ABOMINATION THAT CAUSETH DESOLATION

by Pastor Mike Taylor

“Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.” (Daniel 3:1)

One of the most familiar stories found in your Bible of an event that happened during the Babylonian captivity of the children of Israel, when Nebuchadnezzar decided to make a statue of gold and erect it to stand for all people to worship. The story focuses on three Hebrew children of the captivity who had been elevated in the government of the king of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Obednego so named in the Babylonian culture, but known as Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah in the Hebrew tongue. I find this amazing, as just in previous chapters, the King of Babylon had proclaimed the God of Daniel, the God of the Bible as the only God of gods and all must worship Daniel's God....I don't get this King...did he just fall back into his old ways, or is the story pointing to something deeper and prophetic?

Knowing that Daniel's book was written during the Babylonian captivity and is full of prophecy and future events given to Daniel in dreams and visions, was the story of what happened to these three men just a story of obedience and faith? These three men who would not deny the God of their fathers, even if they had to go against the most powerful man during this time in history stood firm in their conviction of worshiping no one but the True God of Heaven.


The king commanded that when the sound of musical instruments were sounded that all the people that he had gathered, which was all the high officials in his government, would fall down in a sign of worship and loyalty to the king. Those who did not were warned that those who did not comply would be immediately executed.

“ And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 
Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.”(Daniel 3:6-7)


As the story progresses, and the Hebrew children mentioned would not bow down and worship this pagan idol, the knowledge of their failure to yield to the king's command reached Nebuchadnezzar's ears from those of the Chaldeans that were jealous of anyone of the captivity being elevated to high office and they watched them and reported it to the king. But the three Hebrew men stood firm on this obedience to God. Of course, being a king who had power over all the land and his subjects, this made Nebuchadnezzar furious, and he confronted the Hebrew men and gave them a chance to submit to his decree, but the Hebrews' in his government answered thus:


“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 

17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18)

Not needing to go through the whole chapter for space, as anyone who wishes to read the chapter in Daniel will read where these men were thrown bound down into a furnace heated seven times hotter than normal to make an example of those who failed to obey the king in all matters. But what happened? Knowing the story, I may not have to tell you, but scripture says that God protected them from the flames by being with them in the flaming fire.


King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished when he looked into the open door of the furnace, and saw four men walking around in the flames.

“Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.

He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. “ (Daniel 24-25)

ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION


When finished reading this passage in your bible, where else can we find a similar event that happened in history and mentioned in other places of your Bible? Yes, several places, such as pagan idol is set up in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem during the last dictator on earth, known as the final Anti-Christ and one must wonder, is there a connection? I believe there is. In this passage the King of Babylon is a symbol of the coming Anti-Christ, and those that proclaim by music and crying aloud that they fall down and worship are a symbol of the false prophet, but it is a prophecy of the coming future of the last Anti-Christ of our modern era. The idol is made of gold, or a false representation of divinity.  Each will be a sign of loyalty, as well as worship of the image set up in Daniel's day, and also in the last days during the Tribulation. I believe Daniel prophesies just as John did. Note the similarities of each passage:


“And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 

 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.” (Revelation 13:14-15)


It is going to happen in the end of days, much like what happened in Daniel's account of Nebuchadnezzar's golden idol. Also, let's look at another time when an Anti-Christ type individual made a golden image and set it up in the Holy of Holies in honor of the pagan god, Zeus with the face of one we now know as Antiochus Epiphanes, the Syrian ruler who caused the Maccabean revolt that defeated this standing army and drove them from Israel. To the nation of Israel, this was an abomination. Our Lord Jesus spoke also of a coming “abomination that causeth desolation” and prophesied concerning again, the children of Israel.

 “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 
16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 
17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 
18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 
19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 
20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matthew 24:15-2)

So what am I driving at? Notice in each passage of Daniel and Matthew, even in historical accounts concerning Antiochus Epiphanes, that each example deals with the Jewish people exclusively. Notice in the account found in Daniel that all of the Gentiles of the Babylonian culture fell down and worshiped the pagan image that Nebuchadnezzar set up...then see from history that Antiochus Epiphanes targeted only the Jewish people to worship a false golden idol that he had set up in his attempt to eradicate anything Jewish and Hellenize the area with pagan customs. That is an historical fact.

When Jesus spoke in Matthew, who was He talking about? He was talking about the Jews. He was talking about the Nation of Israel reborn in the end times and another coming pagan idol that would target them for idolatry and worshiping the beast of Revelation. So why is that important today? Most of the nation of Israel today are secular, or non believers in the God of the Bible, let alone Jesus the Messiah. It's important because God will turn His attention to the nation of Israel exclusively for the bringing of repentance and realizing their Messiah whom they had rejected. The Tribulation is all about Israel's salvation.

THE 144, 000 JEWISH EVANGELIST COME UPON THE SCENE


“And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.” (Revelation 7:4)

 This is the start of the events that lead to Israel turning back to God. When God ordains these men and sets up His two witnesses that prophecy for 3.5 years on the Temple Mount, then God will begin dealing with Israel as a nation, and the focus will have shifted from the Church and the Age of Grace, back to Daniel's 70th week that deals only with Israel and their purification by fire.

 “And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 
4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.”( Revelation 11:3-4)

It is believed that these two witnesses will supernaturally protect Israel the first 3.5 years, but after they are slain, resurrected, and translated into heaven, then the abomination that causes desolation will be set up in the Temple in Jerusalem, and the persecution of the Jewish people will spring forth as a flood, as prophesied.


I must emphasize my belief that the Tribulation is designed for two things as being exclusively refining Israel as silver is refined in the furnace, and to extinguish all rebellion. Malachi prophesied of this coming refinement in fire.


“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)

DANIEL PROPHESIES ISRAEL'S COMING PERSECUTION

Returning to Daniel and the three Hebrew men, note that they were cast into the fire, but not a hair was singed, not a wrinkle in their clothes, and not a smell of smoke on their person. As God saved these men from the fire, so will God save those who come to faith and belief in the Messiah at long last during the Tribulation. In 70 AD, when the Romans were set to sack the city and burn it to the ground, a minority group of those who believed God escaped into Petra and they were saved. Those who stood to face the Romans were destroyed by the hundreds of thousands. As it was then, so it will be when God protects a remnant of the Jewish people from Satan, the Red Dragon who is wroth with the seed of the woman and goes to make war with them. 

13 “And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.

14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.

16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ”.(Revelation 12:14-17)

So when Jesus spoke of the “abomination that causes desolation” He spoke of those who believed the Word of God would flee into the mountains, maybe even to Petra to be protected by God. Satan will be thwarted in his attempt to destroy those who have embraced their Messiah and in his rage will wage war and overcome those of her seed who will not repent.


As it was in 70 AD, history will repeat itself and a remnant of the nation of Israel will be saved, those who believe the witness of the 144, 000 Jewish Evangelist. It will be a greater holocaust than during World War 2, as the Anti-Christ will make Hitler seem like elementary school.

SO WHAT'S THE POINT?

 Glad you asked. The point of this whole study, is that the end times are for the bringing Israel to the knowledge of their Messiah, and everyone else, by majority will be in rebellion and destroyed by God. Now not all the saved in the Tribulation will be only Jewish, as I don't want to make the mistake to say that salvation during the Tribulation is only given to the Jewish people. Some will believe (a minority number), just as Israel believes, but it will cost many of these people their lives. In each example that I've mentioned here, do you notice someone, or a group of people that are not mentioned?

THE PROPHECIES ARE ALL ABOUT ISRAEL

 In the first example, the Hebrew children that refused to bow down and worship the image, and went through the fire of judgment of men. All Gentiles surrounding them were obedient to the wishes of the powers that be, namely Nebuchadnezzar and his command.

 In the second example, who was the focus of the rage of Antiochus Epiphanes? Again, the Jewish people were the target of obedience to a pagan god. A Gentile king persecutes the God's “elect” as Israel is the only groups of people who are called “God's elect”....we are called His church, His children, and His saints, but when the Gospels speak of gathering the “elect” from the four winds, as in the Gospel of Mark, this is a sign about gathering the saved and persecuted Jewish people, in their martyrdom. It is another sign that the church is not present for the Tribulation.


“And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.” (Mark 13:27)


How do I know the elect are the nation of Israel? Because the very next verse speaks of the fig tree budding and in context, both verses speak of Israel...NOT the church...as the church is already gone.

 “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: 
29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.
30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.” (Mark 13:28-30)

This is again spoken of Matthew chapter 24 by our Lord again. 

“Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect [chosen people] from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:30-31) 

Israel is God's chosen people. If those who see Christ are mourning, it can't be the Ekklesia, as we would be rejoicing...so Jesus is not speaking of the “called out ones” the Ekklesia, but the nations of Gentiles in rebellion who will know that judgment has come and they have taken up battle plans to wage war against a Living God, but realize it to their horror that they are going to be destroyed. 


In the third example in Matthew 24 that we have hit upon, Jesus was speaking to the Jewish people, and them exclusively. He did not mention anyone else, not Gentiles, not Tribulation saints, and especially not the Church of the Age of Grace, as the church had not been born yet.


Each of these examples were prophetic in the coming Tribulation, known as Jacob's Troubles. They deal with Israel and they make no mention of any other group. They are prophetic that the coming Tribulation will be near totally about Israel being cast into the fire of Tribulation and being refined as silver and gold is refined in the fire. Israel has been a wayward child for nearly 4000 years. God has not abandoned her, but has put her aside until the fullness of the Gentiles come in. 

25 “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes.

29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.” (Romans 11:25-31)

ANTI-SEMITISM GROWS

 With this knowledge, can you see that any God fearing member of the Church of the Living God, why would they be against God by coming against Israel, the apple of God's eye?

“For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.” (Zechariah 2:8)

 I am sometimes aghast when I hear of any church group, so called “Christians” that take a stand against Israel and side with the Palestinians with the so called BDS movement “boycott, divestment, and sanctions” against God's chosen people, His elect. They are playing with fire and judgment from a Holy God. Some deny that the Nation of Israel are actually part of the 12 tribes of Israel and that God has abandoned Israel. How foolish can one group be?

 “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 

32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

Our God further proclaims that Israel will always be His people...they will always be before Him:

“Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name: 
35 If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me forever.” (Jeremiah 31:35-36)

If you look at any day with the sun shining, the moon giving her light at night, and the stars still twinkling in the heavens, then God says, when these pass away, then and only then will Israel be anything but His chosen people. Check it out folks, ...even in this time of their unbelief God will redeem Israel, not loosing one..It will not always be so that they will be in unbelief. Those who are an enemy of Israel, make themselves an enemy of God. God says that He will bring in Israel when they cry out aloud, through much Tribulation, just what Jesus spoke of:

37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. 
38 Look, your house is left to you desolate. 
39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”(Matthew 23:37-39)

When Israel is refined in the fire of Tribulation, they will finally recognize their Messiah that they had killed 2000 years ago and they will mourn:



 “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.”(Zechariah 12:19)
When Christ comes to set up His Kingdom on earth, He will come to fight for the children of Israel:

"Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. (Zechariah 14:1-3)


Repeating what Paul emphasized in Romans when speaking of his brethren, the nation of Israel....
“For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant 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 has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins." Concerning the gospel  they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”(Romans 11:25-29) 

Our great God will show them mercy because of the promises He made, not because they deserve it. Ezekiel 36 shows this clearly. God repeats several times that He is bringing Israel back for His Holy name's sake, and not for Israel's sake.

Am I making a case for the support of national Israel? You bet I am!! No, Israel does not deserve this kind of mercy, but my reader, neither do you or I. We are saved by grace and God has been dealing with this Ekklesia (or called out ones) the Church for 2000 years,. The Age of Grace and the Church of the Living God is composed of all who believe, which is vastly a Gentile church saved by the mercy and the love of God. It's not a denomination, or church building, or some evangelist on your TV screen. No, it's a blood washed, baptized, turned around 180 degrees, repentant, and forgiven sinner that is the church. It is every individual that has the Holy Spirit as a deposit of a future glorification and salvation of their soul. No denomination has a lock on the gates of Heaven. It is free for the asking. God deals with each of us on His time schedule. Each of us were born to decide what to do with this God/Man, Jesus Christ. Israel will get their turn when God turns His undivided attention to the national salvation of Israel.
 So, if your denomination, your church, or your pastor/priest makes a case in error for abandoning Israel as a people, and who spouts the nonsense that we are modern day Israel or somehow replaced Israel, you need to either straighten them out, or leave and find a church that actually believes the Word of God. 

THE TRIBULATION HOUR LOOMS STRAIGHT AHEAD
 When God turns that focus upon Israel for their salvation, then we are in the Tribulation for 7 years. And if you see what I'm talking about above come to pass, then you just missed the greatest event in all of history, next to the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ...you just missed the “translation”, the snatching away, the “Harpazo” of the forceful removal of God's Church as the rapture and the mystery will be the removal of the Church in the twinkling of an eye. 

 “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” (1st Corinthians 15:51-54)

Don't let this hour catch you by surprise. If you are playing church, have no relationship with Jesus Christ, now is the time to make that decision you've been putting off...When Jesus comes to take His saints home, the Age of grace will have ended and the Tribulation will come like a whirlwind and many will be swept away in death and destruction. Don't make that mistake and think you can do that “tomorrow”....you're not promised tomorrow...God has been patient with Israel and will bring her into the Kingdom of God. If you be a gentile, then you have no such promise...Only a fearful prospect of a wrathful God.
22 “But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 
23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 
24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 
25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 
26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”
27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. 
28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 
29 for our “God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:22-29) (my emphasis)
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. ” (2nd Peter 3:8)


“ 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.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

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)

Then confess with your mouth your accepting Jesus as personal Savior to everyone around when the opportunity presents itself:

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 like Israel has been in their blindness. They won't always be blind, but if you miss the event of the coming of Jesus Christ, then heaven help you...you're gonna need it.

 This is pastor Mike Taylor, praying for your salvation. If you need counseling, prayer, or just a listening ear, then drop me a line at realteam1999@sbcglobal.net, or visit me online for more studies in Biblical lessons from God's Word at www.pastormiketaylor.blogspot.com. God bless you all, 

TILL WE MEET AT JESUS FEET

EZEKIEL'S PROPHECIED WAR OF GOG-MAGOG

 by pastor Mike Taylor

24  “There is Elam and all her multitude round about her grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which are gone down uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth, which caused their terror in the land of the living; yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit.
25  They have set her a bed in the midst of the slain with all her multitude: her graves are round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword: though their terror was caused in the land of the living, yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit: he is put in the midst of them that be slain.” (Ezekiel 32:24-25)

If you start reading Ezekiel and understand that all the people around Israel are being prophesied to being slain with the sword. In the above verses, God speaks through Ezekiel about a country called “Elam”.. Where is the land called Elam? This was the name of the land east of Mesopotamia and southwest, which is modern day Iran. Continue reading and as you come to chapter 31 and beyond, it appears to be a chronological order of disaster for all the people who surround Israel. These chapters lead up to the well known prophecy of Ezekiel 38-39.
Many bible scholars believe that a lot of these prophecies were fulfilled in time that Ezekiel actually wrote these chapters through Holy Spirit directives. Since we know that Ezekiel 38-39 has not been fulfilled as of yet, then logically, we can assume that the passages are a duality of prophecy that will be fulfilled in the last days.

As Ezekiel names each country that will receive judgment from God, we see that they are the same countries that are modern day enemies of Israel since her foundation as a sovereign country in 1948. God names Egypt in chapters 30-31 along with the nations that comprise northern Africa such as Ethiopia, Libya  and others in confederation with Egypt called Chub. As you progress though chapters leading to chapter 38, judgment is pronounced on modern day Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and those countries that are touching the land of Israel then and today.  Each will fall by the sword “which are gone down uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth, which caused their terror in the land of the living.” Maybe a clear reference to Muslim terrorism we deal with today?

You’ll notice that in chapter 34, God pronounces judgment on ancient Israel for their lack of being a shepherd to the flock of their people, which historically we know that Israel was taken to Babylonia for 70 years for not following the laws of God and His judgments. But notice that these chapters cover roughly 2500 years up to and including our modern era. God is telling Ezekiel what will happen in the very days that we live in and the judgment of  those who come against His people Israel. Israel is back in her promised land, given to them by covenant by Almighty God for a perpetual and eternal inheritance that no one can annul. Israel is still surrounded by her ancient enemies, many of them came from their same ancestor, the patriarch Abraham. It has been a feud between a family of nations for nigh 4000 years, and is about to come to a climax. I believe sooner than later.

ARE WE IN WORLD WAR III?

Considering the news from the Middle East about in the past of ISIS, the Iranians which are Shiite, and Saudi Arabia, which is Sunni, we are in what I believe is a regional war between two sects of Islam and both are jockeying for political power based on their interpretation of what the Quran says, and who they follow as their perceived leader of their so called “religion”. Personally, it’s not a religion, but a theocracy of political, moral, and spiritual governance based on Sharia Law. But let us focus on what may be coming to the people who surround the one country that is in the center of all this political conflict, Israel.

We have been watching the developments in the Middle East for years now, as the play book changes from one day to the next. No one thought that we would be dealing with a Russian involvement in Syria, or their working with Iran directly in the area, but here we are with Iran on the border of Israel at the Golan Heights.

In the past the USA's “usurper” in chief  pushed for a nuclear deal with one portion of the Islamic religion Iran, that is attempting to become the dominant power in the region by developing nuclear weapons, thus threatening all who live in this area of our planet and extending to the entire world. My question has always been “How long will Israel allow this threat to continue from Iran?” I have pondered this question now for nigh 15 years.  Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu gave an impassioned plea to our US Congress in March 2016 warning of the “Iran Deal” as a bad deal. We could spend several commentaries focusing on the conflict between Israel’s PM and this past POTUS to include shenanigans to influence the Israeli elections, but thank God, Netanyahu was re-elected, as he is the only leader in Israel who will stand up to this looming threat of Iran.  But my focus in this message, is what could be next in the unrest of the so-called “Arab Spring” and the regional war that is brewing in a cauldron that is about to explode all over the news. As mentioned previously, we have Russia who has taken up residence in Syria and obviously has no intention of leaving, as more military hardware, airstrips and missiles capable of striking Israel or anyone in the region. It is reported that Iranians troops are a few miles off the border with Israel at the Golan Heights, and Israel is eyeing them for any possible excursion into their territory.

WHEN  or WILL ISRAEL ACT?

It has been reported that Israel had looked for a green light from Washington DC in 2014 to take out Iran’s nuclear ambitions, but was threatened by  Obama, as reported in Israeli News outlets:
“The Bethlehem-based news agency Ma’an has cited a Kuwaiti newspaper report at that time, that US President Barack Obama thwarted an Israeli military attack against Iran's nuclear facilities in 2014 by threatening to shoot down Israeli jets before they could reach their targets in Iran.
Following Obama's threat, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was reportedly forced to abort the planned Iran attack.
According to Al-Jarida, the Netanyahu government took the decision to strike Iran some time in 2014 soon after Israel had discovered the United States and Iran had been involved in secret talks over Iran’s nuclear program and were about to sign an agreement in that regard behind Israel's back.”

Is it any wonder that Netanyahu came to the US Congress to present his case to the American people and to warn of the danger, to them, and to the world? This is speaking of our only ally in the Middle East, as Israel has been our friend since its birth in 1948 and has been a partner in providing intelligence to the USA about the dangers that abound in the area. Let’s not forget the technological advances that have benefited this country, because of our inherit friendship. But that friendship that was imperiled by the outgoing “idiot in chief” , but has redeveloped with the present administration of POTUS Trump and VP Pence. And I forget, now we have Iran that is considered a partner in insuring peace in the region . . YEAH, RIGHT!! When I heard that stupid remark, my mouth had to be picked up off the floor. Thankfully, President Trump sees who the Iranians really are and is not a closet Muslim as was Obama, but puts our interest and our ally's interest ahead of political correctness.

Israel was pretty much on her own in the recent past, but I pray that position has changed. Israel looks for regional players who will stop the spread of Iranian power with Russian backing in the region and has found an unlikely partnership in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Yes, you heard right. Two of the past enemies of the state of Israel, and still are, helping each other to defeat Iranian power spreading to Yemen and the Houthi rebels that were financed by Iran. For now, they put aside their differences to attack what the region fears more than their mutual hatred of Israel, the conquering of the Middle East by Iran. In the past, these countries could no longer rely on the USA to be their protector anymore, but we pray that Israel and their collusion with other Middle East countries has changed to have faith in the present administration. These countries have taken on mounting an attack on Iranian power. Not only is that contradiction in terms of Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia in a regional alliance, but something was reported that tells me that the countdown to an Israeli strike on Iran's  nuclear facilities is imminent.

HAS ISRAEL DEVELOPED THEIR OWN BUNKER BUSTER BOMBS?

I  read a report of a military depot that was bombed and the blast was so large, that only a bunker buster bomb could have penetrated the storage facilities that were buried. Arutz Sheva in Israel reports the following quote:
“Israel has developed and tested its own bunker buster bomb, that has been described as “a very credible military option,” to use against Iran.
The 500-pound “MP-500” bomb is laser-guided, and has been shown penetrating four reinforced concrete walls. Iran has buried several of its nuclear facilities, including a uranium enrichment plant, under concrete bunkers in mountainous areas.
The government-owned Israel Military Industries (IMI) developed the bomb, an upgrade of the U.S. Mk82 bunker buster.
‘The lethality, precision ... and relatively low weight enables its use against multiple targets in a single pass; an element that increases the operational effectiveness of attack,’ according to IMI.”
“Israel is preparing to improve its capabilities to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities by enlarging its aerial refueling aircraft to carry enough fuel for F-15 and F-16 warplanes that would be used in an attack on Iran.
Israel used 707 airplanes as flying bombing platforms to attack Yemen and a signal to Iran that they are capable of bombing their nuclear facilities. Knowing the advanced military planning that is a hallmark of the IDF,  I see them using both platforms of F-35 jets to deliver these bombs (delivered in 2017) along with laser guided bombs from high altitude 707’s, plus Saudi Arabia has given them the green light to fly over their airspace to provide the pathway to destroying Iran’s nuclear facilities that  Saudi Arabia fears and has cleared the way for an Israeli approach. This could be a long  campaign and could be a virtual suicide mission by the Israeli pilots, as the S-300 anti-aircraft missiles would have to be considered. But Israel also has the ability to apply Stealth technology to their aircraft that cannot be seen by radar, or they can fly low till they reach their targets. Iranian nuclear facilities are wide-spread and in hardened underground facilities. I have read that Israel knows that they cannot destroy everything in their nuclear program, but can set the program back many years by hitting bottle neck attack points (a kind of choke point) that would virtually cripple the program using precision laser guided strikes. 

I’ve often wondered if this strike would be anything but conventional weapons.  Israel could resort to low yield nuclear weapons to make the devastation widespread and total in its destruction if they felt conventional bombs would not complete their objective of destroying Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Of course, this would raise the loud protest of the international community no matter what weapon is used, but the howling would be even louder if it were nuclear. So, I believe this will begin the assault on Israel from her neighbors of Psalm 83 and their eventual defeat and conquest. I believe the entire world will be against Israel no matter the outcome and no one coming to help her, when the Iranian/Russian coalition decides to attack. (Gog-Magog). 

GOG-MAGOG WAR SIGNALS THE REVEALING OF THE ANTI-CHRIST
 I believe in my own spirit, that we will not see the coming Gog-Magog coalition that has Russian, Iran and even Turkey and other European countries, such as Germany come to take Israel down for her resources and to finally rid what they consider, the sole ingredient in the Middle East for unrest and sending the whole world into a nuclear conflict. It is ordained in prophecy that the true God of Israel will be their protector by destroying this invading army on the mountains of Israel and revealing Himself as alive and well to His people of Israel. So ushers in a relative peaceful existence for Israel as they clamor to rebuild their planned third temple and animal sacrifices are again initiated.

I believe because of the wide spread destruction that God will rain down on the invading forces that are destroyed on the mountains of Israel, a man that came out of nowhere as a leader of a European country..(could it be France and President Macron?) that this man will propose a covenant between Israel and the world. A covenant that had not been confirmed, but now is made a peace treaty that gives Israel a false sense of security to build the third Temple on the Temple Mount and falsely believe that they have been visited by the “political messiah” that will ensure their peace and security.

26 “And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

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 9:26-27)

Note and understand that the prophet Ezekiel made a prophecy that spans nearly 3000 years, as in verse 26 he proclaims what happened in 70 AD, and in the very next verse proclaims and prophecies what will again happen in our modern times when the Anti-Christ breaks a covenant that will be in the middle of the 7 year Tribulation. Some people read these two verses and bind them together, but I feel, fail to understand that Ezekiel speaks of two totally different time periods, one ancient and the other for our modern era.

WHO IS THE PROPHESIED GOG OF THIS EZEKIEL PROPHECY?

As has been reported, our good friend in Russia, Vladimir Putin (of course, I jest) has delivered the S-300 missiles to Iran after years of holding them up.
Wall Street Journal reports- “The Kremlin lifted its self-imposed ban on the delivery of a powerful missile air-defense system to Iran on Monday, stoking sharp criticism from the White House and Israel and casting fresh doubt on the international effort to curb Tehran’s nuclear program.”
Any delivery of an air-defense system would complicate airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities by Israel or the U.S. should the diplomatic track fail. Russian presence has made the plans of Israel to take out the nuclear facilities in Iran even more difficult, and at this writing, it is becoming more of a technological feat to disguise their intentions and to hide their plans of attack.

All who have been watching the signs of the times, have wondered what could be the meaning of the Blood Moons that have already had four pass in the last few years and the coming eclipse scheduled for July on the 21^st of the year 2018.

If Israel does attack even with Russia in the region what will be the result of such an attack? I believe you will see condemnation from the world against Israel and further withdrawing support from the tiny Jewish state. I see UN sanctions coming upon Israel and Israel’s enemies smelling blood and vulnerability and mounting an ill-conceived attack to fulfill the Psalm 83 prophecy. Can you see how quickly we are moving in Bible prophecy that leads up to Ezekiel 38-39? One will lead directly to the next. How long between the two? I don’t believe it will be very long, but I believe long enough for Israel to finally feel safe.

10  “Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:
11  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, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,
12  To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.”(Ezekiel 38:10-12)

Note that the economy of the aforementioned countries of Turkey, Iran and Russia are near collapse and the riches found in this tiny state of Israel with its technological advancements, oil, gas, and an economy that is booming would make a very big “Hook” in the jaw of those who eye to take what does not belong to them, to give a lift to their economies.

3 “And say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:

4 And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:”(Ezekiel 38:3-4)

WHAT COULD BE COMING?

Please, this is only my wondering about what could be coming, based on scripture. I am no prophet, but God is moving this along rather quickly from the perspective of any bible believing Christian, that is awake and watching. The events are coming fast and furious as we move along in these last few years and I fully expect will move at “warp speed” as the coming of our Lord draws even closer. All could be done within a few short years. Peace, but a false peace based on guarantees of “one man” who makes a deal that Israel will embrace and sign a contract with the devil and death. I believe this coming war will unmask the coming “Lawless one” who will attempt to prevent another Gog-Magog attack and give Israel a false sense of peace for a short period of time. Israel will accept this man as their “political” Messiah, as Jesus spoke of in the Gospel of John :

“ I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive." (John 5:43)

Israel has never in the past believed they needed a “spiritual Messiah” as they had the law of Moses and their temple, so they rejected Jesus because He did not come to deliver them from Roman domination. Now the same has come to pass, they have a “political Messiah” coming to sign a treaty with them to give them what they desire, “Peace and Safety” and it will be finally revealed when the man stands in the temple claiming to be a god, that they will know they have made a pact with the devil. The coming next few years could very well be a dramatic year for Bible Prophecy. Let’s makes some possible scenarios and assumptions that very well could develop.
1.      Israel attacks Iranian nuclear facilities and putting the country years back in their quest for the bomb by destroying essential “choke points” of their program.
2.      Iran, if not decimated, will quickly instruct their proxies of Hezbollah, Syria, and Gaza to mount an attack against Israel from the west, north and east.
3.      If this is the fulfillment of Psalm 83, then I see Jordan, Egypt and possibly Saudi Arabia, even though they have partnered with Israel in the Yemen war, they still hate Israel.
4.      Israel, with Almighty God’s help will destroy all attackers who come against her, thus neutering the threat from its neighbors and blunting the effect from their most feared nemesis, Iran.  This perceived calm will last for a very short time.
5.      Israel will effectively own all gas and oil of the Middle East. They will be the direct competitor of the Russian Bear, who with their dictator found in Vladimir Putin, could be the leader spoken of in the Gog-Magog coalition that comes against Israel found in Ezekiel 38-39 as he desires what is not his…gas and oil.
6.      How long after this devastating defeat of this coalition by Almighty  God Himself, destroying 85% of this invading army,  will a man arise and propose a 7 year peace plan to allow Israel to live in “peace and security”? Thus the rise of the Anti-Christ could be within the next few years or sooner.

All the above scenarios (and it is anybodies guess how it will play out) has been believed to be right around the corner for years, but one ingredient was needed to propel this into a imminent possibility, and that is the attack on Iran. We have been watching this for all of the 21st century, which we are in year 18. I believe WW3 is forming right now, and unless Islam is defeated in near total, then this war will continue as Turkey, Iran, and Saudi Arabia jockey for complete control of the region and will only spread further into neighboring countries. The only thing that stands in their way is Israel and the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

There is one last element that should make you long for the coming of our Lord, being very close at hand. If this above scenario play out along, or near what I have hypothesized, then when this ruler who proclaims peace and safety for Israel arises out of obscurity, then another prophecy will be fulfilled beforehand.

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,
10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”(2^nd Thessalonians 2:7-10)

As scripture has spoken, iniquity has been at work since the time of Jesus and has been held back by One Person. There are many interpretations of who this restrainer is and what he is restraining. Many deny that it has to do with a removal of the church, before the man of sin can be revealed. But is that true? I don’t believe it is that there is anybody but God who is holding back the full sway of lawlessness driven by Satan in his attempt to destroy mankind. So who is this restrainer that 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 mentions that is holding back sin and lawlessness? What or who that restraining force is, Paul does not say specifically in this letter. I have preached that it is the Holy Spirit for years, but I went to the internet to see what the consensus was. Many have speculated as to the identity of the restrainer, naming the restraining force as 1) human government; 2) gospel preaching; 3) the binding of Satan; 4) the providence of God; 5) the Jewish state; 6) the church; 7) the Holy Spirit; and 8) the ark angel, Michael. Whatever now restrains the Antichrist of vv. 3, 4, 8–10 from being revealed in the fullness of his apostasy and evil must be more than human or even angelic power.

The power that holds back Satan from bringing the final apostasy and unveiling of his Satan-possessed false Christ (the Antichrist) must be supernatural. It must be God’s power in operation that holds back Satan, so that the “man of sin,” “the son of destruction” (v. 3) won’t be able to come until God permits it by removing the restraining power. The reason for the restraint was so that the Antichrist would be revealed at God’s appointed time and no sooner, just as was Christ (Gal. 4:4), because God controls Satan.
The Holy Spirit of God is the only Person with sufficient (supernatural) power to do this restraining. How does He do it? Through Christians, He works in society to hold back the swelling tide of lawless living. At some point, though, He will be removed from the earth, allowing sin to have dominion over mankind. This can only happen when the Church—all true believers in Jesus Christ—are removed. This is because the Holy Spirit lives within each believer. When the church leaves the earth, the Holy Spirit will be taken out of the way in the sense that His unique lawlessness-restraining ministry—through God's people— will be removed .
The removal of the Restrainer at the time of the removal of the church from planet earth must obviously precede the “day of the Lord.” But as soon as individuals again start placing their faith in Christ during the tribulation, the Holy Spirit will again be “present” in the world. His ministry of restraining, though, seems limited to the time before the tribulation.
Those who read this message know that the time of the end of days is upon us. Even if they are not a Christian now, they know that the world cannot continue in its downward slide. Something has got to give, and what will give is the removal of the Bride of Christ and the beginning of a period that last 7 years with a one world ruler, known as the Anti-Christ. The signs of this imminent event are screaming at the world. Do you feel it? Have you fear in your heart what is coming upon the earth? If you don’t now, you most certainly will. Jesus spoke of such unbridled fear coming upon all who live into what is called the Tribulation.
25  “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;
26  men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
27  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28  Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”(Luke 21:25-28)

What I have spoken of here in this message gives you fair warning of what is coming upon the earth and sooner than what you may even think or imagine. I do not consider myself a “watchman on the wall” of the caliber that Ezekiel was, but God has impressed me to warn you in the words of Ezekiel chapter 33:
2  "Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: "When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman,
3  when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people,
4  then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head.
5  He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life.
6  But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman"s hand."(Ezekiel 33:2-6)

I have blown the trumpet of alarm more times than I can imagine. Now some may continue to scoff and mock as the Apostle Peter spoke of in 2nd Peter chapter 3:
3 “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4  And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5  For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6  Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”(2^nd Peter 3:3-7)

So my question to you is, where will you be found? Will you be those who scoff and mock and say it’s not as bad as it seems. “Things will get better”, you say. With all the evidence around you, are you so secure in those statements? If Jesus would come tonight, and He could, will you be found in Him, or found blind and naked in your unrighteous condition? Or will you fall on your knees, or say in your heart. “Lord, save me.”
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)

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)

This is Pastor Mike Taylor, praying God reveals Himself to you in His only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ for the salvation of your soul. If you have need for prayer, counseling, or just a listening ear, email me at realteam1999@sbcglobal.net, or visit me online at www.pastormiketaylor.blogspot.com. God bless you all in the Name of Jesus Christ.
 TILL WE MEET AT JESUS FEET.