Restoration of Israel

Restart

2009-11-17T09:43:00.003-07:00

November, 2009 finds a continuing trend of world events concerning middle eastern affairs. Israel is steadily losing world support in a propoganda war with the Islamic world. Western liberal media and intellectuals are strongly opposing all things Israeli or Jewish. Iran is getting close to having nuc's in addition to their terrorist proxies in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria. America is largely perceived by Israel and the world as impotent and unwillingly to support traditional allies.

Daniel's King of the South?

2007-04-16T12:07:00.000-06:00

The recent Arab League summit held in Riyadh didn't break any new ground in regard to issues plaguing Israel and it's neighbors. It doesn't change the reality of other racist Islamic insurgencies in other countries either.

See the following quote from the 19th summit:

"It pointed out that the summit in Riyadh tackled with utmost care and responsibility all causes of importance such as Iraq, Lebanon, Somalia and Darfur, and ahead of all these "the Palestinian cause" with has top priority for all Arabs."

To view all the self delusional praise and plans to unite the Arab Nation go to this link.

http://www.spa.gov.sa/English/content.php?cid=38&pg=1.
There are multiple pages of text for your enlightenment.

It's curious to me as a westerner that the Arabs refer to their "one nation". Makes me think this is a synonym for Ummah, the Islamic world which frames the question differently than Americans of Europeans may consider nationhood. In my view they have the whole scope of Islamic culture, history, kinship and religion all together. This is unlike western nations that mostly keep relgion in a separate compartment useful only of personal interest. Don't dare act out anything of your religion in the west in public places or risk offending the politically correct media, politicians, businesses, etc. Therefore westerners can't understand why the language heard from the Arabs seems wonderfully polite on the surface, but conceals their evil intentions to those outside of their cultural world.

First on the list of Arab interests are of course the Israeli's. They won't recognize them as a nation, they won't allow any equality in negotiations. What is called a piece iniative is really mispelled. Their goal has been the same since 1920, the elimination of the Zionist presence in the midst of Dar Al Islam. Psa 83. They are consistent, they use the words of negotiation and peace to mask the hideous evil known as Whahabbi Islam. Look it up on the web, wikipedia, amazon books, camera, pal media watch, etc.

May the redemption come in our day.

Clay and Iron Mixed

2007-04-13T14:08:00.000-06:00

In the last days the empires-governments of of earth are described by Daniel's vision concerning Israel and the nations. The last stage or historical period of this image is said to be feet composed on iron mixed with clay. I would like to make a suggestion concerning this that is in part from Prof Eugene Narrett's book "Israel and the End Times".

The description is that the image feet and toes are composed on two imcompatible materials some that are strong and some that are weak and brittle which is the state of clay. From my background as a metallurgical engineer and practical experience working with a variety of alloys of steel and titanium this is an easily understood situation. The process of producing metals involves starting with raw minerals in most cases that are mixed chemically and/or mechanically with other unwanted materials. In any case metals are mostly ductile and tough in the pure state, but minerals, stone and rock in the raw state are hard and brittle.

The two don't go together and actually are much worse in combination than either by itself. Even mineral materials are usable in compression such as the feet of a statue made of stone, but if there's a random mixture of the two there is little cohesion and fractures and separation will occur. If a material like this is hit by a hard object it will fracture quite readily and completely.

The interpretation for today can take a couple of options.

1. Mixture of religion and politics. Always a volatile combination. This is a commonly held approach which reflects the long held Euro centric approach to prophecy held by most Christian interpreters and even by many Jewish ones. If I understand history correctly many Rabbi's have regarded prophetic Edom as Rome and by extention Europe.

2. Mixture of incompatible peoples or nations. In today's world the alliance of gentile nations can be viewed as essentially western democracies plus and third world countries of various stripes in various stages of industrialization. In the context of the nation of Israel which is provides the context for this vision, the mixture we find in the modern world are Western Europe and America trying to combine with middle eastern states largely Muslim in culture. Each in it's own ways are trying to gain advantages strategically, economically, politically and culturally. Each is eroding the others sense of identity by increasingly violent means. And lastly each has designs on Israel, the people, the land and it's resources.

The second option also accords well with Zech 12 and other prophecies that describe a breaking process that will destroy the nations power. They will be forced out by the kingdom of God coming on the earth. That's what the stone does in both Daniel and Zech. That stone is composed of Messiah sent with the power of God and his people on earth Israel. It coincides with the time that Ezekiel says the animated dry bones gain the spirit of God and stand on their feet as a great army. The victories of present day Israel in modern times will pale in comparison to what will occur in the final conflict. In the end their will be only victory for Israel.

The end of days is looming close. His people are told to seek righteousness in Zephaniah 2 since the God of Israel is their redeemer and their rock. Afterward the nations will settle their old scores and approach with meekness towards Zion, to Jerusalem, to Israel for learning and peace at their bosom. Isaiah 66 describes this tender final state for our world.

Israel and Elijah

2007-04-04T13:38:00.000-06:00

1"For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze," says the LORD of hosts, "so that it will leave them neither root nor branch."
2"But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.
3"You will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing," says the LORD of hosts.
4"Remember the law of Moses My servant, even the statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel.
5"Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD.
6"He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse."

Whatever time frame you want to apply this it concerns Israel, those that remember the words of Moses. There are few Christians who preach encouragement to the Jewish people the way this text describes it. It is an admonition for us or else God will use the stones themselves to speak these words to God's only true Israel the Jewish people. Who is God going to smite but the neighbors of Israel who won't listen to God's way being expressed in Israel's restoration process. Zech 12. Those curses are being manifested even in this day. It's a burden for the world that they are not qualified to deal with.

Major insight: gentiles aren't Jews. Most Christians aren't Jews, therefore they aren't Israel. That would be stealing from God's covenants as well as the all of the other nouns listed in Roman 9:2-4. (brethren, kinsmen, flesh, Israelites, adoption, glory, covenants, Law, temple, promises, fathers, flesh). You can't eat just one.

3For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,
4who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises,
5whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.

Elijah is better left as a prophetic role for any who can perform things for Israel as he did, no one person today is qualified for that as a title. Many modern prophecy commentators think it applies to someone Christian, but the text doesn't say that either. Some few Christians do speak in this vein, there are also (and more importantly) some voices in Israel who admirably address the role one Jew to another, "turn back to the covenant".

Jewish John's Revelation

2007-03-28T10:28:00.000-06:00

Recently I've begun researching books that discuss the Revelation of John from a proposed Jewish context, not exclusively Christian, possibly not much of it Christian at all. If interpreted in light of the Hebrew prophets, the book paints a widely variant scene from how Christians have traditionally approached it.

I'm not going to review the history of Christian interpretation of the books, but it's divided into 4 major approaches, preterist, historicist, futurist and millennialist schools of a-millennialist, post-millennialist and pre-millennialist. In all of these the common assumption is the centrality of Jesus Christ and his dealings with Christian followers both true and false.

As a general observation, recall that the designation Christian doesn't appear in the text. Mention of Christ can be read as Messiah, as can references to the Lamb. The name Jesus Christ is only used right at the start and the ending of the book, which implies at least a Christian influence on the composition. A late first and early second century Jewish context is what I will describe here.

A second observation is that the line of separation between Christians and Jews wasn't so distinct as in later and modern times. There were several blends in between before the leadership on both "sides" forced a choice among members. So many elements in the book should be taken in direct line with earlier Israelite prophecy.

My third observation is as the prophecies of Israel encompass long periods of time in many cases, the same can apply to the Revelation of John. Certain points of emphasis are apparent at beginning and ending points, but there is continuity between them, composed of covenant, of peoples, of conflicts, of principles and goals. This does not leave room for "gap" theories as are found in dispensationalist thought which usually takes the futurist approach, the Hebrew prophets are divided in the middle and disconnected from history until a proposed 7 year tribuation resumes the clock.

A book that I'd like to mention has some ideas on this "Jewish" apolcalypse. It's Parables of War: Reading John's Jewish Apocalypse by John Marshall. Unfortunately the book is only useful for general suggestions with little specific elaboration of texts.

To make a couple of quick connections:

Rev 1-3 shows Messiah standing among the lampstands of the holy temple. Moses was told that this temple reflected realities in God's realm, but it also showed the historical relationship between God and Israel.

Rev 4-5 the throne scene has many commonalities with Ezekiel 1, 10 and 11, Isaiah 6.

Revelation 7 and 14 mention a triumphant group of 144,000 standing on Mount Zion, that in Jerusalem and the land of Israel, not in some remote heavenly abode.

Revelation 11 describes how the court of the temple is given to the nations, this may be the same as what Daniel 8 and Matthew 24 say concerning the sanctuary being trodden down and subjected to others.

there are many other items....Christians need to look towards Israel and the real Mount Zion to get their prophetic bearings. Israel is the apple of God's eye.

End of Aliya?

2007-03-27T13:49:00.000-06:00

Quote from:

" DEBKAfile Exclusive: The halt of Jewish immigration to Israel is one of two key Arab pre-conditions for engaging the Jewish state in peace talks

March 26, 2007, 11:56 PM (GMT+02:00)

Our Arab sources reveal that the two conditions will be incorporated in the final resolutions approved by the Arab League summit in Riyadh on Thursday.

1. Israel must halt Jewish immigration so that the Israelis leaving the country or revoking their citizenship are not replaced by newcomers.

2. The international community must condemn Israel’s High Court of Justice for authorizing targeted assassination ..."

The above are totally unreasonable for any soverign country to be told. The whole "peace" process is actually a piece meal process to dissolve Israel. Who in the world thinks that Muslim supremacy isn't really the issue, in the Dar Al Harb everything is fair game for them.

The USA via Condi Rice is sucking up to the Arab Summit that Saudi Arabia is sponsoring. It is criminal that a democracy like the US turn it's back on the only democracy in the middle east. The official line of the US government is clearly to cover the bases on it's military adventures in Iraq and Iran instead of establishing real justice in the middle east. It's clear enough that Iraq will never be anything but a tribally fractured society, democracy just doesn't compute in that culture. We are thereby selling out all of our shared Jewish and Christian values by supporting those who do not want us there and abandoning those who do want our help.

American people by and large explicitly support Israel, it's people, it's values and it's right to a country without outside interference. That in spite of media coverage which assumes palestinian innocence and victim-hood and self-destruction.

The armies of Rome are surrounding Jerusalem again as are those of Ishmael and Edom.
May the redemption occur in our days.

Wonderful Trees - fig, pomegranate, olive

2007-03-26T13:26:00.000-06:00

Haggai the prophet lived in the time prior to the 2nd temple, he prophecied concerning it's rebuilding. His anticipation and that of the returning captives from Babylon was given solid ground based on the assurances coming from G_d. We can see this happening again, and as in many other prophecies concerning Israel, the full accomplishment has not yet occured. But the blessings are underway in the land.

In Haggai 2

19'Is the seed still in the barn? Even including the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree, it has not borne fruit. Yet from this day on I will bless you.'"
20Then the word of the LORD came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying,
21"Speak to Zerubbabel governor of Judah, saying, 'I am going to shake the heavens and the earth.
22'I will overthrow the thrones of kingdoms and destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations; and I will overthrow the chariots and their riders, and the horses and their riders will go down, everyone by the sword of another.'
23'On that day,' declares the LORD of hosts, 'I will take you, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, My servant,' declares the LORD, 'and I will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you,'" declares the LORD of hosts.

The time for rebuilding has resumed in the land of Israel, but the temple is not yet. The nations are not overthrown yet. These events will await the fulness of trouble (no "peace process") when G-d's redemption (deliverance) will be manifest. He will restore the people back to G_d. The law of Moses will be restored as Jeremiah also says "a new covenant".

As Malachi said it:
4"Remember the law of Moses My servant, even the statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel.
5"Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD.
6"He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse."

The fate of the whole land depends on this development, as does that of the entire earth. G_d promised this to Noah, he will never "curse the earth" again. But there is a lot hanging on what the descendants of Jacob do in the coming years. The present controlling group of Israeli politicians are not embracing this heritage. It will turn around by G_d's unfailing covenant faithfulness. All of the people of Israel will eventually recognize the need for repentance in the last moments of Jacob's trouble, Jeremiah 30 and Hosea 6.

Then the covenant will be reinvigorated between all Israel and G_d. Then all Israel will say "this is our G_d we have waited for him." YHWH will act in accord with his covenant name "I will be whatever I need to be" The G_d of Israel is waiting for them as well. All of Israel will rise again in the last day.

Iran and Babylon

2007-03-26T12:27:00.000-06:00

Ancient Persia is no more, the time of Cyrus the great and his respectful attitude toward Jews and Israel is vanished in the sands of time. Recently I have watched a video concerning Jewish Arabs and those who have have been evicted from their homes in various middle eastern countries. It adds balance to the question about so called Palestinian refugees. The irony is that few public figures or media outlets mention this part of the equation when discussing human rights.

I recommend this video. Cut and paste the link into your Browser window.
http://www.theforgottenrefugees.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=78&Itemid=86

The cause of Israel and the Jewish people in their own land is just. The neighbors of Israel need to make genuine efforts to show their respect for that reality. The prophets of Israel tell us they won't but the opportunity is open for them. The USA has got itself stuck in Iraq, the multitude of heads of this dragon (Moslem religious imperialism) will probably never end no matter how many are cut or how well intentioned the efforts (USA) to clean up that country (Iraq).

Might it not be that layers of meaning are in the Apocalypse when it says "come out of her my people?" To the Jew it means the time is now to return to the land and the G_d of the fathers, to the Moslem the time is now to make their peace with Israel and forsake Jihad, for the Christian it is now to leave the politically corrupted church systems of Christianity

Iran " the Goat" is back

2006-09-07T07:02:00.000-06:00

In Daniel's prophecy chapter 8 there is a description of a battle between a Ram and a He-Goat. In the prophecy Daniel is shown that the Ram represents Persia, the ancient kingdom that ruled much of what we call the middle east. In history we know that the ancient Persian kingdom was conquered by Alexander the Great (the he-Goat's horn). That was in the 330's BCE. Iran never cease to exist and is one of the oldest continously existing nations. Daniel's prophecy shows that Persia's day of rule over the middle east is past, but today there is a resurgent Iran under being stirred to life and influence over much of the Islamic world and it's a direct threat to Israel. Daniel's prophecy describes a terrifying leader who would arise in his distant future. The prophecy describes the long period of the 2300 prophetic days of rule by the nations over G_d's sancturary, over Jerusalem and the holy people (the people of Israel). That is an historic fact that is the process of being terminated, at points of recent history, 1917 Balfour declaration, 1948 the State of Israel and 1967 taking back Jersualem in the 6 day war. But it may not be over. In the last days another king or ruler will arise that has designs on the region. He is the enemy of G_d's people. I have thought this may be referrring prophetically to Mohammed or his followers through history since 637 AD, but it may be focused more exactly on an end time ruler like we see in Iran today.

Iran is approaching critical milestones of nuclear capability that greatly amplify it's military power. It is making direct threats to destroy Israel and all the the Jewish people who live there. It is using terrorist forces in Lebanon and Syria in a proxy war already begun. It subscribes to the conspiracy theories of Jewish world domination and counters with it's own threat of world domination for Islam. Of course this reflects the course chosen by the leadership, what the common person in Iran believes won't affect the short term direction their religious and political leaders have taken. They have chosen a path of hate and destruction towards Israel and all Jews. It is said some of them believe in the coming of the hidden imman, a code word for total war under an ancient Islamic leader. Islamic eschatology has expectations of a great leader also called the Mahdi and they expect an anti-Christ figure as well. These expectations are intoxicating the peoples of the region and will constitute tinder for the fire.

See the article at Arutz Sheva concerning the scope of the threat as understood by a conservative Jewish publication. Europe and America are only partially aware of this threat and really don't know how to deal with it. American actions in the middle east are partially blocking some of that influence, but political trends suggest that at some point it will have to withdraw. That will leave the field open to Iran.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=111586

Prophecies like Ezekiel 38 prophesy that Persia will lead a group of other nations against the land of Israel while other nations stand by and watch. Others will ask "have you come to take a spoil?" and to conquer "those that inhabit the waste places?" The Jews of Israel are that people, they revitalized the land of Israel and they have become one of the most prosperous nations of the earth. Persia and other neighboring countries are jealous, they have an unreasoning hatred towards Israel. Isran is receiving techical and material help from Russia, Ukraine and China. Ezekiel 27 describes some interesting background concerning the interconnected relationships of Tyre, Lud, Put and Persia. While Ezek 27 may not be a last day prophecy it does tell us about how their fates are linked. All of those nations are doomed. What they have done towards Israel is wrong. What they plan and clearly state today against Israel is wrong.

I believe it should be stated that other peoples of the earth are responsible for what is happening there. It should be stopped. Instead the militancy spreading through the Islamic world is the fire that will destroy the present world systems. The UN, the EU and USA should help Israel, but they will perish in the same approaching trouble that will engulf Israel. Trends are clearly against Israel. These circumstances suggest a mood similar to that preceding WW2 and the holocaust. Israel is losing the battle for the hearts and minds of the world's free peoples (including many Christian people and a good part of secular Jews as well). But G_d will bless his people in due time, but for now trouble is occuring and will increase.

Zephaniah said hopefully to Israel (and negatively to the Palestinians).

3 Seek the LORD,
All you humble of the earth
Who have carried out His ordinances;
Seek righteousness, seek humility
Perhaps you will be hidden
In the day of the LORD'S anger.
4For Gaza will be abandoned
And Ashkelon a desolation;
Ashdod will be driven out at noon
And Ekron will be uprooted.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Judah and Israel by S Frey

2006-08-30T07:36:00.000-06:00

Been doing lots of reading, also visited the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC this summer. The museum is a must see.

Just recently I located a copy of "Judah and Israel: or the Restoration and Conversion of the Jews and the Ten Tribes" by Joseph Samuel C.F.Frey, published in 1840. This book is important because Rev Frey was one of the early modern Jewish converts from Judaism to Christianity. He retained clear ties to his Jewish past, but reflected a growing Christian prophetic awareness that the time for Israel as a people to be restored to the land of Israel.

He was active in missionary work towards his fellow Jews because of his firm belief that their conversion would be the means by which God would restore his people to the land and save them. This reasoning is based on the premise that God will not return his favor to the Jewish people until they believe as Christians do. This clearly implies that Jews are not in a saving relationship to God at present and need to become Christians before God will restore the nation as promised in the "old" testament prophets. This is another example of replacement theology that denies Israel any saving relationship with the God of Israel, but note that the prophets say no such thing. The prophets of old are uniform in their statements that the people of Israel return to him, return to the land when he calls them and repent of their sins under the long existing Sinaitic covanent.

Even though Christians often interpret and translate Zechariah 12 where "they look upon me whom they have pierced and mourn for him" as a reference to God's messiah Jesus Christ, I think it is perfectly plausible to retain the reference of the one pierced being God himself, the father, he is the God of Israel. Israel of old made errors and sinned in ways that Jews themselves today recognize without Christians pointing them out in great detail. Invoking trinitarian references to God in the flesh as Jesus, hence piercing "me" in Jesus physical death in 33 AD adds several layers of exegetical speculation that have no place in Zechariah's original prophecy.

God will save Israel, he doesn't need modern messianic Jews, he doesn't need Christian missionary conferences and major evanglization efforts. I submit that these are actually harmful to the modern state of Israel, they are disruptive of the fragile identity of Jews in their own country. It is simply another Christian effort at saving those poor blind Jews. But this is wrong.

2 other references on this subject are worth looking at:
Ernest Sandeen - The Roots of Fundamentalism. Written in the 70's I think.
Yaakov Ariel - Evangelizing the Chosen People. Missions to the Jews in America, 1880-2000. Published in 2000 by University of North Carolina Press.

Coming soon:
1 Current Iranian threats against Israel.
2. The recent conflict in Lebanon with Hizbollah.
3. The Islamisation of The European Union. How that is weakening the West.
4. Appeasement efforts in the middle east. The parallels with Hitler's Nazi Germany in 1938.
5. Islamic eschatology and how it counterpoints Biblical prophecy concerning Israel and the nations.
6. The protocols of the elders of Zion. The biggest lie of the 20th century.

Quote "Portrait of the Anti-Semite" #1

2006-03-16T07:12:00.000-07:00

Portrait of the Anti-Semite
Jean-Paul Sartre
translated by Erik de Mauny
London 1948

Page 13-14
"I said earlier that anti-semitism emerges as a passion. Everyone can see that at the root of the ailment lies hatred or anger. But in the ordinary way, hatred or anger are provoked by something: I may, for example hate someone who causes me suffering,, insults me, or wounds my pride. WE have just seen that the passion felt by the anti-semite must be of a quite different order; it not only anticipates those facts which might be expected to give rise to it, but seeks them out in order to feed upon them, and even then must interpret them in arbitrary fashion in order to find them really offensive. And yet, if you merely mention a Jew to an anti-semite, he shows all the symptoms of the liveliest irritation. If, at this point, we remember that in order to show anger over something, we must always first allow that anger to arise in us (we speak, for instance, of a person "working himself up" into a rage), it must be agreed that the anti-semite has chosen to let his life be dominated by his particular passion. A good many people, it is true, prefer to let their lives be ruled by passion rather than by reason. But in this case, their passion is inspired by certain objects; women, fame, power, or money. Since the anti-semite has chosen hatred, we are forced to conclude that it is the state of being in a passion that he cherishes."

Jewish Salvation

2006-03-10T11:10:00.000-07:00

Just a thought for Christians who appreciate Israel but despair over their eternal salvation. The Bible is clear that Jews are saved as a people, that includes those that make up the nation. In the Bible the goal of the Law Covenant was the salvation of the nation as a whole. End time redemption will dawn upon the whole people by the hand of Messiah. That's Paul's thought in Romans 11, the Lord will come from Zion and redeem Jacob. So when Messiah is manifested to save Israel in the coming tribulation all of Israel will be saved, not just a small remnant of Christianized Jews.

This is a basic conceptual difference from inividualist salvation usually held by Christians. In the Jewish aspect Individual sin and unrighteousness are encompassed by the whole arrangement of Torah which includes repentance and restoration. Gentile Christians have had to approach God in a different way since there is no equivalent for them as in the Jewish arrangement. That's what Jesus Christ provides for gentiles, an individual way to approach the G_d of Israel. Attempts at Jewish evangelism heaken back to established patterns of Christian forced conversion. Do not worry, G_d will provide for the redemption of all of his people. That's in the coming times of restoration and refreshing Peter describes in Acts 3.

Choice

2006-02-28T07:28:00.000-07:00

Israel continues to empty settlements from the west bank, they appear to be following a strategy of unilateral retreat that will have no tangible benefits. No one is happy, not the US government, not Hamas, not the PA, not Iran, not the EU, not Saudi Arabia. The kind of violence they have been experiencing started from the early days of the Zionist enterprise, especially after the so called British Mandate that was supposed to implement the Balfour Declaration. Extrapolating backwards based on numbers of settlers, it appears that the Jewish population around Israel would have to drop to below 50,000 before any of the local Arabs would feel like they've won the struggle.

I've been reading The Oslo Syndrome, Kenneth Levin. It explains alot about the psychological conditioning that Jews have experienced for centuries. It's about long term physical abuse by aggressive host countries and neighbors. As an engineer that uses statistics frequently I see a trend and there are no pending changes that will change the root cause for all the trouble over in Israel. It's an unfortunate fact that anti-semitism and anti-Zionism have saturated the world's culture, even among many Jews who are trying to hide any trace of Jewish uniqueness.

First off, the term occupied territories should be discarded. The land belongs to Israel and is a rightful part of their historic country. The League of Nations said as much in the 1920's. Ever since then the land has been stripped away a piece at a time. The trend is clear, Israel has to decide if living in the land is worth the struggle and then make their position clear. G_d will bless them if they stand for their legitimate rights.

Judea without Jews

2006-02-02T07:18:00.000-07:00

Israeli leadership appears to be committed to turning their own people out of their homes in multiple settlements in Judea and Samaria. They are following a strategy of unilateral retreat that will have no tangible benefits. What is the point of all this self inflicted pain?

Taking out violent feelings on people who can't fight back? Self abuse? Suicidal tendencies? Are they trying to please someone? When I watch the faces of the various local and international leaders on TV and WWW, it looks like no one is happy, not the US government (Rice), not Hamas, not the PA, not Iran, not the EU, not Saudi Arabia, certainly not expelled fellow Jews. They shouldn't worry about world opinion and they certainly can't worry about Palestinian opinion which largely continues to hate them on several levels.

The aim of this behavior is simply to make Judea free of all Jews. What a travesty of history and their national identity as a people of G_d. They are giving away the their soul. Next they'll divide up Jerusalem, they will give away their heart.

But then, is lack of faith or belief the real reason? Many in the Israeli establishment don't know their own G_d. The prophet Malachi tells of the lack of justice that cost Israel dearly in the past. The injustices being displayed today in Israel violate the most basic of Torah commandments to love your neighbor, to care for the weak and love the Lord. This is the trouble that the descendants of Jacob are facing, but the prophets say they will survive this. But with what kind of distress, with what kind of grief and sorrow? Pray for them.

Israel and Hamas

2006-01-31T07:53:00.000-07:00

Much time has been spent on news reports concerning how Hamas won such a strong victory in recent Palestinian elections. I can see only 2 big reasons, each of which is very troubling for all concerned. The first is the rampant corruption among the previous Palestinian leadership. They did nothing to help the common Palestinians. They also made a pretention of conducting a peace process with Israel. But it is becoming apparent that even talk of negotiating with Israel is enough for these people to view the Palestinian Authority as suspect. Let's face it Jihad by violent, cultural and demographic means is underway and most liberal westerners don't have a clue about the historical and religious background of what's happening.

The pretense is gone now, Hamas has already said what they think about Israel, about Jews and about the Holocaust. They reject it all as western propoganda. They say the struggle will continue, that is well known under the label of jihad. Now Israel must make a choice, they can not live with this kind of threatening posture and activity in their midst. Of course they don't have many options in the international arena, so they are in a bind. If they continue to live in denial of plain statements about violence and annihilation and keep giving away land in some pretended one sided peace process they may end up in the predicament prophesied by Zechariah in which hald the city is taken. At least 2 Israeli political parties want to make it even easier by giving it away. What a shame. This is appeasement that in the end will not work, even from a purely secular standpoint. Dhimmitude is threatening not just Israel but the whole of the western secular & Christian worlds. Thank G_d that there will be another option shown to the world in future times. Jerusalem will be the capitol of the world someday soon and it will be Jewish.

Israeli trends January 19, 2006

2006-01-19T07:13:00.000-07:00

Well, it looks like Israeli politicians are lined up against their own people who've been settling in the west bank. It's inconceivable that Judea will be made Judenrein. As a non-Jew I am having a hard time seeing how the government of Israel can be specifically planning to not only evacuate all settlements in Judea and Samaria, but are even making plans to allow the pal's in Jerusalem to exercise voting rights as if that's the next step towards partitioning of Jerusalem.

The leaders of Israel need to take a stand for their own rights. They are trying to please and appease everybody in sight. Only thing is they forget their own people in a suicidal purge of their own citizens. The Arab and pal side has been consistent and they are winning the war of threats and violence and convincing even themselves that they have no right to the land. This generation of Israeli leadership is a shame to the modern and ancient history of Israel. They have to look to the God of Israel or else continue their slide into the abyss of world hatred and self inflicted genocide. This is truly the time of Jacob's trouble, Jeremiah 30.

Fate of the Jews

2006-01-16T07:17:00.000-07:00

There are numerous Christians who are very supportive of the Jewish people and the modern state of Israel. I share that position. The afterlife and fate of the Jewish people is another issue that must be thought through to achieve a fully consistent theology. I advocate a position that the Jewish people are saved as Jews under the provision of the Abrahamic and Law covenants. As Moses and Daniel spoke of the book of life, it is a standard Jewish position that each of the righteous will have a place in the world to come. Christian eschatological exclusivism destroys this hope.

The largest community of Bible believing Christians who support Israel in this life also have a model of salvation that excludes Israel in the afterlife. The concept of explicit salvation in this life is a cornerstone of evangelical belief, i.e. that each human being has to personally accept the offer of life in Jesus Christ. If that isn't done then the person is usually considered lost, fates being eternally fixed at the moment of death. This is an inconsistency that needs to be corrected if Christian support for the Jews is to have any weight.

More directly the problem is even rooted in the dispensationalist prophetic scenario held by many evangelicals. The expectation is that Jewish conversion is needed for a successful restoration process. That is clearly evident by looking at the history of early prophetic interpretations of the Puritans and later of 19th and 20th century missionary movements to the Jews. This expectation continues today. Typically the tribulation scenario of the dispensationalists holds that 144000 Jews will be saved, I suppose the rest are lost in this view. The antichrist expectation is also linked to Jewish obedience/disobedience. In this approach is the constant threat of eternal punishment to Jews and all other non Christians. I recommend reading Sandeen's The Roots of Fundamentalism in this regard.

I believe that the Israelite covenant continues to operate on behalf of the Jews. It includes provisions for right living in the present life and it's prophetic statements extend hope that the God of Israel will save all of that nation in the age to come under Messiah. Christian hopes in Jesus Christ are complementary to this hope in light of the universal coverage of the Noahic and Abrahamic covenants which include the whole earth and all nations of the earth. Christians have not superceded Israel either in this life or the life to come. There will be a resurrection of the just and the unjust, God will deal righteously with all people and teach them the part to life in his earthly kingdom.

Abraham's Sons and Heirs

2006-01-03T08:12:00.000-07:00

Abrahamic "roots" are being claimed by everybody these days. That Israel descends from Abraham to Isaac and Jacob is clear. From that it's easy to trace descendants in the history of Israel. What's not easy is to trace the other sons of Abraham, like Ishmael. There is reason to think that a number of peoples living in the mid east can trace a descendancy to Abraham as well, but the Biblical record does not select them specially, the "seed" comes through Isaac.

Christians claim a shared ancestry to Abraham, but it's based on actions and beliefs that are derived from Judaism. I think that commonality is good as long as Christians don't then claim a higher level of descent based on supersecession, substitution of the first by the second. The good aspect to this is how our common beliefs and religious behavior can work well together. The bad aspect is that many Christians (Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic and some protestant) will alternatively claim priority in their heritage as a argument against Jews and Israel.

Islam however claims a different heritage, the Qur'an has changed the lineage by erasing Isaal in favor of Ishmael. They also claim that Abraham was a Muslim, a clear move of supersession. To me the only clear motive with this approach is to destroy Jewish history, religion and land claims in present day Israel.

Christians have lately picked up the Islamic claims and incorporated them into a political and relgiously ecumenical move to smooth over the present day claims between the 3 monotheisms. I don't buy into that notion, it compromises the claims and history of both Jews and Christians. Clearly the Jews have priority in all of this. It doesn't promote understanding, it only trys to make peace based on false histories and claims.

Recently I read several of the books by Bat Ye'or on Islam. These really clear up a lot of the historical events and present days claims like the Abrahamic "roots" discussion. I recommend these books, they are extremely well documented and presented. Titles include "The Decline of Eastern Christianity", "Islam and Dhimmitude" and "Eurabia".

War with the Saints

2005-12-20T06:56:00.000-07:00

In the book of Daniel there is a classic prophecy that has exercised many expositors over the past couple of centuries. The framework is clearly in a time period where a 4th beast is said to make war against God's holy people. I think that we can stand back a bit and survey the sweep of history since the time of Daniel to our day and get some good hints as to what this whole thing is about.

The historicist school of prophecy rightly points out that the major actor of this prophecy is titled a little horn, it's the energetic part of the 4th beast that sweeps aside all competitors. That it makes war against the "saints" for some time is also recognized since this is said to continue for a time, times and a half. The framework that Daniel describes encompasses the rise of 4 beast empires that are partially identified, it began during Daniel's lifetime, roughly 600 BC. These beast empires then continue until the ancient of days takes his seat and the son of man comes before him to assume rulership and dominion, Daniel recieves the interpretation that the tide will turn for the saints and they will recieve relief from the little horns oppression and attain to God's kingdom. The span of events clearly leaves room to take the viewpoint of history and suggest this covers quite some period of time. We haven't seen the end point of this prophecy yet so we're looking at a period of roughly 2600 years in which to fit the events.

The main actors entail two sides, like all good stories there are the good guys and the bad guys. It appears to me that we can simply identify the two sides, one is spelled out to Daniel as various government empires starting with Babylon. From there we can go to Media Persia and Greece followed by Rome. In good historicist fashion I will suggest that the little horn is an outgrowth from Rome, and in the history books there is only one historic long lasting power, that's the Papal Roman Catholic Church.

On the other side, the saints that are made war against are those of concern to Daniel, his fellow Israelites. They are the only ones who as a group continue from the beginning and to ending of this prophecy. It's the nation of Israel who has indeed been subject to the never ending war, only in the latter times the nature of that war changed. In the era of Babylon the conflict entailed military conquest and deportation, but in general the Israelite culture was left alone. Since the 70-135 AD revolts in Judea the Jewish people were increasingly subjected to more than this awful fate, they were pursued relentlessly in every aspect of life and religion. This comprised the roots of Christian anti-semitism. It has continued unabated until recent times. The historic record is clear that Christianity bears a heavy burden of guilt for centuries of un remitting horrors against God's nation of Israel. Even the confessions concerning anti Semitism of Pope John Paul and Vatican 2 are dim in light of the huge and deep sweep of continual war made against the Jews. Many Christians today retain those prejudices and behaviors. Christian anti-semitism has found an historical partner in the Islamic anti-semitism.

But thank God that there will soon be an end to this, I think we're seeing the events in Israel turning in their favor. It's still going to be a tough time ahead, but the burning of the beast in the fires surrounding the ancient of days are happening today. The major church systems, the biggest being the Roman and orthodox communions are reaping the fruits of so many years of political, religious and social crimes against Israel and the Jewish people. Ironically one of the largest factors against them is their fellow anti semites Muslims who are systematically grinding and burning the structures of Christendom. Bat Yeor's books on the Decline of Eastern Christianity and Eurabia show what's been happening. Israel itself has also by it's growth and recent history shown that God's hand is with them in their land.

The saints or holy ones of Israel soon will take their place in God's kingdom on earth. Watch.

A vision from Zechariah 2

2005-12-09T10:32:00.000-07:00

Zechariah 2 contains a very optimistic prophecy concering Israel's near term future.

8For thus says the LORD of hosts, "After glory He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.
Israel is the at the center of God's attention of earth's affairs.
9"For behold, I will wave My hand over them so that they will be plunder for their slaves. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me.
This tells us about the primitive and unfortunate conditions of violence and economic collapse that afflict the palestinians and their Arab brethren, it's a matter of choice that they can't build a viable civilization, they choose to oppose Israel the only strong economy and civilized country in the region.
10"Sing for joy and be glad, O daughter of Zion; for behold I am coming and I will dwell in your midst," declares the LORD.
A more complete deliverance is coming for Israel, those of that nation will be made glad if they aren't already.
11"Many nations will join themselves to the LORD in that day and will become My people Then I will dwell in your midst, and you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.
The UN will disappear, a real union with Israel will occur when the naitons realize their blunders and come to Israel with humility. This will be God's kingdom on earth.
12"The LORD will possess Judah as His portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is God's possession and he has chosen to give it to the Jewish people.
13"Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD; for He is aroused from His holy habitation."
Present day media and political propoganda will be stopped. The truth will be told, it will come from God's coming government to be based in Jerusalem. The city will be Israel's, the international community owns none of it except as they will bow down before God's new theocracy.

Israel take courage

2005-12-05T10:33:00.000-07:00

To those of Israel I would like to extend my support and encouragement in their difficult days ahead. A few news items of recent days protend very critical times ahead for God's people.

First and most grave is the Iranian threat of nuclear development. Israel's government has said they would not allow Iran to reach the point of nuclear weapons production. The Iranian government in like fashion responds they won't back down. This has very serious implications for that region of the world.

Second is the continuing campaign by the UN and the EU against Israel's retaining of land captured in 1967. No one gives Israel the slighest credit for making the recent painful evacuation out of Gaza. Israel continues to be called an apartheid state. Israel is now being called on to give up the Golan Heights, Judea and Samaria and part of Jerusalem. This is clearly a form of insanity that Israel has no recourse but to resist. The agenda of their opponents is clear, to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. They are using the international community, violence, the media and various economic pressures to push other nations to pressure Israel.

This is so much like the old days of Arab Muslim conquest, harass, raid, infiltrate, find collaborators, armed attack, kill uncooperative leaders. It won't stop with that since the later parts of this formula leads to enslavement, depopulation and total annhilation of conquered regions. This is history of Islam. Israel stands in the breach between the present world resurgence in militant Islam and the rest of the world. It is very sad to say that the only resolution for this will result in a world wide time of trouble and distress. Today's problems will pale next to what is in store for the nations as they escalate their violence against God's people in Israel.

To those of Israel, take courage, God will be with you, believe in HaShem alone. He told Moses that "I will be whatever you need me to be".

Booty and Havoc

2005-12-02T12:30:00.000-07:00

I've been reading one of Bat Yeor's books on the history of Islam. I'm struck by the similarity that appears between early Islamic and Arabic agression towards their neighbors and present day agitations of Muslims in many countries today. Their worldview is still the same, it's The Domain of Islam and The Domain of War, so you're either with them or against them. Nobody can be neutral.

The war was conducted by aggresive attacks on outlying communities of Jews, Christians and Zoroastrian communities throughout the middle east, Persia, India, North Africa and Spain. Raids were encouraged by Islamic leaders that focused the worst of human greed against surrounding peoples. That lead to eventual capitulation and conquest of these peoples. Depopulation and slavery often followed, at best there was servitude. Lastly these areas were repopulated by Arab tribes sent into establish more solid demographic hold on conquered areas. The so called religion of peace is historically identifed as a religion of domination and control. That power wasn't broken until the fall of the Ottoman empire in WW1. But recent events suggest that that same spirit is back and more dangerous than ever.

I can't resist making the comparison to modern Israel and it's problems with the "palestinians". The same demographic weapon is being pressed in the so called right of return doctrine of the Palestinian authority. What's worse is that most outside nations have been convinced of the same "rights" of "the oppressed" pals. Israel clearly deserves a right to exist as well, the League of Nations and United Nations recognized a right for a Jewish homeland and nation. It was the hand of God that enabled enough world leaders to do good things in the aftermath of each of the two world wars. I submit that what the pals and the neighboring Muslim countries demand is nothing but an expression of bad will and bad faith towards Israel, nothing more. They are reverting to their old ways in a renewed quest for world domination starting in Israel.

Zech 14 says all nations will be gathered against Jerusalem. That's a big mistake, read what will happen after that in the Bible.

Blessings or Hostility

2005-11-23T07:06:00.000-07:00

Leviticus 26 contains a prophecy concerning Israel's long term history. It shares some basic elements with the preceding chapter, 25 which describes the Jubilee arrangement. The most central concept is ownership and blessings of the land that YHWH gave to Israel. Lev 26 adds prophetic (predictive and reactive) dimensions to Israel's occupation of the land.

On a very basic level the disobedience of Israel that Moses warned against would have direct reactive consequences. Israel's disobedience got them involved in many conflicts that resulted in several national disasters. On a higher level they also followed the predicted prophetic scheme that Moses relates in Lev 26. They were scattered from their land after a troubled history that started with the wilderness wanderings, continued to the capture of the 10 tribes by Assyria and ended with their deportation by Babylon. The prophet Daniel mentions the desolations of the land in Dan 9. The land of Israel suffered several times in many long centuries Even with a restoration in the period of the Persians, the people and the land eventually fell victim to a nearly complete scattering and desolation at the hands of Rome. That desolation was noticed in many European explorations of the holy land during the 19th century.

The lesson of Moses ends with a hopeful note, God would remember his covenant with the people of Israel, he will bring them back to the land. It's not comfortable assimilation among the nations. God says he will not reject them, vs 44, that's a long term promise that bridges over the long diaspora to modern times. He wants them in the land that he gave to the fathers. God says to Israel:

40 If they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their forefathers, in their unfaithfulness which they committed against Me, and also in their acting with hostility against Me--
41 I also was acting with hostility against them, to bring them into the land of their enemies--or if their uncircumcised heart becomes humbled so that they then make amends for their iniquity,
42then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and I will remember also My covenant with Isaac, and My covenant with Abraham as well, and I will remember the land.

This has been happening during the past century. The increase of even greater blessings will follow the repentance of the people of Israel. These are the words of the Torah. To the Jewish people, now is the time of opportunity.

Without walls #2

2005-11-18T07:24:00.000-07:00

Ezekiel 38 mentions a time when Israel will be described as without walls. A text in Zechariah suggests this could be a figure of speech of Israel being so powerfull that it had little to worry about. That is still a possibility.

But, while watching and reading the news this week I noticed something that might suggest another way this could happen. That's by unilateral withdrawal and disarming under political pressure. The Israeli disengagement is in large part related to a sad decline in US-Israel relationships. The US with all of it's global interests and concerns has taken the role of trying to broker a deal between the Arabs and the Israeli's. Without US pressure I doubt Israel would have considered pulling it's citizens out of Gaza. None of our politicians cares to mention that the PA and it's allied terrorist networks have done nothing to fulfill their side of the peace process. Nevertheless there's our US representative Condi' Rice leaning on Israel again. See the CNN account of this: http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/11/15/rice.mideast.ap/index.html.

The nations are standing around Jerusalem, they are telling Jerusalem and the Israeli's what they have to do. This is an unacceptable situation for any independent nation to experience. This is much like the situation in Luke 21:20-24, the city is surrounded by those who want to rule over it, even to destroy it. The nations are behaving badly...again....

While peace is clearly the desired end in mind I can't help but see this continuing political pressure as detrimental instead. When the PA, Hamas, Hizzbulah, etc continue to threaten Israel in no uncertain terms, why does the US and the EU pretend this doesn't represent a real threat to Israel and to themselves as well ? This isn't make believe, this is real and the troubles coming will apparently escalate beyond any pretense of control. In order to really fix the problems in Israel and it's neighbors there needs to be some honest problem solving. Politics will never overcome the feelings and passions of the parties involved. We're in the time that the weak are saying they are strong, we are in the era when judgment will occur in the valley of Jehosaphat.

Israel must increasingly look to God for passage through this modern era of trial. Israel will make peace, but only with the help of God, then all of their neighbors will also be at peace. Isa 2:2-4 and Zechariah 8. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Persia Cush Put

2005-11-15T07:07:00.000-07:00

There's a very specific text in Ezekiel 38 that appears to describe some of the political alignments occuring in the middle east. Actually it's remarkable how little has changed in that area, it's basically the same set of players. It's only that Persia isn't being so nice to the Jews as they were in the days of Cyrus. Too bad there's no queen Esther to get rid of the modern Haman types in Iran.

vs 5 "Persia, Cush and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets, 6 also Gomer with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops—the many nations with you..." These are ancient alliances in the named places, could the "many nations" be alluding to outsiders backing up the local tough guys threatening Israel? It's not clear who that would be but there are no shortage of countires that wouldn't like to take a piece out of Israel.

and in Ezekiel 30 I noticed another listing:
"Cush and Put, Lydia and all Arabia, Libya and the people of the covenant land will fall by the sword along with Egypt".

Nation lists have been an important aspect of Israelite history, all the way back to Genesis. At the very least they paint a broad canvas of circumstances surrounding important events in early times. Likewise today, I think they are useful in prophecies like Ezekiel in pointing out circumstances that Israel is subjected too by the nations. But the end of these alignments against her will come. The time for the incoming kingdom of God to take visible action is ripe.

Palestinian Authority The Mask is Off Again

2005-11-10T06:52:00.000-07:00

I've been watching the daily news about the peace process between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Mr. Abbas the current leader of PA has been getting accolades from Pres Bush and other world leaders for his leadership. In reality his contribution to the peace process has been minimal, if anything. I don't see how anyone can take these people as serious peace partners except out of desperation.

Here's the latest bit of evidence in this regard. From the Arutz Sheva site is this item:
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=92492

"The armed wing of Fatah, the ruling party of the Palestinian Authority and of PA chief Mahmoud Abbas, has called for wiping the State of Israel off the map. "

So much for peace. It's unfortunate to watch our leaders pretending that their making progress in regard to peace. In conjunction with the Jordanian attack on Nov 9 the path remains clear. The news media can't hide the fact anymore that most of this trouble is coming from one segment of the world's population. They are using the M word for two current big stories, from Jordan and from France. What I read and hear says that M's even want the credit, it's a declared war against Zionism, Israel and by association the entire European and American world. There's no secret here, only wide spread denial of reality.

There's going to be much more of this to come, there's only one end possible. Events continue to demonstrate that no one has solutions that are going to work. It's leading to a new beginning for the whole world. Believe it or not the time is coming when every nation will make peace with Israel, there will be peace in the world. Jerusalem, not Mecca, will be a house for prayer for all of the nations.

Iran on the radar screen

2005-11-09T06:39:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about the words being issued from Iran these past days. It just happens that Ezekiel 38 contains a list of the nations that will come against Israel in the climax of the time of trouble. One of those nations in Persia which is present day Iran. The threats emminating from the Iran's leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejadis are very worrisome to Israel, even palestinian Arabs are concerned. The big problem consists of the apparent willingness to use nukes. That wouldn't leave much of anything in the whole area around Israel. Besides the intent of destroying Zionism and Israel, they would also take out a large part of the palestinian, Jordanian and Syrian peoples.

At the world without Zionism conference held in Tehran the Iranian president was very clear about his intentions. See some of the articles at Muslim World Today site. The text of his speech is summarized at: http://www.muslimworldtoday.com/iranian4.htm. This represents an agressive stance that won't be limited by conscience and consequences as US and USSR leaders were during the cold war era.

I don't care to take some of the prophecies too literally but there are suggestions that the upcoming war against Israel will manifest violence of a new intensity. See Zechariah 14 and Joel 3. But this time it's going to be the final episode of evil. God will rise up to send his messiah to deliver Israel, Isaiah 41:8-16, Daniel 12:1. Israel will no longer have to bear the abuse of other nations, they will assert their rightful place in the world and stand succesfully against their enemies. Then Jerusalem will be recognized by the nations when they see God protecting and ruling over his people. At that time the problems of the region will be resolved as Assyria and Egypt join with Israel in peace. See Isa 19 "the third part". Then the nations of the earth will be able to find peace and redemption as well. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

French Riots starting to look like Israel

2005-11-07T10:07:00.000-07:00

The news from Paris is very sad, riots and conflict is spreading across the country. There is a lesson in all of this, it's not as simple as saying France is racist or has neglected the Muslim community. The lesson concerns how the French government is dealing with the problem. Right or wrong they are using force to supress the violence. For an excellent analysis of the mental model of the rioters see the article by Theodore Dalrymple in City Journal. http://www.city-journal.org/printable.php?id=1885. This is a big fuzzy story that begs to be resolved by our media and policitians, it remains to be seen if anyone of stature will have the courage to say what is actually motivating people and what should be done to address those motives.

The large influx of immigrants into France has resulted in a major social problem. Quantitatively they have a difficult path ahead, millions of poor, largely uneducated people. Ohh, there's one more thing, most of them are Muslim which makes assimilation into French society that much more difficult due to it's incompatibility with democracy, Judaism and Christianity That adds to the complexity of the situation for the French. Last, it is said that Al-Qaeda is scurrying around recruiting. France has a really big headache here. It appears that several other western nations will have to start making the same choices. England's Muslims are calling for sharia law and Islamic rule over at least portions of that country.

See the report at Debka File Website. The riots are not spontaneous discontent as reported on the US media. http://www.debka.com/article.php?aid=1107

My point is this, Israel has been the roughly the same boat for several decades, in fact they built their country in the midst of a similar demographic and religious conflict matrix. But, the world has largely criticised Israel for how they handle present day violence and social situations. There is a striking resemblance of present French troubles to what Israel has been saturated with for years. So maybe it's time for the world to give Israel the same benefits and understanding that France is receiving. Maybe it's time to recognize where the root of the problems for each country originate. I'm talking about jihad, whether blatant violent jihad or demographic floods it amount to the same overwhelming of non muslim countries. Read Bat Yeor's Eurabia if you want to get a load on this trend.

There won't be peace in any of the 2 dozen of more of this type of world social conflicts until people really decide they want peace. The people of Islam have to renounce violence, world conquest and other types of Jihadist goals. Unfortunately for today's society, my view is that this present day religious violence is part of the overturning process that the Bible says will tear down the present world order. The aftermath will be the peaceable kingdom of God visibly established on the earth. A more immediate set of questions arise. Will France become Islamicized? Will France shift politically more against Israel ? Will France be one of those in Ezekiel 38 who ask "are you come to take a spoil? ", asking because they may become nationally impotent to do anything more? These are possibilities.

Zech 12 tells of those who will be broken if they mess with Jerusalem. France certainly falls into that category if you follow their history since the 1919 Paris peace conference through more recent arms shipments into the middle east and political opposition to Israel in the UN and the EU.

Isa 2 tells of the time when nations will beat swords into plowshares, when all peoples will go to Jerusalem to learn of the God of Israel. Gone will be the time when various national, ethnic and religious groups all try to take over Israel. I believe this vision will come...soon. I sure hope it does, the human race is really hurting and only God's kingdom can cure that pain.

Themes of Hosea

2005-11-03T14:00:00.000-07:00

This is a paper that I wrote some time ago. It's still relevant to the impending salvation of God to be manifested to Israel and by extention to the nations/gentiles.

Hosea - A Parable of Saving Love

The book of Hosea covers a period prior to the destruction of the northern 10 tribe kingdom, called Israel and Samaria. Ephraim, a subdivision of Israel, is mentioned frequently throughout as an example of faithlessness to God's covenant. The overriding theme, however, is that no matter how badly Israel and Ephraim act, God will continue to remain faithful to them because of his compassion and unrelenting, pleading, (even alluring) love. The story line is built on 2 kinds of family relationships, marriage and sonship.

The principal lesson in the whole of Hosea is demonstrated by the command that Yahweh gave to Hosea to marry a wife of prostitution in chapter 1. The metaphor is continued in another picture of an adulterous woman in chapter 3. The emotional import of what happens is obviously as distasteful to Yahweh as it is to the modern reader. Within the book of Hosea itself several clues are given as to how these acts are symbolic . They are figurative of the relationship of the Israelite nation to its God, its husband. The figures may appear extreme, but the lesson was too -- the issues end in life or death.

The products of Israel's illicit activities were unlawful children that God would not care for. On the contrary, he "would have no compassion on them" (Hosea 2:4), although he eventually would on the unfaithful mother-- Hosea 2:23.

The picture of sonship is described in chapter 11. God chose Israel as his son, by demonstrating his love to them by acting on their behalf. In verses 3-4, "I took them in My arms; but they did not know that I healed them....I bent down and fed them". God took Israel out of Egypt to care for them, but they didn't appreciate their good fortune . God casts Israel in the role of a faithless but still beloved son. Verse 8 "How can I give you up?..."
Corresponding to these figures are the realities of what God intended to convey. He was speaking of the land, the people and the covenant made with them at Sinai. Their possession of the land, as an independent, prospering national entity, was ultimately at stake.

That the narrative is built on figures is shown by the following considerations.
1. In Hosea 1:2,4,6 and 9 Hoeas is given instructions followed by the phrases "and I will.." or "for I will...". In each place Yahweh is acting in correspondence to the symbol, which in turn is chosen in reaction to specific indiscretions of the people.
2. In chapter 2 and 3 the imagery is directly connected by God himself becoming one of the participants of the picture, in these cases as a compassionate, forgiving husband.
3. In Hosea 12:10 we read "I have also spoken to the prophets, and I gave numerous visions; and through the prophets I gave parables." This is God's way of speaking to his people.
4. The frequent references to past history, such as their deliverance from Egypt during the great Exodus under Moses, frame the whole book in a much larger context than the perceived short term, inscrutable actions of an erratic prophet.
5. In like manner, the distant future is brought in at several places to explain how there is hope for the people, because Yahweh is faithful, even if they are not.
The basic issue of the book of Hosea is the lack of obedience of Israel in their relationship with YAHWEH, the one who picked them out of the wilderness: Hosea 9:10 "I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your forefathers as the earliest fruit on the fig tree in its first {season.} {But} they came to Baal-peor and devoted themselves to shame, and they became as detestable as that which they loved. " The pattern was Divine compassion in the face of infidelity.
The other basic point of the book is God's response to that lack of obedience. That has two aspects, one immediate, the other far off. In the near future from the time of this narrative, the kingdom of Samaria was to be thoroughly vanquished and humiliated by those with whom she had been illicitly involved. But in spite of this gloomy prospect, clear notes of hope are sounded. Israel will be recovered , and she will return to a covenant relationship with her husband.

It should be noted that since the 10 tribes were never fully recovered from the Assyrian dispersion (9:3, 17) , fulfillment of this prophecy is yet future. Some interpreters maintain that the return from Babylon in about 539-519 BCE ended God's promise to the kingdom of Judah. However, while 2 Kings 23:15-20 narrates some of Josiah's effort to cleanse the land, it proved to be futile in restoring the people.

Several unambiguous prophetic foregleams are given in Hosea:
1:10 Yet the number of the sons of Israel Will be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered; and it will come about that, in the place where it is said to them, "You are not My people," it will be said to them, "{you are} the sons of the living God."

2:15 "Then I will give her vineyards from there, and the valley of Achor as a door of hope. And she will sing there as in the days of her youth, as in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt."

2:19 "And I will betroth you to me forever; yes, I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in loving kindness and in compassion,"

3:5 "Afterward the sons of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king; and they will come trembling to the LORD and to His goodness in the last days."

5:15 "I will go away {and} return to My place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek me. "

6:1 "Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn {us,} but He will heal us; He has wounded {us,} but He will bandage us. "

6:11 "Also, O Judah, there is a harvest appointed for you, when I restore the fortunes of My people. "

11:9 "I will not execute My fierce anger; I will not destroy Ephraim again. For I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath. "

12:9 "But I {have been} the LORD your God since the land of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again, as in the days of the appointed festival. "

14:1 "Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.
14:4 I will heal their apostasy, I will love them freely, for My anger has turned away from them."

Hosea is also cited in several pivotal texts in the New Testament. These build on the long term optimism of Hosea's prophecies, sometime adding a positive note where Hosea is still pessimistic. Some of these are prophecies that recall the original setting with a future positive outcome. In all Hosea was of Israel, his words belong to Israel, the covenant people of God.

The list of quotes comes from Quotations in the New Testament, Robert Bratcher, United Bible Societies, 1987.

Hosea 1:6,9 1 Peter 2:10 (A) Identifying those who are chosen, 1:1, as being the people of God, those who have received mercy. In the case of Peter's epistle this may have been referring to Jews who believed in the Messiah.

Hosea 2:23 Rom. 9:25 Identifying those who are called, vs. 24, as being 'the people of God', those who are 'beloved' of God. Hosea clearly means Israel, Paul is being inclusive of gentiles in his use of the text without specifically changing the original meaning.

Hosea 2:1 (1:10) Rom, 9:26 Those that 'were not my people', have become 'sons of the the living God.' This provides the basis for Paul's claim that gentiles (from the nations) could become sons of God as well as those of Israel. They do not replace Israel, but are added to the Sinai covenant community through the Abrahamic promse.

Hosea 1:10a Rom. 9:27-28 Along with Isa 10:22-23, the number of Israel is as the sand of the sea. In Hosea, the unquoted portion of the verse continues as "the Children of the Living God.". Paul here describes inclusion of the Jewish remnant with those Gentiles called to righteousness by faith, vs 30.

Hosea 2:1, 23 1 Peter 2:10 (A) Peter addresses those in Christ inclusively, as does Hosea.

Hosea 6:5 Eph. 6:17 (A) The sword of the spirit, the word of God, corresponding to Hosea's phrase, " slain them with the words of My mouth". An allegorical use of the sword.

Hosea 6:6 Matt. 9:13; 12:7 "I desire compassion, not sacrifice", so Jesus calls those who are sinners (and know it) , not the righteous. Anyone in covenant relationship with God could be included in this phrase. To Israel it speaks to Torah, from Jesus we hear the same application to his Jewish audience.

Hosea 10:8 Luke 23:30 (A); The last prophesy of Jesus ministry refers to the daughters of Jerusalem and her children, who "say to the mountains, fall on us...:. As in Hosea's time, the people of Israel were facing impending disaster again at the hands of Rome.

Hosea 10:8 Rev. 6:16 (A) The mountains will be called upon to hide the kings of the earth from Him who sits on the throne and the Lamb, during the day of wrath. Happens twice.

Hosea 11:1 Matt. 2:15 God calls his son from Egypt, originally Israel, by analogy Jesus follows this same path. In modern times Israel has again been called out of all of the captivity of worldwide Egypt.

13:14 1 Cor. 15:55 The challenge of death is overcome. It loses its power.
God overcomes death - sheol / hades - through Jesus Christ.
In Hosea 13, we find our final topic of consideration, the ransoming figure of deliverance.
"Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from death? O death, where are your thorns? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion will be hidden from My sight (13:14)." The original answer to this was no, but through the power of resurrection God has enabled an answer to this awful question.

As stated in the narrative of Hosea, the statements are phrased as challenging questions to Ephraim. The implication at the time of Hosea's prophecy was that God would not rescue/ransom the nation from its punishments. But Hosea 14:1-2 identifies the rescue that will come when it reaches the point of repentance. In prophetic terms, we have yet to see natural Israel take that step. In Hosea 14:4-6 we read "I will heal their apostasy, I will love them freely, for My anger has turned away from them. His shoots will sprout, and his beauty will be like the olive tree, and his fragrance like {the cedars of} Lebanon." The ransoming work is held in abeyance until repentance is reached by Israel, as we read in Hosea 6:1-3, "come let us return.." The marriage state or covenant will be restored with the same people who were delivered over to the terrible wrath of Yahweh for a time".

Book- IBM and the Holocaust

2005-11-02T08:50:00.000-07:00

I read this book a while ago, it's got a fascinating account of how IBM got it's start in the genocide business. Author is Edwin Black, he did a good job on this one. Very troubling story, but worth knowing about. IBM supplied punch card storage in an early form of computerization to help the Nazi party track Jewish populations across Europe. Their business plans coincided with Nazi conquests, an unbelievable compromise of democratic and humanitarian values on the part of IBM. It's a sad commentary on western civilization that technology is often used for evil as much as it is for good. Of course, the money helps ease the consciences of those troubled by the details of mass murder. Of IBM doesn't do that kind of thing anymore, right? Or any of the other arms dealers giving high tech weapons to terrorist nations like Syria? The best weapons always seem to go to those that have no legimate need. Even the internet has become a weapon, it's both a blessing and a curse. All examples of "Let the weak say I am strong" Joel 3.

The time that Babylon will stand accused before God is upon us, history and current world events clearly demonstrate the moral bankcruptcy of our governments and businesses. Revelation 18 and Jeremiah 50-51 show the impending down fall that is coming. High tech violence won't fix the world's problems, it won't fix the grievances of the poor and the wronged. Israel is growing and prospering against all the wishes of her foes. The Jewish people should not assimilate, but turn back to their God, turn back to their land, stand in the power of God. Jeremiah 50:4-8 "flee"; Jeremiah 51:2o shows how the tables will eventually turn in favor of Israel.

It's time for Jews and Christians to stand together against the world system of darkness. Support Israel, support God's people wherever they are. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Pray for "thy kingdom come."

Comfort My People

2005-10-25T07:35:00.000-06:00

These are wonderful desciptions of the lovingkindness of God for Israel,
some of this has already begun as Israel grows and matures. These texts belong to Israel, the Jewish people and to no one else.

There is a great future in store. Note the tenderness and love expressed by God in the Hosea text. Israel will be his lambs and God will be their shepherd.

Israel as a whole will experience this. Unfortunately many in Israel don't appreciate the blessings already being placed upon them. Near is the time when they will all return to haShem. Near is the time when God will contend once more for his people. The time that there enemies will be gone. I won't hazard a guess, but consider that the expectations and waiting will seem as nothing once this is realized.

Isaiah 40:1-2
1)Comfort, O comfort My people," says your God.
2Speak kindly to Jerusalem; And call out to her, that her warfare has ended,
That her iniquity has been removed,
That she has received of the LORD'S hand Double for all her sins."
9Get yourself up on a high mountain,
O Zion, bearer of good news, Lift up your voice mightily, O Jerusalem, bearer of good news; Lift it up, do not fear
Say to the cities of Judah, "Here is your God!"
10Behold, the Lord GOD will come with might,
With His arm ruling for Him Behold, His reward is with Him
And His recompense before Him.
11Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs
And carry them in His bosom;
He will gently lead the nursing ewes

Isa 41:11-13
Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored; Those who contend with you will be as nothing and will perish.
You will seek those who quarrel with you, but will not find them,
Those who war with you will be as nothing and non-existent.
For I am the LORD your God, who upholds your right hand,
Who says to you,
'Do not fear, I will help you.'

Isaiah 49:25
Surely, thus says the LORD,
"Even the captives of the mighty man will be taken away,
And the prey of the tyrant will be rescued;
For I will contend with the one who contends with you,
And I will save your sons.

Hosea 2
14-15Therefore, behold, I will allure her,
Bring her into the wilderness And speak kindly to her.
Then I will give her vineyards from there,
And the valley of Achor as a door of hope
And she will sing there as in the days of her youth,
As in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt

19-20 I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me
in righteousness and
in justice,
In lovingkindness and
in compassion,
And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness.
Then you will know the LORD

The Glory

2005-10-24T12:42:00.000-06:00

Recently I was considering the imagery of Ezekiel chapter 1. The overall meaning was said to show the glory of God. Of course, that's the God of Israel. Listed below are some interesting aspects to this imagery that are very encouraging.

The 4 living beings appear to be cherubim, this is evident from chapter 10 and from other texts like Psa 99:1. God is enthroned above them.

The sound of the 4 living ones is said to be like the voice of the almighty, it's also said to be like the sound of an army camp. At the time of Ezekiel this sound may refer to the ongoing attacks of Babylon on Israel and Jerusalem. Many had already been taken captive, but some were resisting and relying on false prophets, that's what got Zekekiah in trouble. In that time Israel's fortunes were severely declining. In Ezekiel 10 and 11 the glory of God moves away from Jerusalem, he did not protect them any more.

In the end times, the sound of the army returns, only this time Israel is the one with the power, they will comprise the army under the leadership of the returned ancients like Moses and Abraham. See Ezekiel 37:; Joel 2; Micah 4 and 5. Israel will again be mighty in the power of God.

Revelation 19 describes a similar scene, this time God and his Messiah are on the move against the corrupt nations and kings. His voice is heard, the sound of many waters, the sound of an army. It's actions are shown later in that chapter. It's how he is going to fight for Israel, how he is going to establish his kingdom as shown in chapters 20-22.

Terrorists not being stopped

2005-10-20T14:08:00.000-06:00

One of the primary goals of the so called peace process between Israel and the Palestinian authority is to stop violence between the 2 sides. So yesterday President Bush tells the US public how well Mr. Abbas is doing to keep the peace with Israel. Mr. Bush must not read the news from Israel. Look at any of the Israeli news reports. Debka File, Arutz Sheva, etc. Suicide bombings, shootings, rocket attacks, daily threats about Israel's destruction, execution of collaborators, PA TV broadcasting routine invective against Israel and insulting Israel at every turn. This man is not doing a good job. What else could be expected from a man whose published PhD thesis was a denial of the holocaust. By that standard there isn't much that can truly be classed as a crime.

US media doesn't say much about any of this and that's a crime by itself. Contrast how many stories preceeded the recent disengagement with how many followed it. It's about 100:1. That is not balanced or truthful.

I recommend that everybody dig into the news, get the real story.

Zechariah 12 says Israel would be a fire to those around them, that's certainly been the case among the Palestinians, Lebanon and Egypt. The palestinians are even fighting amongst themselves, terrorists factions fighting against each other and against the PA. Israel is also a burdensome stone, those like the USA that try to pressure Israel too much may experience this side effect. The country may be in that phase already.

The kingdom of God is coming to this earth, pray for it, pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

The Israel of God

2005-10-20T14:06:00.000-06:00

Who consitutes Israel? Well, there is a nation with that name and they do have a history to back up that name. Case closed.... But alot of Christians have a problem with that position.

Those Christians make questionable assumptions on this topic and provide a variety of reasons for their position. Firstly, they assume the name Israel applies to them. And in line with replacement theology they assume that the name Israel no longer applies to Israel as a national human people. Jews are not considered as "of Israel" since they aren't Christians !

The book of Romans, an epistle of Paul is one of the primary sources for some of these claims.
Romans 2 is also used to justify that only true christian believers can be considered a Jew.
On the contrary, this only says that anyone who should be considered truly Jewish has the inward character necessary. Paul's main point is to establish a place for gentile inclusion into the people of God, Israel. This shouldn't be turned backwards to displace nearly the whole of the Jewish nation.

Romans 3 is used to say that everyone is in sin and therfore out of relationship with God, the Jews are usually lumped into this side of unbelief and sin. The quotation that Paul supplies is concerned with the fact that gentiles are all cut off from the covenant arrangement that God already has with Israel and by grafting "believing gentiles". There are clearly people in scripture who were considered righteous individually, see Hebrews 11, also Daniel, Job, Noah, Abraham, Moses, etc. Israel as a nation maintained a righteousness under the law arrangement that provided forgiveness of sins and atonement in God's eyes. Even if that is considered temporal it was the extent intended by God, to maintain a good life on earth and blessings in the land.

Romans 4 is used to say that Abraham is only the father of faith for those who believe in Christ.
Abraham provided an excellent example of faithfulness, by his own actions and belief. God also demonstrated his faithfulness to Abraham. Faith is nowhere stated to be only through Abraham, but is also implied as being possessed by those who observe Torah.

Romans 7 is used to say that Paul as a Jew considered himself miserable beyond desciption.
Paul's frame of reference isn't about himself personally, but pointed back to chapter 1. This deals with the situation of gentiles trying to reach to God by taking a route of Torah conversion but still maintaining a gentile identity. This was a common issue with Roman citizens who built relationships with first century Judaism.

Romans 9 is used to say that the prophets considered Israel as "not my people" and that Christians filled in for that failure. No where does this exclude Israel, in fact the first 4 verses say that to them belong the covenants and fathers, etc. The arguments about Pharoah and others are only building a case for inclusion of gentiles into God's people. God can make them righteous, just as he had taken other previously and dealt out negative examples. The quotations from Hosea allow for gentiles who were not God's people (as some of Israel was temporarily were also), to become God's people.

Romans 11 is used to say that Israel has stumbled and has been replaced by a grafted in true people. Israel throughout this section is either all the human Israelites or it's all spiritual Israelites, it's not taking only the good as spiritual. Therefore, I read this a consistently human and Jewish. When gentiles are mentioned, as Christians, they are put in as branches grafted in, but never called Israel. Verse 25 culminates in the phrase "so all Israel will be saved". To identitify this as natural Israel provides an answere to the pending conclusion, what of Israel? He wouldn't have to say that about gentile Christians. Thus all references to Israel apply to the obvious literal people of the Jewish nation.

Galatians 6 is read to apply Israel to believers in Christ.
The phrase can just as easily be translated with an "and" between the phrases.
15Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. 16Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God.
so vs 16 is "to all who follow this rule and to the Israel of God", the Jewish people.
It could also be read as an extention phrase:
vs15 the uncircumcision vs circumcision leads into vs 16 as a) all who follow this rule, and b) even as far as the Israel of God

Many points in the book of Acts imply that Paul, Peter, James still continued to deal with other Jews as if they were all still in relationship with the one God. No trace of the idea that they have been cut off from the covenant. Paul's last encounter with the Jews of Rome indicates a willingness to talk and listen with his fellow countryman.

So Israel is Israel, the Jewish nation.
Christians are grafted into Israel, but not Israel.

Recommended reading
Paul and Torah - Lloyd Gaston
Rediscovering Paul - John Gager

Friendly Replacement theology

2005-10-20T07:15:00.000-06:00

Many Christians are generally sympathetic with Israel and Jewish people. Of course some are not so friendly. The difference is quickly apparent in conversations about Judaism, the people and the land of Israel. But among those who are well disposed on this topic there can still be inconsistencies that partially accept the premises of those more actively opposed to Israel.

I will pose a number of questions in this regard, hope it helps to think through the issues.
I will just put my brief answers after each.

1. Was it possible to observe the law as given through Moses? Yes, Moses said that the things he was telling them "is not too hard", and that "if you do these things you will live long and be blessed in the land"

2. Were any Jews considered righteous, just and worthy of life? Yes, Luke 1 mentions Mary, Elizabeth, Zacciaus, Heb 11 mentions Moses and others. Faith existed for the Jews even before the time of Jesus.

3. Are all of the Jews responsible for the death of Jesus? Some rejected him, some accepted him, Peter said the rulers were simply acting in ignorance. That's not willful sin . Look back at Leviticus 5-6 sins of ignorance which could be corrected and atoned for. It wasn't deicide.

4. Who killed Jesus, the Jews or the Romans? He was delivered up by Judas to the Romans, they did the killing, a crowd of thugs forced this one through.

5. Did Jesus forgive those that did commit crimes against him? Yes, before he died, he said father forgive them.

6. Have the Jews had a covenant relationship with God since 30-33AD? Yes, the law covenant with God was without end, he would not terminate the covenant or the people unless he was to admit himself a failure which he will not, it's permanent. The prophecy of Hosea 1 -3 tells of a separation period using a title of "divorce", but they are always his people. What bad things that have happened actually show God's continued correction, even if harsh at times.

7. Does God hear the prayers of the Jews? Yes, it's part of the covenant.

8. Do Jews have to become Christians at the present time to be saved? No, salvation isn't limited to this age, 2 Cor 6 tells us about "a" time of salvation.

9. Will Jews convert to Christianity in the age to come, Millennial kingdom? No, they go under the new covenant with God. Christianity is something special for a limited period in this gospel age. It doesn't constitute the only group that will be saved..

10. Will Israel just be one of the nations in the millennial kingdom? No, they will be very special Isa 2 says all nations will come to Jerusalem, Isa 66 says they will be the mother of the nations, Zech 8 describes all peoples taking hold of the skirt of a Jew. A very bright future indeed.

Replacement Theology

2005-10-18T15:15:00.000-06:00

In my study of Bible prophecy I have realized that other subjects intrude and control how interpretations are developed. How are texts concerning Israel to be read? How are the prophecies of the Bible to be placed? Is it literal Jewish applications or has most of it been fulfilled by Christians instead. Who are the people on earth that God is dealing with since the time of Christ? To a Jewish audience these questions are self evident, it's Christians that need to examine their premises. Consideration of the history replacement theology is a substantial undertaking.

Simply defined replacement theology holds the following points:
1. That the Jews rejected Jesus as Messiah and he in turn pronounced judgment against them. That judgment then is thought to result in their cutting off from God, they were no longer his special people. The history of Jewish suffering is seen as proof of Divine wrath against them.
2. That a few years after Jesus death, God turned to the gentiles to fill up for Israel's lack of responsiveness to his loving call to Christ.
3. That Christians have replaced Jews in God's special purpose.
4. That Jews have suffered individually and as a people for their rejection of Christ and can only approach God by accepting Jesus Christ.
5. The Law covenant and everything Jewish is considered to but an old shadow of the new spiritual reality displayed in Christ and among Christians.

My view of these points is that they dangerously wrong and do not reflect the views of the first Christians. Some progress has been made in recent decades that has prompted soul searching among some Christians.

Each of these questions is a large topic, here are a few references for further research.

A Guest in the House of Israel - Clark Williamson. 1993

Has God Only One Blessing - Mary C Boys. 2000

The Crime of Christendom - Fred Bratton. 1994

The God Of Israel and Christian Theology - Kendall Soulen. 1996

Disinheriting the Jews - Jeffrey S Siker. 1991

Paul and Torah - Lloyd Gaston. 1987

In the Shadow of the Temple - Oskar Skarsaune. 2002

The Broken Staff, Judaism Through Christian Eyes - Frank Manuel. 1992

Without walls ? How it could happen

2005-10-18T11:54:00.000-06:00

In the past couple of years the Israeli government has built up large walls that have prevented a significant number of terrorist attacks. There is no sign that international pressure will cause Israel to remove those walls. So when I was reading in Ezekiel 38:11 the question popped up, how the prophecy be reconciled with the harsh reality of present day Israel. Can it be that somehow Israel will gain peace with their Arab neighbors that would fit this description? In my opinion that's not likely, so what to do with that verse? Nobody around there is going to disarm anytime soon ( more than a generation if ever).

I would like to suggest that the reason the land of Israel is without wall isn't due to peace, but to numbers of people accompanied by increasing economic vitality. Immigration and settlement have been one of the prime success stories in modern day Israel. Pre 1948 settlements and economic growth allowed them to survive the onslaught of the Arab League in 1948 and in all subsequent wars. It is a large factor in modern Israel's survival as a free democratic nation.

There is Biblical warrant for this mechanism, that's in Zechariah the 2nd chapter. Verse 4 tells of the great numbers of men and livestock, just what was described above. Jews have been immigrating from the north country, see vs 6, that includes Russia and Ukraine. Since the early 90's this is exactly what's been happening as 10's of thousands of Jews make aliya. Verse might be taken 2 ways depending on the meaning applied to Babylon, is it literal Iraq or is it mystical Babylon. If the first, then that's already occured in the emmigration of all Iraqi Jews in the 1950's back to Israel. If it's mystical then there may be future waves of Jewish refugees from Christian Europe or America.

Aggressive forces are being dealt with in Zechariah 2. In vs 8 YHWH describes Zion as the apple of his eye, that's the eye pupil, a very sensitive part of human anatomy. To God that shows how intensely he will protect his people. The method of protection is described here, in verse 9, it will be the slaves of those who intend to plunder Zion that will strike their masters. It's the poor and oppressed of the peoples who rise up against their rules. In today's middle east setting it's all the poor deprived among the Muslim world and Arab peoples who are beginning to realize that their rulers are self serving and greedy.

Examples are rampant:
1.3 billion taken by the interim government of Iraq
The house of Saud in Saudi Arabia taking untold billions from oil revenues
The greed of Yasser Arafat and the present Palestinian government. Billions given to them by the EU and the USA have disappeared into private bank accounts.

This isn't anything new, during WW1 individuals Arab leaders took bundles of money in exhange for military cooperation with England against the Turks. The average person never saw any of that, only the few got fat and rich.

The times already show how many of the poor in the region are starting to get wise to their corrupt leadership. Even the Saudi's are being given notice from terrorist organizations that see their government as one cause of their problems. Anarchy is coming across the entire region, it's flaring up already. That anarchy will not be able to stand up to a developed and strong Israel.

More of the context of Ezek 38 then goes on to say who will actually pose the real threat to Israel, it won't be the locals, but outside organized forces that may already be stirring in countries like Iran and Turkey. So in the end Israel will still need the help of their savior, the Lord God almighty. He will protect them.

Crusaders Or Jubilee

2005-10-18T07:31:00.000-06:00

I've recently noted on news reports that some Muslim terrorist factions refer to the USA and UK forces as crusaders. That reference is to the time that several waves of European armies tried to take back Palestine and Jerusalem from Arab forces that conquered "the holy land". They succeeded for a time and had established small crusader states around a few cities.

There has been some good material written about these events, it certainly constituted a violent period of history, no lack of brutality and wild misbehavior on all sides. In the prophetic record there are allusions to the conflict between the forces of the Christendom and Islam. The time of the 7 trumpets of Revelation are partly concerned with these conflicts, armies, darkness, destruction, a very bad time for all. But the primary lesson is that other Christians and Jews have suffered at hand of both sides.

But note that the European response was primarily defensive, it followed centuries of Muslim/Arab aggression throughout Palestine, North Africa and Spain. Robert Spencer has a book out, it's been on the NYTimes bestseller list and has been ignored by most of our media. It's The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam and the Crusades, I recommend it if you want a snap shot into this most awful period of time and how it relates to today's world violence. The roots of many eastern European and middle eastern ethnic and political upheavals go back to that period.

So when you hear American personnel or politicians referred to as crusaders, remember what the conflict is all about. It's in large part a conflict between religions, not a few simple political mis-steps by today's politicians. The United States and England don't have to apologize for standing up for what is right. Our support of Israel is something to be proud of, our support for human rights is a good thing. The support for what is right has been a major achievement of modern European and American culture. It's the prophetic Jubilee of Leviticus 25. Humanity is regaining a sense of their individual rights. Israel deserves that same right, to exist, to be at peace and to function among nations in a positive way.

In harmony with the ancient law of Jubilee that Israel observed we see the repossession of the land by it's rightful owners. See Leviticus 25. This jubilee has taken a long time to reach fruition. Conflicts occuring in today's Israel show the lack of respect by many who completely deny Israels' Divine right to the land. That's the key to biblical Zionism, a return to the land.

Times of the Gentiles : How Long?

2005-10-17T09:37:00.000-06:00

This is a term only used in the Gospel of Luke. Caution is urged when applying it to other Biblical texts. The original meaning that Jesus mentions in Luke 21:24 is consistent with the prophets, that the nations would have a time of triumph over God's people Israel.

Many Christians of the historicism and Adventist movements add Christian elements. Church-state and Divine right of kings are two phrases used within a strong urgent framework. This approach tends to figure the historicism Papal anti-Christ as essential in determine the end point.

In this presentation I suggest the Papal church state view is incorrect since it's placing the main burden of gentile oppression in a Christian setting, Christians being persecuted in Europe. Dating it from World War 1 is likewise futile, since Europe still exists, it's still fully functional in all national and social aspects. Both of these totally neglect the original Israelite setting of every one of the texts listed below.

How Long do the nations dominate?

2520 Year period

1. 606 BC - 1914 CE one problem is that there is no zero year, so the start has to be 607, some have adopted that reasoning. The secular records do not bear out either year as the starting point of the GT.
--OR-- 605/604 BC - 1917 CE - From fall of Nineveh, the defeat of Egypt and the death of Josiah by Babylon at Carchemish. This was followed by a subsequent invasion of Judah. This is Nebuchadnezzar's expansion westward.

2. 587 BC - 1933 CE - From the death of Zedekiah to the formation of an effective Zionist organization in response to the Nazi's. Zionist actions starting in 1933 provided the infrastructure for the modern state of Israel in 1948.

The basis of this time period follows from seven years multiplied by 360 days/year, then figures each day as a literal year, hence 2520 years.

Leviticus 26 Seven Times, but the word "times" is only implied. The word seven appears to modify the word more as in seven times more intense. But if times as a term is allowed to mean years, then the idea is 7 years of 360 days, hence 2520 years. A further justification is sought in connection with Daniel's 3 1/2 times mentioned below, but the phrases don't correspond in my reading of the texts.
Daniel 4 Nebuchadnezzars seven year madness is computed using the day year system of prophetic interpretation. Issues are ending dates for the madness don't correspond to any sanity manifested by world governments.

Indeterminate Period
The time that Jerusalem is oppressed by the nations
Leviticus 26 describes suffering at the hand of enemies leading to eventually reconciliation. It all goes back to the restored covenants promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Luke 21:24 Jerusalem trodden down until the times of the gentile nations is fulfilled, no particular time period is stated there. But a hopeful note is implied, the oppression will eventually be no more, dramatic world events will signal that time.

1260 Years
Luke 21 may be derived from Daniel's prophecy as is explicitly stated in the Matthew 24:15 synoptic account of the same discourse. Based on Daniel 7:25 and 12:7 this period of subjection to the nation-beasts is a time, 2 times and a half, which appears to be a 1260 period (3 1/2 years).
Revelation 11:1-3 describes the trampling of the holy city for 42 months, that's clearly another 1260 day period.
1260 years from conquest of Jerusalem by Arab Muslim armies. 637 CE - 1897 CE. Leads to beginning of Zionist movement under Theodore Herzl.

2300 Years
Daniel 8 - Sanctuary trodden down 2300 days, year-day from 334 BC Alexander the Great as the horn of the Goat, shows the effect of Greek hellenization on the Jewish people, continued under Rome and expanded in the later days by another king that would trod the place of the temple and the holy people Israel. That king was Mohammed. 334 BC + 2300 = 1967 CE, Jerusalem liberated by modern state of Israel.

I think we can see that each of these has useful aspects, although to my mind the 1914 application to a European Church state collapse is Biblically weak since it's basically unrelated to the framework of the prophet Daniel and Moses. Dates for that supposed event are usually placed in the past, but if that has really ended, then why hasn't the God of Heaven setup his earthly kingdom? On the contrary apostate Christian churches still exercise significant political and social influence, they even attempt to meddle in Israeli affairs. So it simply doesn't work out by looking at visible world events. Conversely, it doesn't seem right to say this happened in heaven as some do. The fulfillment of the gentile period in end times should bear some relation to how it all began, viz, in national natural Israel

What I do see is that Israel has taken several essential steps in reassuring the kingdom that Daniel 2 looked forward too. Several points in historical steps provide progressive markers along the way to complete shedding of foreign domination. In the end the last remnant of that will be cast off when Jerusalem is no longer threatened by the nations, not by the Arabs, not by the EU, not by the USA. It isn't fully over until Jerusalem is at peace and Israel has the ownership without challenge. As long as Jerusalem is surrounded by antagonists, by foreign governments and is free to control every aspect of their affairs independently it isn't over.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Obadiah

2005-10-13T15:22:00.000-06:00

A while back I ran across an idea concerning the book of Obadiah and current events. It's one of the shorter books of the Bible, but full of action. He was a prophet from the time of the Babylonian invasion of Israel and other surrounding countries, dates being the progrssive incursions from 605 to 586 BCE. His message parallels the prophet Jeremiah, however Obadiah focuses on the fate of Edom. This appears to be another case of prophetic continuity and recurrence. It's happening all over again. I've listed the verses and a few comments sprinkled in. Remember that Edom was a close neighbor of ancient Israel. Conflict periodically flared up between the 2 rival nations. This map shows where Edom was.http://www.bible.ca/maps/maps%2Ddivided%2Dkingdom.htm. It was considered the "south country" in ancient times, today it's included in the west bank territory, a prime area of conflict between Israel and the Arabs.

vs1 We have heard a report from the LORD, And an envoy has been sent among the nations saying, Arise and let us go against her for battle vs 6 O how Esau will be ransacked, And his hidden treasures searched out!
{support that Israel has gotten from England and the US since 1917 through the present}

vs7 All the men allied with you Will send you forth to the border, And the men at peace with you Will deceive you and overpower you They who eat your bread Will set an ambush for you {Identifies the indigenous peoples who took the name Palestinians after the 6 day war of 1967. They are used as pawns of political forces by regional Arab and Muslim countries opposing Israel. Otherwise they're despised and kept suffering in refugee camps by their own Arab brothers. Lately being taught the ways of suicide bombing.}

vs8 Destroy wise men from Edom And understanding from the mountain of Esau? 9 Then your mighty men will be dismayed, O Teman, So that everyone may be cut off from the mountain of Esau by slaughter.
10Because of violence to your brother Jacob, You will be covered with shame, And you will be cut off forever. {a dreadful fate due to their open opposition against YHWH, in the name of Allah}

11On the day that you stood aloof, {numerous attempts to get favorable treatment and bribes by European governments during Mandate period, started with T E Lawrence and King Faisal of Syria during WW1}
On the day that strangers carried off his wealth, {Nazis confiscation of Jewish wealth and genocide}
And foreigners entered his gate And cast lots for Jerusalem {League of Nations Mandate}
You too were as one of them.

{The Shoah}
12Do not gloat over your brother's day, The day of his misfortune And do not rejoice over the sons of Judah In the day of their destruction; Yes,do not boast In the day of their distress. {Amin al-Husseni, grand Mufti of Jerusalem allied with Nazis}
13Do not enter the gate of My people In the day of their disaster Yes, you, do not gloat over their calamity In the day of their disaster And do not loot their wealth In the day of their disaster. {continual Arab riots and conflict from 1929 onward}
14Do not stand at the fork of the road To cut down their fugitives; And do not imprison their survivors In the day of their distress. {Arabs objections to Jewish immigration along with many British Arabists who blocked Jews trying to escape Europe, then again major aggression during 1948 war of independence}

vs 15For the day of the LORD draws near on all the nations As you have done, it will be done to you Your dealings will return on your own head. {started with fall of Ottoman empire WW1, continued in WW2 and constitutes a major source of world troubles today until the battle of Zechariah 14:3}

vs 16Because just as you drank on My holy mountain, All the nations will drink continually. They will drink and swallow And become as if they had never existed.
vs 17 But on Mount Zion there will be those who escape, And it will be holy
And the house of Jacob will possess their possessions. {progressive increase of Jewish presence in pre 1948 Palestine, building steadily through settlements and Israeli nation building}
vs 18 Then the house of Jacob will be a fire And the house of Joseph a flame; But the house of Esau will be as stubble And they will set them on fire and consume them, {multiple conflicts where Israel has triumphed, 1948, 1956, 1967, 1973, 1982, intifadas, etc}
So that there will be no survivor of the house of Esau, {yet to occur}
For the LORD has spoken.

vs 19Then those of the Negev will possess the mountain of Esau, And those of the Shephelah the Philistine plain; {Israel has the right to this territory, they will regain all of it}
Also, possess the territory of Ephraim and the territory of Samaria, And Benjamin will possess Gilead.
vs 20And the exiles of this host of the sons of Israel, Who are among the Canaanites as far as Zarephath, And the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad Will possess the cities of the Negev. {the forgotten expulsions of nearly 1,000,000 Jews from Arab countries since 1948.}

vs 21The deliverers will ascend Mount Zion To judge the mountain of Esau, And the kingdom will be the LORD'S. {David will sit on his throne again, Messiah}

Gazastan

2005-10-13T12:48:00.000-06:00

Now that the Arabs have Gaza to themselves, we may see history repeat itself. Several Biblical prophecies suggest that Israel's ancient enemies the Philistines have returned in the guise of freedom fighters and oppressed Gaza residents. These prophecies are suggestive of current and near term events in the area called Gaza. The God of Israel performs his tasks fully and completely, if there is a recurrence of an adversary the same terms of judgment apply again. The geographical referents are still the same, something that could only have occurred since 1948 when Israel came back into existence. It's the same parties involved in the same conflict, just another 2500 year old national conflict.

If reference is made to present events this is what's going to happen:

Jeremiah 47 "For the day has come to destroy all the Philistines and to cut off all survivors who could help Tyre and Sidon. The LORD is about to destroy the Philistines, the remnant from the coasts of Caphtor."

Amos 1 "This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Gaza, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath . Because she took captive whole communities and sold them to Edom"

Zephaniah 2:5 "Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast, The nation of the Cherethites! The word of the LORD is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines; And I will destroy you So that there will be no inhabitant.
6 So the seacoast will be pastures, With caves for shepherds and folds for flocks.
7And the coast will be For the remnant of the house of Judah, They will pasture on it In the houses of Ashkelon they will lie down at evening; For the LORD their God will care for them
And restore their fortune. "

Zechariah 9 "Ashkelon will see it and fear; Gaza will writhe in agony, and Ekron too, for her hope will wither. Gaza will lose her king and Ashkelon will be deserted. "

Since Israel's recent disengagement from Gaza the lines are drawn again, it's not only some unhappy palestinians, but throngs of intruders that are up to no good. Note the establishment of several Islamic terrorist groups in Gaza itself. Al-Qaeda has established a base in the Sinai. They've already kicked out the Egyptian forces who are supposed to be guarding the borders.
Exactly what's going to happen? That isn't clearly indicated, only that they won't reach their goals regarding Israel. This could be more trouble for Europe since it's an easy trip across the sea.

Conversion of the Jews

2005-10-12T12:24:00.000-06:00

There has been quite some fuss in much of the Israeli government, Jewish media about Christian efforts at converting the Jews to Christianity. The most recent efforts involve the Baptist church announcements of potential alliance with Messianic Jewish groups. This reminds me of when Martin Luther was all love to the Jews in his early protestant years, enough that other Christians called him half-Jew. But as it turned out the Jews weren't responding to his solicitation and he turned exactly 180 degrees against them. That when he composed "The Jews and their Lies", talk about not turning the other cheek. He was totally out of line in several aspects, the most egregious being the advocacy of physical force to drive the Jews out of Germany. Early Christians regarded the use of physical force to be what they would experience themselves, no thought be given to repaying in kind. Luther also composed a litany of how the Jews were so evil, so they deserved to be paid back in the present life, he probably drew that conclusion from Augustine who held that the Jews were being preserved, albeit down-trodden, in the world as an example of God's punishment of disbelievers. Then what's a good Christian to do but help God out by kicking them when they were down. (((very sad)))

I mention all this since their is the clear potential that Christian's today could do this same turn around as Luther. The missionaries of today are going to expect results. They might even be supportive of Israel and think Jewish-Christian dialogue is a good thing. When the Jews tell them to back off, as the ZOA is already doing, then how are they going to feel? Spurning God's love again ! ? Good time to throw the Jews (diaspora) and Israel to the wolves again.

The US is in reasonably good prosperous shape, everybody is fairly optimistic about the future. But... what if our economy goes south? What if Europe gets dragged down...let's see... oil shortages...terrorist attacks everywhere...who going to be blamed ? It's easy to see how the old path trodden will come alive....those Jews again ! Still controlling the banks, the media, politicians, etc. Henry Ford's book about the Jews may enjoy a renewed circulation.

The time for the many Jews to turn back to God isn't until the coming time called Jacob's trouble Jeremiah 30 and Joel 1. That's not Christian conversion either, it's simply going to be their return to the God of Israel, Moses prophesied that in Deut 32. To quote the writer at the Gamla website, it's in the book. It's time for Christians to really support the Jewish people, don't push them around with religious polemic, it's not going to work. Push against the real enemies of both Jews and Christians. Push against the present rulers of this world's darkness. Look for the redemption that's coming for everybody. God will send the Messiah to Israel when needed, the prophecies say that's coming.

Ezekiel's Preview

2005-10-10T10:13:00.000-06:00

I recently picked up a book titled The Mountains of Israel by Norma Parrish Archbold. This book has some good Biblical insights concerning the situation involving Israel, the Palestinians and the West Bank.

Here are a few additional observations and a synopsis of Ezekiel's scenario ( a present day view).

Ezek 34 involves the leadership under the title "the shepherd of Israel" - alludes to the problem of corrupt leadership that plagues the nation of Israel even today. In the ancient days that resulted in Israel's destruction at the hands of Babylon. God won't let that happen again so he'll remove those leaders at the appropriate time.

Ezek 35 concerns Mt Seir - that's today's "Palestinian" leadership. They're in for trouble. They're hatred and greed concerning Israel will be their downfall.

Ezek 36 concerns the mountains of Israel - the West Bank, Judea, etc. Ownership by Edom and covetousness of the nations will not be allowed any longer. Today's world concern for Israeli disengagement is sadly mistaken, the onus should be on Edom/Palestinians.

Ezek 37 Valley of dry bones - how Israel comes together as a powerful nation. Aspects of this have already happened but there is apparently a coming empowering that will be much greater and with more finality. Joel 2 and 3 contain much similar material.

Ezek 38-39 - The coming final encircle of Israel again, this tells us about which nations will compose the forces coming against Israel, apparently the "Palestinians" aren't a factor at that point (or at least of no military significance). Some nations will simply stand aside and ask impotently what Gog / Magog is doing. This suggests some friendly countries like the US and UK may not be able or willing to help Israel at this future crisis point.

Ezekiel 40 - Israel's future glory, the rebuilt Israelite kingdom on earth. Is the temple literal? Possibly, but that's not as critical as the idea that present conflicts and trouble in the middle east will come to an end and be a blessing to all of the nations. That is explained additionally in the Christian book of Revelation 22. Jerusalem will be a source of blessing and good government for all of the world

The Transfer Agreement

2005-10-10T10:06:00.000-06:00

This book is authored by Edwin Black. It is extremely interesting to see what twists and turns preceded and enabled the establishment of the state of Israel. There is a detailed accounting of the transfer of money and German Jews out of Nazi Germany. It was only possible because Jews and non-Jews from many countries united in giving notice to Hitler that persecuting Jews was not acceptable. It turned out this environment of threatened economic boycott forced Hitler to give just a little at a crucial time. Roughly 60,000 Jews escaped from Germany with a sizable chunk of money prior to the Shoah. That turned out to be crucial in the next decade in preparation for their war of independence in 1948-9.

The lesson from that is that Jewish people can't let the world's governments tell them to be quiet and just hope nobody gets hurt. They can't hide and hope the trouble will pass them by. The rank and file among Jews and non_jews recognized the threat that Hitler posed. The Jewish leadership did amazing things considering their predicatment. They had to make wrenching choices. The protagonists of those times continue under different labels in present day Israel. The goal of many was then and is now an independent Jewish state. This book is highly recommended.

A Note on Christians and Zionism

2005-10-07T13:00:00.000-06:00

Over the past 200+ years a number of Christian writers have presented good Biblical studies concerning the topic of the prophecy and the restoration of Israel. I would like to point out some distinguishing points among these writers.

The return of the Jews to the land is seen as a prelude to a coming period of 7 years in which the 3rd temple will be rebuilt and a Jewish anti-Christ will set himself up as a world leader. This is an inaccurate and dangerous view since it places the Jews among the enemies of Christ again. They will appear to be either direct supporters of the anti-Christ or complicit and deceived by him. They lose both ways. Alternatively we see the rebuilding of the nation as a continual and progressive upbuilding that will challenged from outsiders. Those outsiders include the nations "round about" Zechariah 12 and those further away Zechariah 14, Joel 3 and Ezekiel 38. Israel will defend itself in the power of God when the time is ripe. Micah 5 and Isaiah 41.

Jews are seen as fodder for Christian missionaries in these end times. They have continually been in hot pursuit of converts since that is regarded as how Israel turns of God. Christian missions to the Jews have accompanied every step of support for the modern state of Israel. But the prophets of Israel are very clear. Israel is to turn back to God, but it isn't stated they have to come to Christ in a mass conversion to be delivered in the coming tribulation. The statement is simple "return to me". Hosea 3, Isaiah 62, Leviticus 26. Jesus himself said they would return to their God when they say "blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" Matthew 23.

Jews are also seen as needing salvation from the terrors of hell in spite of all the nice things they will say about Israel. We suggest that modern Biblical studies in what is called The New Paul and the historical Jewish Jesus present us with a much broader picture of what salvation is. It extends beyond the typical evangelical protestant conversion field. God is the redeemer of Israel, he has taken care of them in the past and present. In the future he will deliver all those found written in the book of life of Moses and Daniel. Additionally, modern studies in Christian eschatology also suggest that medieval doctrines of eternal torment are perversions of scripture and that Gods love extends beyond this temporal life into the ages to come when all people will have the opportunity to know him without interference. That will happen on this very earth and that Israel will be the center of the educational restitution process. Isaiah 2:2-3 won't happen through the U.N., but it will happen in Jerusalem.

Few Christian writers/teachers have these points accurately presented. A few that do include:

James Bicheno - The Restoration of Israel. 1800. He noted that the Jewish people would return to the land prior to any conversion.
Dunbar I Heath - The Human Kingdom of Christ. ~1845. An AGE TO COME approach
Henry Dunn - The Destiny of the Human Race. 1863. An AGE TO COME approach
Charles T Russell - Thy Kingdom Come 1889, then in 1910 New York Hippodrome meetings with very large Jewish audiences. His magazine Zion's Watchtower had many notes concerning events among the Jewish peoples and early Zionism.
Kenneth Rawson - Israel Appointment with Destiny program in 1990's to date.

Introductory Message

2005-10-07T08:05:00.000-06:00

My subject matter will be concerned with the Biblical basis for the restoration of the Jewish people to their rightful homeland. I firmly support the Zionist cause. The Bible contains many threads of thought that can be profitably gleaned in this vein. I have used an inspiration for this blog a book published in the year 1800 titled The Restoration of Israel by James Bicheno. He wrote another book called Signs of the Times. I just ordered a copy. He accurately assessed the future restoration of the Jewish people to their homeland. More of his understandings will be presented at a later date. He was an early example of many expositors and writers who will be highlighted in time.

Events in the middle east are pivotal in discerning the meaning of many other world wide events that are daily seen in our media.

I enjoy examining aspects of human thought and behavior that continues to view the Jewish people negatively. History is full of lessons concerning anti-semitism among Christians, seculars and Muslims. The subject mattter is not simply academic, but emotionally involving, much like watching disaster footage on TV national news.

I look to the restored nation of Israel more than simply a fulfillment of Bible prophecy in order to make way for the 2nd coming. I would suggest the value of Israel and the Jewish people in their own sphere, not in accord with most politically correct liberal Americans. The Bible tells us of the great future in store for the Jewish people, their sufferings and blessings are all described in the Hebrew Bible. Judaism is not a waystop to becoming Christian. Instead the coming Kingdom of God is for them as believers in the one God.

I will post items that are pertinent to Israel, the Jewish people and Christianity:

History
Present events
Jewish and Christian scriptures texts and interpretations
A bit of philosophy, motivations, lessons
Helpful books related to the subject, especially the ones I like