Mat 15:10-20 KJVAnd he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: (11) Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. (12) Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? (13) But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. (14) Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. (15) Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. (16) And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? (17) Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? (18) But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. (19) For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: (20) These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
Mar 7:14-23 KJVAnd when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: (15) There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. (16) If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. (17) And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. (18) And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; (19) Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? (20) And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. (21) For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, (22) Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: (23) All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
Eze 38:10 KJVThus 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 H7451 thought H4284:
H7451
רע רעהra‛ ra^‛a^h rah, raw-aw'From H7489; bad or (as noun) evil (naturally or morally). This includes the second (feminine) form; as adjective or noun: - adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, + displease (-ure), distress, evil ([-favouredness], man, thing), + exceedingly, X great, grief (-vous), harm, heavy, hurt (-ful), ill (favoured), + mark, mischief, (-vous), misery, naught (-ty), noisome, + not please, sad (-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex, wicked (-ly, -ness, one), worse (-st) wretchedness, wrong. [Including feminine ra’ah; as adjective or noun.]
H7451
רעה
ra‛ / ra^‛a^h
BDB Definition:
1) bad, evil (adjective)
1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant
1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery)
1c) evil, displeasing
1d) bad (of its kind - land, water, etc)
1e) bad (of value)
1f) worse than, worst (comparison)
1g) sad, unhappy
1h) evil (hurtful)
1i) bad, unkind (vicious in disposition)
1j) bad, evil, wicked (ethically)
1j1) in general, of persons, of thoughts
1j2) deeds, actions 2) evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity (noun masculine)
2a) evil, distress, adversity
2b) evil, injury, wrong
2c) evil (ethical) 3) evil, misery, distress, injury (noun feminine)
3a) evil, misery, distress
3b) evil, injury, wrong
3c) evil (ethical)
Part of Speech: see above in Definition
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H7489
H4284
מחשׁבה מחשׁבתmachăsha^ba^h machăshebeth
makh-ash-aw-baw', makh-ash-eh'-bethFrom H2803; a contrivance, that is, (concretely) a texture, machine, or (abstractly) intention, plan (whether bad, a plot; or good, advice): - cunning (work), curious work, device (-sed), imagination, invented, means, purpose, thought.
H4284
מחשׁבה מחשׁבת
machăsha^ba^h
machăshebeth
BDB Definition:
1) thought, device
1a) thought
1b) device, plan, purpose
1c) invention Part of Speech: noun feminine
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H2803
Thus far into our studies of Ezekiel 38 we have explored the subject of major warfare to take place within the promised land. We have explored when this warfare would come about. In the last days of earthly history when Israel is dwelling as a nation in the promised land.
In this look into the matter we will explore the “evil thought” that will unite many nations in an invasion against the nation of Israel. We will also develop a longer list of more nations than we have detailed to this point. The phrase “evil thought” appears in scripture in the singular form one time throughout the OT. That is the verse we are currently looking into. The word for thought is found 25 times in the OT and all with the exception of verse 10 here in Ezekiel 38 are in a plural description.
As we have explored there will be many nations that will come against the nation of Israel in this prophecy. The fact that we are looking into the singular use of the phrase “evil thought” is very appropriate indeed. Appropriate because these many nations that will be attacking are united under 1 common goal. This goal to be the annihilation of Israel as a nation. We have many prophetic and historical patterns that convey this activity. However we can look further back into biblical history to the time of the flood to understand the consequences of such evil imagination and thought.
Gen 6:5-7 KJV
And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (6) And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. (7) And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
One major prophetic pattern we can put together in regard to these evil thoughts can be seen in God’s judgment. Here in Genesis we understand that the flood God sent destroyed the entirety of the earth. Now we can look into the NT to discover the next type of global judgment.
2Pe 3:1-7 KJVThis second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: (2) That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: (3) Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, (4) And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. (5) For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: (6) Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: (7) But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
There are probably some that are newer to scripture than others. For those folks we will explore a little bit of the enmity or hostility among the nations through a historical look at the Bible. Let’s start by traveling back a little bit further into biblical history.
Gen 3:15 KJVAnd I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Here we have the simple and direct formation of 2 types of armies in spiritual and natural battlefields. Those that will fight the good fight for the Lord and those that simply oppose and fight for the devil.
1Ti 6:12-16 KJVFight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. (13) I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; (14) That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: (15) Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; (16) Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
1Ti 4:1-8 KJVNow the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (2) Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; (3) Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. (4) For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: (5) For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. (6) If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. (7) But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. (8) For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
In our opening we observed the words of Jesus describe how the evil actions of men are related to no other thing except what they pour forth from their hearts. Nothing that enters into the body via rhetoric or even food if you please makes a man evil. It depends on what the said individual uses and does with this information that determines the final outcome.
For example in the 19th century the theory of evolution as it was put forth by Charles Darwin carried a message that many ruthless leaders of the world seized upon. Let’s just use the title of his book to convey this point.
Its full title was
On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life.
Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life This is the key phrase that caused deaths to innocent people by the millions. Although this particular ministry is not deep into teaching creation from a scientific standpoint the history of men and genocide in the prophetic realm of scripture can be easily enough identified. Let’s explore a few “men” and the actions this type of thought provoked.
The following paragraphs are taken from Creation Ministries web-site from an article entitled Genocide, evolution and the Bible Focus magazine’s answer to the question: “What is the most important book of all time?”
The simple fact of history is that the greatest evil has always resulted from denial of God, not pursuit of Him. The 1991 Guinness Book of Records, category ‘Judicial’, sub-heading ‘Crime’, p. 216, reported that 26.3 million Chinese were killed during the regime of Mao Zedong between 1949 and May 1965. This accusation was further extended by the Walker Report published by the U.S. Senate Committee of the Judiciary in July 1971 which ‘placed the parameters of the total death toll within China since 1949 between 32.25 and 61.7 million’.
In the USSR, according to Guinness, ‘Nobel Prize winner Alexander Solzhenitsyn estimated the loss of life from state repression and terrorism from October 1917 to December 1959 under Lenin, Stalin and Khrushchev at 66,700,000.’
The worst genocide as a percentage of a nation’s total population happened in Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge. According to Guinness, ‘More than one third of the 8 million Khmers were killed between 17 Apr 1975 and January 1979.’
The greatest evil does not result from people zealous for God. It results when people are convinced there is no God to whom they must answer.
Although not mentioned here in this particular information Adolf Hitler was likely the most popular character who put forth this philosophy that some nations of people were greater than others. We won’t get into this aspect very deep.
Let’s just say that this ideology that some people among us were not as advanced in their evolution leads to the fact that certain worshippers of Darwin’s religion such as mentioned above justify killings by the millions. The Holocaust was probably the most recognized form of this hatred. By taking in this idiotic idea the evil that is spewed forth by these tyrants came about.
Rom 1:18-25 KJVFor the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; (19) Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. (20) For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (21) Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (22) Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, (23) And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. (24) Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: (25) Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Now let’s explore some of the modern day ranting of such thoughts concerning the nation of Israel. We can start with the current Egyptian leader Mohammed Morsi. The following is a headline from the Fox news channel.
Morsi Called Jews ‘Descendants Of Apes And Pigs’ In 2010 Speech
How about Ahmadinejad the leader of Iran. The following quotes come from the AP article supplied below.
Ahmadinejad: Destroy Israel, End Crisis
By SEAN YOONGThe Associated Press
Thursday, August 3, 2006; 10:49 AM PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday the solution to the Middle East crisis is to destroy Israel. In a speech during an emergency meeting of Muslim leaders, Ahmadinejad also called for an immediate halt to fighting in Lebanon between Israel and the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah. "Although the main solution is for the elimination of the Zionist regime, at this stage an immediate cease-fire must be implemented," he said.
Ahmadinejad, who has drawn international condemnation with previous calls for Israel to be wiped off the map, said the Middle East would be better off "without the existence of the Zionist regime."
Israel "is an illegitimate regime, there is no legal basis for its existence," he said.
We can find this exact same tone in a Psalm which speaks to us today in a very prophetic way.
Psa 83:1-18 KJVA Song or Psalm of Asaph. Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God. (2) For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. (3) They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. (4) They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. (5) For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: (6) The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; (7) Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; (8) Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah. (9) Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison: (10) Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth. (11) Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna: (12) Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession. (13) O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind. (14) As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire; (15) So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm. (16) Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD. (17) Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish: (18) That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.
As we look at the nations above we discover there are 10 specifically mentioned. We will briefly explore a few passages that concern their attitudes with Israel in the OT and the entire world in the NT. Some of this warfare goes back in biblical history to the post flood world. There are at least 2 nations mentioned here that not only held a rocky road with Israel then but today as well. These 2 are the Ammonites and the Moabites. However we will start our journey in verse 6.
Psa 83:6 KJVThe tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;
Edom as we know is another name for Esau. Esau as a word in the OT appears 97 times in 82 vesres.
Gen 28:1-9 KJVAnd Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. (2) Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother. (3) And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; (4) And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham. (5) And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother. (6) When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padanaram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan; (7) And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padanaram; (8) And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father; (9) Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.
We see here that Esau or Edom married into the lineages of Ishmael and Canaan.
In another passage we see that the hostility between the 2 brothers seems to have corrected itself. However somewhere along the way as always seems to happen the hostility comes again.
Gen 33:1-16 KJVAnd Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. (2) And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost. (3) And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. (4) And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept. (5) And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant. (6) Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves. (7) And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves. (8) And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord. (9) And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself. (10) And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me. (11) Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it. (12) And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee. (13) And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die. (14) Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir. (15) And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord. (16) So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.
Gen 16:9-16 KJVAnd the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands. (10) And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. (11) And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. (12) And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. (13) And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me? (14) Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. (15) And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael. (16) And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.
Here in this passage we can see that the Ishmaelites and descendants of Hagar or the Hagarenes are linked together. Both mentioned as nations or tribes involved with warfare against Israel.
The passages concerning Abraham and Lot separating from one another produce the births of 2 nations. The 2 nations ofMoab and Ammon. This was a direct result of the loss of Lot's wife as she was turned into a pillar of stone for having looked back upon the sin God had destroyed or was destroying.
Gen 19:29-38 KJVAnd it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt. (30) And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters. (31) And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth: (32) Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. (33) And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. (34) And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. (35) And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. (36) Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father. (37) And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day. (38) And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.
It's worth noting here that all of the nations above from Psalm 83:6 have extensive periods of warfare with Israel. In the case of these 3 in particular the problems started during the Exodus.
Num 20:12-22 KJVAnd the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. (13) This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them. (14) And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us: (15) How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers: (16) And when we cried unto the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border: (17) Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king's high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders. (18) And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword. (19) And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing any thing else, go through on my feet. (20) And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand. (21) Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him. (22) And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor.
Num 24:1-25 KJV
And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness. (2) And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him. (3) And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: (4) He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: (5) How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! (6) As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters. (7) He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted. (8) God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows. (9) He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee. (10) And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times. (11) Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour. (12) And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying, (13) If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak? (14) And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days. (15) And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: (16) He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: (17) I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. (18) And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly. (19) Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city. (20) And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever. (21) And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock. (22) Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive. (23) And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this! (24) And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever. (25) And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.
It was the Moabites that tried to have the false prophet Balaam place a curse upon Israel.
Num 22:1-4 KJV
And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho. (2) And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. (3) And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. (4) And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.
Num 22:9-21 KJV
And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee? (10) And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, (11) Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out. (12) And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed. (13) And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you. (14) And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us. (15) And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they. (16) And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me: (17) For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people. (18) And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more. (19) Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more. (20) And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do. (21) And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
The only other reference we see to the Hagarenes is found in the word Hagarites. They were known for their warfare with Israel as well.
1Ch 5:8-10 KJVAnd Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who dwelt in Aroer, even unto Nebo and Baalmeon: (9) And eastward he inhabited unto the entering in of the wilderness from the river Euphrates: because their cattle were multiplied in the land of Gilead. (10) And in the days of Saul they made war with the Hagarites, who fell by their hand: and they dwelt in their tents throughout all the east land of Gilead.
1Ch 5:18-22 KJVThe sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war, were four and forty thousand seven hundred and threescore, that went out to the war. (19) And they made war with the Hagarites, with Jetur, and Nephish, and Nodab. (20) And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and he was intreated of them; because they put their trust in him. (21) And they took away their cattle; of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand, and of men an hundred thousand. (22) For there fell down many slain, because the war was of God. And they dwelt in their steads until the captivity.
Psa 83:7 KJV
Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;
Gebal is somewhat enigmatic in scripture. The city associiated with ancient Phoenicia. According to the Barne's commentary the worship that was practiced here seems to be the culprit that brings them into the prophecy.
Ezekiel 27:9
Gebal - i. e., Byblos (modern Gebeil) in Phoenicia, the chief seat of the worship of Adonis, and situated on an eminence over-looking the river Adonis, north of Beirut, not far from the Mediterranean sea. The "ancients" is a term for the council that presided over maritime cities.
As a matter of fact the entire prophecy of Ezekiel 27 has a lot of familiar names we have found in our journey through Ezekiel 38. It will be explored in depth as we move further into our study. For now we can turn back to Psalm 83 and pick up the Ammonites. We explored their beginnings with our look at the Moabites.
Deu 2:15-37 KJVFor indeed the hand of the LORD was against them, to destroy them from among the host, until they were consumed. (16) So it came to pass, when all the men of war were consumed and dead from among the people, (17) That the LORD spake unto me, saying, (18) Thou art to pass over through Ar, the coast of Moab, this day: (19) And when thou comest nigh over against the children of Ammon, distress them not, nor meddle with them: for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon any possession; because I have given it unto the children of Lot for a possession. (20) (That also was accounted a land of giants: giants dwelt therein in old time; and the Ammonites call them Zamzummims; (21) A people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims; but the LORD destroyed them before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead: (22) As he did to the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir, when he destroyed the Horims from before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead even unto this day: (23) And the Avims which dwelt in Hazerim, even unto Azzah, the Caphtorims, which came forth out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and dwelt in their stead.) (24) Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon: behold, I have given into thine hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land: begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle. (25) This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the nations that are under the whole heaven, who shall hear report of thee, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of thee. (26) And I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth unto Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying, (27) Let me pass through thy land: I will go along by the high way, I will neither turn unto the right hand nor to the left. (28) Thou shalt sell me meat for money, that I may eat; and give me water for money, that I may drink: only I will pass through on my feet; (29) (As the children of Esau which dwell in Seir, and the Moabites which dwell in Ar, did unto me;) until I shall pass over Jordan into the land which the LORD our God giveth us. (30) But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day. (31) And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his land before thee: begin to possess, that thou mayest inherit his land. (32) Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to fight at Jahaz. (33) And the LORD our God delivered him before us; and we smote him, and his sons, and all his people. (34) And we took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed the men, and the women, and the little ones, of every city, we left none to remain: (35) Only the cattle we took for a prey unto ourselves, and the spoil of the cities which we took. (36) From Aroer, which is by the brink of the river of Arnon, and from the city that is by the river, even unto Gilead, there was not one city too strong for us: the LORD our God delivered all unto us: (37) Only unto the land of the children of Ammon thou camest not, nor unto any place of the river Jabbok, nor unto the cities in the mountains, nor unto whatsoever the LORD our God forbad us.
Jdg 10:6-18 KJV
And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him. (7) And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon. (8) And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel: eighteen years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead. (9) Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed. (10) And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim. (11) And the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines? (12) The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand. (13) Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more. (14) Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation. (15) And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day. (16) And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel. (17) Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh. (18) And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.
Psa 83:7 KJVGebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;
The Gebalites or Giblites as we see in Joshua had land that fell into the possession of Israel. However the area was not settled by Israel.
Jos 13:1-6 KJV
Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed. (2) This is the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri, (3) From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites: (4) From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that is beside the Sidonians, unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites: (5) And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baalgad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath. (6) All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephothmaim, and all the Sidonians, them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee.
Amalek or the Amalekites were associated to the dscendants of Esau which we decscribed earlier as choosing hostility toward Israel.
Gen 36:12 KJVAnd Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau's son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau's wife.
Num 14:40-45 KJVAnd they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we be here, and will go up unto the place which the LORD hath promised: for we have sinned. (41) And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the LORD? but it shall not prosper. (42) Go not up, for the LORD is not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies. (43) For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned away from the LORD, therefore the LORD will not be with you. (44) But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and Moses, departed not out of the camp. (45) Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah.
Jdg 6:1-5 KJVAnd the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. (2) And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds. (3) And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them; (4) And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. (5) For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.
The Philistines have been waging war with Israel right up until our present day. They are known by the name Palestinians and come in many different names i.e. Hamas, Hezbollah etc.
1Sa 5:1-6 KJVAnd the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod. (2) When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. (3) And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again. (4) And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him. (5) Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day. (6) But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof.
We could cover a whole lot of scripture right here with the warfare of the Israelites with the Philistines. However we are only trying to point out that the modern day representations of these nations are just as much at war with Israel today as they were then. We know them by their present day name as Palestinians.
The city of Tyre comes next. Tyre was a great source of naval commerce in the days of the early kings. It was destroyed by both the Babylonian and Greek empires.
Joe 3:1-8 KJVFor, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, (2) I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. (3) And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink. (4) Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head; (5) Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things: (6) The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border. (7) Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompence upon your own head: (8) And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the LORD hath spoken it.
By the way Joel 3 is a prophetic description of this massive gathering of armies to come against Jerusalem in Ezekiel 38.
The last nation mentioned is Assur which we can point out as the Assyrian empire which we covered somewhat in detail coming against Judah after making the northern kingdom basically a vassal state paying tribute to Assyria for peace. We of course know the modern name of the nation would be Syria.
If we stop for a few moments and consider these 10 nations we easily see that all of these territories then are the same areas today that dispute the nation of Israel’s right to even simply exists. They are representative of Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria, Iran, southern Gaza into Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. We are quickly approaching a point in history with special focus on the Iran nuclear situation which could easily provoke all the nations we mentioned in this study coupled with the others we have looked into in Ezekiel 38 to go to war with the nation of Israel. This is nothing new however since the restoration of the nation in 1948. We pretty much discover that the exact same warfare took place immediately after the rebirth of the nation of Israel.
Ecc 1:9-10 KJVThe thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. (10) Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
Ecc 3:14-16 KJV
I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. (15) That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past. (16) And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
Luk 21:25-31 KJV
And 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. (29) And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; (30) When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. (31) So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
Thanks For sharing a word
God Bless
Mar 7:14-23 KJVAnd when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: (15) There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. (16) If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. (17) And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. (18) And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; (19) Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? (20) And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. (21) For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, (22) Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: (23) All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
H7451
רע רעהra‛ ra^‛a^h rah, raw-aw'From H7489; bad or (as noun) evil (naturally or morally). This includes the second (feminine) form; as adjective or noun: - adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, + displease (-ure), distress, evil ([-favouredness], man, thing), + exceedingly, X great, grief (-vous), harm, heavy, hurt (-ful), ill (favoured), + mark, mischief, (-vous), misery, naught (-ty), noisome, + not please, sad (-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex, wicked (-ly, -ness, one), worse (-st) wretchedness, wrong. [Including feminine ra’ah; as adjective or noun.]
H7451
רעה
ra‛ / ra^‛a^h
BDB Definition:
1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery)
1c) evil, displeasing
1d) bad (of its kind - land, water, etc)
1e) bad (of value)
1f) worse than, worst (comparison)
1g) sad, unhappy
1h) evil (hurtful)
1i) bad, unkind (vicious in disposition)
1j) bad, evil, wicked (ethically)
1j2) deeds, actions
2b) evil, injury, wrong
2c) evil (ethical)
3b) evil, injury, wrong
3c) evil (ethical)
Part of Speech: see above in Definition
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H7489
H4284
מחשׁבה מחשׁבתmachăsha^ba^h machăshebeth
makh-ash-aw-baw', makh-ash-eh'-bethFrom H2803; a contrivance, that is, (concretely) a texture, machine, or (abstractly) intention, plan (whether bad, a plot; or good, advice): - cunning (work), curious work, device (-sed), imagination, invented, means, purpose, thought.
H4284
מחשׁבה מחשׁבת
machăsha^ba^h
machăshebeth
BDB Definition:
1b) device, plan, purpose
1c) invention
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H2803
Thus far into our studies of Ezekiel 38 we have explored the subject of major warfare to take place within the promised land. We have explored when this warfare would come about. In the last days of earthly history when Israel is dwelling as a nation in the promised land.
In this look into the matter we will explore the “evil thought” that will unite many nations in an invasion against the nation of Israel. We will also develop a longer list of more nations than we have detailed to this point. The phrase “evil thought” appears in scripture in the singular form one time throughout the OT. That is the verse we are currently looking into. The word for thought is found 25 times in the OT and all with the exception of verse 10 here in Ezekiel 38 are in a plural description.
As we have explored there will be many nations that will come against the nation of Israel in this prophecy. The fact that we are looking into the singular use of the phrase “evil thought” is very appropriate indeed. Appropriate because these many nations that will be attacking are united under 1 common goal. This goal to be the annihilation of Israel as a nation. We have many prophetic and historical patterns that convey this activity. However we can look further back into biblical history to the time of the flood to understand the consequences of such evil imagination and thought.
Gen 6:5-7 KJV
And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (6) And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. (7) And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
2Pe 3:1-7 KJVThis second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: (2) That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: (3) Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, (4) And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. (5) For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: (6) Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: (7) But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
There are probably some that are newer to scripture than others. For those folks we will explore a little bit of the enmity or hostility among the nations through a historical look at the Bible. Let’s start by traveling back a little bit further into biblical history.
Gen 3:15 KJVAnd I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Here we have the simple and direct formation of 2 types of armies in spiritual and natural battlefields. Those that will fight the good fight for the Lord and those that simply oppose and fight for the devil.
1Ti 6:12-16 KJVFight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. (13) I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; (14) That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: (15) Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; (16) Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
1Ti 4:1-8 KJVNow the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (2) Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; (3) Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. (4) For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: (5) For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. (6) If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. (7) But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. (8) For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
For example in the 19th century the theory of evolution as it was put forth by Charles Darwin carried a message that many ruthless leaders of the world seized upon. Let’s just use the title of his book to convey this point.
Its full title was
On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life.
Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life This is the key phrase that caused deaths to innocent people by the millions. Although this particular ministry is not deep into teaching creation from a scientific standpoint the history of men and genocide in the prophetic realm of scripture can be easily enough identified. Let’s explore a few “men” and the actions this type of thought provoked.
The following paragraphs are taken from Creation Ministries web-site from an article entitled Genocide, evolution and the Bible Focus magazine’s answer to the question: “What is the most important book of all time?”
The simple fact of history is that the greatest evil has always resulted from denial of God, not pursuit of Him. The 1991 Guinness Book of Records, category ‘Judicial’, sub-heading ‘Crime’, p. 216, reported that 26.3 million Chinese were killed during the regime of Mao Zedong between 1949 and May 1965. This accusation was further extended by the Walker Report published by the U.S. Senate Committee of the Judiciary in July 1971 which ‘placed the parameters of the total death toll within China since 1949 between 32.25 and 61.7 million’.
In the USSR, according to Guinness, ‘Nobel Prize winner Alexander Solzhenitsyn estimated the loss of life from state repression and terrorism from October 1917 to December 1959 under Lenin, Stalin and Khrushchev at 66,700,000.’
The worst genocide as a percentage of a nation’s total population happened in Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge. According to Guinness, ‘More than one third of the 8 million Khmers were killed between 17 Apr 1975 and January 1979.’
The greatest evil does not result from people zealous for God. It results when people are convinced there is no God to whom they must answer.
Although not mentioned here in this particular information Adolf Hitler was likely the most popular character who put forth this philosophy that some nations of people were greater than others. We won’t get into this aspect very deep.
Let’s just say that this ideology that some people among us were not as advanced in their evolution leads to the fact that certain worshippers of Darwin’s religion such as mentioned above justify killings by the millions. The Holocaust was probably the most recognized form of this hatred. By taking in this idiotic idea the evil that is spewed forth by these tyrants came about.
Rom 1:18-25 KJVFor the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; (19) Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. (20) For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (21) Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (22) Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, (23) And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. (24) Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: (25) Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Morsi Called Jews ‘Descendants Of Apes And Pigs’ In 2010 Speech
How about Ahmadinejad the leader of Iran. The following quotes come from the AP article supplied below.
Ahmadinejad: Destroy Israel, End Crisis
By SEAN YOONGThe Associated Press
Thursday, August 3, 2006; 10:49 AM PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday the solution to the Middle East crisis is to destroy Israel. In a speech during an emergency meeting of Muslim leaders, Ahmadinejad also called for an immediate halt to fighting in Lebanon between Israel and the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah. "Although the main solution is for the elimination of the Zionist regime, at this stage an immediate cease-fire must be implemented," he said.
Ahmadinejad, who has drawn international condemnation with previous calls for Israel to be wiped off the map, said the Middle East would be better off "without the existence of the Zionist regime."
Israel "is an illegitimate regime, there is no legal basis for its existence," he said.
We can find this exact same tone in a Psalm which speaks to us today in a very prophetic way.
Psa 83:1-18 KJVA Song or Psalm of Asaph. Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God. (2) For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. (3) They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. (4) They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. (5) For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: (6) The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; (7) Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; (8) Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah. (9) Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison: (10) Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth. (11) Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna: (12) Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession. (13) O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind. (14) As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire; (15) So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm. (16) Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD. (17) Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish: (18) That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.
As we look at the nations above we discover there are 10 specifically mentioned. We will briefly explore a few passages that concern their attitudes with Israel in the OT and the entire world in the NT. Some of this warfare goes back in biblical history to the post flood world. There are at least 2 nations mentioned here that not only held a rocky road with Israel then but today as well. These 2 are the Ammonites and the Moabites. However we will start our journey in verse 6.
Psa 83:6 KJVThe tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;
Edom as we know is another name for Esau. Esau as a word in the OT appears 97 times in 82 vesres.
Gen 28:1-9 KJVAnd Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. (2) Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother. (3) And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; (4) And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham. (5) And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother. (6) When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padanaram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan; (7) And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padanaram; (8) And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father; (9) Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.
We see here that Esau or Edom married into the lineages of Ishmael and Canaan.
In another passage we see that the hostility between the 2 brothers seems to have corrected itself. However somewhere along the way as always seems to happen the hostility comes again.
Gen 33:1-16 KJVAnd Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. (2) And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost. (3) And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. (4) And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept. (5) And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant. (6) Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves. (7) And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves. (8) And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord. (9) And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself. (10) And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me. (11) Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it. (12) And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee. (13) And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die. (14) Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir. (15) And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord. (16) So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.
Here in this passage we can see that the Ishmaelites and descendants of Hagar or the Hagarenes are linked together. Both mentioned as nations or tribes involved with warfare against Israel.
It's worth noting here that all of the nations above from Psalm 83:6 have extensive periods of warfare with Israel. In the case of these 3 in particular the problems started during the Exodus.
Num 20:12-22 KJVAnd the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. (13) This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them. (14) And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us: (15) How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers: (16) And when we cried unto the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border: (17) Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king's high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders. (18) And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword. (19) And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing any thing else, go through on my feet. (20) And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand. (21) Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him. (22) And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor.
Num 24:1-25 KJV
And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness. (2) And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him. (3) And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: (4) He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: (5) How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! (6) As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters. (7) He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted. (8) God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows. (9) He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee. (10) And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times. (11) Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour. (12) And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying, (13) If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak? (14) And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days. (15) And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: (16) He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: (17) I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. (18) And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly. (19) Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city. (20) And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever. (21) And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock. (22) Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive. (23) And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this! (24) And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever. (25) And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.
It was the Moabites that tried to have the false prophet Balaam place a curse upon Israel.
Num 22:1-4 KJV
And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho. (2) And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. (3) And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. (4) And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.
And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee? (10) And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, (11) Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out. (12) And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed. (13) And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you. (14) And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us. (15) And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they. (16) And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me: (17) For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people. (18) And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more. (19) Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more. (20) And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do. (21) And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
The only other reference we see to the Hagarenes is found in the word Hagarites. They were known for their warfare with Israel as well.
1Ch 5:8-10 KJVAnd Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who dwelt in Aroer, even unto Nebo and Baalmeon: (9) And eastward he inhabited unto the entering in of the wilderness from the river Euphrates: because their cattle were multiplied in the land of Gilead. (10) And in the days of Saul they made war with the Hagarites, who fell by their hand: and they dwelt in their tents throughout all the east land of Gilead.
1Ch 5:18-22 KJVThe sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war, were four and forty thousand seven hundred and threescore, that went out to the war. (19) And they made war with the Hagarites, with Jetur, and Nephish, and Nodab. (20) And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and he was intreated of them; because they put their trust in him. (21) And they took away their cattle; of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand, and of men an hundred thousand. (22) For there fell down many slain, because the war was of God. And they dwelt in their steads until the captivity.
Psa 83:7 KJV
Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;
Gebal is somewhat enigmatic in scripture. The city associiated with ancient Phoenicia. According to the Barne's commentary the worship that was practiced here seems to be the culprit that brings them into the prophecy.
Ezekiel 27:9
Gebal - i. e., Byblos (modern Gebeil) in Phoenicia, the chief seat of the worship of Adonis, and situated on an eminence over-looking the river Adonis, north of Beirut, not far from the Mediterranean sea. The "ancients" is a term for the council that presided over maritime cities.
As a matter of fact the entire prophecy of Ezekiel 27 has a lot of familiar names we have found in our journey through Ezekiel 38. It will be explored in depth as we move further into our study. For now we can turn back to Psalm 83 and pick up the Ammonites. We explored their beginnings with our look at the Moabites.
Deu 2:15-37 KJVFor indeed the hand of the LORD was against them, to destroy them from among the host, until they were consumed. (16) So it came to pass, when all the men of war were consumed and dead from among the people, (17) That the LORD spake unto me, saying, (18) Thou art to pass over through Ar, the coast of Moab, this day: (19) And when thou comest nigh over against the children of Ammon, distress them not, nor meddle with them: for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon any possession; because I have given it unto the children of Lot for a possession. (20) (That also was accounted a land of giants: giants dwelt therein in old time; and the Ammonites call them Zamzummims; (21) A people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims; but the LORD destroyed them before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead: (22) As he did to the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir, when he destroyed the Horims from before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead even unto this day: (23) And the Avims which dwelt in Hazerim, even unto Azzah, the Caphtorims, which came forth out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and dwelt in their stead.) (24) Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon: behold, I have given into thine hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land: begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle. (25) This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the nations that are under the whole heaven, who shall hear report of thee, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of thee. (26) And I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth unto Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying, (27) Let me pass through thy land: I will go along by the high way, I will neither turn unto the right hand nor to the left. (28) Thou shalt sell me meat for money, that I may eat; and give me water for money, that I may drink: only I will pass through on my feet; (29) (As the children of Esau which dwell in Seir, and the Moabites which dwell in Ar, did unto me;) until I shall pass over Jordan into the land which the LORD our God giveth us. (30) But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day. (31) And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his land before thee: begin to possess, that thou mayest inherit his land. (32) Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to fight at Jahaz. (33) And the LORD our God delivered him before us; and we smote him, and his sons, and all his people. (34) And we took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed the men, and the women, and the little ones, of every city, we left none to remain: (35) Only the cattle we took for a prey unto ourselves, and the spoil of the cities which we took. (36) From Aroer, which is by the brink of the river of Arnon, and from the city that is by the river, even unto Gilead, there was not one city too strong for us: the LORD our God delivered all unto us: (37) Only unto the land of the children of Ammon thou camest not, nor unto any place of the river Jabbok, nor unto the cities in the mountains, nor unto whatsoever the LORD our God forbad us.
Jdg 10:6-18 KJV
And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him. (7) And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon. (8) And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel: eighteen years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead. (9) Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed. (10) And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim. (11) And the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines? (12) The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand. (13) Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more. (14) Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation. (15) And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day. (16) And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel. (17) Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh. (18) And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.
Psa 83:7 KJVGebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;
The Gebalites or Giblites as we see in Joshua had land that fell into the possession of Israel. However the area was not settled by Israel.
Jos 13:1-6 KJV
Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed. (2) This is the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri, (3) From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites: (4) From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that is beside the Sidonians, unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites: (5) And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baalgad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath. (6) All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephothmaim, and all the Sidonians, them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee.
Amalek or the Amalekites were associated to the dscendants of Esau which we decscribed earlier as choosing hostility toward Israel.
Gen 36:12 KJVAnd Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau's son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau's wife.
Num 14:40-45 KJVAnd they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we be here, and will go up unto the place which the LORD hath promised: for we have sinned. (41) And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the LORD? but it shall not prosper. (42) Go not up, for the LORD is not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies. (43) For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned away from the LORD, therefore the LORD will not be with you. (44) But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and Moses, departed not out of the camp. (45) Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah.
Jdg 6:1-5 KJVAnd the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. (2) And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds. (3) And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them; (4) And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. (5) For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.
The Philistines have been waging war with Israel right up until our present day. They are known by the name Palestinians and come in many different names i.e. Hamas, Hezbollah etc.
1Sa 5:1-6 KJVAnd the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod. (2) When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. (3) And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again. (4) And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him. (5) Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day. (6) But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof.
We could cover a whole lot of scripture right here with the warfare of the Israelites with the Philistines. However we are only trying to point out that the modern day representations of these nations are just as much at war with Israel today as they were then. We know them by their present day name as Palestinians.
The city of Tyre comes next. Tyre was a great source of naval commerce in the days of the early kings. It was destroyed by both the Babylonian and Greek empires.
Joe 3:1-8 KJVFor, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, (2) I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. (3) And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink. (4) Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head; (5) Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things: (6) The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border. (7) Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompence upon your own head: (8) And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the LORD hath spoken it.
By the way Joel 3 is a prophetic description of this massive gathering of armies to come against Jerusalem in Ezekiel 38.
The last nation mentioned is Assur which we can point out as the Assyrian empire which we covered somewhat in detail coming against Judah after making the northern kingdom basically a vassal state paying tribute to Assyria for peace. We of course know the modern name of the nation would be Syria.
If we stop for a few moments and consider these 10 nations we easily see that all of these territories then are the same areas today that dispute the nation of Israel’s right to even simply exists. They are representative of Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria, Iran, southern Gaza into Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. We are quickly approaching a point in history with special focus on the Iran nuclear situation which could easily provoke all the nations we mentioned in this study coupled with the others we have looked into in Ezekiel 38 to go to war with the nation of Israel. This is nothing new however since the restoration of the nation in 1948. We pretty much discover that the exact same warfare took place immediately after the rebirth of the nation of Israel.
Ecc 1:9-10 KJVThe thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. (10) Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
Ecc 3:14-16 KJV
I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. (15) That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past. (16) And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
Luk 21:25-31 KJV
And 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. (29) And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; (30) When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. (31) So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
Thanks For sharing a word
God Bless
