What is the truth about Palestine?

I. THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME “PALESTINE”
In Hebrew “p” and “ph” are the same letter. Originally Arabic had no letter “p.” Biblical Hebrew had no vowels, so in Hebrew “Philistia” (the Philistines homeland) and “Palestine” are the same word. In Hebrew Palestinian is pronounced Philistinian. According to the Bible, from the time of Abraham to near the time of the destruction of the first temple in Jerusalem, Philistines (descendants of Noah’s son Ham, Genesis 10:6, 13-14 and I Chronicles 1:11-12 lived on the Mediterranean Coast north of Egypt, including part of the area now known as the Gaza. About the time the Babylonian Empire destroyed the temple in Jerusalem (2 Kings Ch.25) and took leading men of Judea into captivity in 586 BC, Philistines disappeared from history. “Wail, O gate; cry, O city; all Philistia, you are dissolved” (Isaiah 14:31a).

2. WHEN AND WHY WAS THE HOLY LAND FIRST CALLED PALESTINE?
During the Bar Kokhba rebellion (132AD-135AD), Rome killed almost 600,000 Jews and plowed Jerusalem, in fulfillment of Jeremiah 26:18, “Zion will be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem will become ruins.” Some 90% of Jewish people fled from Israel as prophesied by Moses, “the Lord will scatter you among the peoples” (Deut. 4:27; 28:64).
However, Isaiah prophesied that a remnant of Jewish people would remain in the Holy Land; “The Lord has removed men far away, and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land. Yet a tenth {of the children of Israel} will be in it. . . like an oak whose stump remains when it is felled; the holy seed is its stump” (Isaiah 6:12-13). Moses and Isaiah’s prophecies came true; Israel was scattered, the population dwindled, and the land became desolate. However, from the time the Children of Israel returned to the Promised Land from Egypt in 1476 BC until today (some 3,500 years), there has been a continuous Jewish presence in the Holy Land.

In 135AD, Rome renamed the Holy Land Syria-Palaestinae for the Philistines, who had disappeared from history some 700 years earlier. The Holy Land was called Palestine from 135AD until 1948. During WW1, British officials promised Faisal Hussein (of Arabia) the throne of Syria in exchange for supporting a Jewish State in Palestine. In March 1920, the General Syrian Congress confirmed Faisal as King. In April 1920, the League of Nations gave mandates to France over Syria, and to Britain over Palestine and Iraq. In July 1920, France ordered King Faisal and his Muslim forces out of Syria. To appease Faisal, the British removed Faisal’s brother Abdullah from the throne of Iraq and made Faisal King. Abdullah gathered forces to take Syria from the French. To prevent Abdullah from attacking the French, England gave Abdullah all of Palestine east of the Jordan River (78%). The United Nations voted to divide what remained of Palestine between Jews and Arabs. Arabs turned it down. On May 14, 1948, Israel declared an independent state and immediately U.S. President Truman recognized Israel as a sovereign nation. After 2000 years, Israel was a nation again in the Land promised to them by God. When God keeps promises to Israel, we know that He will keep His promises to us.

Immediately, 6 Arab nations attacked Israel. Jordan captured East Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria (the mountains of Israel), killing and driving out all Jews, taking their homes and land, renaming the heartland of Israel the “West Bank.” Egypt captured the Gaza strip.

3. THE HISTORY OF PALESTINE 1917 TO 1967AD

IN 1917 General Allenby and Allied Forces of World War I took Jerusalem. In 1920 the League of Nations voted to establish a homeland for Jews in Palestine, (a.k.a. the Holy Land and the Land of Israel).
IN 1922, to appease Abdullah for deposing him as King of Iraq the British gave him all of Palestine east of the Jordan River (78% of the land the League of Nations had authorized as a homeland for the Jews), forbidding Jews to live there, leaving only 22% of Palestine (the part west of the Jordan River) for a Jewish homeland.
IN 1947 The UN voted to divide the remaining 22% of the Jewish homeland between Jews and Arabs. The Arabs turned down the offer, and on May 1948, Israel declared independence.
IN 1948 Arab armies from six Muslim nations attacked Israel. Israel survived as a nation, but Egypt occupied Gaza and Jordan occupied the Old City of Jerusalem and much of Judea and Samaria (the heart of the homeland of the Jews), calling it the “West Bank” because it was west of the Jordan River. Egypt and Jordan deported all Jewish people from Gaza and the West Bank, confiscated their homes and businesses.
IN 1967 Arabs attacked Israel again. Israel won, returning Jewish-owned land in the West Bank and Gaza.

4. FOREIGN OCCUPIERS OF THE LAND OF ISRAEL (A.K.A. THE HOLY LAND & PROMISED LAND)

1476BC Israel returns to the Promised Land from Egypt (This is an approximate date)
1000BC Kingdom of Israel ruled by King David
960BC Israel divided into two Kingdoms, Judah (South) & Israel (North)
722BC Assyrian Empire (occupier) deported the Northern Kingdom of Israel and forced
Jerusalem to pay tribute (2Kings 18:13-16). The Assyrian King took Manasseh of
Judah into exile (2 Chronicles 33:11).

604BC Babylonian Empire (occupier) conquered Kingdoms of Israel and Judah
586BC Note: Philistines disappeared from history.
539BC Persian Empire (occupier)
322BC Alexander’s Empire (occupier)
319BC Seleucid Empire (occupier)
63BC Roman Empire (occupier)
135AD Note: Rome renamed Israel “Palestinae” after extinct Philistines
614AD Sassanian Empire (occupier)
638AD Islamic Empire (occupier)
1095AD Note: European Knights (occupied Jerusalem to protect Christians)
1150AD Islamic Empire (occupier)
1920AD British Empire (occupier)

1948 AD SOVEREIGN STATE OF ISRAEL RE-ESTABLISHED

5. A BRILLIANT DECEPTION
After the Islamic Empire lost two wars with Israel (1948 and 1956), failing to drive Israel out of the Holy Land, Islamic leaders formed a brilliant deception. As we said, Jews living in the Holy Land, who had been called Palestinians from 135 to 1948AD, won their independence and formed the State of Israel. “Palestine” ceased to exist in 1948!

The public has a short memory. So in 1964, 16 years AFTER ‘PALESTINE’ CEASED TO EXIST, Arabs of the Arab League created an organization called the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). Although Arabs rejected the name Palestinian when the Holy Land was called Palestine, now 16 years later having failed to take Israel’s land in war, the Arab League chose to assume the name “Palestinian.”

On May 28 1964, the Arab League founded The National Covenant of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, creating the impression that Arabs are indigenous to Palestine. However, it was also important to reassure other Arabs that they were not abandoning the Arab Nation. In Article 11 of the PLO’s National Covenant they assured their brother Arabs that they continue to see themselves as members of the “Arab Nation” and that “at this stage of the struggle” their “Palestinian personality” is a “role” they are playing.

Article 11 of the National Covenant of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) says, “The Palestinian people firmly believe in Arab unity, and in order to ‘play its role’ in realizing this goal, it must , ‘at this stage of its struggle,’ preserve its Palestinian personality and all of its constituents. It must strengthen the consciousness of its existence and stand against any attempt or plan that may weaken or disintegrate its personality.” In other words, they wanted their brother Arabs to know that in order to add the Holy Land to the Islamic Empire they need to PRETEND to be Palestinians until all Israel is under Islamic domination!

6. A TANGLED WEB
In 1964 when Arabs BEGAN to call themselves “Palestinians,” most young Arab teens and adults did not remember the miraculous war of 1948, when Israel defeated the Islamic Empire, nor did they remember that Jews in the Holy Land were called “Palestinians” and Arabs were not. Thousands of Arabs too young to remember the facts sincerely believe themselves to be Palestinians. However, Hafez al-Assad, Arabic Muslim President of Syria [1971-2000], said to Yasser Arafat, then head of the PLO, “Don’t forget one thing—there is no Palestinian people and there is no Palestinian entity.” While Assad’s statement is the opposite of what is commonly believed, his words match the facts of history.

German Chancellor Adolph Hitler, who murdered 6,000,000 Jews in the Holocaust (1942-1945), wrote, “The broad masses of a nation. . . more readily fall victims to the BIG LIE than the small lie, since they themselves often tell lies in little matters, but would be ashamed to resort to large-scale falsehoods. It would never come into their heads to fabricate colossal untruths, and they would not believe that others could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously. Even though the facts, which prove this to be so, may be brought clearly to their minds, they will still doubt and waver and will continue to think that there may be some other explanation. For the grossly impudent lie always leaves traces behind it, even after it has been nailed down, a fact which is known to all expert liars in this world and to all who conspire together in the art of lying.” From Mein Kampf, dictated by Adolph Hitler to fellow prisoner Rudolph Hess in the Landsberg Prison in 1923, released in 1925, published by Reynal & Hitchcock, 1939.

Knowing what you believe and why you believe it. Part 2

In my last message to you, we showed you from the genealogy of Jesus Christ how that He was both a descendant of Abraham, the father and progenitor of the chosen nation, and King David--Israel's quintessential king and ruler in the Old Testament. To be the Messiah He had to be a descendant of Abraham in order to fulfill Genesis 12:3 (the One through Whom all the nations of the earth would be blessed). And He also had to be from King Daivd's line in order to fulfill God's promise to continue David's Messianic line and family forever(II Samuel 7:12-28; Psalm 89:3;132:11). This truth is seen in Matthew 1:1-2 and Luke 3:31,34. As Messiah, He would be the only One who could fulfill Genesis 3:15, the first and foundational prophecy of the Old Testament. In that prophecy was God's promise to defeat the serpent, Satan, and so redeem fallen man and restore him back to Himself. As we said in our last blog, the entire Old Testament is the unfolding story of that prophecy. Hence, the announcement to Mary in Nazareth Israel from the angel Gabriel was not made in a vacuum. Rather this announcement was delivered from the entire context of the Old Testament story. (See Luke 1:26-35 for Gabriel's announcement to Mary)

Today, I want to further show you from the Word of God how that Jesus Christ completely fulfills all the requirements of being the One true Messiah of Israel and the world. First, in Isaiah 7:14, the Holy Spirit makes it clear through the prophet that the Promised Seed of Genesis 3:15 would be born of a virgin, "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign, Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and call His name Immanuel." (Immanuel means "God with us.") Luke 1:26-27 shows how that prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, "And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a VIRGIN espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the HOUSE OF DAVID; and the VIRGIN'S name was Mary."

Secondly, also from Isaiah, the Lord makes it clear that the Messiah would be divine or would be God in human form. Listen to these prophetic words concerning the Messiah from Isaiah 9:6, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall rest upon His shoulders; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, THE MIGHTY GOD, THE EVERLASTING FATHER, the Prince of Peace." Now Luke 1:32 "He(Yeshua/Jesus, Messiah) shall be called the SON OF THE HIGHEST (Deity/Divine); and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of his father David." The Promised Seed of Genesis 3:15 had to be born of a virgin according to Isaiah 7:14, and He had to be God according to Isaiah 9:6. Jesus' birth fulfilled both of these important prophecies. Now let me conclude today with one more Old Testament prophecy and how it was fulfilled in Jesus Christ the Messiah.

In the book of Micah, chapter 5 and verse 2 we read this amazing prophecy of where the Messiah would be born. "But you Bethlehem Ephratah, though you are the smallest among the tribes of Judah; out of you shall he come forth unto me who is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from old, from everlasting." Now, if the mother and stepfather of Jesus were from Nazareth, how could He possibly fulfill this prophecy that said that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem? In Luke 2:1-7 the answer is given. "And it came to pass in those days, that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. And all went to be taxed, every one to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called BETHLEHEM; BECUSE HE WAS OF THE HOUSE AND LINEAGE OF DAVID; to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered(or give birth). And she brought forth her first born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn." Another stunning prophecy from the Old Testament fulfilled in Jesus Christ proving that He was and is the Messiah!

He was from the lineage of Abraham and David; He was born of a virgin; He was born as the Divine Son of God(Deity); and He was born in the city of Bethlehem! Dear friends and believers in Yeshua/Jesus the Messiah, your faith is built on the sure and strong Word of God from Genesis to Revelation. This Christmas season let us rejoice in the more sure Word of prophecy that has been beautifully fulfilled in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. "O holy night, when Christ the Savior was born."

Knowing what you believe and why you believe it. Part one.

The words that the angel Gabriel spoke to Mary in the city of Nazareth over 2000 years ago(Luke 1:26-35) were not spoken in a vacuum. Rather they were spoken in the context that God had built for thousands of years, dating all the way back to Genesis 3:15. It was here that God made the prophetic promise to defeat Satan, the serpent, and so restore fallen man back to Himself. From that one promise, the entire Old Testament becomes the unfolding story that set the scene for that Word to be fulfilled. Let me show you how.

First God chose a man named Abraham. He would be the father of the faith, the progenitor and patriarch of the Jewish nation. So in that regard he is unique. From Abraham came Isaac whose name meant laughter because he was born to a man who was nearly a hundred  years old and to a woman who was barren and had gone through the change of life. Next in line was Jacob whose name God changed to Israel. And to Israel were born twelve sons. These twelve sons became the nation of Israel. It was from this chosen nation that God chose the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10) and from the tribe of Judah He chose the family of David(II Samuel 7:12-28;Psalm 89:3;132:11) and from the family of David He chose a little girl named Mary from the northern town of Nazareth Israel through whom the Promised Seed of Genesis 3:15 would be born. It should be said here that as  Abraham was unique as the father of the chosen nation, so King David held a unique place as the quintessential ruler of the chosen nation. Let me show you why that this is important and how it relates to the announcement that Gabriel made to Mary, and to your faith.

When you read the genealogy of Jesus Christ in both Matthew and Luke, you find that Jesus' ancestry and lineage are traced back to both Abraham and to David. This was absolutely necessary if Jesus were to be the true Messiah. He had to be a descendant of the father of the chosen nation as well as a descendant of the family of David. The Messiah had to be the one through whom all the nations of the earth would be blessed(Genesis 12:3) and also be the one who would fulfill God's promise to David that He would continue his house forever(11Samuel 7:12-28; Psalm 89:3;132:11). In Matthew's genealogy chapter 1:1-2, you will find this to be the fact. And this fact is also repeated in Luke's genealogy of Jesus in chapter 3:31,34. So it is clear from scripture that Jesus Christ is the true Messiah promised in the Word of God. He is both a descendant of Abraham and David. Consequently He is the only one uniquely qualified to fulfill Genesis 3:15! I will say more about this in my next blog.

One note before I close for today. The genealogies in both Matthew and Luke follow the family line of Joseph. Why? because Jewish genealogies always followed the family line of the man. Keep in mind two things. First, Mary was also from the same family line as Joseph. So this is actually her genealogy as well as Joseph's. Secondly Joseph, although just the step father of Jesus, was also chosen by God.

I will give you more prophecies in my next blog that will prove that Jesus Christ is the on true Messiah, but today I would like to end with these thoughts. First and most important, Jesus Christ is more than just a man. He is the God-man. He is the Son of the one true and living God. That makes Him unique. No one else is like Him. Secondly, your faith is built upon the eternal truth of God's Word. It is a Word that was planned and carried out over thousands of years and fulfilled in the one true Messiah, Jesus Christ. Therefore, know that your faith is not some kind of blind faith. Rather it is the one true faith. It is this faith that has the power to save you not just for a lifetime but for all eternity. O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord! Shalom

"God's heart turning again toward Israel"

I want to take a few minutes now and give greater attention to the first of seven prophetic statements I presented to you in my last article. I will restate that prophetic statement and then explain it to you. (1) God is turning His heart back again to Israel in order to fulfill all things that are written in the scriptures. Since God is turning His heart toward Israel, if the Church is to fulfill her destiny, then she too must turn her heart toward Israel.

Let's begin by looking at a scripture that is overlooked or neglected by much of the Church today. Romans 11:25-27 says this, "For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant(unlearned) of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness IN PART has happened to Israel UNTIL the fullness of the Gentiles(non-Jewish peoples) should come in. v.26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written..." It is clear from this scripture that Israel's blindness to the Messiah is "IN PART." That means that it is not a total blindness that will last forever! It is a blindness that will exist only "UNTIL" the fullness of the Gentiles come in( when God is ready once again to deal with His chosen people Israel). Think of it this way. Two thousand years ago God began talking to the Church. He put Israel, as it were, on hold. But we are coming to the time when God is about to say to the Church, "I have had Israel on hold for a long time. And I am  now ready to talk them again." So God clicks the phone and now He has Israel and the Church on three way. Forgive the example, but it is a simple way that I can illustrate the truth of God turning His heart back to Israel again.

I will now try and explain to you how this will work itself out in real time. THE ISSUE of the day is the controversy over the land of Israel. It will be this issue of the land that God will use to test the hearts of men, exposing that which would otherwise go unnoticed. Follow me close here. As God merges the natural and spiritual realms together (something that has always been a part of His eternal plan), natural and national Israel will become the focal point of this stunning merger. Consequently, God's covenant with natural and national Israel concerning the land (Please see Genesis 17:1-8) will FORCE men to make an outward decision, not only about Israel's right to the land, but also about God as well! This controversy over the land will be the dividing line not only among nations and individuals but also for the "Church." The true Church will discern and recognize the truth as God is once again turning His heart and His attention to Israel.

This merger of the natural and spiritual realms was very clearly illustrated and revealed in Jesus Christ--The God-man. He was both God and man, spiritual and natural. This divine truth is revealed through the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 1:10 "that in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together IN ONE all things in Christ, both which are in HEAVEN and which are on EARTH--IN HIM." It was and is in the God-man, Christ Jesus, that men's hearts are exposed as to their relationship with God. Those who receive and accept Christ, the God-man, also receive and accept the living God. Those who reject the God-man also reject the only true and living God!
The spiritual is made real and understandable through the natural.

Likewise, as we draw closer to the time of the end, as God merges together the two realms of the natural and the spiritual through the fulfillment of His covenant of giving Israel the land, men's hearts will be exposed as to whether or not they have a relationship(not just a religion) with the living God. As natural and national Israel were the chosen people of God in the Old Testament, through whom the invisible, spiritual God, made Himself known to the world, so will He reveal Himself again at the end of the age through the Jewish people and the land of Israel. But this time the visible, physical Church will also be very much involved! (Another subject for later)

And it will be these two people-groups, Israel and the Church, who will be the target of the Red Dragon, Satan (naturally and physically revealed through the last world empire) in the closing days of history as we now know it (See Revelation 12:13-17).

There is a reason why the little country of Israel, about the size of New Jersey, is in the news 362 out of 365 days a year! The eternal God is making the land of Israel the focal point of the whole world as He is turning His heart and His focus again to the land of Israel and the Jewish people. This is where the mystery of God, the merging together of the natural and spiritual realms, will become a reality.

The true Church must NOW AWAKEN to this prophetic truth. The time of its fulfillment is at hand! Are you awake?

Shalom,
Jimmy Hammock

PS. Please read and re-read this article until its truth becomes revelation to you!





       

Seven Prophetic Statements to the Body of Christ

In the future I will go more in depth concerning these seven prophetic statements concerning Israel and the Church. I will give the scriptural foundation for each of them. But for now I would like you to simply read them and pray over them. Why? because I believe they are and will be essential in being prepared for what is soon to come!

A VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND

PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD

SEVEN PROPHETIC STATEMENTS FOR THE BODY OF CHRIST

1. God is turning His heart back again to Israel in order to fulfill all things that are written in the scriptures.  Since God is turning His heart toward Israel, if the Church is to fulfill her destiny, then she too must turn her heart toward Israel.

2. The church can fulfill her destiny by doing the following things concerning the Jewish people:

              

              1. Intercede for the Jewish people who will be saved through

                   receiving Yeshua/Jesus as their Messiah.

              2. Prepare to receive the Jewish people who will escape the persecution

                  of the Antichrist . Make room for them.

              3. Bear witness to the Jewish people by loving them and by standing

                  with them regardless of the sacrifice.

3. As God is turning His heart toward the Jewish people, Satan is more aggressively turning his fury against them. This fury can be seen in the following ways:

              1. The exponential rise of Anti-Semitism that can be seen on a global

                   scale.

              2. The so-called Arab-uprising that is being heralded as a revolutionary

                   move toward democracy but essentially is nothing more than a

                   move toward an Islamic Caliphate centered around Sharia law

                   and a common hatred of Israel.

4. The evolving Islamic Caliphate now forming in the Middle East will be the seventh head of the final Anti-Semitic Empire of the Red Dragon or Satan spoken of in Revelation 12.

5. The leader of this last Islamic Caliphate will be a radical Muslim intent on destroying the chosen people of Israel.  Let me say this plainly: The Antichrist will not be some charismatic European. Rather, the Antichrist spoken of in the Word of God will be a radical Muslim!

6. The Church will not be raptured from the earth before The Great Tribulation begins. Rather, the Church will not be raptured until the end of The Great Tribulation.  The so-called “Pre-Tribulation Rapture” teaching has put much of the Church to sleep and is leaving them dangerously ill-prepared for what is coming.

7.  As the Last Days are drawing to a close, Israel and the true Church will inevitably be drawn closer together.  This mystery of God is already beginning to be unfolded in our day.

         

*       *        *        *        *        *        *        *        *        *        *        *        *

Although the above prophetic statements are general in nature, they are essential in helping prepare the Church for the final years of history as we know it.

Before you judge these seven statements, I ask you to pray over them and see if they do not resonate with and in your spirit-man.

Most of all, search the scriptures with an open heart and see if these statements are true or not.

Jimmy Hammock

Time to Awake

About three months ago, the Holy Spirit spoke to me about "the burden of the Lord" waiting for me in Jerusalem. The Lord then opened the door for me to visit Israel, and Jerusalem, from November 12 through the 21st. The trip was amazing in a thousand different ways which I obviously do not have the time to go into. But what I wanted to share with you today is what the Spirit revealed to me about "the burden of the Lord." "The burden of the Lord," very simply stated, is the very difficult task of awakening the Church and Israel as to what is currently going on in Israel and in the Middle East and to what is on the horizon. This is the most critical and the most important issue of our time. What happens in Israel and the Middle East will most assuredly impact the entire world--including you and your family.  So allow me to share with you an experience I had while flying back from Tel Aviv to JFK in New York to try and put this into perspective.

Next to me on this flight back was a Jewish lady named Ahova, who was a Psychologist, and a lady named Catherine who was a Catholic. Both of these ladies were well educated and intellectually astute. About two hours out from JFK we began to really talk. In the course of conversation both ladies made it clear that they were far-left liberals, "progressive thinkers." I actually could care less about the labels, but what was really eye-opening was that both of these really intellectual ladies were clueless when it came to the geo-political dynamics of what is going on in Israel and in the Middle East. As the conversation went from the very real and existential threat of radical Islam to their naive belief that you can reason with people like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, I was becoming aware of the heavy veil that covers the eyes of both the Jew and many, if not most, of the Church! As I later contemplated my conversation with these two ladies, I realized that the task of trying to awaken both the Church and Israel to what is happening and what is soon to happen in the Middle East would most certainly be a heavy burden, "the burden of the Lord."

In just a few sentences, let me give you what I believe is happening and what will happen in the Middle East in the not to distant future. As I tried to share with the two ladies on the plane, the current Arab uprising is not a move toward democracy like most liberals would like to believe. It would be wonderful if that were the case, but it's not! Rather, it is a diabolical move toward the formation of a radical Islamic Caliphate( the uniting of all Muslims under one banner). And this will, I believe, be the last world empire, the seventh head of the dragon spoken of in the Book of the Revelation. It is not hard to see how that this Islamic Caliphate and the last world empire headed up by the Antichrists will be one and the same. Yes, I do believe that the Antichrist will be a radical Muslim trying to force the world to "submit" to Sharia law or Islamic law. Also, it is no secret that one of the things that will bring this Caliphate together will be their hatred of Israel and their controversy with God's covenant that the Land belongs to Israel.

The Word of God teaches that at the time of the end the world's attention will be focused on Israel and particularly Jerusalem (See Zechariah 12-14). The real issue in these days will be centered on God and His right to be God. Let me explain. National and physical Israel, including Jerusalem, will be the geographical  land where the One True God will force the world to make a decision about Him. Does He have the right to give the Land to Israel? Can He choose whom He desires to demonstrate His grace and election? It will be precisely God's choice to give Israel the land--including Jerusalem-and to show His grace to the remnant of Jews who will be saved that will be the dividing issue. It actually already is the issue, but as we draw closer to the end it will become the hot button issue for the whole world. Those who honor and recognize God's election and grace shown to and through the Jewish people will be blessed and those who don't will be cursed! The nations as well as individuals will be forced to either choose God or reject Him. And their choice will come down to how they respond to and treat Israel and their right to the land including the city of Jerusalem.

"The burden of the Lord"  in these days will be to awaken Israel and the Church to this reality. It is a task that can only be accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit. My prayer for you is that what I have said in this message will become revelation to you. This is important because of several reasons. First, it will help prepare you for what is coming. Secondly, as you line yourself up with God's purposes for Israel and Jerusalem you are lining yourself up with God. And if God is for you then who can be against you. Third, by lining yourself up with God, you are seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness. The end result of that is that "all of these other things" (whatever you need) will be added to you (See Matthew 6:33).  Therefore I invite you to join me by receiving "the burden of the Lord." It will be both a heavy burden, but it will also be an incredible blessing! Shalom

Islamic uprisings, Occupy Wall Street; what do they have in common?

What do the Islamic uprisings in the Middle East, the Occupy Wall Street movement, the antisemitic ideology of European leaders as well as the Obama Administration have in common? They are all, along with others, being guided by the spirit of lawlessness spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, "Now, dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet him. Don't be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don't believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision,  a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us. Don't be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of LAWLESSNESS( the Antichrist, the man who is a law unto himself--perhaps Sharia law)is revealed--the one who brings destruction. He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God( Jewish temple that will be rebuilt) claiming that he himself is God." The Antichrist spirit is the spirit of the beast in the book of the Revelation. Empowered by the Red Dragon, Satan, the Antichrist will despise and attack both Israel and the Church. You can already see the beginnings of this attack in the exponential rise of antisemitism and  anti christian bias. You would have to be blind spiritually not to see it. It is everywhere, including America, and it is growing!

One of the chief characteristics of the Antichrist spirit is lawlessness. Look at the Islamic uprisings in the Middle East as well as the Occupy Wall Street movement. Both are characterised by anarchy or lawlessness. No respect of authority or law. And both are antisemitic! And believe it or not, Barack Obama laid the ground work for both! Remember the apology tour in the Middle East? Remember his shameful behavior of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he visited the White House? Remember his saying that America was no longer a Christian nation? And what about his statement of Israel needing to return to pre-1967 borders? Add to that his praising of the uprisings in the Middle East as a movement toward democracy when it is now becoming clear that these uprisings are a move not toward democracy but toward an Islamic Caliphate and a Sharia-controlled government. And who could argue that Barack Obama's constant public speaking in pitting the rich against the poor has not been the foundational cause for the Occupy Wall Street movement? Again, what do you find in common with both the Islamic uprising and the Occupy Wall Street movement? Lawlessness, antisemitism, and anti Christian bias! How many Christian believers have been killed in Muslim countries since all of this began? Also, what is disturbing is the Russian support for Iran who is working diligently to develop nuclear weapons. This is an Iran whose leader has vowed to blow Israel off the map! And what of the French vote to give the  Palestinians Statehood at the expense of Israel--the one true democracy in the Middle East! I could go on, but I think that you see the point. The line between good and evil is being clearly drawn in the sand. And as we move closer to the time of the end, people will find themselves on one side or the other. Don't be deceived by the spirit of Antichrist! It can be a subtle spirit which is painted in a positive light by a liberal media that is itself, by a large degree, also controlled by this same spirit of Antichrist!

Church, we are living in the time of the end, the days spoken of in the Word of God as the end of the age. And the first thing that Jesus said in Matthew 24 when He spoke of these days is that we must be on our guard so that we are not deceived ( Matthew 24:4). The way that you stay on your guard is by staying in the Word of God, walking in obedience to the Holy Spirit, and by being in a Church that preaches and teaches the Now Word of God.

I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, "prepare the way of the Lord, for the Kingdom of God is at hand."

Jimmy Hammock

PS. Jesus also said that when you see these things look up for your redemption draws near!

A Prophetic Word for 2012

Restoration, Repayment and Reconciliation: God's Plan for 2012

We have been in a strategic time in which God is continuing to realign things that will bring about amazing results on earth and in our lives. If you have been following the series of prophetic words that God has given me this year, I have been talking about how God is bringing justice and repaying people for all that was lost, stolen, or cut short during the past nine years (from 2002–2011).
God spoke to me that the enemy has overplayed his hand against us and that if we would ask Him to, He will bring repayment. There is not a time limit on this prophetic word, because God is outside of time, but I highly recommend that you continue to ask God to repay all that you have lost. Your repayment might come to you in various forms and increments. So watch for things like new favor, unexpected money, raises, promotions, restored relationships, new spiritual gifts and God's power in your life.

Prophetic Word on Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) ended this year at sundown on Friday, September 30th. In California sunset occurred at 6:54pm. At 6:50 the presence of God came upon me and I received a five-minute long prophetic download. Here's some of what God spoke to me.
As the sun sets on Rosh Hashanah (Friday, September 30th) an old season came to a close. We are now in three months of transition from October through December. Don't be discouraged by this transitional time, as it may look opposite from what you may expect. God is rearranging things, bringing new angelic assignments and lining things up for a fresh new start in January 2012.

Things that are Coming in 2012

We are going to see new medical breakthroughs in the coming new year. With the onslaught of destructive disease and viruses, God is offsetting this attack by initiating radical medical discoveries and cures.
There will be new inventions and business strategies released from Heaven. Some people will be shown how to make a million dollars overnight. Business partnerships will be formed to release finances for Kingdom projects.
New insight will come from God on how to deal with some major political and social "hot buttons" that have separated people in the past. God is releasing the Spirit of Reconciliation that will bring healing of differences between people groups and nations.
I heard two strategic series of dates this year: November 14-17, 2011 and December 9-14, 2011. These will be significant times of connection and in some cases restoration. Pray that God's purposes will be accomplished during these days.

Nine-Year-Old Children Set Apart

When God spoke to me He said that because the enemy had overplayed his hand so strongly starting in 2002, that children born 2002 (this includes some children born 2001) will be used greatly and have a high destiny on their lives. These young people have a high level of creativity and many of them have already experienced a great deal of trial and resistance. Many of them will begin moving in a greater level of wisdom and anointing over the next couple of years.

Angelic Interaction

This is a time of increased discernment as God is releasing the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation. Dreams and angelic encounters will also increase this month. The purpose of all of this is found in Ephesians 1:17, "...so that you may know Him better." This is a time to ask God to open our spiritual eyes and ears so that we can grow in deeper intimacy with Him.

Season of Dry Bones is Ending

On October 5th I was writing on my computer and God spoke to me that this winter will bring an end to "the season of dry bones." At the very moment I wrote those words: "This winter will bring an end to the season of dry bones," a freak rainstorm hit the roof of my house. God confirmed the word with a very loud and hard rain for about thirty seconds and within a moment the sun came out. I then knew that this would happen suddenly for many people, and when things open up, it will be big. Satan has been trying to hold things back because this next move from God will be huge and have worldwide impact.
Ephesians 1:17-18 "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people..."
Blessings,

Doug Addison

Gaddafi is dead, now what?

Muammar Gaddafi is dead. So what is next in Libya? In Egypt? In Syria? In the Middle East? What is the bigger picture of what is happening in the Middle East? Is this really a move for "democracy" like so many in Washington and the liberal media would have us to believe? Or is there something more sinister at work here? Perhaps the question that needs to be answered is this: what or who is going to fill the vacuum that is being created by the fall of these former dictators? Are we headed for the time that is described in the Word of God concerning the last world empire--the empire that will be headed up by the Antichrist (Revelation 13)? Is the stage being set for this Satanic-empowered leader to emerge as the head of the last Islamic Caliphate?( A caliphate is an Islamic State comprised of several Islamic countries) Are we coming quickly to the time when Revelation 17:12-13 will literally be fulfilled? Revelation 17:12-13 says "And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings(leaders/rulers) which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour(short period of time--perhaps seven years) with the beast(Antichrist). These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength to the beast(Antichrist)."

I believe that we are indeed at the door of the last world empire spoken of in scripture. I further believe that this last world empire will be Islamic and that the Antichrist will be a radical Muslim. The one thing that unites the Islamic Middle East is their hatred of Israel as the chosen people of God. This will likely be the one thing that the Antichrist uses to unite the last Islamic Caliphate (the final world empire). It will be what causes the other Islamic rulers to join him and give their power to him for "one hour." It will begin with the signing of the peace treaty with Israel (Daniel 9:24-27) and continue with "the abomination of desolation" when the Antichrist declares himself to be God and begins his attempt to annihilate the Jews (Revelation 12; 13:14-17; Matthew 24:15-21). This will also be what is known in scripture as the Tribulation Period( 7 years) and the Great Tribulation (the last 3 1/2 years of this 7 year period). This is described in detail in Revelation 6-19.

I have barely scratched the surface of this complex and stunning subject, but I hope I have given you enough to think and pray about. I believe that is it much later than most people think. With that being the case, my ministry and calling is shifting to being more of a prophetic voice to help awaken the Body of Christ to the lateness of the hour in which we live. It is critically important that the Church knows what time it is! We must be done with playing church, and we must no longer allow ourselves to compromise with the world!! It is time for all hands to be on deck. You and your family cannot afford to be taken off guard when it all starts coming down. The prophet's/watchman's job is to sound the alarm and awaken the people to what is happening. It is then the people's job to prepare themselves to be ready spiritually for what is and what is to come. The best way to do that is to walk with God in obedience; to draw close to the Lord through His Word, His Spirit and His Church. I would also suggest that you make sure that you and your family are in a Church that is hearing the Voice of God.

A voice of one crying in the wilderness, "prepare the way of the Lord."

Shalom on God's people 

Why Jerusalem?

THE CENTRAL PLACE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF JERUSALEM

We have recently spoken on the Lord’s controversy with His chosen and elect people. It is a controversy that will culminate at the conclusion of “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7; Daniel 9:24).

After Israel’s final suffering at the hands of her enemies—a suffering allowed by God to break off her pride and unbelief—the Lord Jesus will save the elect remnant. The combination of her suffering and the act of God’s mercy to her through Jesus will cause “all Israel to be saved” (Romans 11:26-27). 

At this time God will also judge the nations that have attempted to annihilate the Jews/Israel

(Matthew 25:31-46).

Following the controversy of Zion and the conclusion of Jacob’s trouble will be the millennial reign of Jesus Christ—a world-wide reign from His headquarters in Jerusalem (Matthew 5:35; 23:37-39; Revelation 19:11-20:10).

Lets look now at the controversy of Zion with our focus being on the central place and significance of the city of Jerusalem.

1. In things pertaining to the Kingdom of God or the rule of God on the earth, all roads lead to the city of Jerusalem—the literal city of Jerusalem, Israel.

Psalm 122:6 says “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; they will prosper that love you.”  This scripture can be seen as an Old Testament equivalent of “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is done in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).  I will show you why this is true as we go forward.

Isaiah 62:6-7 “I have set my watchmen upon your walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day or night; you that make mention of the Lord, keep not silent, and give Him no rest until He establishes and makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.”

These two scriptures make it clear that Jerusalem is central in God’s plans to rule and reign on the earth. Believers and intercessors need to lock in on this truth and ask the Lord for more revelation concerning it. What is important to God should be important to those who love Him.

2. Because of the importance of this city to God and to His plans, this city will become “a cup of stumbling to all people.” Let me explain.

Zechariah 12:3 “And in that day will I (God) 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 against it.”

Jerusalem will be the center of the coming storm. The dilemma of Jerusalem will become the complex problem of international politics that increasingly threatens world stability. And Jewish inflexibility over Jerusalem will be the trigger that ignites the prophetically anticipated resurgence of world-wide anti-Semitism.

Yet, it will be the issue of Jerusalem or the "unsolvable problem" of Zion that God will use to draw all nations into the final conflict that leads to Armageddon and the Day of The Lord.

The controversy of Zion is the age-old contention that has raged in both the heavens and on the earth concerning “the holy covenant.” The city of Jerusalem represents the place of God’s name and His divine rule on the earth.

In Matthew 5:35 Jesus referred to Jerusalem as the city of the great king. It is the city of God’s Messiah. Consequently, that is why “the nations rage and the people imagine a vain thing”

(Psalm 2).  

3. The central issue on planet earth in the Last Days will be the final outworking of the quarrel that began in the tents of Abraham and will continue to escalate until the Second Return of the Prince of Peace from heaven—the Lord Jesus.!

It is the issue of the holy covenant that God made with Abraham and his descendants (the Jews) that leads to the question of divine election and sovereign rule. It is about God’s divine right as God to choose whom or what as He pleases!

It is precisely God’s choice that is causing the contention and controversy over Jerusalem, the Jews and the land. God’s choice and divine election of the Jews and the city of Jerusalem is really an issue about God’s authority and His right to rule (Kingdom of God).

It is this issue that God is using to offend humanistic reason (the natural man) as well as provoke “the powers of the air” (Satan and his cohorts).

This is about the wisdom of God revealed in the “rule of grace” that so completely opposes any notion that the right of promise and inheritance is in any way based on human qualification, virtue or merit.

The controversy of Zion, especially in the Last Days, is forcing the nations and the peoples of the world, as well as the church, to come to grips with the great questions of God.

What questions? God’s predestined purposes, His right to rule, His election of Israel, His covenant with the Jews concerning Jerusalem and the land.

Jerusalem will be the lightning rod that God is using in the Last Days to force the world to come to the place of decision concerning Him and His covenant with His chosen people Israel. And because Jerusalem will be the place of God’s rule/kingdom, it will also be the focal point of God confronting the spiritual and fallen powers of darkness. These powers that have deceived and manipulated governments, institutions and the nations will be broken through the judgments of God. And all of it will center on and around the battle for Jerusalem—“the controversy of Zion.”

That this one mountain (Zion) and this one city (Jerusalem) should be in such a spectacular spot-light and place of world-wide importance is truly miraculous!

At the end of the age, the city of Jerusalem and the Jews/Israel, because of nothing but the sovereign, electing grace of God, will be the ultimate offense to natural man and humanistic reasoning!

The world, because of its pride and unbelief, will “stumble” over what Jerusalem truly means in God’s divine purpose. And Jerusalem will also be the place of Satan’s greatest contention with God and with His purposes. For example. . .

Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem (Luke 13:33).

The Antichrist kills the two witnesses in Jerusalem (Revelation 11).

The Antichrist puts his palace there for 42 months (Daniel 11:45).

Why does the Antichrist so desire the city of Jerusalem? What is really behind his lust to possess that city?

The answer to the above question is found in Isaiah 14:13. Here we find that what is behind the Antichrist’s obsession with Jerusalem is Satan’s original envy of the Messiah ruling from the chosen city.

          “For you (Satan) have said in your heart, ‘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” (Isaiah 14:13).

“The sides of the north” is a reference to the city of Jerusalem as described in Psalm 48:2 “Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.” At Jerusalem, God will confront both the nations and Satan's rebellion!

4. Making it a personal.

The natural impulse is to reject God’s sovereign choice—concerning anything. For example, let’s take our own standing and relationship with God.

The Bible basis for salvation is to recognize and accept that grace is wholly apart from works, that it is a gift from God and has nothing to do with human merit or worth.

Although God’s choice anticipates or foresees the necessity of a new heart (whether individual or nation) that is never its basis.

God’s election is based in the eternal predetermination of God through the everlasting covenant that guarantees the imputation of another kind of righteousness that is God’s alone and is through faith alone imputed in order to exclude any natural claim or merit.

What am I saying? At the time of the end, “all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26) as a result of God’s grace! Her national salvation will be the same as our personal salvation: the free gift of God based on His eternal purpose and by His grace totally apart from works or merit.

Israel’s national salvation at the end of the age will be a miraculous and visible demonstration that salvation is wholly of the Lord, conferred on the basis of grace alone, through faith alone, by Christ alone. And this grace is on the basis of divine election.

Why election? Paul answers in Romans 9:11, “ For the children not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to ELECTION might stand, not of works, but of Him that calls.”

The promise is according to election because only the sovereign act of God choosing fully defines the nature of grace and is the basis on which it is given or not given. It is to whom He wills.

Therefore, Ishmael’s age-old contempt for the child of promise (Israel) touches the issue for the very basis of promise as well as the basis for the nature of grace. Ishmael could be saved, but only if he is willing to accept God’s choice and grace and do it God’s way.

Ishmael’s contempt is more for what God has chosen. It is the presumption that raises itself to contend with the divine right to choose, revealing a lack of humility and understanding about the utter ruin of sin and its only solution or remedy.

So then, the dilemma of Jerusalem and subsequently the so-called  “Jewish problem” is designed to force the nations and the peoples to a consideration larger than Jerusalem itself: the question of the nature of righteousness as defined by election and grace as taught in the Word of God.

Therefore, in the divine genius and wisdom of the uncreated and transcendent God, the purpose of Jerusalem is to cause all nations and all people to consider the basis of righteousness as well as the truth of divine grace and election.

God has sovereignly chosen the city of Jerusalem to be “the city of the great King” (Matthew 5:35). It is the city where He will establish His Kingdom, and from this city the glory of His Kingdom will cover the entire earth. Further, He has elected to show His grace and mercy to the descendants of Abraham by giving them the land—including the city of Jerusalem to be ruled by a descendant of David—namely the Jewish Messiah.

It will be the contention of Satan as well as a rebellious world that will descend upon Jerusalem and the Jews in their protest of God’s election and sovereign choice of grace.

Also at the end of the age, those who call themselves Christians will find themselves choosing. To stand with Israel will be a choice to accept God’s right to rule; it will be a choice to put the Kingdom of God first, or not.

Choosing to love and support Israel, especially in the days ahead, will actually be a choice that will reflect where a person stands spiritually and in their relationship with God. The controversy of Zion is much bigger than most people think. The all-wise God is using it and will use it to divide the sheep from the goats, the pure from the impure, the unbelievers from the true believers.  God will use the controversy of Zion/Jerusalem in the last days to not only save the remnant of Israel but to also purify His Bride before His return to this planet. The controversy of Zion will absolutely cause people to make a choice either for God or against Him. I say it again, what is happening and will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in the Last Days is much, much bigger than we know.

That is why we absolutely must pray and seek God for revelation concerning this issue. I do not believe that it is simply an option where we can take it or leave it. And remember, the more we know about what God knows, the more we are in the center of His perfect will. This will not only make us more complete and cause us to have a greater peace, but it will also make us more effective in bearing witness to the truth. It will help us to work more effeciently in seeing God’s Kingdom established on the earth.

I would suggest that a good place to start in doing the above is to begin praying Psalm 122:6 and Isaiah 62:6-7. Hopefully after what you have learned tonight and what the Spirit will reveal to you in the days ahead, you will be more motivated to pray and intercede in this way. You will begin to see Jerusalem and its importance as God does. His vision will become your vision. And as it does you will be walking in greater agreement with God and His end-time purposes.

Shalom

*The above teaching is in large part due to an article from Reggie Kelly.

The Pages of Prophecy are Turning fast!

PUTIN SET TO RE-EMERGE AS THE CZAR OF RUSSIA: Will run for President March 4, 2012

Posted: September 26, 2011 by joelcrosenberg in Uncategorized

On August 17th – in a column entitled, “Putin Rising: But Is He Gog?” — I wrote that “after keeping a relatively low profile for the last several years, Vladimir Putin is rising. In recent weeks, the Russian leader — currently serving as his country’s prime minister — once again has been making headlines, stoking controversy, and seeming to position himself to run for president of Russia again in March 2012.”
Now it’s official. Putin is officially running in the March 4th elections. The announcement came over the weekend and, barring unforeseen circumstances, should win in a landslide. His anti-American, anti-Western “tough guy” image of crushing the Chechens, and the Georgians, and building a vibrant economy through Russia’s oil and natural gas industries, and building strategic alliances with radical Islamic allies such as Iran has played well and made him very popular throughout Russia’s eleven time zones. Putin is counting on such support to allow him to emerge as the next Czar of Russia for many years to come. Reuters notes that “the next president will be elected for six years and the constitution still allows the head of state a maximum of two straight terms — meaning Putin could be in power for another 12 years.”
The re-emergence of Putin as Russia’s central tyrant will re-stoke speculation that we are heading towards the “War of Gog and Magog”as prophesied in the Bible in Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39. Many evangelical Christians believe we are, in part because the prophecies of Ezekiel 36 and 37 have already come true regarding the dramatic rebirth of the State of Israel and Jews coming back to the Holy Land in the last days after centuries of exile. And Putin strikes many as far closer to the image of the evil dictator “Gog” described in the prophecy than the current President Dmitry Medvedev. A growing number of Jews also believe Ezekiel 38 and 39 could come true in our lifetime, and possibly in the next few years. In June of 2010, for example, a group of Rabbis in Israel said current events seemed to be leading to the “War of Gog and Magog.”
While it is still too early to say such prophecies will be fulfilled soon, the rise of Putin — combined with Russia’s increasingly close ties to Iran, Libya, Turkey, Central Asia and other countries described by Ezekiel – certainly doesn’t bode well for the State of Israel or the Jewish people.

TRUTH: ISRAEL WANTS PEACE, BUT THE U.N. IS THE “THEATER OF THE ABSURD”Posted: September 24, 2011 by joelcrosenberg in Uncategorized

Israeli PM Netanyahu addresses the U.N. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — who decades ago served as his nation’s ambassador to the United Nations — spoke to the General Assembly on Friday and gave one of his most important speeches of his life and in the history of the modern State of Israel. He said he came not to win applause, but to speak the truth. And he did.

He spoke the same day that Palestinian Chairman Mahmoud Abbas formally asked the U.N. to unilaterally create a Palestianian state. He spoke one day after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad delivered an apocalyptic address to the U.N. calling for the arrival of the Twelfth Imam and viciously denouncing Israel and the United States.

Let us pray that many in that hall and around the world have ears to ear, hearts to understand, and the courage to do justice and love mercy according to the Scriptures in these last days.

• Netanyahu quoted from the Hebrew Prophet Isaiah saying, “‘The people who walk in darkness will see a great light.’ Let that light be the light of peace.” [The verse comes from Isaiah 9, a famous chapter describing the coming of the Messiah].
• Explained that Israel is the “ancient biblical homeland” of the Jewish people
• Explained how to achieve peace with the Palestinians
• Urged the world to stop Iran’s bid for nuclear weapons before it’s too late
• Noted that there are many fine diplomats at the U.N. who work honorably for peace and security, but noted with regret that all too often the U.N. is a “house of lies” and the “theater of the absurd”

Key excerpts:

• “Today I hope that the light of truth will shine, if only for a few minutes, in a hall that for too long has been a place of darkness for my country. So as Israel’s prime minister, I didn’t come here to win applause. I came here to speak the truth. The truth is that Israel wants peace. The truth is that I want peace. The truth is that in the Middle East at all times, but especially during these turbulent days, peace must be anchored in security. The truth is that we cannot achieve peace through UN resolutions, but only through direct negotiations between the parties. The truth is that so far the Palestinians have refused to negotiate. The truth is that Israel wants peace with a Palestinian state, but the Palestinians want a state without peace. And the truth is you shouldn’t let that happen.
• “It was here [at the U.N.] in 1975 that the age-old yearning of my people to restore our national life in our ancient biblical homeland — it was then that this was branded shamefully, as racism. And it was here in 1980, right here, that the historic peace agreement between Israel and Egypt wasn’t praised; it was denounced! And it’s here, year after year that Israel is unjustly singled out for condemnation. It’s singled out for condemnation more often than all the nations of the world combined. Twenty-one out of the 27 General Assembly resolutions condemn Israel – the one true democracy in the Middle East.
• “It’s the theater of the absurd. It doesn’t only cast Israel as the villain; it often casts real villains in leading roles: Gadhafi’s Libya chaired the UN Commission on Human Rights; Saddam’s Iraq headed the UN Committee on Disarmament. You might say: That’s the past. Well, here’s what’s happening now — right now, today, Hezbollah-controlled Lebanon now presides over the UN Security Council. This means, in effect, that a terror organization presides over the body entrusted with guaranteeing the world’s security.You couldn’t make this thing up.”
• “A malignancy is now growing between East and West that threatens the peace of all. It seeks not to liberate, but to enslave, not to build, but to destroy.That malignancy is militant Islam. It cloaks itself in the mantle of a great faith, yet it murders Jews, Christians and Muslims alike with unforgiving impartiality. On September 11th it killed thousands of Americans, and it left the twin towers in smoldering ruins. Last night I laid a wreath on the 9/11 memorial. It was deeply moving. But as I was going there, one thing echoed in my mind: the outrageous words of the president of Iran on this podium yesterday. He implied that 9/11 was an American conspiracy. Some of you left this hall. All of you should have.”
• “The international community must stop Iran before it’s too late. If Iran is not stopped, we will all face the specter of nuclear terrorism, and the Arab Spring could soon become an Iranian winter….The world around Israel is definitely becoming more dangerous. Militant Islam has already taken over Lebanon and Gaza. It’s determined to tear apart the peace treaties between Israel and Egypt and between Israel and Jordan. It’s poisoned many Arab minds against Jews and Israel, against America and the West. It opposes not the policies of Israel but the existence of Israel.
• “In 2000 Israel made a sweeping peace offer that met virtually all of the Palestinian demands. Arafat rejected it. The Palestinians then launched a terror attack that claimed a thousand Israeli lives. Prime Minister Olmert afterwards made an even more sweeping offer, in 2008. President Abbas didn’t even respond to it. But Israel did more than just make sweeping offers. We actually left territory. We withdrew from Lebanon in 2000 and from every square inch of Gaza in 2005. That didn’t calm the Islamic storm, the militant Islamic storm that threatens us. It only brought the storm closer and made it stronger.
• “The Jewish state of Israel will always protect the rights of all its minorities, including the more than 1million Arab citizens of Israel. I wish I could say the same thing about a future Palestinian state, for as Palestinian officials made clear the other day – in fact, I think they made it right here in New York — they said the Palestinian state won’t allow any Jews in it. They’ll be Jew-free — Judenrein. That’s ethnic cleansing. There are laws today in Ramallah that make the selling of land to Jews punishable by death. That’s racism. And you know which laws this evokes.
• “There’s an old Arab saying that you cannot applaud with one hand. Well, the same is true of peace. I can not make peace alone. I cannot make peace without you. President Abbas, I extend my hand — the hand of Israel – in peace. I hope that you will grasp that hand. We are both the sons of Abraham. My people call him Avraham. Your people call him Ibrahim. We share the same patriarch. We dwell in the same land. Our destinies are intertwined. Let us realize the vision of Isaiah — [Isaiah 9:1 in Hebrew] — “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light.” Let that light be the light of peace.”

Read Ahmadinejad’s speech. You won’t find it re-printed in the major newspapers. It was pitifully covered by the media, not carefully or properly analyzed. Like Hitler’s speeches in Germany in the 1920s and 1930s, Ahmadinejad isn’t hiding what he believes. He’s pretty clear. He denied the Holocaust. He blasted the U.S. for bringing Osama Bin Laden to justice. He blamed the terrorist attacks 9/11 on the U.S. government. He insisted that his so-called messiah known as “Imam al-Mahdi” or the Twelfth Imam is coming soon. He insisted Jesus Christ will come with the Mahdi to take over the world. He called for a one-world government when he called for “the shared and collective management of the world.”
Consider these excerpts: “This movement is certainly on its rightful path of creation, ensuring a promising future for humanity. A future that will be built when humanity initiates to trend the path of the divine prophets and the righteous under the leadership of Imam al-Mahdi, the Ultimate Savior of mankind and the inheritor to all divine messengers and leaders and to the pure generation of our great Prophet. The creation of a supreme and ideal society with the arrival of a perfect human being who is a true and sincere lover of all human beings, is the guaranteed promise of Allah. He will come alongside with Jesus Christ to lead the freedom and justice lovers to eradicate tyranny and discrimination, and promote knowledge, peace, justice freedom and love across the world. He will present to every single individual all the beauties of the world and all good things which bring happiness for humankind.”
So what’s the world doing to stop him? Precious little. Yes, some world diplomats walked out of Ahmadinejad’s speech. Big deal. They walked softly, but where is the big stick? Why aren’t they taking decisive action to stop Iran from building, buying or stealing nuclear weapons and the ballistic missile systems to deliver them? Time is running out. Once Iran has the Islamic Bomb, does anyone really believe they won’t use it against the U.S. and Israel, either directly or through terrorist surrogates?
Rather than stopping Iran from getting the Bomb, however, the leaders of the world — including our own President — are hyper-focused on pressuring Israel to divide Jerusalem and divide the Land of Israel and create a corrupt and dangerous Palestinian state co-led by the missile-firing Hamas terrorist group. Don’t get me wrong: the Israeli-Palestinian issue is an important one, and it should be treated seriously and carefully. But it’s not the most important issue in the Middle East today. The murderous, apocalyptic Iranian regime and its race for nuclear weapons is Issue #1, 2 and 3. We would be fools not to take decisive action while we still can.

The above excerpts make it clear that we are on a fast pace toward "the time of Jacob's trouble" (Jeremiah 30:7). The Word of God makes it clear that there will be a final world empire lead by the Antichrist who will seek to annihilate the nation of Israel. I posted the above as a "watchman on the wall" who is seeking to wake up the Body of Christ from its sleep. Church, it is time to be done "with straightening up the chairs on the Titanic" and submit ourselves to what God is doing NOW! No more time to play church. It is time to put the Kingdom first. Would you take a few minutes and pray and ask God to show you what time it is and what He would have you to do so as to position yourself for the last days that are upon us? Shalom on God's people.

 

Revelation 12:1-6/ The Abomination of Desolation

In Revelation 12:1-6, there are three significant symbols . The first symbol is in v.1 "A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve (12) stars on her head." This woman is obviously the nation of Israel (See Genesis 37:9-11). The second symbol is in v.2 "She (the woman/Israel) was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth (pregnant with "the Seed of woman or with the first prophecy in the Bible, Genesis 3:15). This refers to Jesus Christ "...the male child who will rule all nations with an iron scepter..." The third symbol is found in v.3. "Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its head." This is Satan, the serpent in Genesis 3. Verses 4&5 reveal that the serpent tried to kill the male child(Jesus) before He could fulfill His mission. But Satan failed. Jesus laid down His life on the cross for the sins of mankind; He was raised from the dead, conquering death, hell and the grave for man; and then He ascended back into the glory of Heaven from the Mount of Olives(Acts 1:9-11).

This brings us to verse 6: "The woman(the nation of Israel) fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she will be taken care of for 1,260 days. It is this prophetic scripture concerning the woman(Israel) and the red dragon(Satan), at the time of the end, that we will focus on now as to how it pertains to "the Abomination of Desolation" (the 1,260 days). Let's begin with the seven-headed dragon with the seven crowns and ten horns on its head. The seven heads with the seven crowns represent the seven world empires through whom Satan has worked and will work in his attempt to destroy the woman(Israel). The first six of these empires have already come and gone. They are in order, 1. Egypt, 2. Assyria, 3. Babylon, 4. Medo-Persia, 5. Greece, and 6. Rome. Satan used each of these empires in his attempt to destroy the Jews. That is both Biblical and historical fact. That leaves one more head of the dragon, one more empire that the devil will work through in his attempt to annihilate the Jews. This will be the empire of the Antichrist, the man of sin and lawlessness. Satan will work through him to form the last world empire in his attempt to defeat God and His plan. Revelation 17:12 says that "The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast." Every time the word "beast" is used in the Book of the Revelation it refers to the Antichrist. The only exception is when it refers to the false prophet. This is so the believer will know that the false prophet, in spite of his deception, is also of the Antichrist. Verse 13 says "They( the ten kings) have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast(Antichrist). The "one hour" of v.12 refers to a short period of time, likely just a few years.

Now back to the 1,260 days of v.6. This time period is also referred to as 42 months ( Revelation 11:2) and three and one half years (Daniel7:25). God is making it clear that this time period is a literal time period and is not to be spiritualized! The 1,260 days is also "the great tribulation period." It is the last 3 1/2 years of the final seven years of this present age that will give way to the Millennial reign of Christ. It will be Satan's final attempt to annihilate Israel and defeat God. Listen to how Jeremiah describes it in Jeremiah 30:7 "How awful that day will be. No other will be like it. It will be the time of Jacobs/Israels trouble, but he will be saved out of it." Daniel 12:1-2 defines the 1260 days this way, "At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people(Israel) will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then . But at that time your people(Israel), everyone found written in the book will be delivered." And Jesus spoke of the 1,260 days in Matthew 24:15 "So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination of desolation' spoken of by Daniel the prophet let the reader understand." ( See Daniel 9:27) Jesus also said this about this time period in Matthew 24:21 For then (during the 1260 days; the last three and one half years of the Great Tribulation) there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now and never will be equaled again." In the middle of the seven year peace treaty made by the Antichrist with Israel, he will put an end to sacrifice and offering, and at the Temple(the rebuilt Jewish temple) he will set up the 'abomination of desolation' until the end that is decreed is poured out on him. He will declare himself to be God and will demand to be worshipped!

God spoke through Jeremiah, Daniel and His Son to tell us that Satan's final attempt to annihilate the Jews and defeat God will be the most horrific 1,260 days ever known on the earth! This means that Israel's most difficult days are not the holocaust but instead will be the suffering that is yet to come--the "time of Jacob's trouble"-the Great Tribulation-the time that begins with the 'abomination of desolation' at the hands of the Antichrist when he declares himself to be God and so breaks his seven year covenant with the Jews!

However, it will be at the conclusion of these days that the remnant of Jews will be saved as they turn their hearts to Jesus as their Messiah(Romans 11:25-27). Listen to these amazing words in Zechariah 12:10 "I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They (the Jews) will look on me, the One they have pierced, and they will mourn for Him(Jesus) as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one who grieves for a first born son."

Let me conclude today with these thoughts. Iran is developing a nuclear weapon and it is pointed at Israel; the Arab uprising in the Middle East is uniting all of Islam against Israel; the foundational peace agreement signed between Egypt and Israel in 1979 was broken just recently when for the first time in 30 years Israel's embassy in Egypt was attacked; just a couple of weeks ago Turkey--the long time "friend" of Israel expelled Israel's ambassador and cut off trade over the flotilla incident that happened in the waters off of Gaza just a little over a year ago; and just last week the Palestinians applied for statehood at the United Nations--a statehood that is to be had at Israel's expense! What am I saying? I am saying that the "time of Jacob's/Israel's trouble" may be closer than we think! So what are we to do? We as the Church are to love, support and pray for Israel. Now is the time for the Last Day Church to allow God to prepare them to be the "Corrie Ten Boom," "the Hiding Place" "the place prepared in the wilderness" by God to take care of Israel when they need us; to take care of "the least of these"(Matthew 25) when the worst antisemitism that has ever been is launched by the Antichrist when the "abomination of desolation" begins. God's heart is turning to Israel once again. Will you allow your heart to become one with His? Will you also turn your heart to Israel in these Last Days? To do so is to put yourself in the center of God's perfect will. It is to "seek first the Kingdom." And the result will be that all that you need will be added unto you (Matthew 6:33). Shalom (Gen.12:1-3)