Hi all,
Many are asking me about ‘Brexit’, which
is the vote on June 24 deciding whether the UK will remain in the EU or
separate, with many claiming economic rearranging world-wide if they
exit – but does scripture provide clues? Perhaps. Let's look at Ezekiel
38 & 39 and a future war against Israel.
The plot against Israel
Ezekiel 38 prophesies nations that will
align themselves against Israel, and hints at nations that align
themselves with Israel. The ones against Israel are named in the first
few verses of Ezekiel 38, and in modern geography include Russia,
Turkey, Iran, Libya, and other nations in the region of Turkey and
Russia.
Ezekiel says they will ascend like a
cloud to cover Israel which is seen as a prediction of modern flight and
air war, while also mounting a huge land force to invade mainly from
the north, thinking it will be over so fast no one would be able to
come to Israel's aid, and that no would dare confront such a mighty
force. Wrong. Spoiler alert, Israel wins.
In Ezekiel 38:21 God calls for allies of
Israel to join with them fighting against the invading force, and He
also says the invaders will be met with a large earthquake, overflowing
rain and hail, and such confusion in communication among the
multi-nation army that many end up killing themselves.
Ezekiel 39:9-12 says it will take Israel 7
months to bury the dead and they will recover a 7 year supply of fuel
and other spoil. He describes in 39: 13-15 Israel hiring citizens and
others for temporary work to walk around the battle site and place small
flags when they find body parts, in a perfect prediction of modern
forensic work seen at any disaster site. (Therefore since they are
walking around the site this battle is not nuclear at least in and
around Israel, neither is it Armageddon)
The allies of Israel
But Ezekiel 38:13 says the following nations will confront Russia/Iran: “But Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all the young lions thereof, will say to you, 'Do you think you are coming to take a spoil?...'
Sheba is described as being in the
Arabian peninsula or around the horn of Africa and Ethiopia. Dedan is
Saudi Arabia. That modern Arab nations allied with Saudi Arabia would
confront the Russian/Iranian/Turkey alliance when they attack Israel
would suggest a split among Arab nations, with Saudi Arabia and others
aligning against Iran and Turkey. It may not be that they are for
Israel, but that they don't want to see Russia/Iran/Turkey take over the
Middle East.
This is where it gets interesting
Tarshish is the ancient name of Spain,
and the ‘merchants of Spain' are therefore understood to be the nations
that came about by Spanish merchants, in short, the Americas.
Ezekiel continues; ‘and the young lions
thereof’. Young lions means the offspring of those Spanish efforts, but
bringing in the lion as symbol has caused many to speculate it is a
reference to Britain as the lion has for centuries been their symbol,
and the Americas were settled most predominantly by Spain and Britain.
That would mean along with Saudi led Arab nations confronting the
Russia/Turkey/Iranian invaders, the Americas and the UK will also, if
this understanding is correct.
This is where Brexit enters the picture
The theory that the UK would join the
Americas and the Saudi's against Russia/Turkey/Iran has long been
complicated in the minds of some by the fact the UK is part of the EU
and being bound by various agreements, would not necessarily act
militarily independently of the EU against Russia and Turkey.
Germany and other nations get their
heating gas and other fuels from Russia with pipelines through
Turkey, who only has to flip a few switches to make much of Europe go
cold during winter and allow their vehicles to run out of fuel. So many
have wondered if Britain is part of the EU how would they act
independently to join Israel against Russia.
However, if they exit the EU they could
act more independently to join Israel and the Americas against the
invaders. So this vote will be interesting to watch, and it may, may,
have implications as mentioned here.
But even if they stay in the EU, God's
Word will still come to pass, and if the understanding of Ezekiel 38 and
39 above is close to accurate, then no matter the vote, they will in
fact take action with Israel and her allies against the
Russia/Turkey/Iranian alliance.
So we watch, we pray, we
wonder...prophecy is understood most clearly in hindsight, until then
all we have is kernels of truth to wonder about. Praying for the people
of the UK!
Other news...
I remember at the start of this year the
Father saying to me, "The last half of the year will be difficult for
many." I've wondered what that meant, and now wonder if Brexit succeeds
will there be economic consequences in the last part of this year. My
point is that either way, I'm in prayer about the rest of the year, not
only for the US elections and Brexit, but in general.
This May/June has been busier for us than
we had originally thought, including a brief weekend trip for a house
church meeting, but also hosting people at our home or driving somewhere
to meet folks each week - the summer is flying by. July will be filled
with family focused events and August we rest and prepare for our
September Lithuanian and Latvia trip.
How do you respond to an event?
When there is a major event the immediate
response sets the tone and direction, often for years to come. For
instance, when a baby is born that is a great event but it is just for
that moment. The response to that event is actually the more important
because how those parents deal with their new child determines it's
future and theirs, and for generations beyond.
In the same way the outpouring on
Pentecost in Acts 2:4 was a single event, wherein 3,000 people responded
to the original 120 pouring into the streets newly filled with God's
Spirit. While that single event is amazing, we look to the response of
the 120 on how they dealt with such an influx. Their response set the
tone for 'the church age' for us all some 2,000 years later, and even to
me and CWOWI and our network as we seek to follow the practices of the
apostles and early church.
While Acts 2:41 tells us 3,000 were saved
and Spirit filled, verse 42, the very next verse, details their
response to that great event that set the tone which is woven throughout
the whole New Testament:
"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles teaching, and fellowship, and the breaking of bread (eating together & the Lord's Supper), and prayer (includes worship as worship is also prayer).
Teaching, fellowship, eating together, prayer/worship. That is how the 120 dealt with 3,000 new friends. But it took 'continued steadfastly' - they devoted themselves to the relationships in Christ.
Today we'd race to a large building and
start some program for new believers, or we'd assign people to 'follow
up'. Most in the auditorium mentality would panic quite frankly, at
3,000 sudden converts. But they just took them into their homes for a
meal, some teaching, some prayer.
That is SO simple isn't it? We have to
lose the idea we have to 'build' something to accommodate people. NO.
Just have a meal together - it is holy. Fellowship together and get to
know one another - it is holy. We think, "Teaching and prayer/worship is
holy, but eating together and fellowship is not holy." Wrong. The most
intimate moments between Jesus and the disciples was right before He was
betrayed, and it was during a meal. Eating together in deep fellowship
is holy.
When Christ is in you and Christ is in
me, then we two sharing our stories in Christ IS holy. Having a meal
together IS holy. Teaching and prayer and worship are holy, but so is
eating together and comparing stories on what Jesus has done for us.
Perceive the grace in one another and fellowship. (Galatians 2:9). Be
polite guests in someone's home, don't dominate conversation, don't push
your favorite controversial teaching - focus on Christ and what you
have in common in Him - and be a polite guest in their home.
How do you respond to the amazing thing
the Lord has done for you? Continue STEADFASTLY in teaching, fellowship,
eating together, and in prayer and worship. Find even 1 person, just 1,
and eat together. Build the relationship.
Wow, I'm out of room already for today's
e-newsletter...blessings, and thank to you who support us with financial
gifts and prayers, we have some needs so they are greatly
appreciated...new affiliates with CWOWI range from Australia to
the Philippines to other points all over - God is moving in
relationships. All else will burn, but people are forever.
Blessings!
John and Barb
New cd/MP3 series:
This
series goes into details of Paul's instructions to Timothy concerning
Christians who Paul calls 'emotionally sick' or 'mentally ill', and how
he should handle such people. Paul tells of Christians who reject
healthy spiritual teaching in favor of arguments over words and word
meanings and off-balance teaching, who focus so much on 1 topic or 1
issue within them that logic, friends, teaching, and encouragement to
return to balance elude them. Paul outlines many characteristics of the
emotionally ill believer, describing them as having a morbid fascination
with something that becomes a mental disease to them - and outlines how
to help them and how to pray for them. For anyone who knows that
certain person in their life who is emotionally and spiritually
unhealthy, the listener will gain understanding and insight with a view
towards restoration for that person.
In David
the King we look at the Psalms he wrote after King Saul died, but
before David's son Absalom rebelled against him and sent him into exile.
The Psalms take on a different tone than in part 1 of the series, and
include prophecy about Jesus, because during this peaceful time in his
life he is able to focus on worship and the goodness of the Lord. We
look at his Psalm that was shouted at Jesus on Palm Sunday, and the
Hallel, which Jesus and the disciples sung on the night He was betrayed,
and its prophecy. The series also looks at the Psalm David wrote when
he was confronted about his affair with Bathsheba. David the King gives
wonderful insight into the tenderness of the heart of David, his heart
for his son, Solomon, and so much more!
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