King Of The Jews - Part 24The book of Ezekiel provides some of the most timely prophecy for Israel in our day. It predicts the re-birth of Israel in chapter 37, the valley filled with dry bones, coming together, being brought back to life with new flesh and sinew and muscles. "...and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, AN EXCEEDING GREAT ARMY". Ezekiel 37:10 (emphasis added). It is widely acknowledged that the Israeli military is without equal in the world, relative to her size and in relation to her enemies. David versus Goliath. However, Israel has entered back into the land in unbelief. The Zionist movement was accomplished in some large measure by Russian Jewish men and women who pattered the kibbutzim on the Communist collective farming and communal life. Doubtless, there are many Orthodox Jews and even a powerful contingent of them in politics, but there is but a tiny remnant of Messianic Jewish believers. Much of the rest of the country feels themselves Israelis first and Jewish second; a secular society. But God is ready to move upon their hearts in the final "week of years". In Ezekiel chapter 38, just after the re-animation of the dry bones, there is a description of a war which takes place which is commonly called in eschatology, the war of Gog of Magog. It is possible, Gog is the leader of Russia, "the chief prince of Meshech", or Moscow. Ezekiel chapter 38 describes how God himself will "put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army...Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya...Gomer...Togarmah...and many people with thee". "Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm...and thou shalt think an evil thought...And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely...to take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thy hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations...thou shalt come up against my people of Israel". Ezekiel 38:3-6,9-12,16. All these nations now exist, and surround Israel, and will according to God attack Israel, the aggressors led by Russia. Russia's allies in this war are all Islamic nations. Togarmah is modern-day Turkey and in an amazing twist, this formerly secular nation only weeks ago voted in a staunch Islamic Fundamentalist Prime Minister. The stage is being set before our eyes to fulfill this last days prophecy. Persia is Iran, Ethiopia and Libya areas are defined as roughly the same as the modern nations of the same names but with eastern borders much closer to Israel, as they used to occupy much of Egypt's present-day lands. Gomer's present geography is some what of a mystery but suffice to say that it is part of this alliance. Russia has maintained ties to the Arab world and had huge caches of weapons that were discovered by Israel in their miraculous victory in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Recently Russian President Putin has been resistant to U.S. foreign policy in the region and even threatened to redirect Russia's nuclear arsenal at Europe. The Bear is still alive and beginning to reawaken. In fact, Perestroika and Glasnost are similar tactics to those employed by Islam known as Hudabiya, referring to a city which was able to resist the initial onslaught in the first wave of conquests by the sword of Islam in the middle of the first Millennium. But, after a "treaty" during which the Islamic army reinforced itself, Hudabiya was overthrown. Russian defectors during the Cold War revealed that same type of retreat and regroup tactic which Russia was planning to use at some time in the future. That future may now have arrived. In any event, there is a storm gathering, despite America and the "Coalition Forces" best efforts in Desert Shield and Desert Storm, two aptly named military campaigns and now in "Iraqi Freedom", to prevent what God has foretold through prophecy. "A prudent man forseeth the evil, and hideth himself..." Proverbs 22:3. In closing let me say that my prayer for all who read this, especially any Jewish person, that you will find the only hiding place. David said of the Lord God, "Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble". Psalm 32:7. He looked forward in faith to the Messiah. "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered". Psalm 32:1. He had confidence that his own sin would be covered by the blood of the "Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world". Revelation 13:8 As Israel continues to look for their Messiah ben David, God has promised, "And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd". Ezekiel 37:24. But they will only see Him when they realize that He came for them once before, as Messiah ben Joseph; Him "...whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son..." Zechariah 12:10 THE END |
