WHY DID TRUMP RISK SHOOTING DOWN THE SYRIAN JET?

BY ETEXFISHERMAN48 

Prelude

God told us how it would be in the last days...Zechariah 12:3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

While everyone is trying to figure out why Trump brought down the Syrian jet all one has to do if they are believers in the word of God is look there for the answer. Ezekiel 38 and 39 is about the alignment in the end time of Russia and Iran and other Islamic countries to include Turkey. Yes, Turkey is a major player in this alignment that is fighting the Kurds an ally of the US. Iran referred as the chief prince (meaning leading Islamic nation against Israel) has lost some ground in influencing events in Iraq but still believes it must take over all of the northern part of Iraq to the Syrian border. They fired missiles into Syrian supposedly in retaliation for ISIS attack on Iranian citizens. It is actually a show of force.

The real unannounced objective of these evil countries is to destroy the credibility of the US on the world Stage in an effort to have us lose support from our allies. The prize of Russia and Iran primarily is to invade Israel and take it over killing the Jews and taking over their potential oil fields that will be the largest oil find in the history of the world as per the prophecy Deuteronomy 33:24 And of Asher he said, Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil.

Geologists are in agreement Israel possesses potentially the largest oil find in the history of the world. Plus, the vast natural gas offshore and add to that the Dead Sea has phosphates and other ingredients necessary for agriculture especially when there is coming a time of famine and drought. Energy is what drives commerce and Russia wants it because their fields are drying up and they are losing their leverage against the Europeans. Their economy is going down fast and Putin knows it.

Unless the US, which is the Lone Superpower in the world and the main supporter of Israel is engaged, Russia and the Islamic nations would take over the Middle East and throw the entire world into a tailspin meaning a Communist dominated world. If one is looking for a national security objective, this is it. And no, I don't like the idea of our sons and daughters being used this way but what choice do we have if we want to remain a free country? Everyone has their own ideas about the engagement itself and I am no different. I am one that resents/detest the way politicians have made the Rules of Engagement nearly impossible for our soldiers to win wars. I will leave it at that and you can imagine from that I am a "kick ass /take names later" type of warrior.

Who are these countries aligned with Russia?

First, the migration began with the northern tribe of Persia, a people called Scythians. They went into Europe then later into what is now called Russia.

The Scythians

A history of the Scythians including their culture, cities, rulers, achievements and contributions to civilization

The Scythians were members of a nomadic people originally OF IRANIAN STOCK WHO MIGRATED FROM CENTRAL ASIA TO SOUTHERN RUSSIA IN THE 8TH AND 7TH CENTURIES BC.

Centered on what is now the Crimea, the Scythians founded a rich, powerful empire that survived for several centuries before succumbing to the Sarmatians during the 4th century BC to the 2nd century AD.

Much of what is known of the history of the Scythians comes from the account of them by the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who visited their territory. In modern times this record has been expanded chiefly by the work of Russian anthropologists.

The Scythians were feared and admired for their prowess in war and, in particular, for their horsemanship. They were among the earliest people to master the art of riding, and their mobility astonished their neighbors. The migration of the Scythians from Asia eventually brought them into the territory of the Cimmerians, who had traditionally controlled the Caucasus and the plains north of the Black Sea. In a war that lasted 30 years, the Scythians destroyed the Cimmerians and set themselves up as rulers of an empire stretching from west Persia through Syria and Judaea to the borders of Egypt. The Medes, who ruled Persia, attacked them and drove them out of Anatolia, leaving them finally in control of lands which stretched from the Persian border north through the Kuban and into southern Russia.

The Scythians were remarkable not only for their fighting ability but also for the civilization they produced. They developed a class of wealthy aristocrats who left elaborate graves filled with richly worked articles of gold and other precious materials. This class of chieftains, the Royal Scyths, finally established themselves as rulers of the southern Russian and Crimean territories. It is there that the richest and most numerous relics of Scythian civilization have been found. Their power was sufficient to repel an invasion by the Persian king Darius I in about 513 BC.

The Royal Scyths were headed by a sovereign whose authority was transmitted to his son. Eventually, around the time of Herodotus, the royal family intermarried with Greeks. In 339 the ruler Ateas was killed at the age of 90 while fighting Philip II of Macedonia. The community was eventually destroyed in the 2nd century BC; Palakus being the last sovereign whose name is preserved in history.

The Scythian army was made up of freemen who received no wage other than food and clothing, but who could share in booty on presentation of the head of a slain enemy. Many warriors wore Greek-style bronze helmets and chain-mail jerkins. Their principal weapon was a double-curved bow and trefoil-shaped arrows; their swords were of the Persian type. Every Scythian had at least one personal mount, but the wealthy owned large herds of horses, chiefly Mongolian ponies. Burial customs were elaborate and called for the sacrifice of members of the dead man's

These countries revealed below all have the same objective and are of one mind when it comes to the nation of Israel. Psalm 83:2-5 For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee.

After providing extensive evidence of the origin and early history of the Rosh people, and then tracing them through the centuries, Clyde Billington concludes:

Historical, ethnological, and archaeological evidence all favor the conclusion that the Rosh people of Ezekiel 38-39 were the ancestors of the Rus/Ros people of Europe and Asia. . . . The Rosh people who are mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39 were well-known to ancient and medieval writers by a variety of names which all derived from the names of Tiras and Rosh. . . . Those Rosh people who lived to the north of the Black Sea in ancient and medieval times were called the Rus/Ros/Rox/Aorsi from very early times. . . . From this mixture with Slavs and with the Varangian Rus in the 9th century, the Rosh people of the area north of the Black Sea formed the people known today as the Russians.[18]

Meschech and Tubal

Meshech and Tubal are normally mentioned together in Scripture. In his notes in The Scofield Study Bible at Ezek 38:2, C. I. Scofield identified Meshech and Tubal as the Russian cities of Moscow and Tobolsk. Scofield wrote, "That the primary reference is to the northern (European) powers, headed up by Russia, all agree. . . . The reference to Meshech and Tubal (Moscow and Tobolsk) is a clear mark of identification."

Persia

The words "Persia," "Persian," or "Persians" are found 35 times in the Old Testament. The ancient land of Persia became the modern nation of Iran in March 1935, and then the name was changed to the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979. Iran's present population is 68 million.

Ethiopia (Cush)

The Hebrew word Cush in Ezek 38:5 is often translated "Ethiopia" in modern versions. According to The New Brown-Driver-Briggs-Gesenius Hebrew-English Lexicon, ancient Cush was the "land and people of southern Nile-vally, or Upper Egypt, extending from Syene indefinitely to the south."[21] Ancient Cush was called Kusu by the Assyrians and Babylonians, Kos or Kas by the Egyptians, and Nubia by the Greeks.[22] Secular history locates Cush directly south of ancient Egypt extending down past the modern city of Khartoum, which is the capital of modern Sudan.[23] Thus, modern Sudan inhabits the ancient land of Cush. Sudan is a hard-line Islamic nation that supported Iraq in the Gulf War and harbored Osama bin Laden from 1991 to 1996.

Put

It is clear from ancient sources that Put or Phut was a North African nation (Jer 46:9; Ezek 27:10; 30:5; Nah 3:9). From the Babylon Chronicle it appears that Putu was the "distant" land to the west of Egypt, which would be modern day Libya.[24] The Septuagint renders the word Put as Libues. The Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon also identifies Put with Libya.[25] Modern Libya, which is an Islamic nation, has been under the rule of Colonel Mu'ammar al-Gadhafi since 1969.

Gomer

Gomer has often been identified as Germany, or more particularly East Germany before the fall of communism. Gomer is probably a reference to the ancient Cimmerians or Kimmerioi. Ancient history identifies biblical Gomer with the Akkadian Gi-mir-ra-a and the Armenian Gamir. The Cambridge Ancient History states that the Assyrian Gimirai is the Hebrew Gomer.[26] Beginning in the eighth century B.C. the Cimmerians occupied territory in Anatolia, which is modern Turkey.[27] Josephus noted that the Gomerites were identified with the Galatians who inhabited what today is central Turkey.[28]

Beth-togarmah

The Hebrew word "beth" means "house," so Beth-togarmah means the "house of Togarmah." Beth-togarmah is mentioned in Ezek 27:14 as a nation that traded horses and mules with ancient Tyre. Ezek 38:6 states that Beth-togarmah comes from "the remote parts of the north with all its troops."Ancient Togarmah was also known as Til-garamu (Assyrian) or Tegarma (Hittite) and its territory is in modern Turkey, which is north of Israel.

Charting the Nations in Ezek 38-39

With these identifications in mind, all the nations that will participate in the battle of Gog and Magog can be seen in the following chart.

Ancient Name Modern Nation

Rosh (Rashu, Rasapu, Ros, and Rus) Russia

Magog (Scythians) Central Asia and possibly Afghanistan

Meshech (Muschki and Musku) Turkey

Tubal (Tubalu) Turkey

Persia Iran

Ethiopia (Cush) Sudan

Libya (Put or Phut) Libya

Gomer (Cimmerians) Turkey

Beth-togarmah (Til-garimmu or Tegarma) Turkey

Based on these identifications, Ezek 38-39 predicts an invasion of the land of Israel in the last days by a vast confederation of nations from north of the Black and Caspian Seas, extending down to modern Iran in the east, as far as modern Libya to the west, and down to Sudan in the south. Therefore, Russia will have at least five key allies: Turkey, Iran, Libya, Sudan, and the nations of Central Asia. Amazingly, all of these nations are Muslim nations and Iran, Libya, and Sudan are three of Israel's most ardent opponents. Iran is one of the "axis of evil" nations that is trying desperately to attain nuclear weapons. Many of these nations are hotbeds of militant Islam and are either forming or strengthening their ties as these words are being written. This list of nations reads like the Who's Who of this week's newspaper. It does not require a very active imagination to envision these nations conspiring together to invade Israel in the near future.

Copy and Paste this for future consideration to use as you please to help educate people about the situation we are involved and why. I think we have a brilliant man in the White House that does put America First and his putting the "Mad Dog" in charge of the Defense Department and not allowing political interference is the right way to go about fighting a war. Nobody knows like the Generals what has to be done to free up our soldiers to get the job done as expeditiously as possible so they can come home instead dragging it out like the politicians have for 15 years.

It helps tremendously if one understands we are in the prophesied end time and events are unraveling at break-neck speed again as prophesied as in "a quick work" or for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

If it is any consolation the bible says all but a sixth part of this confederation of nations aligned with Russia against Israel will be destroyed; however, they will be allowed to do much damage in the process and will lead to World War 3 or the battle of Armageddon and the return of the Lord.

Ezekiel 39:2 And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel.

Only a foolish person doesn't realize all the pieces are coming together daily for this event. I say foolish because most people do not put much of a premium on prophecy but God does and devoted a large portion of the scripture to it. Why did he do this? He did it so the child of God wouldn't be taken by surprise knowing full-well as Luke told us, Luke 21:34-35 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. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

CAN WE KNOW WHEN JESUS WILL RETURN?

- By Britt Gillette -

Can we know when Jesus will return? No. When it comes to the exact timing of His return, we can't know. Jesus Himself said "no man knows the day or the hour of my return, not even myself. Only my Father in heaven knows" (Mark 13:32). Jesus reiterated this concept when He said He would come like a thief in the night "when least expected" (Matthew 24:43-44).

This idea, coupled with the statement "no one can know the day or the hour" of His return, has led many Christians to believe they can't know anything about the timing of His return. After all, if Jesus comes like a thief in the night when least expected, how could you know when He's coming?

 

That's a good question. And while it's true we can't know the day or the hour, the idea no one has a clue as to whether it's tomorrow or a 1,000 years from now is just plain wrong. The Bible is clear we can know the general "season" of His return.

Like a Thief in the Night

Many people who believe we can't know anything about the timing of Christ's return base their belief on the idea Jesus "will come like a thief in the night." Jesus did say He would come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night (Matthew 24:43-44). And Paul said the same thing (1 Thessalonians 5:2).

But if you read the rest of Paul's letter to the Thessalonians, you'll see he said something else as well. Paul said those of us who live in the light will not be surprised. While Jesus will come like a thief in the night when least expected, those who know God's Word will not be surprised.

Here's the full context of that passage (emphasis mine):

"But you aren't in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won't be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don't belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation." (1 Thessalonians 5:4-8 NLT)

How can this be? If Jesus comes unexpectedly like a thief in the night, how is it Christians are not surprised? It's because we know to expect Jesus at any moment, and we obey His command to be alert and ready at all times. We also know the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to establish His Millennial Kingdom comes with many signs.

Why Would God Mention Signs?

If we can't know anything about the timing of the Second Coming, then why did Jesus tell us to look for signs? When His disciples asked Him to describe the signs of His return, He told them. He didn't rebuke them. He didn't tell them to forget about such things. Instead, He described the signs. Why would Jesus say to look for signs if they don't exist? Why would He mention them if we can't know when He's coming?

The answer is clear. We can know the general time frame of His return. We can't know the day or the hour, but we can know the season. Numerous signs precede the Second Coming. Jesus and the prophets told us what those signs are. And Jesus said when you see them, you'll know He's near - right at the door (Matthew 24:33). We see those signs today. So we can know with certainty Jesus is coming soon.

A Command to Watch

Jesus also commanded us to "Watch!" (Matthew 25:13) This begs the question. Watch for what? Over and over again, Jesus says, "Watch! Don't let me find you asleep when I come back without warning" (Mark 13:35-37). This is a clear command. But what does it mean? Jesus is telling us to be spiritually alert. If we live a life of faithful service to Him, the day of His return won't catch us like a trap. Jesus says a faithful servant lives life expecting His return at any moment (Luke 12:35-38).

But Jesus is also telling us to watch for signs of the Second Coming. After all, if there are no signs, what are we supposed to "watching" for? Again, it's clear. Signs will precede the Second Coming. And Jesus expects us to recognize those signs. If He didn't, why would He command us to watch? He wouldn't, because we would have nothing to look for.

We're supposed to be watching for the signs. And Jesus says those who are ready and waiting when He returns will be rewarded (Luke 12:37).

Recognizing the Signs

In reference to His first coming, Jesus told the Pharisees, "You can recognize the signs in the sky and know what type of weather is coming, yet you don't know how to recognize the signs of the times" (Matthew 16:3). The prophets had written extensively about the coming of the Messiah. The Pharisees knew when the Messiah was supposed to come. They knew the Messiah would perform many miracles.

Jesus fulfilled these prophecies right before their eyes. Yet the Pharisees still didn't recognize who He was. Just as He did with the Pharisees, Jesus expects us to recognize the signs of His Second Coming. He told us what signs to look for. And the same prophets who wrote about His First Coming also wrote about His Second Coming. Like the Pharisees, we're expected to recognize "the signs of the times." Those signs tell us the Second Coming is drawing near.

Conclusion

While we can't know the day or the hour of His return, we can know the general season. The Bible tells us what signs to look for. And Jesus Himself said when you see all these signs come together, you know His return is near (Luke 21:28). Today, we see those signs. Israel is once again a nation (Isaiah 11:11-12). The Jewish people are back in Jerusalem (Luke 21:24). And the gospel is being spread to the ends of the earth (Matthew 24:14). These and other signs are out in the open for everyone to see. You can't miss them. For 1,800+ years of Christianity, these signs didn't exist. Today, they do.

God said He will hold us accountable for letting others know about the signs (Ezekiel 33:1-6). We're expected to point out these signs to others. We're expected to tell others Jesus is returning soon. If the world ignores us, so be it. But if anyone tells you we can't know the timing of His return, tell them what the Bible says. The truth is we can know the general season of His return. And given all the signs we see today, we can be certain we're living in it. The time is near. Jesus is coming soon!

FEAST OF TRUMPETS, SEPTEMBER 23, 2017

I've tried my best not to throw the baby out with the bathwater concerning the events surrounding September 2017. Like most watchers, when I first heard about the September 23rd 2017 alignment, I approached it with an abundance of caution. I mean, haven't we already danced this kabuki dance already over the last few of years?

Why I am cautiously optimistic concerning this coming Feast of Trumpets, is not so much centered on Revelation 12 Sign, nor even the convergence of years and Jubilees for 2017. But when you take them in all together, that for me was just too much to ignore. Could 2017 turn out to be a fizzle-dud year? Sure it could. As I've said in the past, my hope is still a blessed hope and while I may get the timing wrong, God's timing is not. This still leaves me with a mental hurdle I am having a hard time jumping over.

If 2017 is a fizz-dud year, why are so many things seemingly pointing to it?
Honestly, I don't know.

But what I do know is that none of us who study eschatology, are islands unto ourselves. We all stand on the shoulders of the giants who came before us (Darby, Larkin, Scofield, Pember, Bullinger, Anderson, Ironside, Walvoord, Lindsey, Missler, etc.) and build off of the things God had opened in their understanding during their day. And I'm fairly certain they all didn't agree lock, stock, and barrel on every issue either.

So it is with the new group of scholars, thinkers, writers, teachers, and pastors who aren't afraid to go out on a limb on certain topics. I applaud men like Daymond Duck, Randy Nettles, Chuck Missler, Gary, and Scott (to name a few) for their deep dives into Scripture, history, and astronomy while at the same time not being dogmatic about what they have found when it approaches the realm of speculation. IF we are being honest with ourselves, anytime we teach on Scripture, we all, to varying degrees, speculate. We speculate because none of us can see thousands of years into the past, so we will take certain liberties with filling in the blanks. Nor can we see into the future. The future is God's domain. The Bible may give us a broad outline and some specifics on certain things to come, but it usually doesn't specify who, when or how. God keeps those details to Himself.

The important thing to remember is that if we do speculate, we call it for what it is and do so in a forthcoming manner so as not to lead anyone astray if we are wrong. It's not wrong to speculate. However, it is wrong when you expect others to treat your speculation as infallible.

And if we are really being honest with ourselves, we would realize that 99% of the world thinks we Christians are already crazy for even believing in the Bible in the first place, and to an even greater degree, the Rapture. Why then are many respected prophecy teachers, experts, commentators, and pastors so quick to form a circular firing squad on our own at the first whisper of something they don't understand? As Chuck Missler was fond of quoting....

He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him. Proverbs 18:13

When I say they "don't understand it", what I mean is I don't think they have really taken the time to study it. It is either dismissed out of hand or studied so superficially, that when they come out against it, they do more damage to their own reputation than what it is they are trying to refute. There are probably many reasons why they come out against it, but at least one of those reasons is that it challenges a long-held view they don't want to admit they got wrong.

And I will admit that with as much as I thought I knew, I am still learning a thing or two (or more) that surprises me. I am by no means the expert on Scripture or Prophecy, but I do consider myself fairly well read. So the same guy who really got the internet abuzz with the Revelation 12 Sign, is the same guy who opened my eyes to some things I had always taken for granted as being what everyone else was parroting. This put Acts 2 and Revelation 12 in a whole new light that tweaked and peaked my understanding of everything else. Consider the following logic:

1 -The Church was not "born" at Pentecost. But rather, was conceived. (I had mislabeled this for a long time)

2 - If the Church is the body of Christ (we are), then we should be modeled after the birth of Christ. If this is true, then Jesus wasn't born the moment the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary. She went through the normal pregnancy time frame until He was born in Bethlehem. (She conceived in Nazareth, delivered in Bethlehem)

3 -The giving of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost then is simply a corporate representation of that singular moment with Mary's Immaculate Conception.

4 - Both Israel and the Church are often referred to in both the singular and corporate sense throughout scripture. The Church is referred to both in the male sense (we are members of His body), and figuratively as a chaste virgin or like a bride.

If 1, 2, 3, 4 are correct, then Revelation 12 is simply following that same model of singular/corporate representation in its symbolism. No crazy conspiracy or wild theological reconstruction. It is simply staying consistent with our hermeneutics.

 Woman         Male Child               Dragon
Mary/Israel  Christ/Church      Satan/Beast system

Some of the eschatological greats of the 19th and 20th centuries like Darby, Blackstone, and Ironside also believed that Revelation 12 supported the Pre-Tribulation Rapture position. Michael Svigel, who is being presented here as one who brought this position back into the mainstream states this about chapter 12:

 

So, to sum up, the catching up of the male child and the resulting war in heaven both take place at the beginning of the seven-year tribulation. The war in heaven and casting down of Satan, followed by the earthly invasion, attempted attack on Israel, and the flight of the woman, all take place in the first three-and-a-half years. Then the reign of the Beast take place in the second half of the tribulation. Therefore, the catching up of the male child (the rapture) takes place before the seven-year tribulation.

For my sense of well-being, if men like John Darby and H.A. Ironside could hold this view, and I have tremendous respect for their biblical knowledge and understanding, why is it so difficult for others to do the same? Is it because chapter 12 is nestled snuggly in the middle of chapters 6-19, for which many Pre-Tribulation scholars, pastors, and even I, had cordoned off as "tribulation territory?"

Dr. Andy Woods once called the veranda views within Revelation as non-chronological, parenthetical insertions, and likened them to scenic views along the way a hiker would stop at to enjoy the view of the mountain he was climbing. Revelation 12 then is simply a one chapter overview of the entire seven-year Tribulation from God's perspective as much as chapter 13 is from a human perspective. We see this in Daniel's book when comparing man's view (the multi-metallic statue) with God's perspective (the chimera animals). They both represent the same thing.

Conclusion

Have many within the Watcher community guilty of becoming the very things we so often rail against? Are we becoming like the skeptics and mockers out there who ridicule everything they don't understand? Nobody who is seriously discussing 23 September is saying the Rapture is happening on that day. What they are definitively saying, is that a sign in the heavens will appear on that date, which happens to fall on the Feast of Trumpets. So what does that mean? Nobody knows. None of us can see into the future.

What does it mean for me?

I look at all the convergence of historical events, this astronomical anomaly and I am admittedly curious. But I am not quitting my job or telling my boss to take a hike whilst simultaneously moving me and the family to the top of a mountain. For me, I will keep doing what I have been doing...occupy until He comes. I am going to do what I feel the Lord has called me to do, first and foremost, is to be a Godly, loving, husband and father. I will keep writing. I will keep teaching and preaching. I will keep being used wherever and to whomever, God puts in my path. When we do this, we will inevitably draw criticism and skepticism from various factions, to include those within our Christian community. In the military we call this moving out and drawing fire. We stay busy. When we do this and we are doing what God has called us to do, we cannot be wrong, even if the entire world tells us we are.

The question then becomes, what are YOU going to do?

If the Rapture happens on 21, 22, 23, 24 September...AWESOME! It could happen before or after that time. All I know, is that with all the significant events surrounding this year and next, something will happen. President Trump, Israel, Russia, Iran, North Korea, CERN, etc....too many wheels are spinning for this not to be a prophetically significant year.

Let me conclude by saying this...and I hope you share my sentiment. My hope is and will always be, that Christ WILL return. My hope is not in WHEN He will return. There is a long, long list of failed dates from every religious and secular group out there that predicts every kind of doomsday or apocalypse imaginable. Failed dates are not just unique to Edgar Whisenant or Harold Camping. Just ask Al Gore. I think he said the US was supposed to be underwater last year. Yet, in the meantime, I'm not committing friendly fire without first doing a topic or subject its due diligence. Let's not do the circular firing squad routine again. Yes, there will be teachings that stretch our understanding. But until we be Bereans, and actually see if these things be true...well, don't take my word for, just read Proverbs 18:13 again.

Maranatha!

Convergence Of Signs Prepares The Way For Third Temple -

 

For millennia, it was a scene that would have been unimaginable. Soldiers of the Jewish state, under the banner of the Star of David, crying exultantly, victoriously, "The Temple Mount is in our hands!"

It has been 50 years since Israel captured the Temple Mount and Old Jerusalem after brutal house-to-house fighting during the 1967 Six-Day War. Five decades later, the sacred site remains politically explosive, with even the simple act of prayer generating huge conflict.

Yet, the biggest battles undoubtedly lay ahead. Competing claims to sovereignty are always at the center of any negotiations between Israel and its Arab neighbors.

 

More importantly, there is a steady progression of signs indicating Jews are making real progress towards actually building the Third Temple, an act that would have profound geopolitical and spiritual ramifications.

Passover sacrifices are being held near the Temple Mount.

The specific breeds of animals needed to engage in the Temple sacrifices described in the Torah are being reintroduced into Israel.

Modern DNA technology allows the identification of those who can serve as priests in the Temple once it is constructed.

 

An altar, priestly garments, and other materials which would be needed to conduct services at the Temple have been created.

Many believers argue there is deep eschatological significance in how all of these unlikely events are coming together so swiftly and dramatically.

"Israel is the plumb line of prophecy," said Joseph Farah, author of "The Restitution of All Things: Israel, Christianity and the End of the Age." "That there is so much chatter and activity within the Jewish state about the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem represents we live in an exciting time of history - the one about which all the prophets looked with hope for restoration of the world.

 

"Israel is a living miracle amidst us - the one and only nation in the world resurrected from the dead after nearly 2,000 years, its language re-created, its people regathered from the four corners of the world. Had this happened to another nation, it would be amazing indeed. That it happened to the one and only nation in history about which all this was prophesied, it can only be the result of God's direct, supernatural intervention."

 

"The last days aren't near, they are here," said Jan Markell of Olive Tree Ministries. "We have the convergence of all of the predicted signs. The re-birth of Israel started the convergence in 1948. We see the push towards globalism as outlined in Revelation 13. We see all nations having 'distress with perplexity' as foretold in Luke 21:25. We see the persecution of Christians and the rise of anti-Semitism. We see the world turning against Israel as predicted in Zechariah 12. These and dozens of additional 'signs of the times' remind believers that the hour is very late.

"I have often said that Israel's re-birth is the primary sign, followed by issues surrounding Jerusalem, followed by Temple Mount activity. Israel is the watch, Jerusalem is the minute hand, and the Temple Mount is the second hand. It took the recapture of Jerusalem in June of 1967 to allow this to unfold. That is why the world has tried to divide Jerusalem for decades. This is a way in which Satan can slow the end-time plan."

Markell also believes there needs to be a literal temple rebuilt for the end times events described in the Bible to take place.

"It says in II Thessalonians 2:3-4 that the Antichrist will enter the Temple in Jerusalem and declare himself to be god," she told WND. "This is at the three-and-a-half-year point in the Tribulation. He will demand that the Jews worship him. That means there is a Temple and there isn't one now. So one has to be built. The Jews are making preparation to build that Temple, but they have no idea that such a 'lawless one' will occupy it someday and demand worship.

"They are already looking for a perfect red heifer to sacrificial purposes. Priestly robes are being prepared. Unfortunately, after the Six-Day War in 1967, they gave away the Temple Mount to the Muslim world and that is the area that is needed for this Third Temple."

 

However, there are mixed views on whether there will actually be a literal, physical Third Temple in the short term. Indeed, Mark Biltz, pastor of El Shaddai Ministries, author of "God's Day Timer" and one of the leading advocates for reincorporating Jewish practices into the Christian faith, argues a renewal of faith is more important than obsessing over details of physical construction.

"While many Christians get excited about the building of the Temple from mostly an eschatological point of view, my hope for a rebuilt Temple is based on how badly the world needs the presence of God back on Earth in a real, tangible way," Biltz told WND.

"God asked the prophet Haggai why Israel was content to dwell in their houses while the House of God lies in waste. Today the same question is being put forth. I find the answer to be because of political reasons and a question of who will be in control, the political establishment or a Torah court. It may be a matter that will have to wait for the Messiah to establish when he rules and reigns from Jerusalem. May it happen in our day!"

 

Joel Richardson, the New York Times bestselling author of "The Islamic Antichrist" believes there will be something on the Temple Mount. However, what that will actually be, he cannot say.

"Certainly, we are nearing the time where biblical sacrifices will be reinstated on the Temple Mount, as the Scriptures state will take place in the acharayit yawm, or last days," he told WND. "Personally, I believe that this will not take place until after there is some significant restructuring of geopolitical realities. I believe that we will see a few drastic Middle Eastern wars and a shifting of present conditions before any such construction will begin. But only time will tell, and God knows best.

"Now, whether the forthcoming Temple will be an actual brick and mortar structure or merely something as simple as a tent, we simply do not know. What we do know is that a physical structure of some sort will be re-established on the Temple Mount. The Scriptures make this clear. Theologically speaking, this is going to be one of the most profoundly controversial and divisive realities in all of redemptive history."

Richardson warns the reconstruction of the Temple, or whatever structure is created, will open up a huge debate within Christianity, especially about whether "Jewish" practices should be reintegrated into the lives of believers.

"Today there is already tremendous controversy within the Body of Christ over matters of Torah observance such as whether or not Gentile Christians should keep the Sabbath, or eat Kosher, etc.," he said. "Because there is not presently a Temple, however, we have been spared the far greater controversy of whether or not we should participate in the various Temple rituals and sacrifices, etc. Many Christians will point out that the time is coming when the Antichrist will sit in the Temple, and thus Christians should not be involved in any forthcoming Temple.

"Now, at a certain point, the Antichrist will indeed enter and defile the Temple. Before that happens, however, the Scriptures refer to this structure as 'The Temple of God.' One cannot defile something unless it was first considered 'holy.' Other evangelicals will be quick to say that Christ's sacrifice was once and for all, and thus any Christian participation in any Temple rituals or sacrifices would be akin to blasphemy. But the Apostles themselves obviously understood the once-and-for-all nature of Jesus' atoning work, yet they continued to take part in the Temple activities long after His crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension."

Richardson suggested Christians excited about efforts to rebuild the Temple should think long and hard about the questions that will be raised after its construction.

 

"When the Temple is rebuilt - and it will be - the question will not be as simple as whether or not it is OK for followers of Jesus to participate in the Temple rituals, but rather the questions will be much more complicated and theologically nuanced," Richardson explained. "Should only Messianic Jews participate in Temple rituals or should all Christians do so? What aspects of the Temple rituals may we be involved in? Obviously, the time will come when the Antichrist will defile the Temple and cause offerings to cease, but before that time, how exactly will we relate to it?

"Again, as I said, this will likely be the single greatest controversy to ever face the Christian movement, in all of its history. Although that time is not yet here, it is coming quite soon and it is time to begin seriously wrestling through these very real issues."

 

Bill Cloud, head of Shoreshim Ministries, author of "Esau Rising" and another vocal proponent of incorporating Jewish practices into Christian worship, is excited about the prophetic environment set in motion by the Israeli capture of the Temple Mount half a century ago. However, he has mixed feelings about the legitimacy of whatever new structure emerges on the Temple Mount.

"Without a doubt, the reunification of Jerusalem and the capture of the Temple Mount in 1967 was a significant prophetic event," he told WND. "In my view, it set in motion other situations whereby other prophecies might be fulfilled.

"As far as rebuilding the Temple, I believe the Bible suggests that it will happen; however, I'm not convinced that the next Temple will be the residence of the Sh'kinah (Presence of God). I'm of the opinion that when the next Temple is built - maybe before it can be dedicated - the one we know as Antichrist will come in and put a stop to it and kill the two witnesses (Rev. 11:7-10), thus fulfilling what Paul spoke of in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4."

Still, Cloud said it is undeniable there is a palpable sense that prophetic fulfillment could be taking place within our own time.

"The efforts of the Temple Institute to create all the necessary components and furnishings for the Temple demonstrates the growing messianic expectations that exist in Israel today," he observed. "That, in conjunction with the instability in the world and particularly the Middle East, has set the stage for the prophecies concerning a temple in Jerusalem to be fulfilled."

Carl Gallups, the author of several books including his latest end times examination "When The Lion Roars," agrees the current generation is living during an extraordinary time in history. Most importantly, the pastor told WND, events are accelerating.

"There can be no doubt that we are living in intensely prophetic times," he said. "I maintain that these are the most prophetically significant times since the first coming of Jesus Christ. There is a particular convergence of at least a dozen prophesied events and/or elements occurring right before our eyes as chronicled in 'When The Lion Roars.' And we are the first generation in history to see them happening.

"I think it is no small coincidence that in this particular Jubilee Year of 2017 there is such an unprecedented upheaval in the Middle East involving major world powers. Russia, China, Iran, Syria, and Turkey are interconnected like never before. North Korea even figures into the mix with its connections to Iran and China in particular. From Brexit to the ongoing 'Trump Factor,' the globalist powers are in a frenzy. Now, in Israel, there is an unparalleled and renewed focus upon the Temple Mount and the potential for a much stronger Jewish control of the Mount, including the possibility of an actual Temple project."

 

Gallups suggested the 50th anniversary of the Israeli capture of the Temple Mount could see extraordinary events, not just in the near future, but in the current year.

"Fifty years earlier, in 1967, the Temple Mount was finally repossessed by Israel in the Six Day War," he noted. "And, 50 years before that, in 1917, the British Empire captured the Temple Mount from the Islamic Ottoman Empire in the Battle of Jerusalem. The last two Jubilee Years saw unmistakable 'redemption' moments involving the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, particularly involving some sort of 'liberation' from the hands of Islam. It will be interesting to see what this year might hold."

Gallups, stunned at everything that is unfolding right in front of the eyes of contemporary Christians, urged believers to stand up and take notice: Something extraordinary is coming.

"There is no doubt that Yahweh is up to something big in our lifetime. And and the central focus is on the Middle East and Israel, with the Jubilee-Year-epicenter being right in the center of Jerusalem - the Temple Mount!" he said. "Surely the return of the Lord Jesus Christ is near, and we have been raised up for 'such a time as this.'"