Category Archives: Bible Study

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Joel Rosenberg to Lead Epicenter Conference in SoCal

I don’t get too excited about most “prophecy experts” online. In fact, my warning is to be very, very careful about who you “follow.”  Many have theories and philosophies about current events and end times that are simply not founded in Scripture.  I prefer to study Scripture for myself, then gather thoughts from those with unique experience in Israel, and who look to God’s Word first and foremost for their teaching.  Even in those cases, if I can’t find it in Scripture, I discard what they say.

By the way, I hope that is the strategy you take in following this blog!  While my desire is always to provide Biblically accurate information and teaching, our plumbline should always be God’s Word.

With that disclaimer, there are a handful of ministries I recommend for their well-founded teaching from Scripture.  One such teacher/writer is Joel Rosenberg, president and founder of The Joshua Fund.  I’m happy to report that he will be joined by pastors and ministry leaders from Israel at the Epicenter Conference in Costa Mesa CA, October 6-7.

If you live in southern California, or can get there for this conference, I highly recommend it.  Each Epicenter Conference Rosenberg has done has been filled with informative, Biblically accurate teaching.  Click the link above for more information, and plan to be there if you can!  You will be blessed!

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Turkey and Russia Cozy Up

Once a faithful NATO ally, Turkey has made an about-face during the presidency of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and is headed full-steam into alliance with Russia.  Not only that, Erdogan is inciting Muslims to inundate Jerusalem (particularly Temple Mount) as often as possible to overwhelm the Israeli security forces tasked with keeping the peace on and around Temple Mount.

Indeed, Turkey has cut a deal with Russia for state-of-the-art, Russian-made S-400 missile systems capable of destroying ballistic and cruise missiles on the ground and in the air.  Meanwhile, Erdogan (in an attempt to wrest leadership of the Sunni Muslim world), is calling on Muslims to “defend Palestine just as we defend Mecca and Medina”.  Thus, his call for chaos in the Old City.

But let’s place this all in context.  What we see happening in today’s news is ripped from the pages of Bible prophecy!  First of all, Turkey and Russia (as well as Iran, ISIS, the Syrian government, rebels, Kurds and others) are all engaged in Syria…just a stone’s throw from Israel’s border!  Isaiah 17:1 promises that a day will come when Damascus (Syria’s capital city) will be utterly destroyed.  With it’s stockpiles of chemical weapons, God only knows the catastrophe that could ensue once those fall into the wrong hands.  (I’m not sure there are any “right” hands in Syria right now!)

Once that occurs, look what’s left:  Russia, Iran, and Turkey literally at Israel’s borders.  And where do you think they will head next?

Surmise all you want, but God told the prophet Ezekiel about a very specific war that will take place in the last days.  That is the War of Gog and Magog, described in Ezekiel 38-39.  In those chapters, God identifies the nations that will come against Israel.  They are listed by their ancient names, but guess what modern-day nations are among them!

If you said, “Russia, Iran, and Turkey,” you are correct!  They will be joined by African nations (primarily modern-day Sudan and Libya), and they will invade Israel in an attempt to wipe her out. (I’ve written an entire section of a Bible study about the Northern Invaders.  Check out Terror from the North.)

My friends, God doesn’t give us specific dates and hours for these things and His coming to occur. (Matthew 24-25, Mark 13)  However, He does give us “times and seasons.”  (Luke 12:54-56, Matthew 24:32-34)  We are living in the time and season of His return.

Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 each tell us that when we see the signs of the times taking place, we know the kingdom of God is near.  God’s Word also tells us what to do when we see these signs:

“Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
~Luke 21:28 ESV

“But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
~Luke 21:28 NASB

“So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!”
~Luke 21:28 NLT

Where are you looking, my friends?  Stand…straighten up…lift up your heads…look up…for your redemption is near!

Shabbat shalom!

 

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The Road to Damascus

Welcome back, friends!  Today I want to commend an excellent article to you that will prompt you to pray rightly for Israel and her Middle East neighbors.  In it, there is mention of God’s choice of Israel in order to bless the entire world.

So, I pray that you have an “ah-ha” moment!  Please read Susan Michael’s article, The Road to Damascus, then check out Israel: God’s Love Story for the World.

Be blessed today!

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Putting it All Together

Open my eyes to see
the wonderful truths in your instructions.
I am only a foreigner in the land.
Don’t hide your commands from me!
~Psalm 119:18-19

Praise God, His Word clearly describes the signs of the times, and when our eyes are open, He reveals the wonderful truth found in His Word.  We are foreigners and our eternal home is with Him!  So, with those truths in mind, let’s tie a bow on our study of end time signs.

Believing they were living in the last days, Jesus’ disciples asked Him what would be the signs of the last days (Matthew 24:3).  In a sense, the “last days” began after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.  However, never in the history of the world have the key signs we have studied over the last few days been evident all at the same time.

Let’s review the signs we have discussed:

Israel was re-born as a nation in 1948…Jesus could not have returned before the Jews were back in their land as Scripture declares.  The European nations are not only congealing into a single entity, but are quickly preparing for the antichrist.  The world is focused more and more on issues (such as global warming) that will unite all nations together and will ultimately lead to “commonality” and One World Order and One World Religion.  Everyone, whether spiritually inclined or not, seems to be focused on the Middle East.  That focus will narrow more and more to simply Jerusalem as time goes on.  Then, there is America…our beloved country!  We will not stand forever and, while I pray we do not stumble into oblivion “on my watch,” the time will come when the Lord’s purpose for America will end.

It is critical that we prepare for the coming of our King, Jesus Christ!

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.
~Romans 13:11-12

“Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
~Luke 21:28

Are you ready?