By Pastor Mike Taylor
http://www.churchofgod-usa.org/
Ezekiel 32:24 “There is Elam and all her multitude round about her grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which are gone down uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth, which caused their terror in the land of the living; yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit.
32:25 They have set her a bed in the midst of the slain with all her multitude: her graves are round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword: though their terror was caused in the land of the living, yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit: he is put in the midst of them that be slain.”
If you start reading Ezekiel and understand that all the people around Israel are being prophesied to being slain with the sword. In the above verses, God speaks through Ezekiel about a country called “Elam”.. Where is the land called Elam? This was the name of the land east of Mesopotamia and southwest, which is modern day Iran. Continue reading and as you come to chapter 31 and beyond, it appears to be a chronological order of disaster for all the people who surround Israel. These chapters lead up to the well known prophecy of Ezekiel 38-39.
Many bible scholars believe that a lot of these prophecies were fulfilled in time that Ezekiel actually wrote these chapters through Holy Spirit directives. Since we know that Ezekiel 38-39 has not been fulfilled as of yet, then logically, we can assume that the passages are a duality of prophecy that will be fulfilled in the last days.
As Ezekiel names each country that will receive judgment from God, we see that they are the same countries that are modern day enemies of Israel since her foundation as a sovereign country in 1948. God names Egypt in chapters 30-31 along with the nations that comprise northern Africa such as Ethiopia, Libya and others in confederation with Egypt called Chub. As you progress though chapters leading to chapter 38, judgment is pronounced on modern day Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and those countries that are touching the land of Israel then and today. Each will fall by the sword “which are gone down uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth, which caused their terror in the land of the living.” Maybe a clear reference to Muslim terrorism we deal with today?
You’ll notice that in chapter 34, God pronounces judgment on ancient Israel for their lack of being a shepherd to the flock of their people, which historically we know that Israel was taken to Babylonia for 70 years for not following the laws of God and His judgments. But notice that these chapters cover roughly 2500 years up to and including our modern era. God is telling Ezekiel what will happen in the very days that we live in and the judgment of those who come against His people Israel. Israel is back in her promised land, given to them by covenant by Almighty God for a perpetual and eternal inheritance that no one can annul. Israel is still surrounded by her ancient enemies, many of them came from their same ancestor, the patriarch Abraham. It has been a feud between a family of nations for nigh 4000 years, and is about to come to a climax. I believe sooner than later.
ARE WE IN WORLD WAR III?
Considering the news from the Middle East about ISIS, the Iranians which are Shiite, and Saudi Arabia, which is Sunni, we are in what I believe is a regional war between two sects of Islam and both are jockeying for political power based on their interpretation of what the Quran says, and who they follow as their perceived leader of their so called “religion”. Personally, it’s not a religion, but a theocracy of political, moral, and spiritual governance based on Sharia Law. But let us focus on what may be coming to the people who surround the one country that is in the center of all this political conflict, Israel.
Right now, our “usurper” in chief has been pushing for a nuclear deal with one portion of the Islamic religion Iran, that is attempting to become the dominant power in the region by developing nuclear weapons, thus threatening all who live in this area of our planet and extending to the entire world. My question has always been “How long will Israel allow this threat to continue from Iran?” I have pondered this question now for nigh 15 years. Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu gave an impassioned plea to our US Congress in March warning of the “Iran Deal” as a bad deal. We could spend several commentaries focusing on the conflict between Israel’s PM and the present POTUS to include shenanigans to influence the Israeli elections, but thank God, Netanyahu was re-elected, as he is the only leader in Israel who will stand up to this looming threat of Iran. But my focus in this message, is what could be next in the unrest of an “Arab Spring” and the regional war that is brewing in a cauldron that is about to explode all over the news.
WHEN WILL ISRAEL ACT?
It has been reported that Israel looked for a green light from Washington DC in 2014 to take our Iran’s nuclear ambitions, but was threatened by the POTUS, as reported in Israeli News outlets:
“The Bethlehem-based news agency Ma’an has cited a Kuwaiti newspaper report Saturday, that US President Barack Obama thwarted an Israeli military attack against Iran's nuclear facilities in 2014 by threatening to shoot down Israeli jets before they could reach their targets in Iran.
Following Obama's threat, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was reportedly forced to abort the planned Iran attack.
According to Al-Jarida, the Netanyahu government took the decision to strike Iran some time in 2014 soon after Israel had discovered the United States and Iran had been involved in secret talks over Iran’s nuclear program and were about to sign an agreement in that regard behind Israel's back.”
Is it any wonder that Netanyahu came to the US Congress to present his case to the American people and to warn of the danger, to them, and to the world? This is speaking of our only ally in the Middle East, as Israel has been our friend since its birth in 1948 and has been a partner in providing intelligence to the USA about the dangers that abound in the area. Let’s not forget the technological advances that have benefited this country, because of our inherit friendship. But that friendship is over, as long as this present administration threatens the only real ally in the region. Oh, I forget, now we have Iran that is considered a partner in insuring peace in the region according to the administration through their major mouthpiece, Susan Rice. YEAH, RIGHT!! When I heard that stupid remark, my mouth had to be picked up off the floor. Has this POTUS gone totally nuts? Are we to trust the major exporter of terrorism in the region as a partner in peace? This is insane, you say? I totally agree with you. The man is a kindergartener in foreign policy or a closet Muslim. Take your pick.
Israel is now pretty much on her own. Israel looks for regional players who will stop the spread of Iranian power in the region and has found an unlikely partnership in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Yes, you heard right. Two of the past enemies of the state of Israel, and still are, helping each other to defeat Iranian power spreading to Yemen and the Houthi rebels that are being financed by Iran. For now, they put aside their differences to attack what the region fears more than their mutual hatred of Israel, the conquering of the Middle East by Iran. These countries can no longer rely on the USA to be their protector anymore. They have taken on mounting an attack on Iranian power, by themselves. Not only is that contradiction in terms of Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia in a regional alliance, but something was reported that tells me that the countdown to an Iranian strike on their nuclear facilities is imminent.
HAS ISRAEL DEVELOPED THEIR OWN BUNKER BUSTER BOMBS?
I read a report of a military depot being bombed and the blast was so large, that only a bunker buster bomb could have penetrated the storage facilities that were buried. Arutz Sheva in Israel reports the following quote:
“Israel has developed and tested its own bunker buster bomb, that has been described as “a very credible military option,” to use against Iran.
The 500-pound “MP-500” bomb is laser-guided, and has been shown penetrating four reinforced concrete walls. Iran has buried several of its nuclear facilities, including a uranium enrichment plant, under concrete bunkers in mountainous areas.
The government-owned Israel Military Industries (IMI) developed the bomb, an upgrade of the U.S. Mk82 bunker buster.
‘The lethality, precision ... and relatively low weight enables its use against multiple targets in a single pass; an element that increases the operational effectiveness of attack,’ according to IMI.”
“Israel is preparing to improve its capabilities to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities by enlarging its aerial refueling aircraft to carry enough fuel for F-15 and F-16 warplanes that would be used in an attack on Iran.
The Obama administration reportedly has offered to help Israel improve its bunker-busting capabilities on condition that the Netanyahu government does not stage an attack on Iran before the American elections in November. The White House has denied the report, and Israeli officials have said there is no connection between the elections and Israel’s timing of an attack.”(end quote)
Israel used 707 airplanes as flying bombing platforms to attack Yemen and a signal to Iran that they are capable of bombing their nuclear facilities. Knowing the advanced military planning that is a hallmark of the IDF, I see them using both platforms of F-35 jets to deliver these bombs (planned for delivery this next year), along with laser guided bombs from high altitude 707’s, plus Saudi Arabia has given them the green light to fly over their airspace to provide the pathway to destroying Iran’s nuclear facilities that Saudi Arabia fears and has cleared the way for an Israeli approach. This could be a long campaign, as Iranian nuclear facilities are wide-spread and in hardened underground facilities. I have read that Israel knows that they cannot destroy everything in their nuclear program, but can set the program back many years by hitting bottle neck attack points (a kind of choke point) that would virtually cripple the program using precision laser guided strikes. I’ve often wondered if this strike would be anything but conventional weapons. Israel could resort to nuclear weapons to make the devastation widespread and total in its destruction if they felt conventional bombs would not complete their objective of destroying Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Of course, this would raise the loud protest of the international community no matter what weapon is used, but the howling would be even louder if it were nuclear. So, I believe this will begin the assault on Israel from her neighbors of Psalm 83 and their eventual defeat and conquest. I believe the entire world will be against Israel no matter the outcome and no one coming to help her, when the Iranian/Russian coalition decides to attack. (Gog-Magog). It is ordained in prophecy that the true God of Israel will be their protector by destroying this invading army on the mountains of Israel and revealing Himself as alive and well to His people of Israel. So ushers in a relative peaceful existence for Israel as they clamor to rebuild their planned third temple and animal sacrifices are again initiated. Peace, but a false peace based on guarantees of “one man” who makes a deal that Israel will embrace and sign a contract with the devil and death.
WANT ANOTHER REASON THAT AN ATTACK IS IMMINENT?
As has been reported, our good friend in Russia, Vladimir Putin (of course, I jest) has agreed to deliver the S-300 missiles to Iran after years of holding them up.
Wall Street Journal- “The Kremlin lifted its self-imposed ban on the delivery of a powerful missile air-defense system to Iran on Monday, stoking sharp criticism from the White House and Israel and casting fresh doubt on the international effort to curb Tehran’s nuclear program.
Any delivery of an air-defense system would complicate airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities by Israel or the U.S. should the diplomatic track fail.
Iran thinks that Russia will deliver the missile system this year. Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, told the Interfax news agency in Moscow on Tuesday.”
Any delay by Israel to allow Iran to receive the S-300 missile that would be capable of knocking out Israeli planes in any attack, so they can use Israeli bunker buster bombs by Israeli jets would require mounting an attack THIS YEAR.
All who have been watching the signs of the times, have wondered what could be the meaning of the Blood Moons that have already had three pass in the last year and the present year? We still have one more Blood Moon this fall during Tabernacles and have been linked in history with “something” significant happening to Israel. Could this be what will be happening this year? And what will be the result of such an attack? I believe you will see condemnation from the POTUS against Israel and withdrawing support from the tiny Jewish state. I see UN sanctions coming upon Israel and Israel’s enemies smelling blood and vulnerability and mounting an ill-conceived attack to fulfill the Psalm 83 prophecy. Can you see how quickly we are moving in Bible prophecy that leads up to Ezekiel 38-39? One will lead directly to the next. How long between the two? I don’t believe it will be very long, but I believe long enough for Israel to finally feel safe. Ezekiel chapter 38:
38:10 “Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:
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38:11 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,
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38:12 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.”
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WHAT COULD BE COMING?
Please, this is only my wondering about what could be coming, based on scripture. I am no prophet, but God is moving this along rather quickly from the perspective of any bible believing Christian, that is awake and watching. The events are coming fast and furious as we move along in these last few years and I fully expect will move at “warp speed” as the coming of our Lord draws even closer. All could be done within this year and 2016. Next year could very well be a dramatic year for Bible Prophecy. Let’s makes some possible scenarios and assumptions that very well could develop.
- Israel attacks Iranian nuclear facilities and putting the country years back in their quest for the bomb by destroying essential “choke points” of their program.
- Iran, if not decimated, will quickly instruct their proxies of Hezbollah, Syria, and Gaza to mount an attack against Israel from the west, north and east.
- If this is the fulfillment of Psalm 83, then I see Jordan, Egypt and possibly Saudi Arabia, even though they have partnered with Israel in the Yemen war, they still hate Israel.
- Israel, with Almighty God’s help will destroy all attackers who come against her, thus neutering the threat from its neighbors and blunting the effect from their most feared nemesis, Iran. This perceived calm will last for a very short time.
- Israel will effectively own all gas and oil of the Middle East. They will be the direct competitor of the Russian Bear, who with their dictator found in Vladimir Putin, could be the leader spoken of in the Gog-Magog coalition that comes against Israel found in Ezekiel 38-39 as he desires what is not his…gas and oil.
- How long after this devastating defeat of this coalition by Almighty God Himself, destroying 80% of this invading army, will a man arise and propose a 7 year peace plan to allow Israel to live in “peace and security”? Thus the rise of the Anti-Christ could be within the next few years or sooner.
All the above scenarios has been believed to be right around the corner for years, but one ingredient was needed to propel this into a imminent possibility, and that is the attack on Iran. We have been watching this for all of the 21st century, which we are in year 15. I believe WW3 has formed right now, and unless Islam is defeated in near total, then this war will continue as ISIS, Iran, and Saudi Arabia jockey for complete control of the region and will only spread further into neighboring countries. The only thing that stands in their way is Israel and the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
There is one last element that should make you long for the coming of our Lord, being very close at hand. If this above scenario play out along, or near what I have hypothesized, then when this ruler who proclaims peace and safety for Israel arises out of obscurity, then another prophecy will be fulfilled beforehand. 2nd Thessalonians:
2:7 “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
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2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
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2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”
As scripture has spoken, iniquity has been at work since the time of Jesus and has been held back by One Person. There are many interpretations of who this restrainer is and what he is restraining. Many deny that it has to do with a removal of the church, before the man of sin can be revealed. But is that true? I don’t believe it is that there is anybody but God who is holding back the full sway of lawlessness driven by Satan in his attempt to destroy mankind. So who is this restrainer that 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 mentions that is holding back sin and lawlessness? What or who that restraining force is, Paul does not say specifically in this letter. I have preached that it is the Holy Spirit for years, but I went to the internet to see what the consensus was. Many have speculated as to the identity of the restrainer, naming the restraining force as 1) human government; 2) gospel preaching; 3) the binding of Satan; 4) the providence of God; 5) the Jewish state; 6) the church; 7) the Holy Spirit; and 8) Michael. Whatever now restrains the Antichrist of vv. 3, 4, 8–10 from being revealed in the fullness of his apostasy and evil must be more than human or even angelic power.
The power that holds back Satan from bringing the final apostasy and unveiling of his Satan-possessed false Christ (the Antichrist) must be supernatural. It must be God’s power in operation that holds back Satan, so that the “man of sin,” “the son of destruction” (v. 3) won’t be able to come until God permits it by removing the restraining power. The reason for the restraint was so that the Antichrist would be revealed at God’s appointed time and no sooner, just as was Christ (Gal. 4:4), because God controls Satan.
The Holy Spirit of God is the only Person with sufficient (supernatural) power to do this restraining. How does He do it? Through Christians, He works in society to hold back the swelling tide of lawless living. At some point, though, He will be removed from the earth, allowing sin to have dominion over mankind. This can only happen when the Church—all true believers in Jesus Christ—are removed. This is because the Holy Spirit lives within each believer. When the church leaves the earth, the Holy Spirit will be taken out of the way in the sense that His unique lawlessness-restraining ministry—through God's people— will be removed . The removal of the Restrainer at the time of the removal of the church from planet earth must obviously precede the “day of the Lord.” But as soon as individuals again start placing their faith in Christ during the tribulation, the Holy Spirit will again be “present” in the world. His ministry of restraining, though, seems limited to the time before the tribulation.
Those who read this message know that the time of the end of days is upon us. Even if they are not a Christian now, they know that the world cannot continue in its downward slide. Something has got to give, and what will give is the removal of the Bride of Christ and the beginning of a period that last 7 years with a one world ruler, known as the Anti-Christ. The signs of this imminent event are screaming at the world. Do you feel it? Have you fear in your heart what is coming upon the earth? If you don’t now, you most certainly will. Jesus spoke of such unbridled fear coming upon all who live into what is called the Tribulation. Luke chapter 21:
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I have blown the trumpet of alarm more times than I can imagine. Now some may continue to scoff and mock as the Apostle Peter spoke of in 2nd Peter chapter 3:
3:3 “ Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
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3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
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3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
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3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
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3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”
So my question to you is, where will you be found? Will you be those who scoff and mock and say it’s not as bad as it seems. “Things will get better”, you say. With all the evidence around you, are you so secure in those statements? If Jesus would come tonight, and He could, will you be found in Him, or found blind and naked in your unrighteous condition? Or will you fall on your knees, or say in your heart. “Lord, save me.” John 3:15-18:
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This is Pastor Mike Taylor, praying God reveals Himself to you in His only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ for the salvation of your soul. If you have need for prayer, counseling, or just a listening ear, email me at realteam1999@sbcglobal.net, or visit me online at www.churchofgod-usa.org. God bless you all in the Name of Jesus Christ. Tell we meet at Jesus Feet.
