The Restoration Of All Things

The Jewish people have from the very beginning of their existence had a tie to the land of Israel and Jerusalem. Jerusalem is the city of their ancestors and, for that same reason, has borne the brunt of Satan's assault on Zion. As Satan's allotted time comes to a end, Israel, Jerusalem and the Jewish People will become the centerpiece of Bible prophecy. These three things are they key to the restitution and restoration of ALL THINGS - in the CHURCH and the WORLD!

By Chris McDonald

Acts 3:20-22 - And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: [21] Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. [22] For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

Why is Jerusalem so important? There is no harbor or major river there. The city is not that big. It is not the center of world trade or the capital of a large nation. In fact, the nation of Israel is no bigger than the state of New Jersey, yet this tiny country and its capital are the focus of statesmen who represent the mightiest nations on earth. Why? The answer is simple - BECAUSE GOD SAID IT WOULD BE!

It is easy to recognize the historical significance of Jerusalem and Israel, but even more important is its spiritual significance. The Holy City and its environs have witnessed many of mankind's most pivotal moments. The most important is the bedrock of our salvation - the crucifixion of the Messiah - Yeshua Ha'maschiah. This is the place God placed His name and for that reason it has been the center of a spiritual and physical battle for centuries.

2 Chron. 12:13 - So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam was one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess.

The Jewish people have during these same centuries been the caretaker of the land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem. Every Jewish person is forever tied to the land and to the city of their ancestors and, for that reason, the land has borne the brunt of Satan's assault on Zion. Therefore, as Satan's allotted time comes to a close and as history approaches its climatic end you can be assured that world events surrounding Israel, Jerusalem and the Jewish people will continue to escalate in nature and verocity the closer we get to the end.

The Restitution Of All Things

When Peter said "the restoration of all things" he was using a word we use for "restitution." The Greek here is apokatastasis from apo meaning "back" and kathistemi which means "again" - "back again." According to Webster's Dictionary, one of the meanings of restitution is a "a giving back of the rightful owner something that has been lost or taken away; a return to a former condition or situation."

Yeshua will not return until that which has been taken is restored back to its rightful owner. This scripture also has reference to the ultimate plan of God to take back the Earth from Satan. When Yeshua steps foot on Earth again, it will be to establish His Kingdom in Jerusalem and subjugate all His enemies. However, Peter says that "the heaven must receive Him until everything is restored." Several things are being restored to their original place as we speak. One of them is the Jewish roots back to the heart of Christianity. Many believers are becoming aware of their Jewish roots. Another thing being restored to their rightful status, which is the subject of this journal, is the city of Jerusalem and the land of Israel, along with the Jewish people. Before Yeshua left one of the things His disciples asked of Him was "will you at THIS TIME, RESTORE the Kingdom unto Israel?" (Acts 1:6) The disciples knew the scriptures concerning the Messianic kingdom and prophecies one of which in Zechariah 14:4.

Zech. 12:4 - In that day, saith the Lord, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness.

When Jesus left Jerusalem to go to heaven He stood on the Mt. Of Olives! He claimed to be the Son of God, the Messiah. This was not a mere claim. This man had died and risen from the dead fulfilling nearly 300 prophetic scriptures in the Old Covenant concerning Israel's Redeemer. As this day unfolded many of the disciples felt "this is the beginning of the Messianic Kingdom." Many of us would have too.

The disciples knew that the restoration of ISRAEL had to occur first before the Kingdom would begin. Most of the Old Covenant promises wrote about Israel being restored in the last days. In fact, when Peter quoted Joel in Acts 2:16-20 he drew a direct relationship between Israel's COMPLETE RESTORATION. Peter conveyed this continuing theme in our text that Yeshua could not return UNTIL Israel had been restored as a nation.

Acts 2:16-20 - But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; [17] And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: [18] And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: [19] And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke: [20] The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:

Peter's word were confirmed by other scriptures throughout the Word of God:

Romans 11:25-26 - For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. [26] And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

Hosea 3:4-5 - For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: [5] Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days.

Isaiah 54:7 - For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.

God declares that Israel's restoration is one of the greatest signs we are living in the end times. This is why Israel is so important. Since the day Yeshua ascended into heaven NO generation could accurately claim to be living in the day of His return - UNTIL NOW.

In 1897 Theodore Hertzl helped organize the First Zionist Congress in Basle Switzerland, with the aim of promoting a Jewish homeland. Some 20 years later, the Balfour Declaration of 1917 opened the door for the establishment of Jewish homeland in Palestine. Coinciding with this political activity a revival of Jewish culture erupted on the scene as well. Eliezar Ben Yehuda revived the once-dead Hebrew language and is now considered the Father of modern Hebrew. In November 1947, the United Nations adopted a resolution that partitioned British Palestine, thus creating a Jewish homeland. In May of 1948 the modern nation of Israel was born. Many ministries began preaching Christ was going to come very imminently. But in retrospect Yeshua could not return until EVERYTHING was restored.

In June 1967 Israel conquered the Golan Heights (after She was attacked by Syria), the so-called West Bank and most importantly ALL of the Old City Of Jerusalem. For the first time in CENTURIES, the Jewish people had control of the ancient capital. I personally believe at THAT POINT the clock started ticking down on the last generation. In confirmation of this fact, other prophecies began to be fulfilled.

Israel's history is one of miracles. Just read the stories of her protection from her enemies in 1967 and 1973 during the Six-Day War and Yom Kippur Wars. It would take a complete idiot (i.e. Yasser Arafat) to see that God was not on Israel's side in this conflict. Look at some other interesting events that have taken place since 1967 in the land of Israel:

The Coastland

Isaiah 11:14 - But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.

When Sir Isaac Newton read this, he commented that, at the end of days, the Jewish people would return to their homeland by flying. At that time, most thought he was crazy to make that statement. The Hebrew word P'lishtim vikatef means "shoulder of the Philistines" - was actually a geographical landmark. This is where the hills of Shephela end over the valley of Ajalon. Across the valley is ancient Lydia, or Lod. Lod today is situated on the shoulder of the Philistines. Lod is also the exact location of, you guessed it, Ben Gurion Airport. Most of the Jewish people who have returned to their ancient homeland have flown in upon "the shoulders of the Philistines."

The Desert

Isaiah 35:8 - And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

Isaiah prophesies of a major thoroughfare that will run through the desert. Specifically, Isaiah used the Hebrew word "aravah" interpreted as "desert." The Aravah is a region that begins south of the Dead Sea and continues south to the Gulf of Aqaba. According to Isaiah, this highway is destined to serve the "ransomed of the Lord" who come to Zion to worship the King (Isaiah 35:10)

Isaiah 35:10 - And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

As we write this journal, Israel is in the process of building a "highway" that will transverse the nation. This highway will run from northern Israel right through Samaria into Beersheba and the Aravah region. It will eventually connect with the main road coming out of Egypt. This is in a degree a fulfillment of what Isaiah saw 2500 years ago. I also believe this highway will be a spiritual road when Messiah reigns from Israel with salvation to those who walk it - OH GLORY TO GOD!

JERUSALEM

Amos 9:10-11 - All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, which say, The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us. [11] In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:

One of the most exciting developments in Israel in the last few years is the anticipation of a Third Jewish Temple on Mount Moriah. Young men are being trained in the rituals associated with the Priesthood. Temple articles to be used in these rituals have already been fashioned. All that is needed is the access to the Temple Mount so that construction can begin. Blocking that access right now are the Moslems. Upon Mount Moriah they have their own holy sites: the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aksa Mosque. If, at this point, the Jewish people attempted to build a Temple, international tensions would soar through the roof and then anything - including a third World War would erupt. Many in Israel want to keep the Jewish presence on the Temple Mount before the world.

One such movement is the Temple Mount Faithful Movement. They stage a yearly procession in the shadow of the Temple Mount each year at the Feast of Tabernacles. This group brings a stone they insist will be the cornerstone for the Third Temple. Days before the procession, the Arabs, who still control the Temple Mount (but do not have sovereignty over the Temple Mount), put pressure on the Israeli authorities not to allow the Faithful near Mount Moriah. In fact, they threaten violence should the Faithful be allowed to proceed up the Mount compound. In October, 1990 this is what triggered riots where 19 people were killed. Many believe Israel is on the brink of rebuilding a Third Temple which will play prominently in the Tribulation period and the advent of the Antichrist. We know from Daniel that he will desecrate that Third Temple becoming the "abomination of desolation." Neighbor time is getting short.

Along with the Temple issue, we have ALIYAH or the return of millions of Jewish people to their homeland. Many are calling it the Second Exodus. Jews from around the world are returning to Israel, thus fulfilling the Word of the Lord. THESE THINGS ARE HAPPENING TO TELL US THAT THIS GENERATION WILL WITNESS THE RESTORATION OF ALL THINGS.

When we see Jewish people living in their own land - TIME IS SHORT!

The Palestinian Issue And Peace

"We shall not, at any cost, accept the Jewish plan to continue their occupation of Jerusalem." Those are the words of Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, in an interview with Saudi Arabia's daily newspaper "Okaz" five years ago when the United States government was pushing Israel into a corner to make concessions to the Palestinians. Jerusalem is, and will forever be, the national capital of the Palestinian state," he said, emphasizing that Jerusalem should be surrendered to the Palestinians in accordance with U.N. Resolutions 242 and 338. And with those words, we have the real reason why the Middle East is exploding at the present time. No matter what Israel offers the Arab world in exchange for peace there will BE NO PEACE in the Middle East until Yeshua comes and sets up His Kingdom on earth. Every other plan man can write on a piece of paper will be worthless.

There is a war right now between the Islamic world and Jerusalem. Many may read that statement, shrug and say, "ok, but what does that have to do with us here in the United States and me individually." It has EVERYTHING to do with you and me because the same war that is waging between Islam and Jerusalem is the same war that is waging between Islam and true Yeshua-based Christianity. Again remember the scriptural principle - what happens with Israel in the natural usually precedes what happens with the Church in the spiritual. We are at that moment in history right now!

According to a poll published about a year ago, most Israelis believes another actual war with Arab states is on its way if the crisis in the peace process is not defused. The poll shows that 59% percent of people questioned believe there is a "strong possibility of conflict" between Israel and the Arabs; and that faith in the peace process is on the wane in Israel in light of the past 18 months of attacks since September 2000. The Arab/Moslem world only want to squeeze more concessions out of Israel without any form of compromise. But the more Israel has conceded in the past, the more the PLO unleashed terror. You cannot appease a terrorist. Their goal is not peace, it's mayhem. The PLO and its leader, Yasser Arafat, embody this point!

One of Islam's main goals is the acquisition of "Islamic territory." Regarding Israel, they believe all the land comprising the State of Israel, from the Jordan River to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, is Islamic territory. Therefore, for them, the "Peace Process" is a process of claiming territory for the Arab/Moslem world, not a real process of reconciliation and compromise that we understand and work to achieve in the Western world. The Western concept of "peace," as "to bury the hatchet and resolve the conflict" is a totally foreign concept in the world view of Islam.

In the aftermath of the Gulf War, fanatical Islam began and intensified a new tactic against Israel. They had tried to defeat the Jewish people and dislodge from the land FOUR TIMES unsuccessfully:

1. Independence War of 1948

2. Sinai Campaign of 1956

3. Six-Day War of 1967

4. Yom Kippur War of 1973

At this point they began a new tactic called the INTIFADA. This was basically a public relations effort in order to sway the world's opinion in favor of the Arabs who live in Judea and Samaria (the so-called West Bank). Young men and women would stage riots against Israel. Unfortunately it has never stopped at riots. Terrorist attacks ensued, killing many civilians in Israeli cities even to this very moment you are reading this journal. Ever since the Six-Day-War of 1967, the Israelis have been constructing Jewish settlements in Judea, Samaria and the Golan Heights for security purposes. These settlements are suburban developments with lovely homes, schools and parks. one of the Primary goals of the Intifada was to stop the spread of these Jewish settlements. Gradually, the Intifada gained the support of the world press and governments. Since then, Israel has been viewed as the oppressor of the Palestinians even being labeled as "Nazis" a term that sends blood curdling chills up any Jewish person's spine because of the Holocaust. Yes it's true neighbor, the world has likened this so-called "oppression" to the same type treatment the Jewish people received at the hands of the Nazis in World War II. HOW STUPID AND UTTERLY DEMONIZED IS THAT?????? VERY!!

As a result of world opinion, Presidents Bush and Clinton have all pushed hard on Israel to cease and desist the building of settlements. In effect they have pressured Israel to relinquish its claim to strategic lands GOD promised to them and hand it over to their Islamic enemies. As a result of this pressure, the late Yitzhak Rabin signed a peace initiative with the PLO on the White House Lawn on September 13, 1993.(NOTICE THE DAY THAT TREATY WAS SIGNED -cp. 9-11!!!) We have all seen the famous photograph of Rabin and Arafat shaking hands as their illustrious "partner in peace," Bill Clinton looks on approvingly. Though it looked good for the cameras, it certainly has not brought true peace. Rather, it persuaded those who wish to see Israel's destruction to step us their efforts to kill as many Jews as possible. Rabin lived just long enough to see many more Jewish people die in terrorist attacks. Before he was assassinated, the Peace Agreement he had signed was referred to as the "Covenant With Death."

Isaiah 28:15-18 - Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: [16] Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. [17] Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. [18] And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.

After Rabin's assassination, Benjamin Netanyahu of the Likud Party (Rabin's Party was Labor, Sharon's is Likud but Sharon is more left than Mr. Netanyahu is) was elected in mid 1996. If Rabin was viewed as too conciliatory, then Netanyahu was considered to be on the extreme. Still, even Netanyahu found it difficult to resist the internal and external pressure (MAINLY FROM THE UNITED STATES) who wanted a peace deal with the Palestinians. So, in October, 1998, he signed what has been dubbed the "WYE" Agreement (so named for the Wye Plantation where it was signed). This marked the first time that a Likud Government had agreed to yield sizeable parcels of Judea and Samaria and Gaza.

In return for this gesture of good will, the Palestinian National Council (PNC) was supposed to convene for the purpose of repealing the PLO charter clauses calling for the destruction of Israel. The PNC did meet and vote, despite the fact that a quorum was not in attendance. Still it all looked good for the cameras. HOWEVER, THE TERROR CONTINUED.

Hand grenades hearled into streets, human bombs in buses, sniper fire and knife attacks in Jewish homes are just some of what the Israelis deal with every day. The Jordanian Prime Minister reported that Palestinian groups opposed to the Middle East peace process have been smuggling arms to Jordan with the intention of carrying out armed attacks and destabilizing internal security. Syria continues to fund Hezbollah guerillas with missiles that can create death and carnage across Northern Israel's borders.

But the bottom line is this folks and it's really plain and simple. EVEN IF THE PALESTINIANS ARE GIVEN EVERYTHING THEY WANT, PEACE DOES NOT SEEM LIKELY NOR WILL IT HAPPEN. A leading PLO newspaper, Al Hayat Al Jadeeda quoted the head of the PLO's diplomatic desk as saying that:

"After the Palestinian state is recognized by most of the world, the Palestinians will use their weapons to fight against Israeli presence on the 'Palestinians lands.' The true face of Palestinian intentions is war with Israel."

The United States is just plain MAD to believe creating a Palestinian state along side Israel will bring peace to the region. Islam will never let it happen - NEVER! Islam defines the world into two parts, the "Dar es-Salaam," the "House of Peace;" and the "Dar el-Gharb," the "House of War." All non-Moslems, including Israel, Jews, Christians and the Western world, are in the House of War, and therefore outside the realm of reconciliation with the Islamic, House of Peace. While no one in Israel really wants a war or even this ongoing conflict, it is thrust upon Israel and the West by the Moslem world which sees war as a natural option to achieve their goals. Furthermore, the Moslem world fully understands the Western concept of compromise to achieve peace, and that peace is preferred to war. This is not the case in the Moslem world, and they see our desire to compromise as a weakness. The Arab/Moslem world is using the "Peace Process," which has become an idol to the West, as a tool to achieve their own goals. Just look at the "Peace Process" thus far, and you will see that when the Arabs are not getting enough concessions, they invoke the following formula:

Take an issue and create a "mountain out of a molehill;"
Spark terror and riots;
Make war-like pronouncements, and then,
Watch the Western powers and the UN run in and force Israel to concede territory and sovereignty, "for the sake of peace."

The Moslem world has our number and they are dialing it regularly! If you don't agree with that then just look at the news. Better yet look at the section of our website "Updates From Israel"! We have not been able to keep up with the bombings and attacks that have occurred just within the past few months. We get one story uploaded and before it's completed, we're getting word of another. Life in Israel is not like life here in the United States.

THE INEVITABLE CONFLICT - THE BATTLE FOR JERUSALEM

Israel is always the one being severely criticized by the media and by world leaders for exacerbating the situation in the Middle East and jeopardizing the "Peace Process" -- never the Palestinians who are attacking or their leaders who are inciting. The crux of the conflict is the fact that a sovereign Jewish state in the middle of the Islamic world is seen as an affront by Islam. The Islamic world can never reconcile itself to Israel. On September 11, 2001 those attacking Israel attacked the United States Of America. And here we are less than a year later STILL wanting to create a state of terror - MADNESS!

Surely the climax of the Arab-Israel conflict will be over Jerusalem -- two opposing forces want the same territory, and now, the same capital city. The battle for Jerusalem is now very real. The Bible is not silent on the subject. Read the prophet Zechariah 12:2-9, and see the prophecy of the future war over Jerusalem, complete with UN sanctions as all nations work together to lay siege on Judah and Jerusalem to force concessions from the Israeli government. However, the Messianic promise is that God will prevail, His people Israel and Jerusalem will survive, and God will judge those who came against His people Israel and His plan for His nation.

Zech. 12:2-9 - Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. [3] And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. [4] In that day, saith the Lord, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness. [5] And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the Lord of hosts their God. [6] In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem. [7] The Lord also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah. [8] In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them. [9] And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

Hear that last statement good United States government. The Lord will SEEK TO DESTROY ALL THE NATIONS that come against Jerusalem! I don't care how "powerful" our nation is militarily. If we continue to pressure Israel into this mad treaty with the PLO and seek to create a Palestinian state - we will be destroyed plain and simple. I don't think it takes a degree in Bible to figure that out!

The injunction to " Pray for the peace of Jerusalem" (Psalm 122:6) is needed now, more than ever -- not for a man-made peace, but for God's peace to prevail. I love what my friend Mike Weiner says about Psalms 122:6. He says when we are praying for the "peace of Jerusalem," we are not praying for a false peace -but for VICTORY and the return of the Messiah. This is a conflict and this conflict is key to the restoration of all things. Neighbor we're living in such a time as this- Praise God.

The Inevitable Palestinian State

Having said these things it seems very likely that some how or another the Palestinians will get a state. I believe as a result of this agreement events will begin to unfold RAPIDLY that will usher in the world and its inhabitants directly into the time known as the Tribulation period. It could possibly be out of this conflict - the Israeli-Palestinian conflict - that the Antichrist will rise.

The Antichrist And Palestine

Isaiah 14:29 - Rejoice not thou, whole PALESTINA, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent.

Isaiah 14 is primarily a message of hope for Israel and a pronouncement of judgment against Babylon and Lucifer. Many believe the verses 16-17 of this chapter are prophetic words concerning the Antichrist.

Isaiah 14:16-17 - They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; [17] That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?

In conjunction with these prophecies of judgment comes a warning to PALESTINA or Palestine. The Jews call the land Israel, but all Arabs and Moslems call the land "Palestine." The Bible also refers to "Palestine" and a "Philistia" on several occasions. Many feel the two are one and the same:

Psalm 60:8 - Moab is my wash pot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because of me.

Joel 3:4 - Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompense? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompense upon your own head;

Psalm 108:9 - Moab is my wash pot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe; over Philistia will I triumph.

These three prophetic verses indicate Palestine will "triumph" at first but will be destroyed by God in the end. More interesting is what comes out of the Palestinians. The Palestinians are warned NOT TO REJOICE because their victory will prepare the way for a "fiery flying serpent." This is similar in terms to what John saw concerning Satan and the rise of the Antichrist in Revelation 12 and 13 along with passages in Rev. 16:13 and 20:2.

Joel 3:3-6 - And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink. [4] Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompense? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompense upon your own head; [5] Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things: [6] The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border.

Rev. 12:3 - And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

The Palestinian problem will be the problem the Antichrist will solve for the world to make it wonder after him. In addition, he will find a way to allow the Jewish people to bring back their sacrifices and the Third Temple without causing war - at least not at first. The Palestinians are going to have to deal with the dragon at first who will seem like Israel's "savior" but in fact will be her destroyer for seven years.

The Russo-Islamic Alliance

Before I end this journal I want to mention briefly a movement that is on right now in Eastern Europe that will play heavily in end time events in the very near future. There is a common belief that the Russian bear is dead and gone without any hopes of resurrection. That is the farthest from the truth. In the mid 1990s and even as recently as 1999 former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev told a gathering of Russian nationalists that "any rumors of the demise of the Soviet Union are merely for those in the West who do not have the stomach for confrontation and war. We are not going away and never will. We are stronger than ever and when the time is right the world will see." Those were not the idle words of a Russian taxicab driver! In addition Gorbachev told those listening that as the West demilitarized the Russian bear would keep stockpiling enough weapons to finally destroy the myth that Communism is dead.

What is interesting to this story is that along with this effort to regain strength the Russians are looking to Islamic countries to help them forge what many are calling a Russo-Islamic Alliance. A move is a foot to form an organization of nations which would include: Turkey, Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Libya, Serbia, Greece and other Islamic states. Most of the former Soviet Union is now Islamic. This is a threat that may not be getting any press but it will one day soon and it needs to be noted for the believer wishing to understand the times we live in.

According to Ezekiel's prophecy, GOG will be an alliance of Islamic nations, NOT RUSSIA, as so many Bible teachers quickly say. These nations include PERSIA (IRAN), Ethiopia and Libya:

Ezekiel 38:5 - Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:

One peculiarity about the Russo-Islamic alliance is that is does not include traditional enemies of Israel - the adjacent neighbors of Syria, Jordan Egypt or the Palestinians. This indicates that there very well could be an interim "peace" between Israel and her neighbors and that is why Israel considers herself to be secure.

Ezekiel 38:8 - After many days thou shall be visited: in the latter years thou shall come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.

This alliance will invade Israel to "get a spoil." (Ezekiel 38:11-12)

Ezekiel 38:11-12 - And thou shall say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, [12] To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.

What kind of spoil they will be after no one knows. Food and riches will be two factors according to Ezekiel. Israel is of great strategic importance to the Middle East. Whoever controls Israel controls the land bridge between Europe, Africa and Asia. The one thing Russia and this alliance does not count on, however is that GOD has decreed to protect Israel from this invasion and repel it with supernatural fire! To the world's amazement and shock only 15% of the total armies will retreat. Israel will take SEVEN YEARS to bury the dead. This period of time could possibly be the Tribulation itself or at least overlap some of the time Daniel called the "70th Week."

The reason I mention this is this. When Russia and her allies are devastated, the Middle East will be in chaos and disarray. I don't believe the United States will be the country she is right now either. Something will have happened to destroy our might. The stage will then be set for the emergence of the New World Order so many are talking about, followed by the rise of the Antichrist and the dire developments of the Tribulation. Some people believe Ezekiel 38 and 39 take place during the Tribulation, others believe it is actually the accounts of the Great Battle Of Armageddon. I don't believe it is Armageddon because Armageddon will be a supernatural battle between Yeshua and Satan in the land of Megiddo. But whenever this battle takes place, it will create a vacuum in history and world government that the Antichrist will be more than happy to fill.

After this war with Israel and "GOG" the world will want to make peace unlike anytime in her history. The Antichrist will literally ride into town on the white horse of Rev. 6. This is where a seven year peace treaty will come into play - the "covenant" spoken of in Daniel 9:27.

Daniel 9:27 - And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

This covenant will be the subject of a future journal. Many believe it will be a covenant with Israel. If that is so then the Antichrist will have to be someone they trust and who has promised to protect them from any future attacks. The only type person Israel would give her sovereign trust to like this would be a fellow Jew in my opinion whatever that is worth. Time will tell.

As you can see the events at the present are key to the "restoration" of all things which must take place before Yeshua returns at the end of the seven year Tribulation. Neighbor, it's getting late! It's time to get our houses in order and get ready to meet Yeshua. He is coming back and is coming back soon. Until that time we must continue to PRAY FOR THE "VICTORY' of JERUSALEM and the restoration of ALL THINGS. There is another restoration that we will talk about in an upcoming journal along these same lines and that is the restoration of the Jewish roots back to the church in these last days. We are witnessing that too as well! Praise God.

Father, in the name of Yeshua, we thank you for allowing to live in the time You have ordained for us to live in. These days are days that are truly the "Days of Elijah," the restoration of the fathers to the children and the children to the fathers. Jerusalem is being restored as we speak and we know that YOU ARE IN CONTROL OF ALL THINGS no matter what we may see or hear in the news media. Bring America back to YOU FATHER before it is eternally too late. We need grace in this HOUR unlike at any other hour in human history. Thank you for Your grace in Yeshua's name - AMEN.

Hit Counter