“The
burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city,
and it shall be a ruinous heap.
2 The
cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall
lie down, and none shall make them afraid.
3 The
fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from
Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the
children of Israel, saith the Lord of hosts.”(Isaiah
17:1-3)
I
believe it could be so as a result of a coming regional war. Nobody
should want that or look forward to it. Unfortunately, the next
major regional war in the Middle East appears to be closer than
ever. But God is in control of these events. During the
next war in the Middle East we will likely see death on a scale that
is unprecedented. It won’t be like the wars of 1967 or 1973.
It will likely be a fight to the death where nothing is held
back. Israel may be attacked on three fronts, and as reported, Israel
makes a solemn promise “Never again” will they be made to see
another holocaust. If need be, they will use what is called the
“Samson option”...as we know the story of Samson when he pushed
major pillars that held up a pagan temple and all died, including
himself. Israel will hold nothing back, even if it means nuclear
warfare. God will be on their side and the invaders don't stand a
chance.
You
see, the truth is that most Americans have no idea what is really
going on in the Middle East. There are ancient grudges and
ancient hatred that go back for thousands of years. There is no
“peace plan” that is going to suddenly make everything okay. The
Middle East is a simmering volcano of hate and resentment that could
erupt at any moment. That is why what happened in Syria due
their civil war, virtually destroyed the country.
That
Israeli air strike in Damascus that reportedly was attempting to
destroy a shipment of missiles and military hardware that Iran was
sending to Hezbollah has brought Israel, Lebanon and Syria to the
brink of war. In fact, Syria and Lebanon are calling the air
strikes a “declaration of war” and is vowing retaliation. The
Syrian government is saying that “Israeli aggression opens the door
to all possibilities“, but they have not provided any specifics
about what they plan to do. Meanwhile, Israel has made it very
clear that they will do whatever is necessary to keep missiles from
getting into the hands of Hezbollah. The leader of Hezbollah, Hasan
Nasrallah, has vowed to strike at Israel in the near future.
Israel's
right to safety and security
Israel
has every right to defend herself. Think about it, would you be
concerned if Russia or China had chemical equipped missiles in Cuba,
or Mexico aimed at Los Angeles or Dallas and not do everything in
your power to stop them? We had the same scenario during JFK’s
presidency and came near to nuclear war with a confrontation with
Russia over these weapons being installed into Cuba. Russia blinked
first and war was averted. But will it be averted now? When you speak
of the religion of Islam, they are not concerned with life, as they
are a culture of death and to die for their god, “allah” is their
goal to enter into their vision of paradise. They have no problem
with starting a war, if they think they can actually win. Russia in
the recent past was not so insane to risk their lives in a mutual war
of destruction. Not so with the actors placed into these drum beats
of war brewing. We see an alliance between Turkey, Iran and Russia
that was unheard of just a few short years ago, but here we stand
with the actors of the coming Gog-Magog war becoming allies on
Israel's norther border.
Are we fast approaching the
prophecy in Psalm 83 when the entire region will be engulfed in a war
that is designed to eliminate the nation of Israel ? Build up to war
has been being facilitated and planned from the last war with
Hezbollah in 2006. Thousands upon thousands of weapons have been
shipped into Lebanon, Gaza, and their surrounding Arab neighbors have
been waiting for just such a moment when Israel will be encompassed
by their enemies with a large stockpile of weapons. It is reported by
the Jerusalem Post:
“Syria has stationed missile batteries aimed
at Israel in the aftermath of alleged Israeli air strikes in the
country, the web site of Lebanon’s Al Mayadeen TV, considered close
to the regime of President Bashar Assad, quoted a top Syrian
official.”
What would it take to tip the scales to an all
out war between Lebanon, Gaza strip, Syria and Israel? If
chemical weapons are found to be in Damascus or planned to be shipped
to the border of Lebanon, then I envision of an assault on that cache
of weapons that would release chemicals into the air and kill many
people surrounding the explosion, but what would make Damascus a
ruinous heap and uninhabitable?
Example
of a recent modern event, there is an island off the coast of
Scotland where scientist exploded a series of anthrax bombs to test
what would happen to a flock of sheep. They immediately all died, and
the island has been not be inhabited since. Release of this
biological weapon of anthrax would make the regions unfit for human
life. Another would be an nuclear tipped device that would make the
radiation level so high, that all who would live there would die. The
latter would level the surrounding landscape into a “ruinous heap”,
as described in Isaiah.
Such an attack would assuredly bring
all nations surrounding Israel into a direct conflict with all out
war. Their sheer size of numbers of troops and weapons would, I
believe, give them the impression that they could destroy Israel. But
only one thing they do not figure into their scheme. The God of
Heaven is on the side of Israel. As in the previous wars fought in
1948 and 1967, the destruction of Israel was thought to be assured,
but with even an overwhelming force, those Arab forces were defeated
and it was believed Divine intervention saved the tiny state of
Israel. This war will bring us even closer to the time of the
beginning of the Tribulation, as Israel will believe they have
finally destroyed their enemies and can live in peace. Ezekiel in
chapter 38 says that on the heels of this victory against their Arab
neighbors that Israel will live in peace and safety. BUT,
Ezekiel
38:8 "After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter
years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the
sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of
Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of
the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them."
When
was the last time in your life, have you heard that Israel has lived
in peace and safety,“dwelling safely all of them”. You say never
and you would be right. Since their birth, Israel has been threatened
with extinction from their very ancient cousins in a hatred that has
festered for thousands of years. Suddenly, the bible reports they
will live in safety, but I believe they may feel safe, because every
enemy surrounding them will be defeated and their lands conquered.
Israel will expand their borders to include most of the Middle East,
from the Sinai, east to the Euphrates, north to Syria, and south to
Arabia, which will include all of Jordan. Why do I say that? Have you
noticed that all the nations spoken of in Psalm 83, includes all the
people that surround Israel now, but in Ezekiel 38 none of them are
mentioned? It is believed that what I have proposed as the borders of
the expanded nation of Israel will be won in this coming war, as none
of them, including Syria are mentioned. Why is that so? Because God
has allowed Israel to overcome their enemies that have come against
them and destroyed their weapons of war and along with a major
portion of their armies . They will possess all of their land as
spoils of war. What will they possess that they never possessed
before? The answer is a major portion of all the gas and oil of the
world. How quickly will the enemies of Israel realize that it is
unacceptable for Israel to have such wealth and control of a major
portion of the worlds oil and gas production? Maybe they will get a
reality check in a year, or two? Ezekiel prophesies that God will
put a hook into the jaws of the Gog-Magog coalition of nations
to even think that they can come against Israel to take what they
have won in battle. Money is a powerful motivator for an evil
coalition to take what is not theirs.
As a believer in the
removal of the church before the tribulation and the revealing of the
Anti-Christ, the war spoken of in Ezekiel will be waged not so much
by Israel, as they will be overwhelmed with a superior nuclear
equipped force, I believe headed by Russia with Iran as their front
man. This is when God says that He will fight for Israel. Ezekiel
38,
38:18 "And it shall come to pass at the same
time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord
GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face.
38:19 For in
my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that
day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;.....
38:21
And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my
mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man's sword shall be against his
brother.
38:22 And I will plead against him with
pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his
bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing
rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.
38:23 Thus
will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in
the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the
LORD."(Ezekiel 38:18-23
How long will the war that is
coming that brings a peace to Israel last? Possibly a short span of
time. If this war that Ezekiel prophesied about comes on the heels of
the war that is now brewing in the Middle East, we could see Psalm 83
fulfilled and the stage set for Ezekiel 38 & 39. Theologians
are in agreement that this devastating war waged by Almighty God will
so decimate the nations that come against Israel, that a peace treaty
will be proposed for 7 years to prevent another war and allow Israel
to have sovereignty over it’s land even to allow them to rebuild
their temple on the Temple mount. There will be no Arab that dares
stand in their way, as they have been thoroughly defeated. Israel
will recognize that the God of their fathers, is indeed, very much
alive and seek to rebuild their temple in haste, and resume
sacrifices to Jehovah. As we all know, a “peace treaty” the “deal
of the century” will be revealed after the coming elections in
Israel. Is this the “peace treaty” that the coming Anti-Christ
will “confirm” as spoken of in Daniel?
“And
he shall confirm the covenant with
many for one week: and
in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and
the oblation to cease, and
for the overspreading of abominations
he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and
that determined shall be poured upon the desolate” (Daniel 9:27)
I
believe initially, the PA lead by Mahmoud Abbas will reject this
treaty, as they don't want peace. What they want is Israel's
extermination. But after this coming war, which could happen at any
time in the near future, the Anti-Christ will make a “deal” with
Israel that he will break 3.5 years into the Tribulation. Why does he
wait 3.5 years? When a power is defeated, much like the Muslims like
to do, is wait until they are stronger and able to overtake their
adversary and destroy them. Makes me wonder is the Anti-Christ got a
Muslim background? Time will tell, but that will be revealed in the
coming Tribulation, as we won't see that event happen. Why? Because
the Church will be removed from this planet.
6 “And
now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For
the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth
will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8 And
then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with
the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his
coming:
9 Even
him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and
signs and lying wonders,” (2nd Thessalonians 2:6-9)
The
only POWER that is holding back rampant evil, is God's Holy Spirit
and when that power is pulled back to give Satan a free for all time
period on this planet, then those who have His Spirit within them
will be removed as well.
HOW
MUCH TIME WILL IT TAKE?
Can you envision the speed of
these developments being fulfilled? Psalm 83 brewing right now in the
Middle East, quite possibly. Then the defeat of the nations
surrounding tiny Israel with it’s expansion to include all of the
Promised Land given to Abraham. Safely and peace brought about for a
period of time. A coalition of a major power forces coming against
Israel and their total destruction by God on the mountains of Israel,
followed swiftly by a peace treaty, as a pact with the devil. Then
the temple rebuilt, and with today’s modern technology, the temple
will be rebuilt quickly, as the pieces are already made awaiting
their assembly. Then a man will arise who will propose peace written
down by Daniel ,
27 "And he shall confirm the
covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he
shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the
overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until
the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the
desolate."(Daniel 9:27)
This is the prophecy of the
appearing of a man of a false peace. A man of deceit and filled with
all uncleanness and a lying spirit. He will deceive Israel into a
false sense of security. This is the beginning of Daniel’s 70th
week of the refining of Israel to make an “end of transgression”.
This my friend, is the end of the dispensation known as the Church
Age, or the Age of Grace. God has turned His focus away from a
people, who were not his people, but has taken those people for
Himself as the Bride of Christ and that work is completed. Now He
turns to the nation who rejected Him, He calls His brethren, and will
purge them as silver is refined in the fire.
2 “But
who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he
appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
3 And
he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify
the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may
offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
4 Then
shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord,
as in the days of old, and as in former years.” (Malachi 3:2-4)
God
has never focused on the Church and Israel in the same period of
time. Now is the time that all who believe as I do, the church will
be removed from this earth.
The next couple of years will be a
time of tensions mounting and war being waged at a level not seen in
our lifetimes, unless you are over 75 years of age and witnessed
Hiroshima. The upheaval in the world’s economies will be
devastated. Nations will become bankrupt. Prices of raw goods will
spiral out of control. Oil will become priceless and gas will be
priced to the moon. The amount of time will move rapidly to the
Tribulation, if my scenario turns out to be true of this timing and
taking scripture at it’s word while watching the developments that
could speak to it’s quick fulfillment. It could literally be in a
couple of years...maybe sooner. I have been writing messages that
speak of the Tribulation being right upon us. This is the time when
Israel will be challenged like never before, and God will come to do
battle for her.
TIME
IS ALMOST UP
The time is almost finished. The clock is a
few seconds before midnight and the end of the age of grace. Jesus
said in Luke:
28
"And when these things begin to come to pass, then look
up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."(Luke
21:28)
Folks, we are long past the beginning of these things
coming to pass. We have seen prophecy after prophecy fulfilled, and
the time of the age being over is on the horizon. Scripture is being
fulfilled in our lifetime and the prophecy of what Jesus spoke of is
upon us. I watched a Prophecy Update video with J. D. Farag
that made the compelling argument that it could even be this
fall...because of the events going on right now in the Middle East.
There is little time for those who will look to Jesus as the
substitution for the wrath of God on a unrepentant, rebellious
mankind. God’s wrath is about to be unleashed and woe to anyone who
misses the ark of salvation we know as Jesus Christ. You have a
choice to make....choose to live the horror that is coming or choose
the One person who died for your sins, that you will be spared His
coming wrath.
3:16 "For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life.
3:17 For
God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that
the world through him might be saved.
3:18 He that
believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is
condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the
only begotten Son of God."(John 3:16-18)
Tribulation is
coming. These wars are the run-up to it. Where will you stand? Will
you be counted on God’s side and worthy to escape?
34 “And
take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged
with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that
day come upon you unawares.
35 For
as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the
whole earth.
36 Watch
ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to
escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before
the Son of man."(Luke 21:34-36)
How
do we stand before Jesus Christ the Son of man, upon that day? We are
found worthy only because we believed John 3:16 and
confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Our worthiness will
be sealed because of what He did, not what we did, except to believe
on the only Begotten Son of God by faith. All others will be
thrown head long into what is coming. And coming it is.....right
around the corner.
8 “But
what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy
heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That
if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou
shalt be saved.
10 For
with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation.
11 For
the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For
there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same
Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For
whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
(Romans 10:8-13)
Don't
be caught flat footed when these things come to pass. War is brewing
right now in the Middle East, as it could happen even this fall. But
another event could happen even sooner, “The coming of the Lord”
and it could happen this fall on the coming Feast of Trumpets. Not
saying it will happen, but I listen intently for the sound of a
trumpet on any given year during that time that Jesus fulfilled the
Spring Feast on the very day of their observance. So logic says, the
next Feast of Trumpets is the next time our God and Savior will enter
into the affairs and the times of mankind. Don't be caught sleeping,
but sober and looking for that blessed Hope.
13 “Looking
for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God
and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who
gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and
purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
(Titus 2:13-14)
Don't
put that decision for Jesus Christ a moment longer, as we are on the
cusp of the Tribulation and the coming of our Lord for His Church to
remove her out of the way of the Wrath of God on a rebellious and
unrepentant world.
“(For
he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of
salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.)” (2nd Corinthians
6:2)
This
is Pastor Mike Taylor, praying Jesus Christ becomes your Savior and
Lord. If there is anything I can do to counsel you, pray with you, or
just listen to your cares, then drop me an email
to pastormiketaylor@yahoo.com, .God
bless you all, till we meet at Jesus Feet.
