Marching toward Ezekiel 38 and 39
Leaders of the world
Followers of the Lord
Matthew 5:33-37 KJVAgain, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: (34) But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: (35) Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. (36) Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. (37) But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
Matthew 5:35 KJVNor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
Psalms 102:13-22 KJVThou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come. (14) For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof. (15) So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory. (16) When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory. (17) He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. (18) This shall be written for the generation to comeH314: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD. (19) For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth; (20) To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death; (21) To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem; (22) When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
Psalms 110:1-7 KJVA Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. (2) The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. (3) Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. (4) The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. (5) The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. (6) He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries. (7) He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.
Our opening passages convey a few things about the kingdom of God, His city where His authority will be issued from and His Son who will be the great King. We did include a word study in the passage from Psalm 102 verse 18. That word addressing the generation in which the world would see Israel reborn, Jerusalem under Israeli authority and the glory of God pouring forth from Jerusalem. It’s a word we are not all that unfamiliar with as in many of our studies concerning the last days makes a specific statement of the time frame all this involves. The word being the Hebrew word acharon.
akh-ar-one'
From
H309; hinder; generally late or last; specifically (as facing the east) western: - after (-ward), to come, following, hind (-er, -ermost, -most), last, latter, rereward, ut(ter)most.
adjective
It seems pretty clear that this word which we will find and mention a lot in our studies combined with the generations of time and mankind signifies a time not far from the Lord’s return. The demonstration following from Psalm 102 is just one example of this.
Psalms 102:18 KJVThis shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.
Matthew 10:32-36 KJV
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. (33) But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. (34) Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. (35) For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. (36) And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
Luke 21:16-20 KJVAnd ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. (17) And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. (18) But there shall not an hair of your head perish. (19) In your patience possess ye your souls. (20) And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
John 15:18-23 KJVIf the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. (19) If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. (20) Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. (21) But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. (22) If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. (23) He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
The passages from Matthew, Luke and John combined with those of the Psalms convey but certainly not limited to the following observations.
That Jesus is and forever shall be the Son of the living God
That the denial of either Him or the Father will lead to an unpleasant eternity spent in hell
That Jesus is the dividing line in this choice of where we want to spend eternity even to the point of dividing households(anybody hearing this loud and clear)
That Jerusalem will be the spot where the glory of the Lord shall be poured out from
That Jerusalem because of the preceding 4 topics will be a dividing line in the same regard as Jesus for the nations of the world many of which will gather against her(Israel and Jerusalem)
Romans 10:9-13 KJVThat if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (11) For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (12) For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. (13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
By the way as we are looking into this things are starting to heat up in the region already. Any news organization worth its weight such as for instance Fox news will let the world be informed of the truth that is going on in Israel. As the Hamas terrorist group in the land that Israel freely relinquished to the Palestinians to build their “state” are regularly shelling rockets into Israel.
It’s very interesting when we look at the situation from the standpoint of faith and belief. Interesting in the fact that true Bible believing Christians understand that Jerusalem belongs to the nation of Israel and not the world. Bible believing Christians openly support the right for Israel to exist as a nation. It’s also very interesting that the “hard line” Muslim nations are openly calling for the destruction of Christianity, the nation of Israel and want sole control over Jerusalem. Another interesting point we have covered before is the fact that no other major religion in the world such as Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism accepts Jesus is the Son of God. In addition they deny the pardon from being sent to hell that Jesus’ blood provided for all that would accept His sacrifice and gift. In other words these religions deny a fact that not only scripture documents but secular sources as well.
In addition we should note that we are looking at this issue in the sense of how the world seems to be aligning itself in ways that are not very beneficial for the nation of Israel. In ways which seem to make the onset of Ezekiel 38 and 39 to spark up. Jesus Himself explains things such as having to complete His mission in His 1st coming in the city of Jerusalem. This of course to include His victory for us over the enemy through the resurrection and the new life we will experience in Heaven. Our last get together was another warning for our nation and its leaders who seem to want the whole issue of God and Jerusalem to simply go away. This section is once again targeting the nations of the world that not only openly call for the destruction of Israel but for the entirety of the world to take notice including America.
Well the question some are probably asking about all this is why. Well there are many reasons to be concerned. None of which for our purposes will be based on anything but the scriptures. It does not matter how many times we cover the same verses. They are all put there for us to learn from and repetition should only allow for these words to speak to us today through the Holy Spirit more than ever.
Luke 24:25-27 KJVThen he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: (26) Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? (27) And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Luke 24:44 KJVAnd he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
1 Timothy 4:10-16 KJVFor therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. (11) These things command and teach. (12) Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. (13) Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. (14) Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. (15) Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. (16) Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
1 Timothy 4:13-16 KJVTill I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. (14) Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. (15) Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. (16) Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
The emphasis here is that we must apply the scriptures and think sincerely upon them.
Ezekiel 38:1-16 KJVAnd the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, (2) Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, (3) And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: (4) 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: (5) Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: (6) Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. (7) Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them. (8) 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. (9) 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. (10) Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: (11) 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, (12) 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. (13) Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil? (14) Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it? (15) And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: (16) And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.
Over the last few days this study has been prepared the mess that is going on in Syria has crossed borders into Lebanon, Turkey and Israel. Many people are speculating that this is an attempt by Syrian leader Bashar Assad to drag the whole area into the conflict that has so far been responsible for the slaughter of almost 40,000 men, women and children.
Another thing that should be brought to the forefront of the matter is the nations of Russia and Iran and their relationships with the Syrian government. Why is this important some may be asking? Well quite frankly the prophecy contained within Ezekiel 38 and 39 lists these nations specifically. Now some are probably asking how do we know this brother Al?
Ezekiel 38:1-4 KJVAnd the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, (2) Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, (3) And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: (4) 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:
In the passage of Ezekiel 38 above we have discovered that the northern areas settled by Japheth the son of Noah and his sons settled those areas north of the promised land up into and throughout what would become Russia. The passage describes Gog as the chief prince of these countries. This would have to be Russia as it is the largest and most powerful of all those little countries which many end in the suffix “stan”. We explored this situation and history in the first few studies in sounding alarms and hearing warnings concerning the whole world.
As the prophecy continues to develop we run into the following nations becoming involved.
Ezekiel 38:5 KJVPersia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:
We already know that Persia is the present nation of Iran. Most of the world is familiar with Libya as the western world recently came together to take down the government there. Perhaps most importantly for the U.S. the September 11th 2012 attacks which killed our ambassador and what little protection our current leadership made available for them. In regard to that situation let’s throw this nugget up into the air. Being a veteran living in the world we are today there should be no excuse for not providing stepped up security measures for our(American) people overseas on the anniversary date of the worst terrorist attack in the world to date. This is what happens when liberal progressives who have never served in the military and think their smarter than all others run our country. Now some are probably saying where is the proof in the last statement.
How about for starters our former president Bill Clinton was very busy committing adultery in the white house in the midst of terror attacks. He also carrying the “intellectual savior” attitude uttered the phrase “it’s the economy stupid”. What this amounts to from a biblical standpoint is carelessness in perilous times. We will be addressing these issues in the America portion of alarms and warnings in detail. This was just 1 example of careless leadership during trying times.
2 Timothy 3:1-7 KJVThis know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (2) For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, (3) Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, (4) Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; (5) Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (6) For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, (7) Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Now let’s return back to the current message.
Ezekiel 38:5-6 KJVPersia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: (6) Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.
Persia we know today as stated and covered before is Iran. In the case of Ethiopia as it was in the day of the prophecy being told we will define with the ISBE. We went to great extremes to detail the settlement of tribes and nations descended from Noah.
The inhabitants of Ethiopia were a Hamitic race. Gen_10:6. They were divided into various tribes, of which the Sabeans were the most powerful. The history of Ethiopia is closely interwoven with that of Egypt. The two countries were not unfrequently united, under the rule of the same sovereign.
So now we have the western portion of northern Africa to include Egypt and Libya and Iran thrown into the equation along with the Russian territories or what once were. Then we come to Gomer and Togarmah.
Again we can turn to the ISBE for defining Gomer. In other words yours truly does not want any static from something that could get twisted.
Gomer (1)gō´me~r (גּמר, gōmer): Given in Gen_10:2 f; 1Ch_1:5 f as a son of Japheth. The name evidently designates the people called Gimirrâ by the Assyrians, Kimmerians by the Greeks. They were a barbaric horde of Aryans who in the 7th century bc left their abode in what is now Southern Russia and poured. through the Caucasus into Western Asia, causing serious trouble to the Assyrians and other nations. One division moved eastward toward Media, another westward, where they conquered Cappadocia and made it their special abode. They fought also in other parts of Asia Minor, conquering some portions. The Armenian name for Cappadocia, Gamir, has come from this people. In Eze_38:6 Gomer is mentioned as one of the northern nations.
For Togarmah to keep things brief we will use the Smith’s Bible dictionary for a description.
Togarmah
Togar'mah. A son of Gomer, of the family of Japheth, and brother of Ashkenaz and Riphath.
Gen_10:3. His descendants became a people, engaged in agriculture, breeding horses and mules to be sold in Tyre. Eze_27:14 . They were also a military people, well skilled in the use of arms. Togarmah was, probably, the ancient name of Armenia.
Now let’s move forward with the last few nations mentioned in the prophecy.
Ezekiel 38:8-13 KJVAfter 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. (9) 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. (10) Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: (11) 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, (12) 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. (13) Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?
For another brief look into the nation of Sheba we will once again use the Smith dictionary.
Sheba
A son of Raamah, son of Cush. Gen_10:7; 1Ch_1:9.
We shall consider, first, the history of the Joktanite Sheba; and secondly, the Cushite Sheba and the Keturahite Sheba together.
II. Sheba, son of Raamah, son of Cush, settled somewhere on the shores of the Persian Gulf. It was this Sheba that carried on the great Indian traffic with Palestine, in conjunction with, as we hold, the other Sheba, son of Jokshan, son of Keturah, who, like Dedan, appears to have formed, with the Cushite of the same name, one tribe.
For a look at Dedan and Tarshish we will use the Fausset dictionary
The Cushite Dedan near the head of the Persian gulf and Chaldaea, the avenue of commerce to India, is referred to in Eze_27:15, as the names in the context prove; but Eze_27:20 Dedan is connected with N.W. Arabia, and associated with Assyria (Eze_27:23), i.e. the Semitic or Edomite Dedan, yet also connected with the Cushite "Sheba and Raamah" (Eze_27:22) on the Persian gulf. The Semitic Sabeans, descended from Sheba tenth son of Joktan, dwelt in S.W. Arabia, from the Red Sea to the straits of Bab el Mandeb. Ezekiel thus recounts the two channels of merchandise, Raamah on the Persian gulf, and Sheba on the Red Sea in Arabia. The name Dedan still remains in Dadan, an island on the border of the Persian gulf. (See RAAMAH)
TarshishTartessus (as Asshur became Athur, Bashan, Batanoea), a Phoenician city S. of Spain; the portion of Spain known to the Hebrew (
Psa_72:10). "The kings of Tarshish ... kings of Sheba," i.e. the wealthy Tarshish in the far W. and Sheba in the S.E. Tarshish was a dependency of Phoenician Tyre. Isa_23:6; Isa_23:10 ("pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish," i.e. Tartessus and its inhabitants would now that Tyre's strength was disabled pour forth as waters, no longer kept working mines for the parent city), 14,18; Eze_26:15; Eze_26:18; Eze_27:12. "Tarshish was thy (Tyre's) merchant ... with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded in thy fairs."
This could be indicative to a description of Europe or the west in general getting involved in the valley of Megiddo. Now in case there are any questions concerning the gathering of the nations against Israel to be judged let’s step back to Ezekiel 38:3-4.
Ezekiel 38:3-4 KJV
And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: (4) 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:
This is an interesting description of how Russia will be pulled into this prophecy. The Assyrian empire in ancient days was known as the most cruel of all the biblical empires of prophecy. In ancient days the Assyrian empire was coming against king Hezekiah during the ministry of the prophet Isaiah. In the book of 2nd Kings chapters 15-23 there are described many instances in which the kings of Assyria came against the northern kingdom even putting them into a vassal state in which tribute was to be paid to the empire. This was divine judgment for the evil that the northern kings who disobeyed Lord brought about.
Perhaps a big hint toward issues triggering the war and judgment of Ezekiel 38 and 39 is found in the book s of Amos and 2nd Kings. Amos was shepherd of flocks and herds and his descriptions of judgments involve his area of expertise. However he does not complicate things as to why these actions against the northern kingdom would take place. Amos had at least 1 very definite message. That was the onslaught of the Assyrians conquering all of the promised land. He not only addresses the nation of Israel but the whole of Gaza and the Philistines as well. The attention we are going to give to the matter at hand is found in chapter 4.
Amos 4:1-13 KJVHear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink. (2) The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks. (3) And ye shall go out at the breaches, every cow at that which is before her; and ye shall cast them into the palace, saith the LORD. (4) Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years: (5) And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim and publish the free offerings: for this liketh you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord GOD. (6) And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. (7) And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered. (8) So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. (9) I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured them: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. (10) I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses; and I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. (11) I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. (12) Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. (13) For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.
Amos 4:1-2 KJVHear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink. (2) The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks.
This is important to the state of affairs in the world today. It is a grand hint to us about the state of affairs going on in the nation of Syria today. The other important aspect to this is found in the strong bonds between Russia(Gog), Iran(Persia) and Syria(Assyria). So now we will look into the historical and prophetic circumstances that pattern the activity to come.
The Assyrian empire was known as the most cruel of all the biblical empires. They were known for taking away their captives by placing a hook into the jaws of select prisoners. These particular prisoners were not all necessarily politically active but many were selected for this method based upon their position in the society they were conquering. God not only declares His wrath for the king of Assyria using his methods but also by placing a hook into the jaws of the chief prince of the land of Magog. We are witnessing the precursors of this event today as we speak. Now some are no doubt out there saying ok brother Al where is the connection. If you follow events in the middle east you are probably not asking that question.
The following headlines and examples are symptomatic of the Russian involvement in all of this.
June 12 2012 Russian Helicopters to Syria a New Political Headache for Obama June 15 2012 Russia sends ship with weapons to Syria July 13 2012 Russia likely to continue supplying arms to Syria August 21 2012 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned the West on Tuesday against unilateral action on Syria a day after President Barack Obama said U.S. forces could intervene if his Syrian counterpart deployed chemical weapons against rebels trying to topple him.
After looking at all that it appears that the hooks are already in the jaws of Russia even to the point of warning the United States to basically stay out of the situation. You might disagree but it seems as though the enemies of Israel under our current leadership in America are becoming more emboldened in their rhetoric in all this. Now let’s turn back to some of the history involving the Assyrian empire.
2 Kings 15:19-21 KJVAnd Pul the king of Assyria came against the land: and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand. (20) And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and stayed not there in the land. (21) And the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
2 Kings 15:27-29 KJVIn the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years. (28) And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. (29) In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.
There were even coordinated attacks against Jerusalem from the northern kingdom and the Assyrians.
2 Kings 16:1-6 KJVIn the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign. (2) Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father. (3) But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel. (4) And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. (5) Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him. (6) At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day.
The next bit of history involves king Ahaz from Jerusalem and his act of abomination to God and the temple. This involved the assimilation of an altar that was placed in the temple and also the sacrifice of an unclean animal.
2 Kings 16:7-20 KJVSo Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, saying, I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against me. (8) And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria. (9) And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin. (10) And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof. (11) And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made it against king Ahaz came from Damascus. (12) And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king approached to the altar, and offered thereon. (13) And he burnt his burnt offering and his meat offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, upon the altar. (14) And he brought also the brasen altar, which was before the LORD, from the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of the altar. (15) And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king's burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for me to enquire by. (16) Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded. (17) And king Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed the laver from off them; and took down the sea from off the brasen oxen that were under it, and put it upon a pavement of stones. (18) And the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king's entry without, turned he from the house of the LORD for the king of Assyria. (19) Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? (20) And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.
2 Kings 17:18-41 KJVTherefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only. (19) Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. (20) And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight. (21) For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the LORD, and made them sin a great sin. (22) For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them; (23) Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day. (24) And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof. (25) And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the LORD: therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which slew some of them. (26) Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land. (27) Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land. (28) Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD. (29) Howbeit every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities wherein they dwelt. (30) And the men of Babylon made Succothbenoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima, (31) And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. (32) So they feared the LORD, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places. (33) They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence. (34) Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the LORD, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel; (35) With whom the LORD had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them: (36) But the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and a stretched out arm, him shall ye fear, and him shall ye worship, and to him shall ye do sacrifice. (37)And the statutes, and the ordinances, and the law, and the commandment, which he wrote for you, ye shall observe to do for evermore; and ye shall not fear other gods.(38)And the covenant that I have made with you ye shall not forget; neither shall ye fear other gods. (39) But the LORD your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies. (40) Howbeit they did not hearken, but they did after their former manner. (41) So these nations feared the LORD, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children's children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.
Finally it appears at least through the better part of his reign king Ahaz was a good leader in the eyes of the Lord. Although in his later days he made mistakes which eventually led to the destruction of the temple by the Nebuchadnezzar. That judgment of course not only come by his actions but many others as well including his son Hezekiah. The following passage is a great example of the blessings God bestows upon a nation who’s God is the Lord.
2 Kings 18:1-12 KJV
Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. (2) Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah. (3) And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did. (4) He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan. (5) He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. (6) For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses. (7) And the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not. (8) He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city. (9) And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it. (10) And at the end of three years they took it: even in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken. (11) And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes: (12) Because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD their God, but transgressed his covenant, and all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them.
This is how a nation that proclaims the sovereignty of our God and Father of the Son can manage in difficult times. It also is evidence of what happens when God is not acknowledged.
2 Kings 18:13-18 KJVNow in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them. (14) And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. (15) And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house. (16) At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria. (17) And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller's field. (18) And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.
This information is also followed in the book of Isaiah. Isaiah was performing his prophetic ministry when Hezekiah was king.
Isaiah 20:1-6 KJVIn the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, (when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him,) and fought against Ashdod, and took it; (2) At the same time spake the LORD by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot. (3) And the LORD said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia; (4) So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt. (5) And they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory. (6) And the inhabitant of this isle shall say in that day, Behold, such is our expectation, whither we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and how shall we escape?
In this bit of history we are also seeing the prophecy of Amos being fulfilled.
2 Kings 18:19-25 KJV
And Rabshakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest? (20) Thou sayest, (but they are but vain words,) I have counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me? (21) Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him. (22) But if ye say unto me, We trust in the LORD our God: is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem? (23) Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them. (24) How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen? (25) Am I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.
Notice the blasphemous remarks made concerning God and His will concerning the invasion. This is basically mocking our God which is something Satan loves to do. This is something we also made evident in our nation in America’s alarms and warnings 4. It’s all a broad path to destruction which is no doubt coming to America at some point.
2 Kings 18:26-37 KJVThen said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and talk not with us in the Jews' language in the ears of the people that are on the wall. (27) But Rabshakeh said unto them, Hath my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men which sit on the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you? (28) Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and spake, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria: (29) Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand: (30) Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria. (31) Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and then eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his cistern: (32) Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oil olive and of honey, that ye may live, and not die: and hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he persuadeth you, saying, The LORD will deliver us. (33) Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? (34) Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand? (35) Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of mine hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand? (36) But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not. (37) Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.
2 Kings 19:1-18 KJVAnd it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD. (2) And he sent Eliakim, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz. (3) And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth. (4) It may be the LORD thy God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God; and will reprove the words which the LORD thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that are left. (5) So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah. (6) And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say to your master, Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words which thou hast heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. (7) Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and shall return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land. (8) So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish. (9) And when he heard say of Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, Behold, he is come out to fight against thee: he sent messengers again unto Hezekiah, saying, (10) Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God in whom thou trustest deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria. (11) Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly: and shalt thou be delivered? (12) Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed; as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Thelasar? (13) Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivah? (14) And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. (15) And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth. (16) LORD, bow down thine ear, and hear: open, LORD, thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God. (17) Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands, (18) And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.
Again we are seeing the attack not only upon the land of Judah but against God as well. However as we are about to discover when we turn back to the Lord God our Father of the Son the results are often very positive. The following passage which will be our last from this period of history will make us aware of the benefits of the Lord and how He takes care of the enemy.
2 Kings 19:19-37 KJVNow therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD God, even thou only. (20) Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard. (21) This is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning him; The virgin the daughter of Zion hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee. (22) Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel. (23) By thy messengers thou hast reproached the Lord, and hast said, With the multitude of my chariots I am come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon, and will cut down the tall cedar trees thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the lodgings of his borders, and into the forest of his Carmel. (24) I have digged and drunk strange waters, and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of besieged places. (25) Hast thou not heard long ago how I have done it, and of ancient times that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste fenced cities into ruinous heaps. (26) Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up. (27) But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me. (28) Because thy rage against me and thy tumult is come up into mine ears, therefore I will put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest. (29) And this shall be a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this year such things as grow of themselves, and in the second year that which springeth of the same; and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruits thereof. (30) And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward, and bear fruit upward. (31) For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this. (32) Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it. (33) By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD. (34) For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake. (35) And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. (36) So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh. (37) And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.
Prophetic food for thought.
Here in today’s world are there reflections in these advantages and disadvantages? Of course there are. What we will choose to call Israel’s closest enemies those that surround the nation in every direction are involved in the worship of a false deity. If you hear the battle cries of these enemies we often always here how this god named allah will drive the occupiers out of the promised land. We do not proclaim things like this with our God here in America much any more. By the way as we have mentioned in the past this particular false deity has no son and vehemently denies that fact.
Matthew 3:13-17 KJVThen cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. (14) But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? (15) And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. (16) And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: (17) And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
In effect we are heathen and unbelievers because our religion of Christianity is the only one in the world which offers any way to obtain salvation for our sins. The blood of Jesus Christ. So when we see the enemies of Jerusalem spouting from all about the nation of Israel we are witnessing the exact same tactics of spiritual warfare as seen in the days of the kings we have looked at.
Luke 21:20 KJVAnd when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
Luke 21:25-28 KJVAnd there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; (26) Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. (27) And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (28) And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
The tribute paid by the northern kingdom to the Assyrians kept a so-called peace within the area for them. However it did not spare Judah and Jerusalem from attack. In the ultimate outcome what we could call a Hezekiah’s revival blessed Judah and kept the protection of the Lord. Here in America we have somewhat caused the same type of situation for Israel by brokering a peace with the nation of Egypt and their former leader Mubarak. We paid the nation of Egypt handsomely to keep peace with Israel and they did. This is quickly going to change however and it already is beginning. Again as we are undertaking this study Israel is launching aircraft and massing ground forces along the border with Gaza. The new president of Egypt who our current president was naïve enough or at least let’s hope unintentionally welcomed this situation. His name is Morsi and we understand today in the news he is on his way to Gaza. We do not know however if he is going to promote a stop to violence or promote it.
In our study we have seen the respective ups and downs with God and without God. We have discovered how God spares not even His own nation when it is living in unbelief. Why not for as the scripture informs us He spared not even His only Son.
Romans 8:29-39 KJVFor whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (30) Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (31) What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (32) He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (33) Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. (34) Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. (35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (36) As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. (37) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. (38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
As the scripture tells us not even the once heavenly angels and the world God created to live in an earthly paradise was not spared.
2 Peter 1:1-7 KJVSimon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: (2) Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, (3) According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: (4) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (5) And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; (6) And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; (7) And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
What all these passages are conveying is that none are above His judgment. This includes the entirety of the world. Although we are not focusing upon America directly with this study it should serve to remind us we as a nation or as a world are not above His judgment. However we are not below His mercy.
John 3:13-21 KJVAnd no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. (14) And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: (15) That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (18) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (19) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (20) For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. (21) But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
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God Bless
Leaders of the world
Followers of the Lord
Matthew 5:33-37 KJVAgain, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: (34) But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: (35) Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. (36) Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. (37) But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
Matthew 5:35 KJVNor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
Psalms 102:13-22 KJVThou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come. (14) For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof. (15) So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory. (16) When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory. (17) He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. (18) This shall be written for the generation to comeH314: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD. (19) For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth; (20) To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death; (21) To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem; (22) When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
Psalms 110:1-7 KJVA Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. (2) The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. (3) Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. (4) The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. (5) The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. (6) He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries. (7) He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.
H314אחרן אחרין
'achăryôn 'achărôn
akh-ar-one','achăryôn 'achărôn
akh-ar-one'
From
H309; hinder; generally late or last; specifically (as facing the east) western: - after (-ward), to come, following, hind (-er, -ermost, -most), last, latter, rereward, ut(ter)most.
H314
אחרן
'achăryôn 'achărôn
BDB Definition:
1) behind, following, subsequent, western
1a) behind, hindermost, western (of location)
1b) later, subsequent, latter, last (of time)Part of Speech:adjective
Psalms 102:18 KJVThis shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.
Matthew 10:32-36 KJV
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. (33) But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. (34) Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. (35) For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. (36) And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
Luke 21:16-20 KJVAnd ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. (17) And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. (18) But there shall not an hair of your head perish. (19) In your patience possess ye your souls. (20) And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
John 15:18-23 KJVIf the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. (19) If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. (20) Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. (21) But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. (22) If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. (23) He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
That Jesus is and forever shall be the Son of the living God
That the denial of either Him or the Father will lead to an unpleasant eternity spent in hell
That Jesus is the dividing line in this choice of where we want to spend eternity even to the point of dividing households(anybody hearing this loud and clear)
That Jerusalem will be the spot where the glory of the Lord shall be poured out from
That Jerusalem because of the preceding 4 topics will be a dividing line in the same regard as Jesus for the nations of the world many of which will gather against her(Israel and Jerusalem)
Romans 10:9-13 KJVThat if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (11) For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (12) For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. (13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
By the way as we are looking into this things are starting to heat up in the region already. Any news organization worth its weight such as for instance Fox news will let the world be informed of the truth that is going on in Israel. As the Hamas terrorist group in the land that Israel freely relinquished to the Palestinians to build their “state” are regularly shelling rockets into Israel.
It’s very interesting when we look at the situation from the standpoint of faith and belief. Interesting in the fact that true Bible believing Christians understand that Jerusalem belongs to the nation of Israel and not the world. Bible believing Christians openly support the right for Israel to exist as a nation. It’s also very interesting that the “hard line” Muslim nations are openly calling for the destruction of Christianity, the nation of Israel and want sole control over Jerusalem. Another interesting point we have covered before is the fact that no other major religion in the world such as Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism accepts Jesus is the Son of God. In addition they deny the pardon from being sent to hell that Jesus’ blood provided for all that would accept His sacrifice and gift. In other words these religions deny a fact that not only scripture documents but secular sources as well.
In addition we should note that we are looking at this issue in the sense of how the world seems to be aligning itself in ways that are not very beneficial for the nation of Israel. In ways which seem to make the onset of Ezekiel 38 and 39 to spark up. Jesus Himself explains things such as having to complete His mission in His 1st coming in the city of Jerusalem. This of course to include His victory for us over the enemy through the resurrection and the new life we will experience in Heaven. Our last get together was another warning for our nation and its leaders who seem to want the whole issue of God and Jerusalem to simply go away. This section is once again targeting the nations of the world that not only openly call for the destruction of Israel but for the entirety of the world to take notice including America.
Well the question some are probably asking about all this is why. Well there are many reasons to be concerned. None of which for our purposes will be based on anything but the scriptures. It does not matter how many times we cover the same verses. They are all put there for us to learn from and repetition should only allow for these words to speak to us today through the Holy Spirit more than ever.
Luke 24:25-27 KJVThen he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: (26) Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? (27) And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Luke 24:44 KJVAnd he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
1 Timothy 4:10-16 KJVFor therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. (11) These things command and teach. (12) Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. (13) Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. (14) Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. (15) Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. (16) Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
1 Timothy 4:13-16 KJVTill I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. (14) Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. (15) Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. (16) Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
The emphasis here is that we must apply the scriptures and think sincerely upon them.
Ezekiel 38:1-16 KJVAnd the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, (2) Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, (3) And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: (4) 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: (5) Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: (6) Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. (7) Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them. (8) 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. (9) 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. (10) Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: (11) 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, (12) 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. (13) Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil? (14) Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it? (15) And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: (16) And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.
Over the last few days this study has been prepared the mess that is going on in Syria has crossed borders into Lebanon, Turkey and Israel. Many people are speculating that this is an attempt by Syrian leader Bashar Assad to drag the whole area into the conflict that has so far been responsible for the slaughter of almost 40,000 men, women and children.
Another thing that should be brought to the forefront of the matter is the nations of Russia and Iran and their relationships with the Syrian government. Why is this important some may be asking? Well quite frankly the prophecy contained within Ezekiel 38 and 39 lists these nations specifically. Now some are probably asking how do we know this brother Al?
Ezekiel 38:1-4 KJVAnd the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, (2) Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, (3) And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: (4) 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:
In the passage of Ezekiel 38 above we have discovered that the northern areas settled by Japheth the son of Noah and his sons settled those areas north of the promised land up into and throughout what would become Russia. The passage describes Gog as the chief prince of these countries. This would have to be Russia as it is the largest and most powerful of all those little countries which many end in the suffix “stan”. We explored this situation and history in the first few studies in sounding alarms and hearing warnings concerning the whole world.
As the prophecy continues to develop we run into the following nations becoming involved.
Ezekiel 38:5 KJVPersia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:
We already know that Persia is the present nation of Iran. Most of the world is familiar with Libya as the western world recently came together to take down the government there. Perhaps most importantly for the U.S. the September 11th 2012 attacks which killed our ambassador and what little protection our current leadership made available for them. In regard to that situation let’s throw this nugget up into the air. Being a veteran living in the world we are today there should be no excuse for not providing stepped up security measures for our(American) people overseas on the anniversary date of the worst terrorist attack in the world to date. This is what happens when liberal progressives who have never served in the military and think their smarter than all others run our country. Now some are probably saying where is the proof in the last statement.
How about for starters our former president Bill Clinton was very busy committing adultery in the white house in the midst of terror attacks. He also carrying the “intellectual savior” attitude uttered the phrase “it’s the economy stupid”. What this amounts to from a biblical standpoint is carelessness in perilous times. We will be addressing these issues in the America portion of alarms and warnings in detail. This was just 1 example of careless leadership during trying times.
2 Timothy 3:1-7 KJVThis know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (2) For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, (3) Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, (4) Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; (5) Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (6) For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, (7) Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Now let’s return back to the current message.
Ezekiel 38:5-6 KJVPersia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: (6) Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.
Persia we know today as stated and covered before is Iran. In the case of Ethiopia as it was in the day of the prophecy being told we will define with the ISBE. We went to great extremes to detail the settlement of tribes and nations descended from Noah.
The inhabitants of Ethiopia were a Hamitic race. Gen_10:6. They were divided into various tribes, of which the Sabeans were the most powerful. The history of Ethiopia is closely interwoven with that of Egypt. The two countries were not unfrequently united, under the rule of the same sovereign.
So now we have the western portion of northern Africa to include Egypt and Libya and Iran thrown into the equation along with the Russian territories or what once were. Then we come to Gomer and Togarmah.
Again we can turn to the ISBE for defining Gomer. In other words yours truly does not want any static from something that could get twisted.
Gomer (1)gō´me~r (גּמר, gōmer): Given in Gen_10:2 f; 1Ch_1:5 f as a son of Japheth. The name evidently designates the people called Gimirrâ by the Assyrians, Kimmerians by the Greeks. They were a barbaric horde of Aryans who in the 7th century bc left their abode in what is now Southern Russia and poured. through the Caucasus into Western Asia, causing serious trouble to the Assyrians and other nations. One division moved eastward toward Media, another westward, where they conquered Cappadocia and made it their special abode. They fought also in other parts of Asia Minor, conquering some portions. The Armenian name for Cappadocia, Gamir, has come from this people. In Eze_38:6 Gomer is mentioned as one of the northern nations.
For Togarmah to keep things brief we will use the Smith’s Bible dictionary for a description.
Togarmah
Togar'mah. A son of Gomer, of the family of Japheth, and brother of Ashkenaz and Riphath.
Gen_10:3. His descendants became a people, engaged in agriculture, breeding horses and mules to be sold in Tyre. Eze_27:14 . They were also a military people, well skilled in the use of arms. Togarmah was, probably, the ancient name of Armenia.
Now let’s move forward with the last few nations mentioned in the prophecy.
Ezekiel 38:8-13 KJVAfter 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. (9) 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. (10) Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: (11) 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, (12) 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. (13) Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?
For another brief look into the nation of Sheba we will once again use the Smith dictionary.
Sheba
A son of Raamah, son of Cush. Gen_10:7; 1Ch_1:9.
We shall consider, first, the history of the Joktanite Sheba; and secondly, the Cushite Sheba and the Keturahite Sheba together.
II. Sheba, son of Raamah, son of Cush, settled somewhere on the shores of the Persian Gulf. It was this Sheba that carried on the great Indian traffic with Palestine, in conjunction with, as we hold, the other Sheba, son of Jokshan, son of Keturah, who, like Dedan, appears to have formed, with the Cushite of the same name, one tribe.
For a look at Dedan and Tarshish we will use the Fausset dictionary
The Cushite Dedan near the head of the Persian gulf and Chaldaea, the avenue of commerce to India, is referred to in Eze_27:15, as the names in the context prove; but Eze_27:20 Dedan is connected with N.W. Arabia, and associated with Assyria (Eze_27:23), i.e. the Semitic or Edomite Dedan, yet also connected with the Cushite "Sheba and Raamah" (Eze_27:22) on the Persian gulf. The Semitic Sabeans, descended from Sheba tenth son of Joktan, dwelt in S.W. Arabia, from the Red Sea to the straits of Bab el Mandeb. Ezekiel thus recounts the two channels of merchandise, Raamah on the Persian gulf, and Sheba on the Red Sea in Arabia. The name Dedan still remains in Dadan, an island on the border of the Persian gulf. (See RAAMAH)
TarshishTartessus (as Asshur became Athur, Bashan, Batanoea), a Phoenician city S. of Spain; the portion of Spain known to the Hebrew (
Psa_72:10). "The kings of Tarshish ... kings of Sheba," i.e. the wealthy Tarshish in the far W. and Sheba in the S.E. Tarshish was a dependency of Phoenician Tyre. Isa_23:6; Isa_23:10 ("pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish," i.e. Tartessus and its inhabitants would now that Tyre's strength was disabled pour forth as waters, no longer kept working mines for the parent city), 14,18; Eze_26:15; Eze_26:18; Eze_27:12. "Tarshish was thy (Tyre's) merchant ... with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded in thy fairs."
This could be indicative to a description of Europe or the west in general getting involved in the valley of Megiddo. Now in case there are any questions concerning the gathering of the nations against Israel to be judged let’s step back to Ezekiel 38:3-4.
Ezekiel 38:3-4 KJV
And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: (4) 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:
This is an interesting description of how Russia will be pulled into this prophecy. The Assyrian empire in ancient days was known as the most cruel of all the biblical empires of prophecy. In ancient days the Assyrian empire was coming against king Hezekiah during the ministry of the prophet Isaiah. In the book of 2nd Kings chapters 15-23 there are described many instances in which the kings of Assyria came against the northern kingdom even putting them into a vassal state in which tribute was to be paid to the empire. This was divine judgment for the evil that the northern kings who disobeyed Lord brought about.
Perhaps a big hint toward issues triggering the war and judgment of Ezekiel 38 and 39 is found in the book s of Amos and 2nd Kings. Amos was shepherd of flocks and herds and his descriptions of judgments involve his area of expertise. However he does not complicate things as to why these actions against the northern kingdom would take place. Amos had at least 1 very definite message. That was the onslaught of the Assyrians conquering all of the promised land. He not only addresses the nation of Israel but the whole of Gaza and the Philistines as well. The attention we are going to give to the matter at hand is found in chapter 4.
Amos 4:1-13 KJVHear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink. (2) The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks. (3) And ye shall go out at the breaches, every cow at that which is before her; and ye shall cast them into the palace, saith the LORD. (4) Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years: (5) And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim and publish the free offerings: for this liketh you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord GOD. (6) And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. (7) And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered. (8) So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. (9) I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured them: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. (10) I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses; and I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. (11) I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. (12) Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. (13) For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.
Amos 4:1-2 KJVHear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink. (2) The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks.
The Assyrian empire was known as the most cruel of all the biblical empires. They were known for taking away their captives by placing a hook into the jaws of select prisoners. These particular prisoners were not all necessarily politically active but many were selected for this method based upon their position in the society they were conquering. God not only declares His wrath for the king of Assyria using his methods but also by placing a hook into the jaws of the chief prince of the land of Magog. We are witnessing the precursors of this event today as we speak. Now some are no doubt out there saying ok brother Al where is the connection. If you follow events in the middle east you are probably not asking that question.
The following headlines and examples are symptomatic of the Russian involvement in all of this.
June 12 2012 Russian Helicopters to Syria a New Political Headache for Obama June 15 2012 Russia sends ship with weapons to Syria July 13 2012 Russia likely to continue supplying arms to Syria August 21 2012 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned the West on Tuesday against unilateral action on Syria a day after President Barack Obama said U.S. forces could intervene if his Syrian counterpart deployed chemical weapons against rebels trying to topple him.
After looking at all that it appears that the hooks are already in the jaws of Russia even to the point of warning the United States to basically stay out of the situation. You might disagree but it seems as though the enemies of Israel under our current leadership in America are becoming more emboldened in their rhetoric in all this. Now let’s turn back to some of the history involving the Assyrian empire.
2 Kings 15:19-21 KJVAnd Pul the king of Assyria came against the land: and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand. (20) And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and stayed not there in the land. (21) And the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
2 Kings 15:27-29 KJVIn the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years. (28) And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. (29) In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.
There were even coordinated attacks against Jerusalem from the northern kingdom and the Assyrians.
2 Kings 16:1-6 KJVIn the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign. (2) Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father. (3) But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel. (4) And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. (5) Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him. (6) At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day.
The next bit of history involves king Ahaz from Jerusalem and his act of abomination to God and the temple. This involved the assimilation of an altar that was placed in the temple and also the sacrifice of an unclean animal.
2 Kings 16:7-20 KJVSo Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, saying, I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against me. (8) And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria. (9) And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin. (10) And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof. (11) And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made it against king Ahaz came from Damascus. (12) And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king approached to the altar, and offered thereon. (13) And he burnt his burnt offering and his meat offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, upon the altar. (14) And he brought also the brasen altar, which was before the LORD, from the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of the altar. (15) And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king's burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for me to enquire by. (16) Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded. (17) And king Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed the laver from off them; and took down the sea from off the brasen oxen that were under it, and put it upon a pavement of stones. (18) And the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king's entry without, turned he from the house of the LORD for the king of Assyria. (19) Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? (20) And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.
2 Kings 17:18-41 KJVTherefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only. (19) Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. (20) And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight. (21) For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the LORD, and made them sin a great sin. (22) For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them; (23) Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day. (24) And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof. (25) And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the LORD: therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which slew some of them. (26) Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land. (27) Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land. (28) Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD. (29) Howbeit every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities wherein they dwelt. (30) And the men of Babylon made Succothbenoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima, (31) And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. (32) So they feared the LORD, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places. (33) They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence. (34) Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the LORD, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel; (35) With whom the LORD had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them: (36) But the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and a stretched out arm, him shall ye fear, and him shall ye worship, and to him shall ye do sacrifice. (37)And the statutes, and the ordinances, and the law, and the commandment, which he wrote for you, ye shall observe to do for evermore; and ye shall not fear other gods.(38)And the covenant that I have made with you ye shall not forget; neither shall ye fear other gods. (39) But the LORD your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies. (40) Howbeit they did not hearken, but they did after their former manner. (41) So these nations feared the LORD, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children's children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.
Finally it appears at least through the better part of his reign king Ahaz was a good leader in the eyes of the Lord. Although in his later days he made mistakes which eventually led to the destruction of the temple by the Nebuchadnezzar. That judgment of course not only come by his actions but many others as well including his son Hezekiah. The following passage is a great example of the blessings God bestows upon a nation who’s God is the Lord.
2 Kings 18:1-12 KJV
Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. (2) Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah. (3) And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did. (4) He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan. (5) He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. (6) For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses. (7) And the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not. (8) He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city. (9) And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it. (10) And at the end of three years they took it: even in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken. (11) And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes: (12) Because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD their God, but transgressed his covenant, and all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them.
This is how a nation that proclaims the sovereignty of our God and Father of the Son can manage in difficult times. It also is evidence of what happens when God is not acknowledged.
2 Kings 18:13-18 KJVNow in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them. (14) And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. (15) And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house. (16) At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria. (17) And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller's field. (18) And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.
This information is also followed in the book of Isaiah. Isaiah was performing his prophetic ministry when Hezekiah was king.
Isaiah 20:1-6 KJVIn the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, (when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him,) and fought against Ashdod, and took it; (2) At the same time spake the LORD by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot. (3) And the LORD said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia; (4) So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt. (5) And they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory. (6) And the inhabitant of this isle shall say in that day, Behold, such is our expectation, whither we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and how shall we escape?
2 Kings 18:19-25 KJV
And Rabshakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest? (20) Thou sayest, (but they are but vain words,) I have counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me? (21) Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him. (22) But if ye say unto me, We trust in the LORD our God: is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem? (23) Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them. (24) How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen? (25) Am I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.
Notice the blasphemous remarks made concerning God and His will concerning the invasion. This is basically mocking our God which is something Satan loves to do. This is something we also made evident in our nation in America’s alarms and warnings 4. It’s all a broad path to destruction which is no doubt coming to America at some point.
2 Kings 18:26-37 KJVThen said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and talk not with us in the Jews' language in the ears of the people that are on the wall. (27) But Rabshakeh said unto them, Hath my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men which sit on the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you? (28) Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and spake, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria: (29) Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand: (30) Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria. (31) Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and then eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his cistern: (32) Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oil olive and of honey, that ye may live, and not die: and hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he persuadeth you, saying, The LORD will deliver us. (33) Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? (34) Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand? (35) Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of mine hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand? (36) But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not. (37) Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.
2 Kings 19:1-18 KJVAnd it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD. (2) And he sent Eliakim, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz. (3) And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth. (4) It may be the LORD thy God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God; and will reprove the words which the LORD thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that are left. (5) So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah. (6) And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say to your master, Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words which thou hast heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. (7) Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and shall return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land. (8) So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish. (9) And when he heard say of Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, Behold, he is come out to fight against thee: he sent messengers again unto Hezekiah, saying, (10) Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God in whom thou trustest deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria. (11) Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly: and shalt thou be delivered? (12) Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed; as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Thelasar? (13) Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivah? (14) And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. (15) And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth. (16) LORD, bow down thine ear, and hear: open, LORD, thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God. (17) Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands, (18) And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.
Again we are seeing the attack not only upon the land of Judah but against God as well. However as we are about to discover when we turn back to the Lord God our Father of the Son the results are often very positive. The following passage which will be our last from this period of history will make us aware of the benefits of the Lord and how He takes care of the enemy.
2 Kings 19:19-37 KJVNow therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD God, even thou only. (20) Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard. (21) This is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning him; The virgin the daughter of Zion hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee. (22) Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel. (23) By thy messengers thou hast reproached the Lord, and hast said, With the multitude of my chariots I am come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon, and will cut down the tall cedar trees thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the lodgings of his borders, and into the forest of his Carmel. (24) I have digged and drunk strange waters, and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of besieged places. (25) Hast thou not heard long ago how I have done it, and of ancient times that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste fenced cities into ruinous heaps. (26) Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up. (27) But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me. (28) Because thy rage against me and thy tumult is come up into mine ears, therefore I will put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest. (29) And this shall be a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this year such things as grow of themselves, and in the second year that which springeth of the same; and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruits thereof. (30) And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward, and bear fruit upward. (31) For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this. (32) Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it. (33) By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD. (34) For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake. (35) And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. (36) So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh. (37) And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.
Here in today’s world are there reflections in these advantages and disadvantages? Of course there are. What we will choose to call Israel’s closest enemies those that surround the nation in every direction are involved in the worship of a false deity. If you hear the battle cries of these enemies we often always here how this god named allah will drive the occupiers out of the promised land. We do not proclaim things like this with our God here in America much any more. By the way as we have mentioned in the past this particular false deity has no son and vehemently denies that fact.
Matthew 3:13-17 KJVThen cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. (14) But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? (15) And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. (16) And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: (17) And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
In effect we are heathen and unbelievers because our religion of Christianity is the only one in the world which offers any way to obtain salvation for our sins. The blood of Jesus Christ. So when we see the enemies of Jerusalem spouting from all about the nation of Israel we are witnessing the exact same tactics of spiritual warfare as seen in the days of the kings we have looked at.
Luke 21:20 KJVAnd when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
Luke 21:25-28 KJVAnd there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; (26) Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. (27) And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (28) And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
The tribute paid by the northern kingdom to the Assyrians kept a so-called peace within the area for them. However it did not spare Judah and Jerusalem from attack. In the ultimate outcome what we could call a Hezekiah’s revival blessed Judah and kept the protection of the Lord. Here in America we have somewhat caused the same type of situation for Israel by brokering a peace with the nation of Egypt and their former leader Mubarak. We paid the nation of Egypt handsomely to keep peace with Israel and they did. This is quickly going to change however and it already is beginning. Again as we are undertaking this study Israel is launching aircraft and massing ground forces along the border with Gaza. The new president of Egypt who our current president was naïve enough or at least let’s hope unintentionally welcomed this situation. His name is Morsi and we understand today in the news he is on his way to Gaza. We do not know however if he is going to promote a stop to violence or promote it.
In our study we have seen the respective ups and downs with God and without God. We have discovered how God spares not even His own nation when it is living in unbelief. Why not for as the scripture informs us He spared not even His only Son.
Romans 8:29-39 KJVFor whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (30) Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (31) What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (32) He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (33) Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. (34) Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. (35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (36) As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. (37) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. (38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
As the scripture tells us not even the once heavenly angels and the world God created to live in an earthly paradise was not spared.
2 Peter 1:1-7 KJVSimon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: (2) Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, (3) According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: (4) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (5) And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; (6) And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; (7) And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
What all these passages are conveying is that none are above His judgment. This includes the entirety of the world. Although we are not focusing upon America directly with this study it should serve to remind us we as a nation or as a world are not above His judgment. However we are not below His mercy.
John 3:13-21 KJVAnd no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. (14) And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: (15) That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (18) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (19) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (20) For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. (21) But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Thanks for sharing a Word
God Bless
