Understanding the Times-Part 7
Understanding the Times • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 10 viewsNotes
Transcript
Handout
A World in Terror
A World in Terror
September 11, 2001 is a pivotal moment in the United States as it relates to our perception of terrorism. Horrendous scenes of carnage and suffering flashed across millions of television and computer screens and burned indelible pictures in the minds and hearts of Americans as hijacked planes crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center.
The sinister word—terrorism—suddenly became much more real and personal to Americans.
The military retribution and heightened homeland security following these attacks became constant reminders of a formidable and persistent enemy.
Terrorism is a daily reality throughout much of the Middle East. The citizens of Israel in particular live under the constant threat of attack.
The rise of a coalition of enemies of Israel which includes Russia, Iran, and Libya are noteworthy because prophetic scripture speaks of the fact that these nations would align against Israel (Ezekiel 38-39).
While some of the terror in the Middle East stems from a controversy related to territory, much of it is simply the nature of Islamic extremism.
The hatred that radical Muslims harbor toward Israel and toward the United States is encapsulated in the names they have given to them— “Little Satan” and “Big Satan” respectively.
The difficulty is that these enemies of Israel are not interested in the exchange of territory for peace because their ultimate goal is the total annihilation of the nation of Israel.
The Declaration of a Battle
The Declaration of a Battle
Ezekiel 38:1-5
In this passage, God instructs Ezekiel to prophesy of a future battle—a battle that current events and political relationships suggest could be drawing near.
The Timing of the Battle
The Timing of the Battle
Ezekiel details two factors that are necessary in order for this battle to take place.
The first is that Israel will inhabit their ancestral homeland.
Ezekiel 36:10 (KJV) And I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, even all of it: and the cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes shall be builded:
Ezekiel 36:24 (KJV) For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
The war Ezekiel describes is seen as occurring relatively soon after the rebirth of Israel, after the ingathering of the Jewish people from around the world.
As we have already discussed this detail was fulfilled in 1948 when Israel was established as a modern state.
Notice also that at the time of this battle, Israel will be assuming peace.
In contrast to the tense and uneasy posture of Israel today, the nation will be caught off guard to some degree by this battle.
Ezekiel 38:8–9 (KJV) After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.
Throughout much of Israel’s history in scripture it was a walled city protected from outside attacks, but when this battle takes place that will not be the case.
Ezekiel 38:11–12 (KJV) And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.
The text of scripture further depicts an Israel who is at rest, dwelling safely, this is certainly not a picture of Israel today.
At present Israel is a constant state of alert because of the hatred of the surrounding Arab nations.
Considering the current climate in Israel of military tension, the question arises— “What will cause Israel to feel secure and to let down their guard?”
It seems likely that Israel’s enemies will launch their surprise attack just after the first half of the tribulation period—a period marked by diplomatic peace brought about by the Antichrist.
Daniel 9:27 (KJV) And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
The “week” referred to in this verse is the last of the seventy “weeks” in Daniel’s prophecy.
In prophetic language the term “week” describes a period not of seven days but of seven years.
The verse above describes the fact that the at the beginning of this final seven-year period, the Antichrist will “confirm the covenant with many for one week.”
This is understood to be a peace treaty between the nation of Israel and the once hostile nations which surround it.
The confirmation of this convenant would at least temporarily resolve the conflict in the Middle East and would bring about a period of peace in the region which would allow for the reconstruction of the temple.
Assured of global peace, Israel would then relax security, but the scripture describes a turning point “in the midst of the week.”
In the middle of this period, the Antichrist will unleash a vicious attack on Israel and will pollute the revived sacrificial system of Israel and desecrate the land.
Matthew 24:15-21- Jesus speaks of this period prophetically.
The preliminary blueprints of this battle are already in place—Israel inhabits the land, the scene of the battle, however, will not be staged until the yet evasive peace treaty between Israel and its enemies has been signed.
Only after Israel is enjoying a season of peace and safety will the enemies successfully maneuver this brutal attack at the midpoint of the tribulation.
The Instigators of the Battle
The Instigators of the Battle
Ezekiel’s prophecy begins with a list of names, detailing which countries will align themselves against Israel.
In the first six verse, the nations of Gog, Magog, Meshech, Tubal, Togarmah, Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are mentioned.
It is important to note the ancient regions which these names refer to and relate them to nations which exist today.
The Anti-Israel Federation
The Anti-Israel Federation
Those who study prophetic scripture have identified the land of Magog as the nations that comprised the former Soviet Union.
The other names referenced here would likely include the nations in the region to the north of Israel—the nations of Syria, Armenia, Turkey, and Greece, and Russia.
Another name mentioned in Ezekiel 38 is Persia which refers to what we know today as Iran.
Iran today is an Islamic republic under the rule of the Supreme Leader—the highest ranking muslim cleric in the country who personally appoints the heads of the military, the government, and the judiciary.
With this governmental structure it comes as no surprise that Iran is bent on the destruction of Israel.
Iran has far reaching influence with terror organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah spread across the Middle East being funded by the Iranian government.
The anti-Israel federation will also include other nations beyond Russia and Iran and their allies…
Ezekiel 38:5–6 (KJV) Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.
There is Ethiopia—an African nation which supported Iraq in the Gulf War and which harbors much antisemitism.
Libya—an enemy of Israel and the Wester world, will also join this alliance, and has already demonstrated its close ties with Russia in recent years.
As we see these alliances begin to form it is a reminder of the accuracy of the prophetic scriptures which foretold these events around 2600 years before they happened.
The Motivation for the Battle
The Motivation for the Battle
Ezekiel 38:4 (KJV) And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:
Much of Bible prophecy relates to God’s plan to turn Israel’s attention and worship back to Himself.
In so doing, His larger purpose is to reveal Himself to the whole world through His dealings with Israel.
The Exaltation of the Lord
The Exaltation of the Lord
God will be glorified through this battle even though Israel will be greatly outnumbered.
Israel—a small nation—will be forced into a battle against the world powers of the Tribulation period.
All over the world, the momentum is building against Israel, and we can expect that momentum to continue to rise between now and the time before Ezekiel’s battle.
At some point, Israel’s enemies will be temporarily appeased and Israel will be lulled into a false sense of security and then the attack will come—but in the heat of the battle, God will be exalted.
God Will Bring Victory
God Will Bring Victory
God’s power is greater than the combined military force and technology of all world powers.
In a mighty display of power, God will shake the land. Modern missiles and even nuclear weaponry are no match against God in battle.
When it comes to protecting His people, God has a full arsenal of unconventional weapons at His disposal.
Ezekiel 38:18–20 (KJV) And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord God, that my fury shall come up in my face. For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.
With the rumblings of the earthquake still being felt, God will also confuse the enemy forces.
Ezekiel 38:21 (KJV) And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord God: every man’s sword shall be against his brother.
Apparently one of the results of the earthquake will be a breakdown of communication among the invading armies.
In the resulting fear and panic, confusion will reign as the armies attack each other in their attempts to harm Israel.
God will also bring sickness and disease to the invading armies.
Ezekiel 38:22 (KJV) And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.
God will also send large scale natural disasters—flood, hail, fire, and brimstone to disrupt the enemies advance.
Then finally God will utterly destroy those who have come against Israel.
Ezekiel 39:1-5
The resulting carnage and death from this victory will be so great that Israel will be spend seven months burying the victims.
Ezekiel 39:12 (KJV) And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land.
God Will Exalt His Name
God Will Exalt His Name
Most of the nine million people living in Israel today are secularists, agnostics, or atheists.
Even among those who believe in Jehovah God, most have rejected Christ as their Messiah.
Yet through the incredible victory God brings in the this anti-Israel battle, the people will once again have an awareness of God in their midst.
Ezekiel 39:21–22 (KJV) And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them. So the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God from that day and forward.
Through the work of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists during the Tribulation, thousands of Jews will embrace Christ as their Messiah.
When the Lord exalts His name, Israel will finally be awakened to their need for their God.
In the book of Ezekiel fifty-seven times God states His purpose for what He has done and what He will do— “…ye shall know that I am the Lord” “…they shall know that I am the Lord.”
All that God has, is, and will do is for the purpose of revealing Himself to you and me and to all of humanity.
He wants men to know that He is God and desires that we should put our faith and trust in Him.
Psalm 46:10 (KJV) Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Isaiah 45:22 (KJV) Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: For I am God, and there is none else.
