March 10, 2018 - A. V. Rauf
God + 1 = THE MAJORITY!
Joel 3:2—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.
I mentioned in the previous post that there have been recent reports indicating that that President Trump and Jarrod Kushner have been working on an Israel-Palestinian peace plan that will call for an independent Palestinian state with eastern Jerusalem as its capital.
Although as of now they appear to be rumors but have been leaked to the press, an upcoming conference scheduled in Cairo, Egypt this year is where this announcement will be made. In order to sway Mahmoud Abbas into receiving this offer, the U.S. government would fund the development of the Palestinian State to the tune of $40 billion.
Under this peace plan, the United States will recognize an independent Palestinian state with eastern Jerusalem as its capital on condition that the disputed old city, home to sites holy to Judaism, Christianity and Islam, is administered by an international custodian. If this does indeed come to fruition this means that it will happen at the expense of Jerusalem being divided, hence, God’s land being parted as mentioned in Joel 3:2.
God is very adamant about His spoken Word.
Isaiah 55:11— So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Furthermore, Scriptures tell us that God exalts His word above His name:
Psalm 138:2— I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
As the psalmist turns to the temple to worship he writes in Ps. 138:2: “For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name name.” God’s Word is His communication, His promise, the revelation of Himself to His people. It is to be a lamp to our feet in a dark and fallen world, without it we would have no way to know God or how to do God’s will.
In reference to the very first Scripture on this post, God’s Word is very clear: the Lord Almighty will judge all nations who divide the Land of Israel.
Nevertheless, international pressure on Israel to carve up the Holy Land like Edward Scissor-hands on a soft pumpkin continue as the nations are calling for Israel to withdraw to the 1967 borders. Nearly every world leader — and certainly every American president since 1967, when Jerusalem was recognized as the capital of Israel — has demanded Israel give up significant amounts of territory within Judea, Samaria, and the Golan Heights in order to create a sovereign Palestinian state side by side with Israel and make peace with Syria. Keep in mind that we are a part of the generation that has seen Jerusalem come to international significance being recognized as the city in Israel by all nations.
If the plan is approved, it will ultimately force Israel to give up more of its land, to divide Jerusalem, and eventually return it to indefensible borders. This would be a grave mistake. It would severely jeopardize Israeli national security. It would do so in direct defiance of the Holy Scriptures. And it may draw the judgment of the Lord Almighty against the United States and all other countries involved in the process.
Zechariah 12:1-9— The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. 2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. 3 And in that day will 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. 4 In that day, saith the Lord, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness. 5 And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the Lord of hosts their God. 6 In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem. 7 The Lord also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah. 8 In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them. 9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
Historically, we know that the nations have repeatedly divided the Land of Israel. Prophetically, we know they will continue to do so until the Day of the Lord comes. (Please see my previous posts on “The Day of the LORD”)
The Lord is going to gather all the nations – not some of the nations….not a few of the nations….the text says “all” of the nations…He will gather them to the Valley of Jehoshaphat….the valley of judgment…what we know today as the Kidron Valley which is located in……… Jerusalem.
Joel 3:2-5; 19-21—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; Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. 20 But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. 21 For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the Lord dwelleth in Zion.
The Lord is going to judge the nations for at least four reasons:
1. For scattering Israel and the Jewish people among the nations (Joel 3:2)
2. For dividing up the land of Israel, which the Lord describes as “My land” (Joel 3:2)
3.For stealing treasures from the Lord (perhaps from the 3rd Temple which will be built in the very near future), and from Israel. (Joel 3:5)
4. For murdering Jews and shedding Jewish blood. (Joel 3:19, 21)
When it comes to the fourth reason , you may want to add 57 nations to the list. What do I mean by this:
A Turkish newspaper close to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling party is urging 57 Islamic nations to build a joint army specifically to attack Israel.
The Middle East Media Research Institute reports the article appeared on the paper’s website under the title “What If an Army of Islam Was Formed against Israel?”
It was published shortly ahead of a summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which has 57 members, MEMRI reported.
The article also mentioned , MEMRI said, “that such a joint army will greatly exceed the Israeli army in manpower, equipment and budget, and presents statistics to prove this.”
It also advocates establishing joint bases for the army’s ground, air and naval forces that will arrive from all over the Muslim world to besiege Israel. Special status was given to Pakistan, which happens to be the only country of the 57 with nuclear weaponry.
Keep in mind that Turkey already has penetrated northern Syria. Iran has also been reported to have established several military bases in Syria. Historically speaking, whenever Isarel was besieged in the Bible, the opposing forces always came from “the north.”
The article states: “It becomes evident that the member states’ [joint] military might greatly exceeds that of Israel. Moreover, in a possible military operation, this superiority [can] be realized on the ground by [setting up] joint military bases for ground, air and naval forces.”
It says that if the OIC member states “unite and form a joint military force, it will be the largest army in the world.”
“These countries’ total population is 1,674,526,931. The number of soldiers in active service in these countries is at least 5,206,100.”
The newspaper calls Israel “significantly inferior” and says that “this country, which attempted to occupy Jerusalem while surrounded by Muslim states” has a population of only about 8 million, while Istanbul alone exceeds 14 million.
Furthermore, the frightening scenario that will most likely play out according to the Scriptures is that the only friend that ultimately reaches out to her, will be the Antichrist. He will give Israel a temporary peace.
Daniel 9:27-–And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: 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.
But, three and a half years later (Mid-Trib), the Antichrist replicates what the Jews well remember in their history from the days of Antiochus concerning the desecration of the Temple. At that point the Antichrist betrays them.
God’s Word must be taken in to consideration here:
Currently, there is a growing disparity between the nations of the world and Israel. It’s most unfortunate that our own country is going to grow in its disparity from Israel as well. Currently in existence are policies going back several administrations that have forced Israel to do things that they didn’t want to do, things such as the giving up of land that God has directly said that no one is to force them to relinquish.
The United Nations, the United States, the European Union ,the Arab League, the Palestinian Authority, heck even the Government of Israel must clearly take heed to what God’s Word is clearly stating.
It is CLEARLY evident and PAINSTAKINGLY obvious now that Israel is being set to take center stage concerning Bible prophecy and the end times. She will be alone. But God + 1 = The Majority.
And if Israel is about to take center stage, where does that put the true Church in God’s timetable?
Luke 21:28-36—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. 32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. 33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. 34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.