Revelation 16 Drying up of the Euphrates

Revelation 9 Islam in Bible Prophecy

The trumpet sounding of the fifth angel is followed by a star falling from heaven unto the earth with a key to open the bottomless pit. On the opening of the pit, the sun and air is darkened by the ascending smoke, out of which pour a cloud of locusts. They are commanded to avoid any green foliage, and attack only those men who have not the seal of God in their foreheads. This they do for some months, moving as cavalry under the direction of a king. The sounding of the sixth angel is followed by the releasing of four angels bound in the great never Euphrates. They lead a vast horde of cavalrymen to battle, as a result of which, the third of men are killed. The Eastern Empire is thus brought to an end, but even this tragedy does not cause the rest of mankind to cease from their sin and blasphemy against Almighty God

Revelation 12 War In Heaven

It is maintained by 'orthodox' Christians that the dragon in Revelation 12 is symbolic of the supernatural evil being he calls ‘Satan’. There is nothing in this passage to warrant such an interpretation, and when the passage is expounded with reference to other parts of Scripture, the true understanding is unavoidable.

Firstly, the connection between Revelation 12 and Daniel 7 must be noted. In Daniel 7 we find a beast revealed to Daniel in a vision, which appears very much like the beast of Revelation 12:

Daniel 7:
{7} After this I saw in the visions by night a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth and was devouring, breaking in pieces, and stamping what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that preceded it, and it had ten horns.

Revelation 12:
{3} Then another portent appeared in heaven: a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads.

The similarity of these two beasts is significant, especially given the context of Daniel’s vision, in which empires are represented by beasts:

Daniel 7:
{15} As for me, Daniel, my spirit was troubled within me, and the visions of my head terrified me.{16} I approached one of the attendants to ask him the truth concerning all this. So he said that he would disclose to me the interpretation of the matter:{17} “As for these four great beasts, four kings shall arise out of the earth.[...]
{23} This is what he said: “As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth that shall be different from all the other kingdoms; it shall devour the whole earth, and trample it down, and break it to pieces.

The explicit interpretation of the angel is that these beasts represent empires, with the fourth beast representing the fourth empire on earth. The vision in Daniel 7 is related directly to the vision of the image in Daniel 2, in which four empires were represented by the four metals of the image of a man.

The fourth beast therefore represents the ‘fourth empire on earth’, the fourth in a list of empires of which Babylon is the first. This fourth beast must therefore represent the Roman empire, and when the same beast is seen in Revelation 12, there is every reason to conclude that it is speaking of the same empire.

This conclusion is strengthened by other Scriptural connections. The Greek word ‘drakwn’ here translated ‘dragon’ (also translated ‘serpent’ in some places), is used in the LXX to speak of kingdoms which were in opposition to God, and which took into captivity and persecuted His people:

(LXX)
Jeremiah 51:
{34}  He has devoured me, he has torn me asunder, airy darkness has come upon me; Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon has swallowed me up, as a dragon has he filled his belly with my delicacies.

Ezekiel 32:
{2}  Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharao king of Egypt, and say to him, Thou art become like a lion of the nations, and as a serpent [here in the LXX ‘drakwn’, dragon’] that is in the sea: and thou didst make assaults with thy rivers, and didst disturb the water with thy feet, and didst trample thy rivers.

The use of this particular word in Bible prophecy to identify the heathen enemies of God and His people, should already suggest to us the truth of its meaning in Revelation 12. When combined with the connection with Daniel 7, and its obvious use of beasts to represent empires, the conclusion is unavoidable – the dragon here in Revelation is not being used to represent a supernatural evil being, but to represent an empire which is hostile to God and His people – an adversary.

The following comment from Matthew Poole’s exposition demonstrates that this interpretation has been widely held for centuries, even among those Christians who believe in ‘Satan’ as a supernatural evil being:

‘And behold a great red dragon: see Re 12:7,9,17. Most judicious interpreters, by the great red dragon, understand the Roman emperors that first persecuted: the Christian church, of which Claudius was the first; yet some understand it of the devil, the old serpent; but the most and best interpreters understand it of the pagan emperors, by whom the devil did this work, called a great dragon, because of the vastness of that empire; a red dragon, for their cruelty against the Christians.’

Matthew Poole, ‘New Testament Commentary’, note on Revelation 12:3, 1685

The fact that Poole informs us that most interpreters understand the dragon here to represent Rome (those he calls ‘the most and best interpreters’), whilst only some understand it of ‘the devil, the old serpent’, is significant, confirming that this is a natural reading. 

Bible Prophecy - Hebron Controversy

Thousands of Jews from Israel and all over the world converge on Hebron this weekend for a significant and festive Sabbath honouring the Jewish reading of the Torah portion called Chayei Sarah, which is Genesis 23:1 - 25:18. Even as Jews gathered to Hebron, the city of Abraham to celebrate, seven left wing demonstrators were arrested for causing a disturbance protesting the Jewish presence in the ancient city. The city of Hebron is often in the news. Today it is a divided city of conflict and a difficult place for Jews to live; a place where there is a great danger of Arab terrorism and where they are harassed by left wing provocateurs.

To suggest that Jews should not live in the city of Hebron because they are Jewish, is problematic. Especially when we remember that the very roots of the Jewish people come to this place. This week's Torah portion which is being celebrated in Hebron is described by Israel National News: "The Torah portion describes the Biblical patriarch Abraham’s purchase of the Machpelah Cave in Hevron as a burial site for his wife Sarah. According to Jewish tradition, Abraham, Sarah, their son Yitzchak (Isaac) and his wife Rivka (Rebecca), and Yaakov (Jacob) and his wife Leah are all buried in the cave." When visiting Hebron today, one can stand in the very gate where Abraham bought the field and the cave from the sons of Heth as recorded in Genesis.

"And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city. And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan. And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a buryingplace by the sons of Heth." (Genesis 23:17-20)

The miracle of the return of the Jews to the land of Israel after almost 2 millennia is the greatest sign of the times, spoken of by so many of the Hebrew prophets. The return to Hebron is also a fulfillment of prophecy. Consider Isaiah 61:3,4 where the prophet says:

"To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.  And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations."

Surprisingly there has almost always been a small Jewish community in Hebron, even through the period of the diaspora. There were Jews living in Hebron almost continuously throughout the Byzantine, Arab, Mameluke, and Ottoman periods. Up until 1929 there was a peaceful Jewish community in Hebron, which coexisted with the Arab population quite well. But the the 1929 Arab riots broke out and in Hebron many Jews lost their lives. In the book "Israel, a History", Martin Gilbert records on page 60: "On August 25 a large Arab crowd made what the official British report described as a 'most ferocious attack' on the Jewish Quarter. 'This savage attack,' the report continued, 'of which no condemnation can be too severe, was accompanied by wanton destruction and looting.' Within five hours, more than sixty Jews had been killed, including many women and children." The remainder of the the Jewish community in Hebron was expelled by the British.

After the six day war, Israel ended up in possession of the hill country, of what has become known as the "West Bank", including Hebron. Just outside the old city of Hebron a new Jewish community was founded, which was called Kiryat Arba after the other name of Hebron used in the Bible, in the KJV, Kirjath Arba. Later Jews moved into the old city of Hebron and there is a small community there today. The Jewish community of Hebron faces many challenges today, including provocations and terrorism. During the last intifada, or Arab uprising, a sniper targeted and killed a Jewish toddler in her stroller in a playground in Hebron.

Hebron was the place where God made the covenant with Abraham, "And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness." When the Israelites came out of Egypt, Hebron was the place where the spies saw the giants and were fearful to go into the land. They acted by sight and did not live by faith. When they came into the land, Caleb chose to have his inheritance in Hebron, the hardest part of the land to take and drove out the Anakim - the giants. In one of his great acts of faith, Samson took the gates of Gaza to Hebron, recognizing the significance of the place where the Abraham was buried, where the promises were given, literally possessing the gates of his enemies. During Bible times Hebron was a priestly city, a city of refuge and David was king there first over Judah. Hebron has always been a place that required faith to live in. It is quite striking that again today Hebron is a city that requires faith to live in, where there are great obstacles and so the Jews that live there are of a unique character. There is terrorism, it is extremely difficult for Jews to buy any property, they have been expelled from properties they have bought. The world does not want Jews in Hebron. The European Union's Executive Commission has announced it will bar financial assistance to any Israeli organization operating in the West Bank from 2014. This is a prime example of the bullying of the EU against Israel, to force Jews out of cities such as Hebron. As reported on the Jerusalem Post website, this week Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister Ze'ev Elkin said that, "Israel and the European Union will drift apart if they cannot compromise on new EU guidelines covering settlements beyond the Green Line that could damage research and trade ties".

As Jews flow to Hebron from all over Israel and the world this weekend, it is a fulfillment of prophecy. It is a celebration of the promises of God to the faithful who await the resurrection when they will inherit the land; Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Rebbekah, Leah, Caleb... It is also a controversial event, a focal point of the controversy for the land of Israel, a controversy that becomes more acute as time passes. In 1868, long before the Jews returned to the land of Israel, John Thomas wrote in the booklet, "Anatolia", concerning the time of the end, that: "The time, however, fast approaches; and the nearer it arrives, the more important do all questions become bearing upon Judah's land, and Zion, the city of their king." We look forward to this time, when the little stone of the kingdom of God, will smite the image of the empire of the kingdom of men and smash it - Daniel 2. At that time Hebron will become the possession of the faithful of old, who will be royalty in the kingdom of God. Hebron will be an important and royal city in the restored nation of Israel. Jeremiah 33:10-11

"Thus saith the LORD; Again there shall be heard in this place, which ye say shall be desolate without man and without beast, even in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man, and without inhabitant, and without beast,  The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD.

Guy Fawkes, Bonfires and Ecumenism - Bible Prophecy

“Remember, remember!

The fifth of November,

The Gunpowder treason and plot;

I know of no reason

Why the Gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot!” 

Well that part of the poem is still around today, but with a little searching you can find the complete version.  It continues and becomes a little more intense but am going to read it just so that we can see the extreme change in the view of the Roman system.

“Guy Fawkes and his companions

Did the scheme contrive,

To blow the King and Parliament

All up alive.

Threescore barrels, laid below,

To prove oldEngland's overthrow.

But, by God's providence, him they catch,

With a dark lantern, lighting a match!

A stick and a stake

For King James's sake!

If you won't give me one,

I'll take two,

The better for me,

And the worse for you.

A rope, a rope, to hang the Pope,

A penn'orth of cheese to choke him,

A pint of beer to wash it down,

And a jolly good fire to burn him.

Holloa, boys! holloa, boys! make the bells ring!

Holloa, boys! holloa boys! God save the King!

Hip, hip, hooor-r-r-ray!

Bible Propehcy & The Uniting Of The Nations Of Europe

The Book of Jonah (playlist)

40 YEARS OF WAR TO SUBDUE THE NATIONS

40 YEARS OF WAR TO SUBDUE THE NATIONS
Speaking of the little open scroll in the hand of the ‘Rainbowed Angel’ of Rev. 10 Bro. Thomas
writes, "A little scroll is a short time in which things written therein are to be accomplished - a period, say of forty years, according to the testimony of Mic.7:14-17." The little scroll contained the seven thunder judgements of Deity against the nations and refers to the war of Armageddon and its
aftermath (see Eureka Vol. 2 pgs.542-544).
Micah 7:15 Rotherham translates — "As in the days of thy coming forth out of the land of Egypt, will I shew him wonders". R.S.V. - "As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt, I will show them marvellous things".
While this is clearly a reference to the miracles performed by Yahweh in the wilderness on Israel's
behalf and an assurance that similar miracles will be seen again during the Second Exodus of Israel,
the inference is that these "marvellous things' will span a similar period of 40 years. As the context
deals with Israel being used as Yahweh's weapon of war against the nations it is reasonable to
postulate that these wars will also span a period of approximately 40 years.
In Eureka Vol. 1 page 133 in the section dealing with the "Aion of the Aions" Bro. Thomas refers to
"The Hour of Judgement" of Rev. 14:7 and suggests that it is a period of 40 years. He writes, "It is the antitype to the 40 years in the wilderness, and the Aion of the sickles (Rev. 14:14-20)." See also
Eureka Vol. 5 pgs. 38-39, 74-75, 163-165 (Logos Edition).
The Second Exodus of Israel to be considered later in these notes will almost certainly be over a
period of 40 years - Ezek. 20:34-38.

JUBILEE PERIODS IN THE HISTORY OF MODERN ISRAEL

JUBILEE PERIODS IN THE HISTORY OF MODERN ISRAEL
1847 to 1897 – In 1847 Bro. Thomas wrote "A confession and Abjuration" which became the basis of "Elpis Israel" written in 1848. The key to this final step in the rediscovery of the Truth was Rom. 8:24 "we are saved by the hope" (i.e. the Hope of Israel - Acts 28:20). Fifty years later the Zionist

Josiah – last 13 years Jehoiakim – 11 yrs Zedekiah – 11 years 14 years
50 years
30 years 20 years
Jehoiachin’s Captivity Fall of Jerusalem
18th of Josiah 5 y r s 586 BC Ezek. 40:1
Jubilee Jehoahaz 3 months Jehoiachin 3 months Jubilee

Congress was convened in Basle, Switzerland to formulate a plan to establish a Jewish State — a
homeland for the Jews.
1897 to 1947 – The first Zionist Congress which embarked upon a programme to establish a homeland for the Jews culminated in the United Nations voting to partition the land of Palestine into a Jewish and an Arab state on November 29th 1947 almost exactly 50 years later.
1917 to 1967 – In 1917 the British Government issued the Balfour Declaration supporting the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. In the same year the occupying forces of Turkey were driven out of Palestine by the British army. Exactly 50 years later on the 8th June 1967 Jerusalem was freed from the hands of the Gentiles and Luke 21:24 received its incipient fulfilment.

THE JUBILEE PERIOD

THE JUBILEE PERIOD
Although there is no place in the scriptures which clearly states that there will be a fifty year Jubilee period between the return of Christ and the inauguration of the Millennium, there is ample evidence by inference that the resurrection and judgement, and subsequent events up to the completion of the Temple and the return of scattered Israel under Elijah, will cover a period of fifty years.
The clearest indication is to be found in the prophecy of Ezekiel. Ezekiel was a man of sign to the house of Israel - Ezek. 12:6; 24:24. However, because the greater proportion of his prophecy has relationship to the development of Yahweh's glory in the household of Christ, spiritual Israel, the prophecy and its setting from the very beginning has relevance to things yet future in the purpose of Deity.

Time periods play an important part in Ezekiel's prophetic work as a man of sign - Ezek. 4:3-8. It might be expected therefore that in relation to future events a pattern will be discernable in Ezekiel's prophecy concerning time periods surrounding those events.
The last nine chapters of Ezekiel are devoted entirely to a detailed description of the House of Prayer for all nations to be constructed by Christ as a habitation for His Father's glory and to the services pertaining to that Temple along with details concerning the division of the Land.
It is noteworthy that at the commencement of this section of his prophecy and immediately following the section dealing with the destruction of Gog and the cleansing of the Land Ezekiel provides a precise date upon which he saw the vision of the Temple - Ezek. 40:1.

Ezekiel 40:1
The prophecy of Ezekiel flows smoothly in chronological order from the end of chapter 36 which summarises the prophecies of the re-establishment of Israel in the Land (Ezek. 36-39).
􀂾 Ezekiel 37 – The vision of the valley of dry bones – Israel is to be restored to the land of their fathers.
􀂾 Ezekiel 38&39 – The advance of the Gogian host – Russia's destruction at Armageddon — The land of Israel cleansed.
􀂾 Ezekiel 40-48 – The Temple built – A House of Prayer for all nations – The Land divided and inhabited.

It is vital to note that the things Ezekiel saw in chaps. 40 to 48 are represented as being actually existent at the time the vision was given – note the offerings in position as though the Temple was in operation (Ezek. 40:43).

VERSE 1
"In the five and twentieth year of our captivity" – i.e. the 25th year of Jehoiachin's captivity (Ezek. 1:2). This year was the 14th after the destruction of Jerusalem which occurred in the 11th year of Zedekiah the successor of Jehoiachin upon the throne of Judah.
The significance of the 25th year of Jehoiachin's captivity is that it was apparently a Jubilee year. Ezekiel commenced his prophecy by dating it from the 18th year of Josiah's reign (Ezek. 1:1). This was the year of Josiah's great passover and according to tradition was a Jubilee year. This would account in part for Josiah's zeal towards the Temple and people despite the absence of a copy of the Law, during this year of his reign.
The 25th year of Jehoiachin's captivity was exactly 50 years after the 18th year of Josiah and therefore a Jubilee year. In this year Ezekiel saw the Temple completed and in use. There must be a reason for this arrangement. It is evident that we are intended to see a pattern to be unfolded in the divine purpose foreshadowed in Ezekiel's experiences.
The Temple will be opened for use by all nations and the Millennial reign of Christ will begin in the fiftieth year after his stealthy and thief-like return to resurrect and judge the household. This Jubilee period will be filled with numerous dramatic and world-shaking events which will completely change the world and its civilisation in preparation for a Millennium of righteousness and peace (2 Pet. 3:13).

The following summary of the dates referred to above reveals that from the 18th of Josiah to the 25th of Jehoiachin's captivity was a period of 50 years.
Josiah reigned
Josiah kept a Jubilee Passover in his 18th year
Josiah reigned after the Jubilee
Jehoahaz reigned
Jehoiakim reigned
Jehoiachin reigned
Zedekiah reigned (to the smiting of the city)
Ezekiel received the vision 14 years later
Total period since last Jubilee
Intervals
31 years
18 years
13 years
3 months
11 years
3 months
11 years
14 years
49 years 6 months
6 months
50 years
"in the beginning of the year" – i.e. in the first month, Abib.

"the tenth day of the month" – The 10th of Abib; the day the Passover lamb was selected. Ezekiel's vision occurs 50 years to the day after Josiah's Jubilee Passover.
"in the fourteenth year after the city was smitten" – i.e. the 25th year of Jehoiachin's captivity. "in the selfsame day" - Often where these words occur in the scriptures, stress is being laid upon the importance of a time period – cp. Gen. 7:13; Ex. 12:41. It was exactly 50 years to the day since Josiah's Passover.

THE DIVINE PLAN OF THE AGES

THE DIVINE PLAN OF THE AGES
THE AGES FRAMED BY THE DIVINE WILL - Hebrews 11:3
"the worlds" – aionos - ages. Diag.- "ages". "were framed by the word of God" – katertishai - to arrange, to adjust. Diag. - "so thoroughly adjusted by God's command". The ages of human history have not fallen out by chance but have unfolded according to God's predetermined plan. His providence has "thoroughly adjusted" the course of history.

"that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear" – Diag. - "that not from things then manifest the things now seen have come to pass". We must never judge by the appearance of things. Present appearances, however unfavourable to the outworking of God's purpose can never frustrate that purpose.

Hebrews 1:2 "by whom also he made the worlds" – Diag. - "on account of whom also He constituted the ages". The word "made" can mean "to constitute". The word "world" is aionos - ages. From the beginning
God purposed to send forth His son and consequently the ages have revolved around His purpose in
Jesus Christ.

What the Armageddon of the Bible Is? (AremaGaiDon)

To bring about the good news of His Kingdom, God must prepare the world first. The world’s pride must be brought low. Only when the world is humbled, will they be willing to listen to God. The battle of Armageddon is referred to in Revelation 16v16. We are told that this symbolic name should be interpreted “in the Hebrew tongue”. Hebrew is the language of modern Israel. The word “Armageddon” is a combination of 3 Hebrew words:


Arema - A heap of sheaves

Gai - in a valley

Don - for judgement


Armageddon therefore means “a heap of sheaves in a valley for judgement”. Many prophecies in the Bible liken God’s judgement on the nations in the last days to gathering sheaves of wheat to be reaped and threshed. The Bible uses symbols of nature to teach us lessons. The agricultural symbol of a farmer reaping and threshing wheat is used in the Bible to show how God will deal with nations who rebel against Him:

“Thrust in thy sickle and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.…” (Revelation 14v16)

God “shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor. Arise and thresh…” (Micah 4v12-13)

“Let the nations be roused; let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat (ie. God’s judgement), for there I will sit to judge all the nations on every side. Swing thesickle, for the harvest is ripe…Multitudes, Multitudes in the valley of threshing. For the day of the Lord is near.” (Joel 3v12-14)

The nations are broken in pieces and “become like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors…” (Daniel 2v35)

“The mountains saw you and writhed. Torrents of water swept by; the deep roared and lifted its waves on high…. In wrath you strode through the earth and in anger you threshed the nations” (Habakkuk 3v10,12)

Armageddon is therefore an Old Testament subject. While not a lot of detail is given in Revelation 16 about the battle itself, we are in effect being told to go BACK TO THE OLD TESTAMENT to find out the full story. If we go back to these chapters we are able to see that Armageddon concerns Israel and Jerusalem, and that the nations will be judged at this time. We ask you to simply read these chapters for yourself. Many of them are self explanatory. For instance read Isaiah 34v1-10, Jeremiah 30v3-11 and Malachi 4.

Flags of Armageddon, What Does Scripture Say?

The end times speak of the battle of Armageddon. What does this mean? Who is involved? How do I know it is true? This public outdoor lecture will answer some of those questions and provide great references for your own study.

America's Withdrawal the Middle East Becomes More Volatile - Bible Prophecy

Symptoms of the weakening of Western influence are being seen all around the globe. The government shutdown in America is tarnishing America’s reputation as a credible world power. Alarm bells are being sounded about withdrawal of aid from Egypt. Other forces are happily stepping into the vacuum. Bible Prophecy is hitting the headlines.

Symptoms of the weakening of Western influence are being seen all around the globe. Alarm bells are being sounded about withdrawal of aid from Egypt. The government shutdown in America is further tarnishing America’s reputation as a credible world power. Other forces are happily stepping into the vacuum.

Government Shutdown

America continues to struggle to operate as its government has been shut down by strife in the different “houses”. The Economist reported:

The trouble is, the shutdown is a symptom of a deeper problem: the federal lawmaking process is so polarised that it has become paralysed.

There is great concern that the upcoming vote on the “debt ceiling” will be affected by this same attitude. The article continued:

Later this month the federal government will reach its legal borrowing limit, known as the “debt ceiling”. Unless Congress raises that ceiling, Uncle Sam will soon be unable to pay all his bills. In other words, unless the two parties can work together, America will have to choose which of its obligations not to honour. It could slash spending so deeply that it causes a recession. Or it could default on its debts, which would be even worse, and unimaginably more harmful than a mere government shutdown.

While the Democrats and Republicans continue to bite and devour one another… the words of Christ come to mind:

“Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.” (Luke 11:17)

The division in the “house” is destroying America’s influence at home and abroad. It is embarrassing to America’s allies. The fight in the house is very destructive. Consider the words of the Apostle Paul:

But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. (Galatians 5:15)

A Weakened West

A couple of weeks ago the Economist placed on its cover a picture of a bandaged and toothless lion under the heading “A Weakened West”.  The corresponding article stated:

“…this week, a decade after the invasion of Iraq, it suddenly became clear just how far the influence of the West has ebbed…

America’s credibility as an ally has been undermined. Whereas Mr Putin has stood firmly by Mr Assad, even while 100,000 people have perished, the West has proved an inconstant friend to the opposition….

The Arab spring has driven a wedge between the West and its allies….

America’s credibility as an opponent has also suffered….

….a leader who the world sees is unable to fulfil his promises is inevitably weakened. And although nobody doubts that America’s armed forces continue to enjoy overwhelming superiority, its unwillingness to use them undermines their ability to give force to its diplomacy….

Everyone knew that Western citizens were tired of fighting, but until Mr Obama and Mr Cameron asked them, nobody knew just how tired. Now every tyrant knows that a red line set by the leader of the free world is really just a threat to ask legislators how they feel about enforcing it. Dictators will be freer to maim and murder their own people, proliferators like North Korea less scared to proceed with spreading WMD, China and Russia ever more content to test their muscles in the vacuum left by the West.

The choice of graphics was very interesting. America, described in Ezekiel 38 is one of the young lions of Tarshish. When Russia eventually invades the Middle East it is one of the voices of dissent:

And thou shalt 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, 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. Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil? (Ezekiel 38:11–13)

The angels are directing our attention to the “young lions of Tarshish” and the role they will play in the latter days. Their weakening influence in the world is sure sign that we are approaching the unfolding of the drama of Ezekiel 38.

The weak response of the west is also echoed in Daniel 11. There is no opposing military action is described. The West has had its day in the sun and its influence is beginning to withdraw from the arena.

Withdrawal of Egyptian Aid

A further symptom of the waning influence of America and its allies in the Middle East is the withdrawal of aid from Egypt.  Fox News reported the US is cutting military aid and hundreds of millions in cash assistance to Egypt. The article stated,

The Obama administration was criticized by an Egyptian government official Thursday in the wake of its decision to withhold hundreds of millions of dollars in cash and military aid in response to the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi and the crackdown by the military-backed government on his supporters.

The U.S. is "holding" -- as in not sending to Cairo -- a dozen F-16s; a similar number of Apache helicopters; four M-1/A-1 tanks, and an unspecified number of anti-ship missile.

Also, the U.S. is not proceeding with the planned transfer of $260 million in cash to the Egyptian government. However, these funds were already on hold pending the outcome of talks between the Egyptians and the International Monetary Fund.

The U.S. is also not proceeding with a $300 million loan guarantee slated as part of our foreign military financing programs.

The article continued:

The U.S. decision to cut aid to Egypt, though, will create new friction in Washington's already uneasy relations with the government that ousted the first democratically elected Egyptian president. And the consequences won't end there. The move will anger Persian Gulf states, push Egypt to seek assistance from U.S. rivals and upend decades of close ties with the Egyptians that that have been a bulwark of stability in the Middle East.

The article summed up the situation:

The cutoff of some, but not all, U.S. aid also underscores the strategic shifts underway in the region as U.S. allies in the Gulf forge ahead with policies at odds with Washington. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, including the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, are strong backers of Syrian rebel factions and were openly dismayed when the U.S. set aside possible military strikes against Bashar Assad's government. The Gulf states also feel increasingly sidelined as Washington reaches out to their rival, Iran.

What is interesting is the result of America’s withdrawal of influence. There is a clearer image amongst the nations of “Sheba and Dedan” as to how they see their role. These Arab states are being driven closer together into an alliance, which eventually America, the other young lions, and the mother lion Britain will become more closely associated with.

It is also interesting that while America is making overtones to Iran, the Arab states in the gulf are much more aligned in opinion with Israel.  

Israel is not impressed by America’s decision over aid to Egypt and views them as shortsighted. A New York Times headline read, “Israel Expresses Dismay at Cutback of U.S. Aid to Egypt.” The article stated:

Officials and experts in Israel responded on Wednesday with a mixture of disappointment and alarm to the news that the United States planned to reduce its military aid to Egypt in response to this summer’s brutal crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood and the continuing violence it has spawned. Israel views the aid as part and parcel of its 1979 peace treaty with Egypt, and essential to the maintenance of stability in the region…

…one Israeli official, warned that the implications of punitive cuts in Egypt’s aid could go far beyond the issue of Israeli-Egyptian relations. The United States is playing with fire, he said.

“You cannot disassemble the peace treaty and take out this part or that part,” the official said. “But there are other elements in this conundrum. This is not just about Israel. This is about America’s standing in the Arab world.”

“If America is seen to be turning its back on Egypt, an old ally, how will it be seen? People will see it as the United States dropping a friend.”

The Article continued noting the response of the Israeli’s:

They expressed concern over a possible erosion of American credibility when President Obama flip-flopped on his threat to strike Syria in retaliation for its use of chemical weapons against its citizens, even though Israel generally welcomed the Russian deal for a peaceful resolution…. The Egyptian military has been fighting Islamic militants in the Sinai Peninsula, along the border with Israel, and destroying tunnels that were long used by the Hamas militant group to smuggle weapons into Gaza, where they could be used against Israel.

The withdrawal of this support has certainly caused concern. Egypt and Israel are both opponents of radical Islamic militants in the region. America’s withdrawal will no doubt force some formerly uncomfortable alliances to be formed according to the outline supplied by the prophets.

The Bible in the News – quite literally

What was also of great interest this week was FOX News carrying a series of interviews regarding Bible Prophecy. 

Take a listen….

And how about this to think about today. The crisis in Syria may be more than just a current foreign policy problem, with some seeing signs of Biblical Prophecies of the Apocalypse in the events that are unfolding overseas. Passages in the Old Testament even make reference to Damascus falling into ruin sparking world wide conflict that some say leads to the coming of the Messiah.  Joel Rosenberg is a former aid to Benjamin Netenyahu and he is a Middle East analyst, and he has written several books on this issue….

Now before we give Mr. Rosenberg the floor it should be noted that the books Mr. Rosenberg has written are fiction novels and not worth the paper they are written on, he admits his writings are about what could happen, but he’s not really sure. He gets things very muddled up and is not very well versed on his ancient history. However… there are a few things he said that are of interest.

What is interesting about this one is that, you are right, we don’t know for certain we are in some timeframe where these Bible prophecies will come true. But other Bible prophesies have come true, like the rebirth of the state of Israel, in our own lifetime.  Those are major End Times prophecies, Jews coming back to the holy land….

This is the problem or the challenge with Bible Prophecy: you want to study what the text says, and you want to understand it in its historical grammatical context. You can certainly look at the current events,  but you do have to be careful not to overreach or to sensationalize the text, doing what people call newspaper exegesis…

The Bible stands on its own. For many centuries people didn’t think that Israel would be reborn as a country, and Jews would come back to the Holy Land. They thought that was symbolic, but it has happened now.  Now that those series of end time prophecies have happened it does cause people, even skeptics to say, “hmmm maybe the other things the Bible says will happen in the future, will happen possibly in our lifetime.”

The point is, the Bible, and specifically Bible prophecy is making world headlines. Prime time news television is discussing the fulfillment of Bible Prophecy. So what are we doing about it?  We do know what will happen. Our brethren and forefathers have been lecturing and writing on this for years in books like Elpis Israel, Exposition of Daniel, Eureka, and many others. People are interested and are looking for answers it behoves us to be “light in the Lord” and hold forth the word of life to those around us!  Now is the time to start up our public lectures – and focus on Bible prophecy, the nation of Israel and the fulfillment of God’s word as evidence of His existence. Many “theologians” can speculate, but the truth has been given to us. Let us redouble our efforts to shine as lights before our Lord returns.

This has been Jonathan Bowen for the Bible in the News.

Life's Big Questions (playlist)

2013 Egyptian Revolution Isaiah 19:1 The Burden of Egypt!

As the "Arab Spring" moves into a scorching summer, the temperature in the Middle East is climbing dangerously high. We have seen events in Syria lead to civil war and now Egypt is being torn apart by the struggle between the various factions who seek power and control of that country. As far as Egypt is concerned, it brings to mind the prophecy of Isaiah chapter 19, where God says (verse 2):

The Muslim Brotherhood gained power with a 52% majority after the fall of Hosni Mubarak, but that left a large dissatisfied section of the people who have now brought down the Muslim Brotherhood through a military revolution. The Muslim Brotherhood has been removed, at least for now.

But the struggle now going on in Egypt is subject to powerful influences from outside. Saudi Arabia (the Biblical Sheba) and the United Arab Emirates have come forward with $8 billion for Egypt - all in one day! Kuwait has put up $5 billion, making $13 billion in order to support Egypt's military takeover from the Muslim Brotherhood.

On the other hand Iran, Russia and Hizbollah influences are supporting Syria and would like to see Egypt join the radical Islamic nations. This division in the Arab world is exactly what Bible prophecy teaches us to expect, creating a north-south division such as we see indicated in Daniel 11:40-43. but this divide is as much religious as it is geographic - The tug-of-war in Egypt is largely between the two factions of Islam: the Shiite and the Sunni.

The United States would normally support a pro-western Egypt, but President  Obama has apparently moved from that position as he seeks to avoid an involvement in the Middle East that could, potentially, bring him into a confrontation with Russia and Europe. He is also said by some sources to have pro-Islamic sympathies, and many will remember his speech in Egypt after his election to his first term in office, not to mention his full name "Barack Hussein Obama." 

If he does not intervene in Syria or in Egypt it could influence the outcome of the struggle going on in both of those countries.

So it may be that while men delude themselves into thinking that the modern world is controlled through the ballot box, or by force of arms and revolution, the reality is that God controls everything—

and knowing this to be so the true believer is very interested in politics because he knows that God works out His purposes through the kingdoms of men, placing in power those individuals who will accomplish that which He pleases. This is no less so in the modern age of democracy than it was when kingdoms were founded by the sword—and by by war.

The word of God has revealed that at the time of the end, the Middle East will be divided into two blocks. We have already referred to Daniel 11 (King of North and King of South), and we can also see a similar Confederacy in Ezekiel chapter 38 with Gog's "company" 

(the Hebrew word suggests a religious assembly (similar to the Greek "ecclesia"). Another prophecy that gives the idea of a North/South divide is seen in Zechariah 6 (see verses 1-8).

That is the picture that we expect to emerge; a divided Arab world with each side allied to other major powers. So when we see "the Egyptians against the Egyptians" we know from Isaiah's prophecy that the outcome will be their eventual surrender to "a cruel lord" (Isaiah 19:4), for as Daniel also says (Daniel 11:42) "the land of Egypt shall not escape."

Isaiah also tells us of Egypt's economic woes (verses 5 to 10). Such is "the burden of Egypt" (the oracle concerning Egypt, RV) before the God of Israel heals them (verse 22).

"In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: Whom Yahweh of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance."

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Enter Satan The Book of Job #2

Enter Satan

The identification of Satan is critical to any interpretation of the unfolding drama. I propose that throughout the Bible Satan is a metaphorical character representing human pride. Therefore in Job Satan is present wherever pride is present: initially only in the three friends (but later Job too becomes infected).

This proposal is prompted by the following observations:

 The word ‘Satan’ is a Hebrew word meaning ‘opponent’ and is referenced with the definite article (i.e. The Satan), suggesting a metaphorical character, rather than a proper name.

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 The natural reading of the prologue suggests that the ‘opponent’ is the opponent of God.

 The Satan is stupid! The entire basis of the Satan’s argument is that he is cleverer than God and has observed something God has missed. This characteristic arrogance points strongly at human pride.

I consider these observations in the light of the broader Biblical teaching concerning Satan, resting on the assumption that the scriptural canon communicates a single message, so Biblical texts interpret each other:

 Peter’s NT writing reveals angels do not slander righteous men, as the Satan does to Job, excluding the possibility of the Satan being an angel, either benign or malign.

 Scripture consistently indicates that God’s opponent is man’s stubborn, proud heart (Gen 6; Jer 17; Mark 7).

 The scriptural scenes of God interacting with Satan follows a template of three generic points: 1) God speaks a truth; 2) Satan counters with an untruth, which forms an accusation against a righteous man; 3) God rebukes the Satan. Examples of this three-part template can be seen in: a) Gen 2-3 & Rev 12; b) Matt 16; c) Ezra 1-4 & Zech 3. The template is consistently fulfilled in Job if we understand the Satan as the pride of the three friends, because their untruths concerning God’s character form accusations against righteous Job and their pride-filled rhetoric is rebuked by God at the end.

 The story of Job forms the iconic tale of human suffering. This forms an appeal to our sensibilities, especially as God is directing the action, that the cause of this suffering should equally be the signature root cause. Other interpretations lay this cause at the feet of others: other men are seen as the Satan, or even a slow-witted angel who doesn’t quite grasp God’s plan. My interpretation identifies the pride and self-will resident in us all as that ultimate, root cause of suffering and divorce from harmony with God: the Satan.

The Book of Job to speak well of god #1

To Speak Well of God?

I identify an underlying theme of the Book of Job as how one speaks about God. ‘Who God is’ is the most prevalent theme raised. A subtle indicator is that the first and last spoken words of the book concern how one speaks about God, with the entire drama sandwiched between. The first words spoken are by Job: he sacrifices for his children in case they have spoken ill of his God. Similarly the last spoken words, by God, chastise Eliphaz and his two friends for not speaking well of God where Job did.

Job’s sacrificing for his children also showed he had chosen the lifestyle of a priest.

The drama vicariously challenges each of us similarly as we witness his destruction. Job, from the crumpled carnage of his life, still manages to speak well of his God. But will we?

The Book of Genesis The Foundation For All Truth

"Genesis is the seed-plot of the whole Bible; and it is essential to the true understanding of its every part. It is the foundation on which the divine revelation rests" — Bullinger.

"The narrative is so simple, so much like truth, so consistent everywhere with itself, so correct in its dates, so impartial in its biography, so accurate in its philosophical details, so pure in its morality, and so benevolent in its design, as amply to demonstrate that it never could have had an earthly origin" — AD.

"We must proceed as we would with any other book, or in teaching any of the arts and sciences; namely, begin at the beginning, or with the elements of things. This was the method adopted by the spirit of God in the instruction of the Israelites by Moses. He began His revelations by giving them, and us through them, an account of the creation of the heavens and the earth; of animals; and of man.

This then would seem to be the proper place for us to start from; and as we have the system completely revealed, which they had not, we may extend our enquiries into the reason, or philosophy of things further than they. Be this, then, our commencement; and may the Lord Himself prosper our endeavours to decipher and understand His word" — J. Thomas (Elpis Israel).

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