The world is closing in on Israel—Gog and Magog. Be alert for it! Iran, Turkey, and Russia are all in on it. It is coming (look at Ezekiel 38, 39).
The devil is planning much deception for the world, but also for a believers. We must resist him and draw near to God.
I resolve to keep up with bible reading and writing. It will do me good and I hope will benefit others.
The Ezekiel invasion of Ezekiel 38 and 39 may be the next major world event after the Rapture of the church. Here are a few of the most important details of this invasion: first, though it may seem like the many nations that come after Israel are great and self-determined with their own plan, it will be God that will summon them into battle. In fact, Scripture tells us that He will put hooks into their jaws and pull them into the war (Ezek. 38:4), where he will bring His fierce judgment on them.
Secondly, this invasion will be at a time when Israel is living securely (vv. 8, 11). And many think that this is true of Israel now, since they have a well-equipped military and a strong economy. So, this war could come at any time.
One more important point is: though there will be millions of troops that will come against Israel, and will cover the land “like a cloud,” (v. 16), there will also be a few nations that will be against the invasion (from Ezek. 38:13). These are Sheba (or Yemen), Dedan (or Saudi Arabia), the Merchants of Tarshish (or Spain and Britain), and the young lions (possibly the USA). We don’t know exactly why they will not get involved; but it is my guess that they just aren’t as hateful toward Israel as the other nations; or they may have more of a commercial interest with Israel.
Here are the invaders—those who are mostly Muslims and who are led into war by one called Gog (from Ezek. 38:1-6).
The surprising and miraculous outcome of this invasion is that Israel won’t be touched at all; but the invading armies will be almost completely destroyed. Of course, this will be God’s intention all along. He will summon them to this battle to be judged by Him. And His judgment will be four-fold.
5 Ibid., pp. 127-140.
I understand when people—good people—say that Israel should stop the shooting; that there has been enough killing. I heard a good man the other day say that there is anger and hatred on both sides—from Hamas and Israel. I have heard also that the war is senseless; also, that the Palestinians have a right to live there in peace.
Well, I sort of understand; but I don’t think that these people quite understand Israel’s situation. Israel wants to live in peace and they have been giving the Palestinians every chance to live in peace in Israel. But the Palestinians, and especially Hamas, are a people of war and terror. They hate Israel and constantly plan to some day push them into the sea—to destroy them and claim all the land. But Israel’s land was promised to the Jews by God (Gen 12).
Ever since God gave them the land many waring nations have come against them and terrorized them—like the Philistines and the Amorites. And it is the same today. Hamas and the Palestinians (backed by Iran) have been terrorizing them with rockets; and they hide in tunnels ready to pop out with surprise attacks.
In Israel’s history, under the leadership of king David, Israel was constantly at war with their enemies. And God was in favor of it. In fact, He commanded it. War for them was absolutely necessary to keep them at peace, to keep them safe. Solomon even wrote in his book of Ecclesiastes that there is “a time for war” (Ecc. 3:8).
I think we should recognize now in this day that God has given the leaders if Israel wisdom in seeing that for them it is also “a time for war.” They know that they cannot sit back any longer to let their enemies terrorize them. They must protect themselves. They must rid themselves of all those who are hiding in every corner and in every tunnel with every intent to kill them. We have heard that it will take a good year longer to wipe them out and finish the war. I don’t know why we (US) and the rest of the world can’t back them up and support them in this war effort (or at least leave them alone. This war is a good work they are doing, and from God!
The US, Egypt, Qatar and others are pushing Israel for a two-state solution, with the Palestinians to rule in Gaza. But Israel, esp. Netanyahu says, “No! that will not bring peace to Israel.” Israel knows that the Palestinians still hate them and will continue to plan their destruction— “From the river to the sea.” Which is true!
I have heard many church people ask, “What about the Palestinian Christians?” I do sympathize with them, but they should not ever side with the Palestinian government and against Israel. The Palestinian government has declared their evil intent on Israel. If these so-called Pal. Christians are in fact true Christians, they must separate from the Pal. Authority and from the Muslim faith and seek to join the Christian church in Israel and to be under the Israeli government. In doing this they will be safe.
It is unfortunate that many nations are pushing for a Palestinian state and authority in Israel. This of course is against what Israel wants because they know that there can be no peace if that happens. And of course, we know that they are on the side of God and His promises to them, that He has promised them the land according to Genesis 13:14-17.
The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. 15 All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. 16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. 17 Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.” Genesis 13:14-17.
Still, many nations refuse to let Israel have what God has given them. Read the following article:
By LAZAR BERMAN
21 January 2024, 5:10 pm The US, Egypt and Qatar are pushing Israel and Hamas to accept a comprehensive plan that would end the war, see the release of hostages held in Gaza, and ultimately lead to full normalization for Israel with its neighbors and talks for the establishment of a Palestinian state, The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday. The plan, whose complete implementation would take 90 days, would reportedly bring all fighting to an extended halt, during which time the Palestinian terror group, in the first stage, would free all civilians. Israel would simultaneously release hundreds of Palestinian security prisoners, pull out of Gaza’s cities, allow freedom of movement in the Strip, cease drone surveillance over Gaza, and double the amount of aid entering the Hamas-controlled territory. The next stage would see Hamas release female IDF soldiers and bodies of kidnapped Israelis, as Israel releases more Palestinian prisoners. The third phase would have Israel pull back troops to the Gaza border, while Hamas frees the last hostages — soldiers and fighting-age men it considers soldiers.
Yes, Netanyahu is right. Peace can only come to Israel if Hamas is destroyed, if Gaza is demilitarized, and if the Palestinians are deradicalized. But that will be impossible—unless they give up their evil, hateful ways. So, they must turn to God; they all must turn to God. That is the only way of true peace.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week outlined three prerequisites for peace in the region following months of war with Hamas.
Netanyahu, in an opinion piece published by The Wall Street Journal on Monday, outlined the three: the destruction of Hamas, the demilitarization of Gaza, and the deradicalization of Palestinian society.
“First, Hamas, a key Iranian proxy, must be destroyed. The U.S., U.K., France, Germany, and many other countries support Israel’s intention to demolish the terror group,” Netanyahu wrote.
“Second, Gaza must be demilitarized. Israel must ensure that the territory is never again used as a base to attack it,” he added.
According to Netanyahu, this will involve creating “a temporary security zone” on Gaza’s perimeter and a border inspection system to prevent weapons smuggling. He also claimed that expecting the Palestinian Authority to demilitarize Gaza “is a pipe dream.”
“Third, Gaza will have to be deradicalized,” the prime minster continued. “Schools must teach children to cherish life rather than death, and imams must cease to preach for the murder of Jews. Palestinian civil society needs to be transformed so that its people support fighting terrorism rather than funding it.”
Netanyahu wrote that once these three goals are achieved, “Gaza can be rebuilt and the prospects of a broader peace in the Middle East will become a reality.”
News
The top of the news is the war in Israel. It seems that all nations are against what Israel is doing. I think the main reason why so many Palestinians are being killed is because Hamas is not letting them out and hiding behind them. It’s a shame. But most Palestinians, even those who are not tied to Hamas, are also against Israel. They have been trained from a child to hate the Jews.
I think the war is going well, and I wish the US and all other nations would let Israel alone and let them fight their own war. I know that if Trump were the Pres. He would support them in whatever they would want and also aid them.
I am most disappointed in the elite colleges like Harvard who aren’t doing one thing to put down the antisemitism and marches. They are getting a very bad reputation as being very liberal and anti-Jewish. Sad!
Both Biden and Trump are on the hot seat. Biden could be impeached for his criminal history—I hope. It’s a different story for Trump. He is wrongly judged for so many things. The New York AG is making it her amusement to get rid of Trump. I guess she is trying to build up her own image and popularity with the people. Sad.
Prophetic Horizons
In just the last few years Russia, Turkey and Iran are coming together and making plans to war together against Israel. This is exactly what the Bible says will happen in the last days (read Ezek. 38, 39). This latest Israel/Hamas war is also prophetic, because it is bringing out so much animosity against Israel. It is shocking to me how many are declaring their hatred against the Jews. It is Satanic. He is working hard to eliminate the Jews. But that won’t happen.
My Reading
I just finished reading about William Tyndale. What a brilliant and dedicated servant of God. Now I’m reading about Eric Liddell, a champion Olympic runner and a missionary to China (from 1923 to 1945). He was such a humble man. He ran for the Lord and used his running fame as a platform to evangelize the lost. He really cared nothing for his own fame; he did everything for the glory of God.
This and That
I’ve been feeling sickly—trying to exercise more and eat better. I didn’t feel like going to church, but I still wanted to and so I did. And it helped me. The fellowship with believers always lifts me up. Church is so necessary for these times (Heb. 10:24-25).
It’s rather warm here is MN—in the 40’s! and no snow. Very odd for Mn.
Both Herzog and Netanyahu agree that the Palestinians cannot be trusted to govern Gaza. I agree. All of the land promised to Israel should be Israel’s, and that includes Gaza. I don’t even think any of them should be allowed to live there; but if they are allowed, they will have to be controlled.
November 16, 2023
Israel will need to maintain a significant presence in Gaza to prevent the Hamas terrorist group from regaining control of the enclave, President Isaac Herzog said in an interview with the Financial Times published on Thursday.
“If we pull back, then who will take over? We can’t leave a vacuum. We have to think about what will be the mechanism; there are many ideas that are thrown in the air,” Herzog said. “But no one will want to turn this place, Gaza, into a terror base again.”
Israeli forces have been conducting ground, air and naval operations in the Gaza Strip with the stated goal of dismantling Hamas’s military and governing capabilities, in the wake of the terror group’s Oct. 7 massacre in southern Israel.
Herzog told the British daily business newspaper that the Israeli government has been discussing ideas about how Gaza will be managed after Hamas is defeated, indicating that the United States and “our neighbors in the region” would have some involvement.
The United States has been pushing for the Palestinian Authority to play a role in governing Gaza after Hamas, but Israeli officials have rejected the proposal due to the P.A.’s support for terrorism.
“In order to prevent terror from coming up again, we have to have a very strong force to make sure that it’s committed enough and it [the attack] doesn’t happen [again],” said Herzog.
Herzog’s remarks echo those of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has stated multiple times in recent weeks that Israel will maintain security control over Gaza after defeating Hamas.
“The IDF will continue to have security control over the Gaza Strip for as long as necessary to prevent terrorism from it. The massacre on Oct. 7 proved once and for all wherever there is no Israeli security control, terrorism will return and establish itself; therefore, I will not agree to concede security control under any circumstances,” Netanyahu said at a joint press conference on Nov. 11.
Netanyahu also said during the press conference that Gaza cannot be ruled by “a civil authority that educates its children to hate Israel, to kill Israelis, to eliminate the State of Israel… an authority that pays the families of murderers [amounts] based on the number they murdered… an authority whose leader still has not condemned the terrible [Oct. 7] massacre 30 days later,” referring to P.A. leader Mahmoud Abbas.
During the interview with the Financial Times, Herzog also discussed the hostage situation, among other topics, blaming Hamas for the lack of an agreement on their release.
“We haven’t even received one piece of information about our hostages,” he said. “So we have to fight and get them.”
Herzog also touched upon efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to the Strip, saying that Israel is discussing a “major effort” with Cyprus to deliver aid via the Mediterranean Sea and that Cypriot officials were visiting Israel on Thursday to follow up on the initiative.
“It’s under serious negotiations with the Cypriot government,” Herzog said.
It appears that God is using the Hamas war and the increasing antisemitism to fulfill His promise to them, that He will “gather them [His people] from every side and bring them into their own land.” Read the following article from the All Israel News Staff.
French and North American Jews show the highest levels of interest
Israel’s Aliyah [gathering] and Integration Ministry reported on Tuesday that there is a notable increase of people interested in immigrating to Israel since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, with the largest numbers of requests from France and North America.
Of those considering the possibility of moving to Israel, the ministry reported a 149% increase in interest from Jewish French citizens and an 81% increase from North American Jews.
Ofir Sofer, the minister of Aliyah and Integration, said the Jewish state is ready to face what he called a “state of emergency” due to a 500% rise in global antisemitism, especially against Jewish youths on university campuses.
France has seen an unprecedented uptick in antisemitic attacks in the past month since the war began last month. The number of incidents has risen above peak numbers that were recorded in 2002.
Sofer says his ministry staff is prepared for a large wave of immigrants and a unified desire to support the State of Israel in the coming year.
“We are in a state of emergency,” Sofer said in the ministry’s statement. “The reports I have been receiving are very concerning. Our goal now is to strengthen the ties between us and support the communities that stand with Israel.”
“Precisely now, we are seeing a surge in the number of people interested in aliyah. The waves of unity and Jewish solidarity are bolstering the aliyah movement and strengthening the State of Israel.”
He also said new immigrants would receive strong support when they arrive in Israel.
“The State of Israel awaits everyone,” he added, inviting Jews around the world to move to the Jewish state.
While the numbers of those interested in making aliyah have risen since the war began, the first half of 2023 saw a decrease in immigration.
In July, The Jewish Agency for Israel reported a significant drop in aliyah from Western countries from January to July in 2023, while interest from Russian Jews began to rise.
The war in Ukraine is said to be a significant factor in the rise and fall of immigration numbers and has significantly impacted a sharp rise in Russian immigration.
The numbers of immigrants from Western European countries in the first half of 2023 dropped by 44% compared to the same time in 2022.
Some countries, such as France and Britain, revealed an even larger decrease in immigrants during 2023, prior to Oct. 7.
Only 383 French immigrants made aliyah so far in 2023, a 59% decrease from the previous year, and 171 British immigrants became Israeli citizens, a 40% drop from 2022.
At least 22,851 immigrants arrived in Israel in 2023, a 32% increase compared to the same period in the previous year.
However, according to the Jewish Agency, only about 700 immigrants arrived in October since the war began, compared to last year during the same period, when 5,773 new immigrants made aliyah, 4,553 of them from Russia.
“The Bible says that there is a time for peace and a time for war. This is a time for war – a war for our common future.“
Until recently, many believed that the promise of progress of the 21st century would enable us to move beyond the barbaric horrors of the past towards a better and brilliant future.
Many believed that we could go about our comfortable lives and that evil will simply pass us by.
It will not.
The horrors that Hamas perpetrated on October 7th remind us that we will not realize the promise of a better future unless we, the civilized world, are willing to fight the barbarians.
Because the barbarians are willing to fight us.
And their goal is clear: Shatter that promising future, destroy all that we cherish and usher in a world of fear and darkness.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This is a turning point, a turning point for leaders and nations.
It is time for all of us to decide if we are willing to fight for a future of hope and promise; or surrender to tyranny and terror.
Now rest assured, Israel will fight.
Since October 7th, Israel has been at war. Israel did not start this war.
Israel did not want this war.
But Israel will win this war.
Hamas launched this war by perpetrating the worst savagery our people have seen since the Holocaust.
Hamas murdered children in front of their parents.
Murdered parents in front of their children.
They burnt people alive.
They raped women.
They beheaded men.
They tortured Holocaust survivors.
They kidnapped babies.
They committed the most horrific crimes imaginable.
And they’re a part of the axis of evil Iran has formed, an axis of terror that works by arming, training and financing Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen and other terror proxies throughout the Middle East and beyond the Middle East.
In fighting Hamas and the Iranian axis of terror, Israel is fighting the enemies of civilization itself. Victory over these enemies begins with moral clarity.
It begins with knowing the difference between good and evil, between right and wrong.
It means making a moral distinction between the deliberate murder of the innocent and the unintentional casualties that accompany every legitimate war, even the most just war.
It means holding Hamas responsible for the double war crime it commits every day by deliberately targeting Israeli civilians while using Palestinians civilians as human shields.
It means making clear that the use of human shields is not only an immoral tactic of terror but also an ineffective one.
Because as long as Hamas’ use of Palestinian human shields results in the international community blaming Israel, Hamas will continue to use it as a tool of terror, and so will others.
Hamas will continue to use the basements in Gaza’s hospitals as the command posts of its vast terror tunnel network. It will continue to use mosques as fortified military positions and weapons depots. It will continue to steal fuel and humanitarian assistance from UN facilities.
While Israel is doing everything to get Palestinian civilians out of harm’s way, Hamas is doing everything to keep Palestinian civilians in harm’s way.
Israel urges Palestinian civilians to leave the areas of armed conflict, while Hamas prevents those civilians from leaving those areas at gunpoint.
Hamas is also preventing foreign nationals from leaving Gaza altogether. And most despicably, Hamas is holding over 200 Israelis hostage, including 33 children: holding them, terrorizing them, keeping them as hostages.
Every civilized nation should stand with Israel in demanding that these hostages be freed immediately and freed unconditionally.
I want to make clear Israel’s position regarding a ceasefire. Just as the United States would not agree to a ceasefire after the bombing of Pearl Harbor or after the terrorist attack of 9/11, Israel will not agree to a cessation of hostilities with Hamas after the horrific attacks of October 7th.
Calls for a ceasefire are calls for Israel to surrender to Hamas, to surrender to terrorism, to surrender to barbarism. That will not happen.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Bible says that there is a time for peace and a time for war. This is a time for war – a war for our common future.
Today, we draw a line between the forces of civilization and the forces of barbarism. It is a time for everyone to decide where they stand. Israel will stand against the forces of barbarism until victory.
I hope and pray that civilized nations everywhere will back this fight, because Israel’s fight is your fight. Because if Hamas and Iran’s axis of evil win – you will be their next target.
That’s why Israel’s victory will be your victory. But make no mistake. Regardless of who stands with Israel, Israel will fight until this battle is won. And Israel will prevail.
May God Bless Israel and May God Bless all those who stand with Israel.
First and foremost, on my mind is suspicion of Biden. I don’t trust him. He seems to be playing both sides. He says he is for Israel, but at the same time he is aiding Hamas and delaying Israel’s war effort. I think he is just trying to get votes from both sides. It is all political.
Second on my mind is why Jim Jordan is being stopped from being Speaker. I think he would make a very good speaker—but liberals won’t allow it. Do they know what they are doing?
Thirdly, and more personal, is my thoughts on the subject of obedience and faith. I give the credit to John MacArthur in his book, The Gospel According to Jesus. He points out that some say that obedience and faith should be regarded as separate, that obedience is works and should come after faith—something like that. But MacArthur makes the point that the two should always be together—as James points out, faith without works is dead.
And what is really coming to light for me now is that when we are disobedient to God, we are in sin; and so, this tells us that when we sin we are lacking in faith—or we are not trusting God. I know that we—even good Christians—will never be perfect in obedience and faith; but this is something we have to be constantly working on. I mean, we cannot let up in our effort to be holy and godly. And on the brighter side, when we are more obedient, God makes us happy (or joyful). And when we are obedient we have more hope and steadfastness and resilience in evil times. In short, obedience to God is the key to the victorious Christian life—because in our obedience we are trusting in Him.
Fourthly, as I trust and obey Him, I plod along with everything else. I have two books that I am editing. I am nursing a thing in my mouth called lichen planus (sort of a disease which apparently has no cure; but I am using mouth washes, aloe Vera gel and clove to try to get rid of it, or at least sooth it).
I am also reading two books; the one I mentioned by MacArthur, and a book by Bill O’Reilly, Killing the Witches. This book falls in line with the one I just read, Mayflower. The Mayflower arrived in 1620 and the witches tragedy occurred later at about 1680. I say tragedy because they were killing girls that weren’t witches at all. They were just suspected of being witches. It was much like the Catholic inquisition—burning Christians alive. Terrible!
My blogging has slowed down, but now that I am not working much, I will try to pick it up again.
Stephen Nielsen 