P 43 THE U.S.A. AND ISRAEL CHAPTER SIX As strange as it may sound, the history of Israel and the U.S.A. go back over 2,500 years. It plays out in the following fashion: In 586 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian monarch, laid siege to Jerusalem, took the city, and destroyed the Temple. Judah went into captivity. At that time, the scepter of power fell from the faltering hands of the kings of Judah, and was passed to the Gentile, where it has remained ever since. Jesus referred to it as the “times of the Gentiles,” which we will deal with momentarily. God raised up Israel from the loins of Abraham and the womb of Sarah, for the express purpose of giving the world the Word of God and serving as the womb of the Messiah. They were also intended to evangelize the world. They succeeded with the first two, although with great difficulty, while failing miserably with the third. In fact, in the coming Kingdom Age, they will then evangelize the world, thereby fulfilling what God originally intended for them. The Scripture says: “And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those who escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the Isles afar off, who have not heard My fame, neither have seen My glory; and they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles. (The phrase, ‘And I will set a sign among them,’ actually pertains to Christ. He will be the sign! “ ‘And I will send those who escape of them unto the nations’ refers to the two-thirds of Jews in Israel who will be killed during the latter half of the Great Tribulation and the Battle of Armageddon, who did not want or desire Christ. The one-third of Israel remaining [Zech. 13:8–9] will then be sent as missionaries to the nations of the world to proclaim Messiah’s Glory. They will do so with such success that entire nations will be converted even in ‘one day’ [Vs. 8]. Then Israel will finally fulfill her intended purpose to serve as a light to the world)” (Isa. 66:19). P 44 ISRAEL Israel was the only Nation in the world, at least during Old Testament Times that was monotheistic, meaning a worshipper of the One True God, i.e., “Jehovah.” All of the other nations of the world were polytheistic, meaning they worshipped many gods, all in the form of idols. To Israel was given the responsibility of proclaiming the True God to the world, in which, as stated, she miserably failed. As such, Israel had the responsibility of leadership for the world, which was in the Mind of God, but not at all recognized by the world. At any rate, due to sin, that privilege was removed from Israel, and given to the Gentiles. During Bible times, those Gentiles included Babylon (modern Iraq), the Medo-Persians (modern Iran), the Grecian Empire, and then the Romans. The Romans were in power during the time of Christ. THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES As stated, those “times” began with the Babylonian Empire, over 500 years before Christ. Concerning this, Jesus said, and I quote from THE EXPOSITOR’S STUDY BIBLE: “And when you shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies (speaks of the invasion by Titus in A.D. 70), then know that the desolation thereof is near (speaks of the moment that Titus would begin to surround Jerusalem, which would be the signal that Christians were to leave, which they did!). “Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains (spoke of all those who believed this Word, which all Christians did); and let them which are in the midst of it depart out (means that no part of Judaea would be safe from the Roman armies); and let not them who are in the countries enter thereinto (speaks of Christians who lived in surrounding countries, who at this time were not come into Judaea or Jerusalem). “For these be the days of vengeance (refers to judgment; Israel had rejected Christ; now they must pay), that all things which were written may be fulfilled (concerning the fulfillment of these very Words as given by Christ, as well as all Prophecies; to be sure, every single Word of God will come to pass, exactly as predicted). “But woe unto them who are with child, and to them who give suck, in those days! For there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people (once again speaks of the terrible days which were to come on Jerusalem, and which did p 45 come in A.D. 70). “And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations (hundreds of thousands of Jews after the carnage of A.D. 70 were sold as slaves all over the world of that day; as well, the Jewish people as a whole were scattered all over the world, fulfilling exactly what Jesus said would happen): and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled (has actually proved the case since Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians over 500 years before Christ; in fact, it has continued unto this hour, and will for all practical purposes continue until the Second Coming; then the ‘times of the Gentiles will be fulfilled,’ with Israel once again becoming the premier Nation of the world, which they will do under Christ)” (Lk. 21:20–24). THE UNITED STATES When the Roman Empire ceased to be in the Sixth Century, it could probably be said that the scepter of power passed from her faltering hands to England, where it remained for nearly 1,500 years. Admittedly, the first several centuries were spent with England gradually getting her sea legs, so to speak. During WWII, this scepter of power passed from England to the United States, where it has remained ever since. This “times of the Gentiles” referring to the United States, is very important, in fact, far more important than the tenure of England, inasmuch as Israel became a Nation in 1948. Even though the sovereignty of Israel is not complete, even unto this hour, at least in the Mind of God, and simply because Israel is not functioning as demanded by the Lord. In fact, she will not be able to do that until after the Second Coming, when she finally accepts Christ. Nevertheless, America’s position, at least again in the Mind of God, is extremely important, inasmuch as it is our responsibility to serve as the lord protectorate of Israel. In fact, the protection of Israel is possibly the single most important responsibility we have, that is, designated by God. This scepter of power is scheduled to pass from the hands of the U.S.A. to that of the Antichrist. This will take place after the Rapture (Resurrection) of the Church. Concerning this, the Apostle Paul said: “Let no man deceive you by any means (in other words, don’t listen to that which is Scripturally incorrect): for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first (should p 46 have been translated, ‘for that day shall not come, except there come a departure first’; this speaks of the Rapture, which in essence says the Second Coming cannot take place until certain things happen), and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition (this speaks of the Antichrist, who must come upon the world scene before the Second Coming)” (II Thess. 2:3). THE ANTICHRIST In fact, the Antichrist will burst upon the scene in a way that will give him recognition all over the world, and instantly. He will be able to do what the brightest minds in America, were never able to bring about—a viable peace treaty between the Palestinians, the Muslim world, and Israel. In fact, this treaty will last for three and one half years, and will be broken by the Antichrist himself. It was originally scheduled for seven years. Daniel the Prophet foretold of this time. He said: “And he (the Antichrist) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week (a week of years—seven): and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (The phrase, ‘And he shall confirm,’ refers to the Antichrist. “ ‘And in the midst of the week’ ” refers to three and one half years, at which time the Antichrist will show his true colors and stop the Sacrifices in the newly-built Temple. At that time, he will actually invade Israel with her suffering her first defeat since her formation as a Nation in 1948. “The phrase, ‘Even until the consummation,’ means until the end of the seven-year Great Tribulation. “ ‘And that determined shall be poured upon the desolate,’ refers to all the Prophecies being fulfilled regarding the great suffering that Israel will go through the last three and one half years of the Great Tribulation [Mat. 24:21–22])” (Dan. 9:27). Upon signing this seven-year peace treaty with Israel, and doing, as stated, what no one else had been able to do, the whole world will acclaim the wisdom, ingenuity, and ability of this man. In fact, Israel will claim him as their Messiah. So that tells us that he must be a Jew, inasmuch as they would never accept anyone as their Messiah who was a Gentile. In some way, upon the signing of this agreement, he will be able to placate the Muslims and the Jews, in fact, guaranteeing p 47 Israel’s safety and protection for those seven years and, as well, making it possible for the Jews to build their Temple. With his ability to bring about this peace treaty, the whole world in a sense will be at his feet. Every Television Station in the world, along with newspapers, periodicals, etc., will declare his ingenuity and statesmanship. As stated, Israel will acclaim him as their Messiah, the one for whom they have long waited. For about three and one half years things will go well, with Israel, it seems, prospering, despite the fact, that great war clouds are gathering all over the world. Concerning this, the Apostle Paul said: “For when they shall say, peace and safety (refers to Israel, but will, as well, characterize the world; it pertains to the Antichrist signing the seven-year pact with Israel and other nations [Dan. 9:27]); then sudden destruction comes upon them (at the mid-point of the seven-year period, the Antichrist will break his pact, actually invading Israel [Rev. 12:1–6]), as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (The Great Tribulation is definitely coming upon this world [Mat. 24:21])” (I Thess. 5:3). Considering that the Antichrist will be able to broker this peace treaty, it seems that the U.S.A. will at the time abdicate her responsibility regarding Israel. In other words, Israel’s protector will now be the man of sin, as defined by the Apostle Paul (II Thess. 2:3). Now, the scepter of power is in the hands of the Antichrist, where it will remain until the time of the Second Coming. If it is to be noted, at the present time (2007), the U.S.A. is showing signs of weariness regarding Israel. In fact, at this time, America is the only friend that Israel has in the world. Although there is no indication that America will abdicate her position as Israel’s protectorate, and despite the Muslims, still, when the Antichrist comes upon the scene, which he shortly will do so, this nation will gladly pass the baton to him, so to speak, which he will gladly accept. But in the meantime, the prosperity and blessing of this nation by Almighty God is dependant on many things, but most of all our protection of Israel. We must never forget that. Why? • We have been appointed by the Lord for this position for such a time as this. Concerning Israel, the Lord plainly said: “I will bless them who bless you, and curse him who curses you: and in you shall all families of the Earth be blessed” (Gen. 12:3). So, our Blessings depend upon our proper protection of Israel. p 48 • Israel is to be restored as the Priestly Nation of the world, which will take place immediately after the Second Coming (Isa. 11:11–12; 14:1; Jer. 23:3–8). • Israel is predicted by the Holy Spirit, at least those who are alive at the time of the Second Coming, to accept Christ as their Messiah, and their Saviour and Lord. Concerning this the Scripture says: “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the House of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. (The phrase, ‘In that day’ occurs 18 times from Zech. 9:16 through Zech. 14:21. This shows how precious ‘that day’ is to the Messiah’s Heart. In that day, His Victory over the enemies of His People will be great, but greater will be His moral Victory over His People themselves. “The Christian’s true triumphs are God’s triumphs over him, and God’s triumphs over His People are our only victories. Such was Jacob of old, who represented Israel in that coming Glad Day. The conversion of the Apostle Paul illustrates the future conversion of Israel. He hated Jesus, but on the Damascus Road, he looked upon Him Whom he had pierced, mourned, and wept. “ ‘In that day that day there shall be a fountain opened,’ does not mean that it is first opened there, but that Israel will only begin to partake of it ‘in that day’ i.e., ‘the beginning of the Kingdom Age.’ This fountain was historically opened at Calvary, but will be consciously opened to repentant Jews in the future day of her Repentance. For the fact and function of that fountain only becomes conscious to the awakened sinner. “A true sense of sin and guilt in relationship to God awakens the sense of the need of cleansing, and so the shed and cleansing Blood of the Lamb of God becomes precious to convicted conscience. As well, the ever-living efficacy of Christ’s Atoning Work, with its power to cleanse the conscience and the life, is justly comparable to a fountain and not to a font. The sense of the Hebrew Text is that this Fountain shall be opened and shall remain open. “ ‘To the House of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness,’ portrays the possibility that, of all sinners, the Jerusalem sinners may be accounted the greatest. It was Jerusalem that stoned the Prophets and crucified the Messiah; therefore, great sinners may hope for pardon and cleansing in this Fountain opened for the House of David. “The entrance of Christ judges sin, unmasks its true character, and arouses a moral consciousness, which approves that judgment. That entrance dominates, adjusts, disciplines, instructs, p 49 and cleanses man’s affections, relationships, and desires. All of this must be cleansed, not only in Israel of a future day, but also in any and all who come to Christ. That Fountain is open to all!)” (Zech. 13:1). Regarding this, the Apostle Paul also said, “For I would not, Brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery (what has happened to Israel), lest you should be wise in your own conceits (the Gentiles were not pulled in because of any merit or righteousness on their part, but strictly because of the Grace of God); that blindness in part is happened to Israel (is the ‘mystery’ of which Paul speaks), until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in (refers to the Church; in fact, the Church Age is even now coming to a close). “And so all Israel shall be Saved (when the Church Age ends, and the Second Coming commences; then Israel will accept Christ and be Saved): as it is written (Isa. 27:9; 59:20–21), There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer (Jesus Christ will be the Deliverer), and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob (Christ will deliver Israel from the Antichrist, and more importantly will deliver them from their sins): “For this is My Covenant unto them (a Promise), when I shall take away their sins (as stated, it will be done at the Second Coming [Zech. 13:1])” (Rom. 11:25–27). ISRAEL AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST The rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ by Israel, is without a doubt, the very worst thing that was ever done in all of human history. When they said to Pontius Pilate, “His Blood be on us, and on our children,” they have found this fulfilled over and over (Mat. 27:25). And then they stated to Pilate, “We have no king but Caesar” (Jn. 19:15). They have also found that through the centuries, Caesar has been a very hard taskmaster. Even though Jesus met every qualification, in that He fulfilled all the Scriptures concerning the Prophecies about Himself, and even though He would have been the King of Israel had the Davidic dynasty continued, because He was in the direct lineage of David, still, and despite the miracles, they would not accept Him. Once again, why? Paul told us. He said, and I continue to quote from THE EXPOSITOR’S STUDY BIBLE: p 50 “For they being ignorant of God’s Righteousness (spells the story not only of ancient Israel, but almost the entirety of the world, and for all time; ‘God’s Righteousness’ is that which is afforded by Christ, and received by exercising Faith in Him and what He did at the Cross, all on our behalf; Israel’s ignorance was willful!), and going about to establish their own Righteousness (the case of anyone who attempts to establish Righteousness by any method other than Faith in Christ and the Cross), have not submitted themselves unto the Righteousness of God (God’s Righteousness is ensconced in Christ and what He did at the Cross)” (Rom. 10:3). Paul also said: “But we preach Christ Crucified (this is the Foundation of the Word of God, and, thereby, of Salvation), unto the Jews a stumblingblock …” (the Cross was the stumbling-block)” (I Cor. 1:23). HOW WAS THE CROSS OF CHRIST A STUMBLINGBLOCK TO ISRAEL? They knew from the Law (Deut. 21:22–23), that if certain types of heinous crimes were committed, that the perpetrator was to be stoned to death, and then spread-eagled on a tree. He was to hang there that day, and then be taken down before dark and buried. All of this was a sign that he was “accursed of God.” They reasoned that if Jesus were really the Son of God, i.e., “their Messiah,” that God would not allow Him to be crucified, which was tantamount to “a tree.” So, if He was crucified, this would show to the people that he was “cursed of God,” which would say to them that He was not the Messiah. They figured wrong! The truth is, the Cross was the destination of Christ, even from before the foundation of the world (I Pet. 1:18–20). As well, the Fifty-third Chapter of Isaiah portrayed the manner in which He would die. It said: “He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His Mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opens not His Mouth. (The first phrase refers to all that was done to Him in His humiliation, suffering, and agony. He could so easily have vindicated Himself from every charge; therefore, He self-abased Himself. “It seemed like an admission of guilt and, in fact was, but not His guilt, but the guilt of those who were accusing Him, as well the entirety of the world. p 51 “Of all the Levitical Offerings [five total], the ‘lamb’ was the animal most used; hence, John the Baptist would say, ‘Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world’)” (Isa. 53:7). And then the great Prophet said: “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief: when You shall make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. (The phrase, ‘Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him,’ refers to the sufferings of Christ, which proceeded from the ‘determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God [Acts 2:23], and which, being permitted by Him, were in some way His doing. It ‘pleased Him’ moreover that they should be undergone, for the Father saw with satisfaction the Son’s self-sacrifice, and He witnessed with joy man’s Redemption and Deliverance affected thereby. “ ‘He has put Him to grief,’ actually says, ‘He has put Him to sicknesses’ or ‘He has made Him sick.’ This spoke of the time He was on the Cross bearing our sins and ‘sicknesses’ [Mat. 8:16–17; I Pet. 2:24]. And yet, while all sin and sickness were atoned at the Cross, the total effects of such will not be completely dissipated until the coming Resurrection [Rom. 8:23]. “ ‘When You shall make His soul an offering for sin,’ is powerful indeed! The word ‘offering’ in the Hebrew is ‘Asham,’ and means ‘Trespass Offering,’ an ‘offering for sin.’ “Offerings for sin, or ‘guilt offerings,’ were distinct from ‘sin offerings.’ The object of the former was ‘satisfaction’; of the latter, ‘expiation.’ The Servant of Jehovah was, however, to be both. He was both the ‘Sin Offering’ and the ‘Guilt Offering.’ “This completely destroys the idea that Jesus died spiritually on the Cross, meaning that He became a sinner on the Cross, and died and went to Hell as all sinners, and was born again in Hell after three days and nights of suffering, etc. None of that is in the Word of God. While Jesus definitely was a ‘in Offering,’ He was not a sinner, and did not become a sinner on the Cross. To have done so would have destroyed His Perfection of Sacrifice, which was demanded by God. In other words, the Sacrifice had to be perfect, and He was Perfect in every respect. “ ‘He shall see His seed,’ refers to all His ‘true followers,’ which include all who have ever been Born-Again. “ ‘He shall prolong His days,’ refers to His Resurrection. “ ‘And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His Hand,’ refers to the great victory that He would win at Calvary, which p 52 will ultimately restore everything that Adam lost)” (Isa. 53:10). Even though Jesus was put on the Cross, i.e., “the Tree,” which was necessary in order that He may atone for all sin, even the most heinous of sins, still, He wasn’t cursed by God. In fact, he was “made a curse.” Paul said: “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law (He did so on the Cross), being made a curse for us (He took the penalty of the Law, which was death): for it is written, cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree [Deut. 21:22–23])” (Gal. 3:13). Being “made a curse” is altogether different than “being cursed.” Christ had to be “made a curse,” simply because He had never sinned. He, therefore, went to the Cross, which was a planned destination, in order to offer up Himself as a Perfect Sacrifice, which alone, would satisfy the demands of a thrice-Holy God. So, the Jews stumbled at the Cross. They couldn’t understand how that He could be crucified on a tree, and at the same time be their Messiah, and thereby the Son of God. They didn’t realize that He went to the Cross as a Substitute for sinners, in order to pay the price that we could not pay. THE RESTORATION OF ISRAEL The Antichrist at the midpoint of the seven-year treaty he has perfected, will break that treaty, even attacking Israel, thereby showing His true colors. Israel will realize they have been played for the fool. In fact, Israel will then suffer her first military defeat since becoming a Nation in 1948. At that time, the Nation would be completely destroyed, were it not for the intervention of the Lord. When the Antichrist turns on Israel, this will, no doubt, greatly please the Muslims; however, their joy will be short-lived. He will then turn on them. He will, in fact, do away with all religions, at least where he is in control (Dan. 11:36). At that time, according to the Prophet Daniel, the Antichrist will hear “tidings out of the east and out of the north which shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many” (Dan. 11:44). In effect, the Antichrist will leave Israel to a later time, in order to consolidate his empire, and further his ambition to take over the entirety of the world. He will not succeed in the latter, but will come close. In fact, he will be stopped by the Second Coming. p 53 During this three and one half year period of time, the latter part of the Great Tribulation spoken of by Christ (Mat. 24:21), Israel will suffer greater than she has suffered in all of her history, even greater than the Holocaust of WWII. During that last three and one half years of the Great Tribulation, the Antichrist will take every opportunity to kill as many Jews as possible. And then to bring about the “final solution,” he will amass possibly the greatest army the world has ever known, all in order to totally annihilate Israel from the face of the Earth. In other words, this will be Satan’s trump card. What Haman, Herod, and Hitler could not do, he will do, or so he thinks! THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON There is no Biblical indication that the United States will be represented in the Battle of Armageddon. They may very well be; however, there is no indication in Scripture one way or the other. By the time of this battle, the evidence is that the Antichrist will by this time have defeated Russia, and possibly China and Japan (Dan. 11:44). In fact, there’s nothing now that can stop him, or so he thinks. He will take over the entirety of the world. But first, he must exact the final solution. Israel, once and for all, must be destroyed, down to the last man. WHY WILL HE BE SO DEAD SET ON DESTROYING ISRAEL? As far as presently being a threat to him, they do not anymore constitute such. The reason is this: Satan, of course, will heavily persuade the man of sin to take this action against Israel. He will do it for the following reason. In fact, Satan’s ambition is far greater than the destruction of Israel. He has in mind the winning of this conflict as it regards light and darkness. He wants to be God! In fact, he has said the following: “I will ascend into Heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High. (In these two verses, we see the foment of Satan’s rebellion and revolution against God. It seems that Lucifer, while true to the Lord, was given dominion of the Earth, which was before Adam. After his fall, he worked deceitfully to get other angelic rulers to follow him in his war against God, in p 54 fact, succeeding with some)” (Isa. 14:13–14). So, how can Satan, be he ever so powerful, still but a creature, hope to overcome the Creator, Who is all-powerful? SATAN’S METHOD The manner in which the Evil One will attempt to dethrone God, is not by pitting strength against strength, of which he would have no chance, but rather, causing the Word of God to fail in some way. If that happens, even to the smallest degree, Satan has won the conflict. Jesus said, and concerning the Word of God: “For verily I say unto you (proclaims the ultimate authority!), till Heaven and Earth pass (means to be changed, or pass from one condition to another, which will take place in the coming Perfect Age [Rev., Chpts. 21–22]), one jot (smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet) or one tittle (a minute ornamental finish to ancient Hebrew letters) shall in no wise pass from the Law, till all be fulfilled” (Mat. 5:18). The Holy Spirit said: “Forever, O LORD, Your Word is settled in Heaven (God’s Word is eternal)” (Ps. 119:89). Possibly one could say without fear of contradiction, that the greatest Promises in the Word of God concern the future restoration and blessing of Israel. More space is dedicated to this one prediction than possibly anything else. So, if Satan can destroy Israel, which he has tried repeatedly to do through the ages, but will now put all of his ambition into this one effort, he will then have defeated God. THE ARMY OF THE ANTICHRIST As to exactly how large this army will be, we aren’t told. But one thing is certain, it will be many times larger than the small army of Israel. As well, it will have the latest in weaponry. The oil money from the Muslim states will, no doubt, have flowed into his coffers. The Scripture says concerning this: “But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver” (Dan. 11:43). There is no evidence that he will have an atomic bomb, or else possibly he does have it, but doesn’t want to use it on Israel, intending to make this land a shrine to himself. The radiation from an atomic device would hinder those plans. p 55 Without a doubt, every news agency in the world will be present beaming by Television all over the world, the events of this battle. In fact, the Antichrist will demand this to be done, desiring the whole world to witness the annihilation of these ancient people. As stated, he will do, or so he thinks, what Haman, Herod and Hitler could not do. THE CRY OF ISRAEL The Lord spoke through the great Prophet Zechariah: “For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. (The first phrase refers to the mobilization of the nations to Armageddon [Ezek., Chpts. 38–39; Joel, Chpt. 3; Rev. 16:13–16; 19:11–21]. “ ‘And the city shall be taken,’ actually means that the Antichrist will prepare to take Jerusalem, with actually half of it being taken. The phrase, ‘And the houses rifled, and the women ravished,’ expresses extreme cruelty practiced by the army of the Antichrist. “ ‘And half of the city shall go forth into captivity,’ means that half of Jerusalem will fall to the advances of the Antichrist, with the other half fighting furiously to save themselves, but with futility, other than the Coming of the Lord. Actually, the phrasing of the sentence structure portrays Israel fighting with a ferocity that knows no bounds, but yet not able to stand against the powerful onslaught of the combined armies of the man of sin. “ ‘And the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city,’ refers to the army of Israel already cut to pieces, but determined to defend the city, even house to house, and, if necessary, to die to the last man)” (Zech. 14:2). Nearly 2,800 years ago, the great Prophet Isaiah, in essence, prophesied the very words that Israel will say during the Battle of Armageddon, when it looks like they will be destroyed. There will be no nation to help them. It seems that America has bowed out. So, their only hope is the coming of the Messiah. The following is the gist of what they will say at that time, when it looks like all hope is lost. I quote from THE EXPOSITOR’S STUDY BIBLE: “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and p 56 our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Here Israel confesses the reason for their desperate condition. At long last, they own up as to exactly what it is, ‘our iniquities.’ “The phrase, ‘But we are all as an unclean thing,’ is actually saying before God that they are a spiritual leper. They now recognize that their self-righteousness is no more than ‘filthy rags,’ which referred to the menstrual flux of a woman regarding her monthly period. “It is very difficult for men, and especially religious men, to admit to such! Hence, not many religious men are Saved!) “And there is none who calls upon Your name, who stirs up himself to take hold of You: for You have hid Your face from us, and have consumed us, because of our iniquities. (Once again, Israel admits that it is her ‘iniquities’ which have brought about the Judgment of God upon her. She has only herself to blame!) “But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and we all are the work of Your Hand. (In this Passage is the gist of the great Salvation Message of Christianity. Only God can change the shape of the clay, thereby molding the vessel into the shape and design that is desired, thereby mending the flaws and weaknesses.) “Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity forever: behold, see, we beseech You, we are Your People. (The appeal here is for God to begin all over again, like the potter with the clay. The idea of the phrase, ‘Be not wroth very sore,’ refers to the fact that God had become very angry with His People. The reason for that anger was sin on the part of Israel. God cannot abide sin in the lives of His Own People anymore than He can in the wicked.) “Your holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation. (As we have stated, the entirety of this prayer of Repentance, which actually began in the Fifteenth Verse of the previous Chapter, will be prayed by Israel at the end of the Great Tribulation, at the Battle of Armageddon. “Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised You, is burned up with fire: and all our pleasant things are laid waste. (This speaks of the Temple that is yet to be built in Jerusalem. In fact, when the Antichrist turns on Israel, he will make their Temple his religious headquarters, committing every act of vileness that one could think.) “Will You refrain Yourself for these things, O LORD? Will You hold Your peace, and afflict us very sore? (Israel first repents of her terrible sins, pleading God’s Mercy, Grace, and Love. p 57 They then bring to His attention the terrible plight of the ‘holy cities,’ and of ‘Jerusalem.’ Last of all, they proclaim to Him the destruction of the Temple. “They then ask, ‘Will You refrain Yourself for these things, O LORD?’ “The answer is certain. He will not refrain Himself! He will not hold His peace!)” (Isa. 64:6–12). THE SECOND COMING When this prayer of Repentance is prayed, the Scripture then says: “Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle. (‘Then’ is the key word!) “1. ‘Then’: when Israel will begin to cry to God for Deliverance, knowing that He is their only hope. “2. ‘Then’: when half of Jerusalem has fallen and it looks like the other half is about to fall. “3. ‘Then’: when it looks like every Jew will be annihilated, with two-thirds already killed. “4. ‘Then’: when it looks like the Promises of God made to the Patriarchs and Prophets of old will fall down. “5. ‘Then’: when it looks like the Antichrist will win this conflict, which will make Satan the lord of the Earth. “The phrase, ‘Then, shall the LORD go forth,’ refers to the Second Coming, which will be the most cataclysmic event that the world has ever known. “ ‘And fight against those nations,’ pertains to the nations under the banner of the Antichrist, which have set out to destroy Israel, and actually with annihilation in mind. “ ‘As when He fought in the day of battle,’ probably refers to the time when the Lord led the Children of Israel out of Egypt by the way of the Red Sea [Ex. 14:14; 15:3]. This was Israel’s first battle when Jehovah Messiah ‘went forth’ and fought for them. Israel then passed through a valley between mountains of water; in this, their last battle, they will escape through a valley between mountains of rock, which the next verse proclaims)” (Zech. 14:3). No doubt, the news will be going out all over the world, with most of humanity observing the events in Israel, and particularly in Jerusalem, with the Antichrist announcing victory after victory. At a given point in time, no doubt, one of the Television newscasters will look up toward the heavens, and will observe p 58 a sight never before seen in human history. No doubt, he will first attempt to describe what he’s seeing, thinking possibly that this is a new weapon brought on by the Antichrist. He, and, no doubt, hundreds of other newsmen, and possibly thousands, will quickly learn, however, that this is different than anything that has ever been. The very heavens themselves seem to be alive. Lightning is flashing from one corner to the other. In fact, the very heavens themselves seem to be putting on a display. And why not, their Creator is coming back to take possession. The One leading this vast army, is unlike anyone that’s ever been seen. Concerning Him, the Scripture says: “And I saw Heaven open (records the final Prophetic hour regarding the Second Coming, without a doubt the greatest moment in human history), and behold a white horse (in effect, proclaims a war horse [Zech. 14:3]); and He Who sat upon him was called Faithful and True (faithful to His Promises and True to His Judgments; He contrasts with the false Messiah of Rev. 6:2, who was neither faithful nor true), and in Righteousness He does Judge and make war (refers to the manner of His Second Coming). “His eyes were as a flame of fire (represents Judgment), and on His Head were many crowns (represents the fact that He will not be Lord of just one realm; He will be Lord of all realms); and He had a Name written, that no man knew, but He Himself (not meaning that it is unknown, but rather it is definitely unknowable; it will remain unreachable to man, meaning that its depths can never be fully plumbed). “And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in Blood (speaks of the Cross where He shed His Life’s Blood, which gives Him the right to Judge the world): and His Name is called the Word of God. (His revealed Name is the Word of God, for He revealed God in His Grace and Power to make Him known, so the Believer can say, ‘I know Him.’) “And the armies which were in Heaven followed Him upon white horses (these ‘armies’ are the Saints of God, in fact, all the Saints who have ever lived, meaning we will be with Him at the Second Coming), clothed in fine linen, white and clean. (Harks back to Verse 8. It is the Righteousness of the Saints, all made possible by the Cross.) “And out of His Mouth goes a sharp sword (represents Christ functioning totally and completely in the realm of the Word of God), that with it He should smite the nations (refers to all the p 59 nations that will join the Antichrist in his efforts to destroy Israel; it is the Battle of Armageddon): and He shall rule them with a rod of iron (refers to the fact that the Lord of Glory will not allow or tolerate in any shape, form, or fashion that which ‘steals, kills, and destroys’): and He treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God (refers to the Battle of Armageddon). “And He has on His vesture and on His thigh a name written KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (proclaims the fact that there will be no doubt as to Who He actually is). “And I saw an Angel standing in the sun (proclaims the fact that Faith believes what is written, even if the mind cannot comprehend what is written); and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls who fly in the midst of Heaven (denotes, as is obvious, supremacy over the Creation), come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the Great God (this is symbolic, but it is spoken in this way to proclaim the magnitude of that coming time [Ezek. 39:2, 11–12]); “That you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them who sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. (This proclaims the fact that the Power of Almighty God doesn’t blink at those on this Earth who consider themselves to be ‘great.’ The Judgment will be identical for all [Ezek. 39:18–20].) “And I saw the beast (John saw the Antichrist leading this mighty army; this is the ‘man of sin’ mentioned by Paul in II Thess. Chpt. 2), and the kings of the Earth, and their armies (refers to all the Antichrist could get to join him; it includes the ‘kings of the East’ of Rev. 16:12), gathered together to make war against Him Who sat on the horse, and against His army (refers to Christ and the great army of Heaven, which is with Him; as stated, this is the Battle of Armageddon [Ezek., Chpts. 38–39]). “And the beast was taken, and with him the False Prophet who wrought miracles before him (refers to both of them falling in the Battle of Armageddon), with which he deceived them who had received the mark of the beast, and them who worshipped his image (pertains to Satan’s chief weapon, which is deception). These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone (thus, is the destiny of the Antichrist and the False Prophet, and all who follow them). “And the remnant were slain with the sword of Him Who sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of His Mouth p 60 (the Lord Jesus will speak the word in the Battle of Armageddon, and whatsoever He speaks will take place): and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. (This proclaims the end of this conflict. The Antichrist and his hoards will announce to the world what they are going to do regarding Israel, but the end result will be buzzards gorging on their flesh)” (Rev. 19:11–21). Swaggart, J. (2007). The United States, Israel, and Islam (pp. 43–60). Baton Rouge, LA: World Evangelism Press.
Posted on: Mon, 21 Jul 2014 19:28:08 +0000
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