Friday, September 23, 2016
“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day I will 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. 12:2–3).
Storm clouds of demonic forces gather as the world unites calling for the division of Israel. This week and next, the United Nations in New York, NY holds its annual meeting, this time with renewed disdain for Israel, desiring to officially divide up, “My land” (Joel 3:2) for peace.
Conspicuously, to the biblically alert, spiritual darkness intensifies over New York City. CBN News 9/18/2016 reports “An arch that stood before the Temple of Ba’al in Palmyra, Syria before it was destroyed by ISIS will be recreated in New York City on Sept. 19th.” This is a replica of the same pagan god, Ba’al, which repeatedly caused ancient Israel to suffer God’s judgments.
In other news, the US which is trying to oust Bashar Assad from power in Syria while Russia defends Assad, has infuriated Russia by killing 62 Assad soldiers and wounding 100. Heavy Russian saber-rattling against America now dominates the Syrian conflict. Damascus, Syria could soon be destroyed according to Isaiah 17:1, and WW3 could erupt in Syria very soon.
Waters are being poisoned globally and also here in America. From Fox News, 9/18/2016, “OAKLAND, CA – Toxic algae has shown up in more than 40 state lakes and waterways from Los Angeles to the northern reaches of California, the highest count in state history.” Scripture warns us that many of the world’s waters will become bitter or poisoned in the tribulation.
This is a significant time given global and UN developments that will usher in Antichrist’s, “covenant with many” (Dan. 9:27). Last year at its annual UN meeting US President Barack Obama vetoed a resolution for an Israeli / Palestinian two-state solution, but now powerful political pressures from deceitful spiritual sources are about to reverse that.
In a sovereign God-moment Barack Obama blessed Israel last year by vetoing a forced two-state solution. But this year is different. Pope Francis and the United Nations have seemingly reached the zenith of their patience, and it would likely damage President Obama’s legacy of inclusively playing nice with the UN if he did not now throw his full support behind the UN’s evil desires.
This past Tuesday in his speech to the UN, President Barack Obama said in part that Israel, “cannot permanently occupy and settle Palestinian land” and called for a “course correction” of nations on the path to “global integration”. (Breaking Israel News, September 21, 2016).
Jordan’s King Abdullah also addressed the UN on Tuesday saying, “No injustice has spread more bitter fruit than the denial of a Palestinian state. I say: Peace is a conscious decision, Israel has to embrace peace or eventually be engulfed in a sea of hatred in a region of turmoil.”
But the land of Israel never belonged to Palestine! Here’s how God’s command came to Moses, “When you have crossed the Jordan into the land of Canaan, (Israel) then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you…you shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land and dwell in it, for I have given you the land to possess” (Num. 33:51–53).
Pope Francis, the United Nations’ Secretary-General Ban-Ki-moon, and global nations want to slice off the West Bank of Israel and give that land to Palestine together with east Jerusalem for Palestine’s capital. God’s Word makes clear the deadly end-time consequence of that division.
Israel’s land is the “everlasting possession” (Gen. 17:8 & 48:4) of God’s saints. “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Gal. 3:29), meaning those born again, for, “you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people…who once were not a people but are now the people of God” (1 Peter 2:9–10).
Satan knows the land of Israel is the eternal covenant possession of God’s saints. And to keep that from occurring, Satan now solicits United Nations’ forces in the short term to divide up the land, but in the longer term will wage war against Israel, but Christ will gloriously defeat Satan!
Before the battle for Jerusalem and Israel occurs, however, there will be a, “covenant with many for one week” (Dan. 9:27), meaning seven years. That seven-year covenant will be made by “the man of sin…the son of perdition” (2 Thess. 2:3), and is the rider on the white horse of Rev. 6:2.
Do not ignore God’s warning of those seven years. Jesus warns in Matthew 24 that many will be offended, will hate and betray one another. That will largely occur as many were promised a pre-tribulation rapture which will not occur. Neither Jesus nor His apostles taught such deception.
The rapture occurs at, “the first resurrection” (Rev. 20:4–6); “at the last trumpet” (1 Cor. 15:51–52 & Rev. 11:15–19); “at the last day” (John 6:40, 44, 54); “Immediately after the tribulation” (Matt. 24:29–31); when “the Lord Himself will descend from heaven” (1 Thess. 4:16); “whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things” (Acts 3:21). Amen!
Jesus exhorts us to discern the signs of the times. In that context the world is trying to destroy Christianity. Morality is relative. Right is wrong. Perversion is tolerance. Nationalism is now globalism. Self-sufficient must become government-dependent. Wealth must be redistributed.
Freedom of speech is now hate. Bible believing faith is intolerance. Jesus’ name is offensive. Christian businesses are targeted for closure. Christian viewpoints different from the ungodly liberal left is now unlawful. Christians are now being silenced and the name of Jesus is hated.
Recently, Christians who live a faith-filled, Christ-loving life, and call sin for what it is, have been thrown into a, “basket of deplorables”, by the ungodly. We have become unfit for society, and it’s going to get worse. Many will fall away, but we must remain strong in Christ to the end.
Yet every false religion of this world continues unabated. But Jesus warned us, saying, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:18–19). So truly, we cannot be surprised.
The world will continue spiraling into chaos, violence and wickedness. Extreme food shortages will become prevalent. In Venezuela a dozen eggs now cost $150 US and a pound of dry milk is $100. And the same will come to America. Please read about the coming scarcity at Rev. 6:5–6.
The Psalm 2:1–3 wicked elite rulers of this world have likely already planned violence-infused mayhem to attend the US general election between now and November 8, 2016. There may not even be an election. Chaos is erupting all over Europe, and a prominent EU leader has warned that the US Republican nominee must not be allowed to become the next US president.
Note this headline from the UK Express, 9/22/2016, “SWEDEN IN CHAOS: Number of ‘no-go zones’ INCREASED as police lose control over violence. SWEDISH police are losing the battle against increasing levels crime and violence in the country as now 55 areas have been labelled as “no-go” zones.” This is the result of the prophesied end-time revived ancient Roman Empire.
Last weekend the US suffered three more terror attacks in New York, New Jersey and Minnesota in less than twenty-four hours. And this week riots erupted in Charlotte, NC pursuant to a man being killed by police. Soon, law enforcement will not be able to contain lawlessness. Violence will soon fill inner-city streets. Are you prepared for what’s coming?
A catastrophic collapse of currencies is imminent. Central banks are bankrupt. The UN’s 2030 Agenda introduced by Pope Francis last year at the United Nations on September 25, 2015 is now underway. What I call the creep-effect of the tribulation is now upon us. But unless one knows God’s end-time Word, one will not recognize its advance, and many will be deceived.
You’ve been given time to prepare just like Joseph in ancient Egypt was given seven years to prepare for the drought that would have otherwise destroyed even his own people, Israel. But because Joseph believed God, he prepared for what he knew by faith was certain to come. He didn’t ignore God’s Word, nor did he exchange it for a man’s lying vision of better things.
Joshua and Caleb of ancient Israel were the only two of their generation who believed God about possessing their Promised Land, Canaan. But five-sixth of the house of Israel perished outside of their inheritance because of unbelief. But do not overlook the fact that Joshua and Caleb had to wait the difficult forty-years of wilderness tribulation before they entered the Promised Land.
“Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come” (1 Cor. 10:11). You see, while ancient Israel said they believed God, the truth was that in their hearts most did not believe God, else they would have acted by faith, scorned the giants they saw, and victoriously entered the Promised Land!
The time of the seven-year tribulation draws near, and the last thing you need is to be surprised by it. Determine even now, that, in faith, you will be like Joseph, Joshua and Caleb of ancient Israel, and that you will prepare in faith according to the Word of the Lord Jesus Christ. I can promise this, you will not be offended, shocked or surprised IF you believe the Son of God.
Marlin J. Yoder
