture is
clear that there will come a time when ALL nations will gather
against Israel. It would appear
that our country is solidly behind Israel now. I would only caution that WAR inevitably brings
unexpected politics, and, certainly, the imminent rapture of the church will
change the political strength of the New World population that will so
rapidly be devoured by the antichrist
(see message #5:"The Antichrist - Who is He?"
). It further should be understood that our
nation is somehow to be “weakened” as a world power.
It is my belief that Christians should support the
war to remove Hussein from power because God has told us to resist evil. It is the right thing to do to resist evil
in all its forms. Some of the most
diabolical plans ever devised are unfolding as the nations scurry to fulfill
their roles in the closing of history.
God’s Plan in the Middle East is not dependent, however, on the United
States of America, although He may choose to use us in his purpose. More likely, however, He will control the
last days series of wars with Israel being the “weapon of God’s indignation”. It is believed by many who study prophecy
that the United States will be reduced as a power “in the latter days” forcing
the whole world against Israel and preparing the political vacuum required to
elevate the status of the “little horn” (antichrist) out of the European union.
Pruning of America
The conspicuous absence of mention of the United
States in scriptures pertaining to the last days may yet have
been explained in Chapter 18 of Isaiah.
Most of the Book of Isaiah leading up to this prophecy as well as much
of Ezekiel pertains to a series of wars that come to pass in close succession
and appear to happen just prior to or perhaps as
the Tribulation begins. Among
these wars there is a particular prophecy concerning a “far away” nation that
is to be “pruned”. In order to
receive a correct interpretation of any prophecy one has to resolve ALL
stipulations that pertain to the prophecy.
In light of the fact that America is not mentioned in scripture directly,
and, it appears that only America can fulfill all the stipulations found
in this prophecy. I submit that the following scripture can only
pertain to the United States of America:
“Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the
rivers of Ethiopia: That sendeth
ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters,
saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a
people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and
trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled! All ye inhabitants of the
world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on
the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye. For so the LORD said unto
me, I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling place like a
clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest. For afore the harvest, when
the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall
both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away and cut down the
branches. They shall be left
together unto the fowls of the mountains, and to the beasts of the earth: and
the fowls shall summer upon them, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter
upon them. In that time shall the
present be brought unto the LORD of hosts of a people scattered and peeled, and
from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and
trodden under”.. (Isa 18:1-7)
A WOE is proclaimed on this nation. The United States has the outspread wings of an eagle
(shadowed) as a symbol used on currency as well as the presidential seal. From the area of Israel where all reference
points in scripture originate this nation is seen as being far away “beyond”
the rivers of Ethiopia; so far that they bring ambassadors and messengers
over the ocean.
The United States is “scattered” with Alaska and Hawaii
being separate from the mainland. This
stipulation alone tends toward only a very few possibilities as to who this
nation refers to. The word “peeled”
means “polished” which seems to fit also as we are rather refined in our
endeavors. Certainly, we have been strong (terrible) from the time God chose to
make us a nation until now.
The term “meted out” means “measured”. Anyone ever having flown cross-country
in an airplane can readily see that
our nation has been fully surveyed and platted and the rivers and roads
traverse every mile. “When he (Uncle Sam) lifts up a sign to the nations and
when this nation officially speaks (bloweth a trumpet) the
nations (mountains in prophecy) listen!! Our presence in the recent U.N resolutions
on Iraq clearly demonstrates that the nations listen to us whether they
agree or not.
The next verses declare a
“detrimental happening” (woe) on the nation mentioned. God gives two examples of pruning both of
which are detrimental to the survival of a plant; yet, neither will completely
destroy the plant. This nation is
“pruned” and there is great damage done to it, yet it appears that it
will remain as a nation.
Finally, the last verse suggests a time frame in which the pruning
will occur. At the time of this
“pruning” the Lord of Hosts (God) will bring this people into His presence. I suggest that this refers to the rapture
when Christians will be brought into His presence to forever be with the
Lord. Remember the rapture will
happen at the beginning of the tribulation, which reinforces this
scenario. This may also explain why
Israel will be left to face the nations of the world alone except for the
guidance of God almighty. Israel
is currently being forced into that ominous position of having to defend itself
from the world. It seems America may
not be around to help defend her much longer and Israel will be faced with
making the tough decisions that will in their own eyes, ensure their
existence: The total destruction of
those that will otherwise destroy them.
This message is not intended to suggest that we not act to try to correct past failed foreign policy by continuing on to Baghdad, even if the results may lead to America’s demise. The fact remains that because it is God’s will…it will happen. Our salvation as individuals does not depend on our military might, nor does it demand that we stop resisting evil or cower beneath the onslaught of terrorism, dictators and fundamental Islam. The ultimate worth of our nation is in how each of us responds to the call of Jesus Christ in our lives. Like all nations we, too, wax “worse and worse” (2 Tim 3:13) as the end of this age draws nigh. We need to accept that incredible gift that God wants us to have in the form of His son. Accept Him who has full control of the passage of nations as well as the destiny of each and every one who freely accepts that gift.
The Day of the Lord
The “Day of the Lord” marks the end of this dispensation, or age, and refers to the
time from the advent of Jesus Christ through His 1000-year reign on earth. The Day of the Lord is also referred to as day
seven in God’s Plan for the redemption of mankind. “A day to the Lord is as a thousand years”
(2Peter 3:8). God’s cleansing of the
earth and His Plan for the redemption of mankind is, therefore in
it’s final stages prior to the establishment of Christ’s kingdom on earth. In the Day of the Lord His Plan to bring
mankind back in His presence is nearly complete. The evil seed within man has now been purged, preparing his bride
to accept a continued relationship with Him that will involve the healing of
the nations during the Millennium and then an eternity in His service. The Dukes of Edom and the Palestinians…
indeed, all who never come to know the God of Israel will be omitted from God’s
kingdom. The teachings of Islam do
not prepare the way to God! As
all “religions” lead man away from Christ and His salvation so, too, does a “relationship”
with the Son of God lead a man back into the presence of the Godhead.
It is incumbent upon all Americans, and even more so those who call
themselves by His Name, to recognize that we are in spiritual warfare;
and, that Islam is a religion of Satan.
It is not for us to be “politically correct” and to shy away from this
fact. It is: however, correct for us to
be true to the Word of God, which is the Sword of His Spirit. The Dukes of Edom will come to know that
the God of Israel and the God of the Bride of Christ is the One True God,” the
Lord of Hosts is His Name”. The
ultimate elimination of the bad seed from the lineage of Edom (Esau),
indeed, the cleansing of mankind, is seen below in the prophet
Zechariah’s description of the Day of The Lord.
“Behold, the
day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of
thee. For I will gather all nations
against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses
rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into
captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the LORD go forth, and
fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day
upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the
mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward
the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain
shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. And ye shall flee to the valley of the
mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall
flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of
Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. And it shall come to pass in that
day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not
day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be
light. And it shall be in that day, that
living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea,
and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it
be. And the LORD shall be king over
all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one. All the land shall be turned as a
plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and
inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate,
unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king's
winepresses. And men shall dwell in it, and there
shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely
inhabited. And this shall be the
plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against
Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet,
and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall
consume away in their mouth. And it shall
come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among
them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his
hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour. And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all
the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and
apparel, in great abundance. And so
shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass,
and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague. And it shall come to pass, that every one
that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up
from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the
feast of tabernacles. And it shall be,
that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem
to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. And if the family of Egypt go not up,
and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD
will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of Egypt,
and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of
tabernacles. In that day shall there be upon the
bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD's house
shall be like the bowls before the altar.
Yea,
every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts:
and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.” (Zech
14:1-21)
“Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate
wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they
have shed innocent blood in their land.
But Judah
shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. For I will cleanse their
blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion.” (Joel 3:19-21)
Conclusion
God’s ultimate solution to terror imparted by
Palestinian hate groups is described in terms such as “dissolve”, “melt
away” and “consume”. No longer will the Islamic devils disrupt the
lives of God’s Chosen people with their homicide bombings, mass murders and
satanic acts of terror. Israel, God’s
weapon of Indignation, will be the instrument at God’s disposal to carry
out much of His judgment upon the Dukes of Edom. Ultimately, however, God will use the Rod of Iron
spirited by His Son, Jesus Christ, to destroy Satan and his associates at
Christ’s Second Coming (Advent).
“And there shall be no more a pricking brier
unto the house of Israel, nor any grieving thorn of all that are round
about them, that despised them; and they shall know that I am the
Lord GOD. Thus saith the Lord GOD;
When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom
they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the
heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant
Jacob. And they shall dwell safely
therein, and shall build houses, and plant vineyards; yea, they shall dwell
with confidence, when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise
them round about them; and they shall know that I am the LORD their
God.” (Ezk 28:24-26)
There will come a time in the very near future when the
re-gathering of the nation of Israel will be completed in God’s Plan. The fulfillment of His promise to
Abraham and his descendents, Isaac and Jacob had it’s beginning in 1948 when
Israel was re-established as a nation. It continued toward fulfillment in 1967
with the six-day war as Jerusalem was reoccupied by Israel for the first time
since before Roman control. The
final re-gathering and complete fulfillment of the promise of the birthright
will be realized in the Kingdom of God on earth during the Millennium
having been given to the remnant of the people of Israel.
Satan is the promoter of that age-old hatred
between the twin brothers and their succeeding generations just as he is the
cause of all of the turmoil in this world.
The destiny of God’s chief adversary is seen in the
following scripture:
“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the
morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the
nations! For thou hast said in thine
heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of
God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the
north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will
be like the most High. Yet thou
shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon
thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth
to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and
destroyed the cities thereof, that opened not the house of his
prisoners? All the kings of the
nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house. But thou art cast out of thy
grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain,
thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a
carcass trodden under feet. Thou shalt not be joined
with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy
people:
the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned. Prepare slaughter for his
children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess
the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities. For I will rise up against them, saith the LORD of
hosts, and cut off from Babylon the name, and remnant, and son, and
nephew, saith the LORD…. Rejoice not thou, whole
Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the
serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery
flying serpent. And the firstborn of the
poor shall feed, and the needy shall lie down in safety: and I will kill thy
root with famine, and he shall slay thy remnant. Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou, whole
Palestina, art dissolved: for there shall come from the north a smoke, and none
shall be alone in his appointed times. What shall one then answer
the messengers of the nation? That the LORD hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people
shall trust in it.” (Isa 14:12-32)
The Fall of Lucifer (Isa
14) is seen as the time when Satan will be cast to earth and will indwell
the Man of Sin, the antichrist.
The antichrist will arise to lead the nations of the world during this
time of “wars and rumors of wars” (tribulation). The nations will gather to that great battle known as Armageddon
where the antichrist will be destroyed by the “brightness of His Coming”
(2 Thess 2:8). The conclusion then will
be the establishment of the Millennial Kingdom of God. Note that verse 21 says that the Canaanite will no
longer dwell in the house of God (New Jerusalem).
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