9/11/2000, Vince Aquilino
A Time of Great Danger
With the PLO decision this weekend to delay the declaration of an independent Palestinian state for at least two months, we have entered into a period of great danger for the Israeli people.
The delay is a recognition of the tremendous problems over agreeing on the future status of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. If we have reached the point where the PLO has recognized that they will not obtain their objectives through negotiations, this is indeed a time of danger.
Consider that on August 29th, 2000, that 16 Islamic states have endorsed a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as capital . Member states of the Organization of the Islamic Conference have unanimously called for international recognition of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. The foreign ministers of 16 Islamic states ended the one-day conference in Agadir, Morocco, with a full endorsement of Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat's impending declaration of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. And yet dividing Jerusalem is a volatile issue for the Jewish people and one which has the existing Barak government in turmoil.
Clearly the pressure applied by the United States to force a peace in the Middle-East has served to polarize support against Israel. Throughout history, when concessions and appeasement were no longer forth-coming, war was the result -- like it was with Poland when Germany invaded. As the wisest man in the world once said: "That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun." (Ecc 1:9)
It certainly appears that both sides are intractable as prophesied by Zechariah in 12:3: "I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it."
Will there be peace in Israel. Yes, If Arafat gets everything he wants and that includes Palestinian control of the Holy Places in Jerusalem. But Barak says this is impossible. What will happen if Arafat does not get what he wants. If you listen to this CNN interview of Arafat you will find him getting increasingly frustrated with the interviewer until he finally declares that sooner or later these holy sites were liberated and then he slips under pressure and refers to these holy sites as TARGETS -- a most definate military term.
Here is the real audio link (if it is still there): http://www.cnn.com/video/world/2000/09/07/ca.arafat.intervi.cnn.rm80.ram
Zechariah goes on to tell us that God himself will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem and that God will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. (Zec 12:8-9). Now notice what it says in then says in verse 10:
"And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn." (Zec 12:10)
Wait a minute! God has just delivered Israel from their enemies and they are mourning. Why are they mourning?
They are mourning because in their deliverance they will recognize that it was Jesus, the one whom was pierced, who has delivered them and they will recognize Him as Messiah and they shall mourn as one mourns for the firstborn who was lost.
As the Jews eyes are opened to their Messiah, we need to recognize that the Bible tells us that the Jews have been blinded in part to the identity of the Messiah until the fullness of the Gentile age. Consider these Scriptures:
"..That the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: "Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they should see with their eyes and understand with their heart, lest they should turn, so that I should heal them." (John 12:38-40)
"..Unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. But their minds were hardened. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away." (2CO 3:13-16)
"What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were hardened. Just as it is written: "God has given them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear, to this very day." (Romans 11:7-8)
" For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that hardening in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob." (Romans 11:25-26)
So what is going on? Is it possible that in the aftermath of Israel's deliverance from its enemies, that the eyes of the Jews are open to their Messia? And, if this is the case, what does that mean for Christians?
Let's take a look at Ezekiel:
"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." (Eze 38:16)
The invasion is clearly against Israel. But what is important is that God says Israel is HIS LAND and Israel's people are HIS PEOPLE. God is once again interacting directly with the Israeli people. Many Bible teachers, such as Chuck Missler, believe that God's dealings with the Gentiles and God's dealings with the Jews are mutually exclusive. If this is true, then this battle could be the event that marks the end of the Gentile Age. God is once again focusing on the nation of Israel, and this could potentially mark the beginning of the tribulation period, the rapture and --ultimately--the rise to power of the Anti-Christ and the return to planet earth of Messiah Jesus.
Regardless of the exact timing of these events, how far away can the rapture be? It is time to look up, for our redemption draweth nigh.
It is God himself that tells us that He is bringing "Gog" against Israel. And when God judges Russia and the invading Muslim forces in the sight of all nations, they will recognize that it was God's direct intervention which saved Israel. No doubt, if we are still here, we will be watching this invasion on CNN.
God goes on to tell us that in the defeat of the invading armies, that the enemies of God are humbled in death, as their invincible army is devastated and becomes fodder for the animals of the field. Let's look at the spiritual ramifications of these events from God's perspective.
"And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them." (Eze 39:21)
God will be glorified before all the world. Even the gentile nations will see God's judgment, since the events will undoubtedly be covered on CNN. People will recognize that the Jews are still God's chosen people and are once again under His covenant protection. Has the fullness of the gentile age arrived?
"So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward." (Eze 39:22)
As a result of their miraculous deliverance from an impossible situation, Israel--after thousands of years--will have their spiritual blinders removed. It has been estimated that only 10% of Israel's population is ``religious''. No longer. The entire house of Israel shall know that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob delivered them. ``Hear oh Israel, the Lord our God the Lord is One.'' They shall know the Lord their God from that day forward.
"And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword. According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them." (Eze 39:23-24)
The gentiles will recognize that the people of Israel went into captivity because of their sin, which separated them from God. They were under judgment and dispersed to the four corners of the earth into the hands of their enemies, where they were killed.
"Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name; After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid. When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there." (Eze 39:25-28)
In these verses, God is saying that He will re-gather the Jews back to their homeland for His Name's sake. Then at a time when they ``dwell safely in their land'', their deliverance shall come. As a result, they will no longer be spiritually blind, but will become God-aware.
WHAT TO DO IN LIGHT OF THESE EVENTS
In the God-awakening that follows this battle, the church will have one of the greatest opportunities for evangelism in the history of the world. Therefore, we need to make evangelism and our unity in Christian service our focus and not allow Satan to cause division over lesser issues; such as the exact timing of this invasion.
Exactly when this battle will occur is unknown. It may be several years away although it appears very close since God's time is not our time. But, there is a 100% probability that it will occur and, when it does, it will change the course of human history. Therefore, as we see things coming into alignment for this battle, we need to recognize how very close we are to the Lord's return and to the rapture. We must get our spiritual house in order. And always remember that today is the day of salvation for those who are perishing--eternity is only a heartbeat away.
"Watch and pray, therefore, that you would be counted worthy to escape the judgment that is coming upon the earth and be able to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:36).
Maranatha!
The Invasion of Israel - Part 1
The Invasion of Israel - Part 2
The Invasion of Israel - Part 3
The Invasion of Israel - Part 4
The Invasion of Israel - Part 5
The Invasion of Israel - Part 6
The Invasion of Israel - Part 7
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