Israel - Part 1

In the previous post we reviewed Satan’s overall plan of controlling the world through the two ‘beasts’ of Revelation 13. We discussed the reasons why these ‘beasts’ are created and who they are really going to target – true followers of Jesus Christ. We also discussed how much of the Christian world has incorrectly placed the physical nation of Israel at the center of end time Biblical prophecies instead of followers of Jesus Christ. In the next few posts, we’re going to examine this topic and begin to look at who Jesus and the New Testament tells us is the true ‘Israel’ and what He had to say about the physical nation of Israel.

I realize that what is written here is very difficult for us to accept. If you consider yourself a Christian, you have found that many of the popular beliefs concerning end time prophecies - and even Christianity itself - are either not true or contain subtle deceptions – which has caused you to take a very hard look at your spiritual life. If you are a Jehovah’s Witness, Mormon, Scientologist, Catholic, Buddhist, Muslim – a follower of anything other than what God has given us in the Holy Bible, you’ve had to do the same. If you are Jewish and do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah because this is what you’ve been told your whole life, you’ve had to do the same. If you’ve continued reading to this point, even though it conflicts with what you have believed your entire life until now, then you’ve heard the quiet voice telling you that this is the truth and to continue on. It’s not easy. I’ve been there. To me, it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do…or probably will ever do – overcoming the world’s deception to seek and find the Truth. Real Truth. To see the world as it truly is. To see the spiritual war as it truly is. Accepting the fact that you’ve been deceived by an evil, spiritual being is not easy. Understanding that although you love your parents, children, relatives, friends, religious teachers – they may have misled you about what the truth really is. You must remember this – regardless of whatever you have been told and/or believed for your entire life, it is up to each of us to overcome the world and believe the Truth before we die. The truth is that there is only one way and one way only to enter the kingdom of heaven – through Jesus’ sacrifice for us. There is no other way. You must overcome the world and its lies. Lies that pull you away from the truth.

If you read through the Bible you will notice that servants and prophets of God cannot do anything in this world without His help. True servants of the Lord cannot compete with Satan’s servants and prophets without Divine guidance and help. Why? Because the world wants to hear a worldly view of things – and true servants of the Lord do not speak from a worldly viewpoint. True servants spiritually discern what the Lord asks them to say and do and speak from a heavenly viewpoint – and it’s not what the world wants to hear. The world wants the party to continue – let the good times roll. Stock markets will always rise, world economies will always grow, pursuit of wealth above all else is a worthy goal, focus on yourself and what you can get, need a religion? – we have many for you to choose from, faith in Jesus Christ and His teaching is not politically correct, true believers in Jesus Christ have lost their minds…etc. Why was I told that stock markets and our economy would crash? Why was I told that gold would rise? Why have I spoken of 11/11 and the fall of Rome? These are signs that have been given to me. At first I wasn’t sure what it all meant. My mind could not grasp what the overall plan was/is – and I still can’t. I run the race placed before me – I do what I’m asked to do when I’m asked to do it and trust that God can handle the rest – because He can and will. I was given these signs, not to profit from them in any way – they were God’s way of saying – PAY ATTENTION to what this man is saying.

For almost 3 years I’ve told people to get out of the stock market, sell your home or get out of adjustable rate mortgages if you’ve over-leveraged yourself, do what you can to get out of debt and most importantly, prepare yourself spiritually – because the good times (I use the term ‘good’ very loosely here) are coming to a close for us. And for 3 years, it seems as if few have taken anything I’ve said seriously – either because they thought I’ve somehow lost my mind or they didn’t want to face the truth. With God’s help – people are going to pay attention. This is how spiritual warfare is waged – Satan tries to suppress the truth, but if God wants it known – it will be known.

If I live a nice, quiet life – few will read what is written here and you’ll know that what I have said and done is of my own accord. If, at some point in the future, I’m at the center of a firestorm of controversy – including both religious and political leaders - you’ll know, as I know, that our Creator is getting our attention and at the same time – delivering a message. In a future post I will talk about the warfare I have experienced, because you will learn, as I have learned, that if you do the will of God – Satan takes notice. He will try to get in your way and shut you down. Failing to do this – he will attempt to get the world to rise up against you. I expect it – as should you. Jesus battled Satan and demons during His time here – you and I are expected to do the same.

“Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." (Mathew 16:23)

“When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. "What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. "Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?" Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. The demons begged Jesus, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs." He said to them, "Go!" So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water.” (Mathew 8:28-32)

“The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.” (Mark 1:33-34)

Let’s get back to the topic of Israel. We’re going to take a look at more excerpts from Steve Wohlberg’s book ‘End Time Delusions’. Steve spends a large section of his book on this topic and does an excellent job of reviewing many popular beliefs about the nation of Israel in the light of the New Testament. As we examine Scripture on this subject, keep one thing in mind. Many popular beliefs on how Israel fits into end time prophecy require Old Testament prophecy assumptions, while the New Testament is crystal clear on how Jesus viewed who was truly an ‘Israelite’. An example would be the popular belief that Ezekiel’s prophecy regarding the restoration of the nation of Israel applied to the end times – and was fulfilled in 1948. The assumption is that this prophecy applied to our modern times and did not refer to the restoration of Israel after their Babylonian captivity. You will see that most popular beliefs require this type of an assumption – while the New Testament is clear. I don’t believe that anyone can say that God does not have a plan to bring the physical nation of Israel back to Him, but what we’ll see as we examine Scripture is that this nation is not the center of end time prophecy as so many believe.

From ‘End Time Delusions’:
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All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident. –Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860)

Why are the eyes of so many people fixed upon Jerusalem? There are many reasons, yet one big one is clear. The fact is, literally millions of Christians who study prophecy firmly believe Planet Earth’s final events will one day swirl around the Middle East, Jerusalem, and the Jews. According to what is commonly understood, what happens to the modern nation of Israel is definitely connected with an upcoming bloody battle of Armageddon, the return of Jesus Christ and the end of the age.

Here’s just a few examples illustrating this current Israel-and-the-end connection:

1. The Christian movie, The Omega Code (1999), which grossed $2.4 million in its opening weekend, firmly connects the Bible’s end time prophecies with a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem.
2. Left Behind: The Movie (2001) also connects Jerusalem with end-of-the-world events. It opens with a surprise Russian attack on Israel.
3. The September 1, 1999 issue of Newsweek, focusing on millennial issues and Bible prophecy, reported, “….the predominant issue in Christian prophecy is the return of the Jews to the Holy Land and the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple.” “….for true believers, ground zero for apocalyptic zealotry remains the city of Jerusalem.”
4. Time magazine, July 1, 2002, commenting on apocalyptic theories reported: “Israel [is] …the land where events must unfold in a specific way for Jesus to return.”
5. Newsweek, June 2, 2003: “Many…evangelicals believe that Jesus won’t return until the Jewish state is fully re-established, including Jerusalem.”

The list is endless……..

It may sound like blasphemy to some, but the purpose of this highly explosive section of End Time Delusions is to reexamine the accuracy of these current teachings, especially in the light of Jesus Christ, of the New Testament, and the book of Revelation.

In our journey, we will answer these core questions: What did the Master mean when He said of Nathaniel, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” (John 1:47, emphasis added)? What did Paul have in mind when he wrote, “They are not all Israel who are of Israel” (Romans 9:6)? Why does the New Testament refer to two Israels – an “Israel after the flesh” (1 Corinthians 10:18) and “the Israel of God” (Galatians 6:14-16) in Jesus Christ? Finally, what is the true meaning of Revelation’s mysterious prophecies about 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel, Mystery Babylon, the Euphrates River running dry, and Armageddon, “the battle of that great day of God Almighty” (Revelation 7:4; 16:13-16; 17:5)?

Before we go any further, I want to remind you what I revealed in the Preface of this book. I’m Jewish, and I love Jewish people. Many of my relatives are Jewish, but sadly, most do not believe the good news of Jesus Christ. They don’t realize Jesus Himself lived a perfect Jewish life and that His death fulfilled ancient Hebrew prophecies about the birth, sinless life, suffering, death and resurrection of a Jewish Messiah (see Micah 5:2 and Isaiah 53). Like Paul, “my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved” (Romans 10:1).

But here’s the key. In the midst of my love for Jewish people and Israel, I am also a student of prophecy, and in my research, I have come to a frightening conclusion. In the midst of popular prophetic theories about the modern Israeli nation, the war-torn city of Jerusalem and Armageddon, I’m convinced there are some gigantic errors – Israel Delusions – being taught worldwide which are not in harmony with the exact words of Jesus Christ or the true meaning of the Book of Revelation. To His Jewish disciples, our Lord warned, “Take heed that no one deceives you” (Matthew 24:4). As a Jewish believer, I have taken this warning seriously.”

Y2K prophecies failed. No terrorist explosions took place in Jerusalem on the eve of the new millennium.

You are about to discover solid New Testament proof that many 21st century Christian predictions about modern Israel will also fail. Yet God’s Word will be fulfilled.

This label is appropriate here, “Warning: Handle with Prayer!”