David M. Payne

ISRAEL'S YET TO BE FOUGHT WAR



"Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about." (Zechariah 12:2,3)

THE CURRENT NEED FOR WISDOM AND GUIDANCE FOR THE YET TO BE FOUGHT WAR
In reflecting on the last half-century since Israel was restored as a nation, one becomes painfully aware that Russia and the Arab Nations surrounding Israel have consistently sought to bring about the downfall of the Jews--G-d’s covenant people. Ezekiel, in prophesying about the time following the restoration of Israel, identified Israel’s main enemy as Gog of the land of Magog which scholars agree is present-day Russia. The Arab nations in this prophecy that will join Russia against Israel are: Libya, Ethiopia, Persia (called Iran since 1935), Gomer and Togarmah (the last two being in the Black Sea area north of present-day Turkey). The following is a small portion of this astounding prophecy in the 38th Chapter of Ezekiel:


“Son of man, Set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog and prophecy against him” ( verse 2). Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops--many people are with you (verse 5 & 6). You will say, “I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls and having neither bars nor gates--to take plunder and to take booty------- ‘ (verse 11 & 12). You will come up against my people Israel like a cloud to cover the land------ “(verse 16).


Over 3,000 years ago, this prophet of G-d wrote about a war in Israel in “the latter times” --a war that is yet to be fought. You can read about it in G-d’s Word, the ancient Hebrew scriptures that are called the Bible (Ezekiel chapter 38 & 39). It will be a war in which G-d intervenes in miraculous ways on behalf of Israel. But individuals are going to need a lot of wisdom and guidance form all-mighty G-d if they and their families are to come through this time of trouble in the way our loving heavenly Father intends. It is clear, from the scripture, that He will do His part but wisdom and guidance comes through an individual, loving relationship with our heavenly Father. We must know Him personally.


Knowing G-d personally is what the Bible is all about--especially the New Testament. It is about Jesus Christ, the Messiah who came to die for your sin and my sin. Simply put, sin is separation from G-d. When we refuse to depend on G-d, we separate ourselves form Him just as Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden and that leads to spiritual death. G-d said; "of every tree in the Garden you may freely eat; but of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day you eat of it, you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:16-17). Adam and Eve and you and I are not equal to G-d--we were created to live under His loving direction--the knowledge of good and evil belongs to G-d and G-d alone. But because he gives us freedom to choose, we choose to seek the knowledge of good and evil because we think this will make us independent of G-d’s direction. That is rebellion against G-d’s plan for our lives.


Like Adam and Eve, all of us eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil which totally separates us from G-d. Without any connection to the only source of spiritual life, we die spiritually and become helpless in the face of satan and the evil he causes in our lives; but G-d planned in the beginning to pay the price of our rebellion Himself. He came incarnate as a human being to die for the sin of the world just as the Hebrew prophets of old had prophesied. Then He was raised to life again by the Spirit of G-d, breaking the power of satan and sin. He is the Messiah--His name is Jesus Christ--His life and death and resurrection is the fulfillment of all the prophesies in the Bible about the promised Messiah. Through Jesus we can choose to come under G-d’s direction and receive forgiveness for our sin and be “born again” spiritually. With this new life from G-d we can receive His love and return His love. Out of that intimate relationship we can receive the guidance, direction, and wisdom that bring victory in any situation-even war. It is all written down for us in the Old and New Testaments-the inspired Word of G-d.

To obtain a free hard copy of the above article and free catalogue, please email us at: mailto:317getinformed@excite.com

What do you guys think? I think they got the wrong address.

Queen of Swords

That's not only a silly email, it appears quite internally inconsistent...

<strong>G-d said; "of every tree in the Garden you may freely eat; but of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat."</strong>

"Then why did you plant that tree in the garden, Lord?"
"Um... the devil made Me do it."

<strong>"For in the day you eat of it, you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:16-17).</strong>

"But, Lord, we ate it and we're still alive."
"No, you just think you're alive. You're actually dead."

<strong>Adam and Eve and you and I are not equal to G-d--we were created to live under His loving direction--the knowledge of good and evil belongs to G-d and G-d alone.</strong>

So Adam might have gone his whole life thinking it was all right to slap Eve around a little, and Eve wouldn't have known that it was bad to listen to the serpent in the first place?

<strong>But because he gives us freedom to choose, we choose to seek the knowledge of good and evil because we think this will make us independent of G-d’s direction.</strong>

Or just because it's good to know the difference. Not knowing it could make you a psychopath.

<strong>That is rebellion against G-d’s plan for our lives.</strong>

So God's plan for Adam and Eve was that they remain naked in a garden for ever?

Eat the fruit, you two! Hurry up!

<strong>Like Adam and Eve, all of us eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil which totally separates us from G-d.</strong>

We realize that so much of what He supposedly did is wrong.

Isn't it interesting that what separates us from the supernatural is knowledge?

<strong>G-d planned in the beginning to pay the price of our rebellion Himself.</strong>

He knew how valuable the guilt card can be.

<strong>Then He was raised to life again by the Spirit of G-d, breaking the power of satan and sin.</strong>

Too bad we still have satan and sin in the world, going as strong as ever. Perhaps He should consider killing Himself again?

<strong>Out of that intimate relationship we can receive the guidance, direction, and wisdom that bring victory in any situation-even war.</strong>

Why am I not surprised that it all boils down to war in the end? I guess believers haven't changed much since the "kill them all but keep the virgins for yourselves" days.

And they seem to forget that even their God is powerless against "chariots of iron", which could prove somewhat problematic these days.

David M. Payne

Sorry I'm so late in this reply, I have been working on a new short story, "Osama bin Eternal" and that and my life off line have kept me busy lately.
Nice reply QoS, how is life treating you these days?