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.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
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."
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."
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
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
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
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
"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!
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!
Monday, December 5, 2011
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
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