Monday, April 4, 2011

Will Armageddon be May 15th?

I've had to do some moving around lately, and have been quite busy.  Therefore I took a break from the news, and posting blogs.  And what happens?  We get some of the juiciest news to come out of the grape vine.

Turns out it seems the Palestinians are trying a new ploy.  They have posted on Facebook a call for all Palestinians and the international community to join them to realize a "Right to Return" to "the homeland" of all the Palestinian Muslims.

They are to march into Israel, supposedly unarmed, except for pots and spoons to bang, and a few other supplies to protect agains tear gas and rubber bullets, according to the WND article: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=281293

So will this turn out to be Armageddon?  The prophet Zechariah spoke of a day when the nations of the world would converge on Israel, and that the LORD of hosts [armies], would make Jerusalem [i.e. Zion] a stone to heavy to lift, and all who lifted it would be smashed to pieces (Zech 12:3).

It sounds scary for sure... but I'm not so sure that this battle describes what is happening today in Israel.  In the context of chapters 12-14, this appears to be speaking of the final battle before the millenial reign of Messiah, when the nation of Israel looks on "Me whom they have pierced" (Zech. 12:10; Ps. 22:16). 

There are three battles mentioned in the last days leading up to the return of the promised Jewish deliverer.  They are Psalm 83, Ezekiel 38-39 and Zech. 12-14.  The conflagration of nations marching in against Israel who was restored to her historic land in 1948 by the U.N., seems to be described more by the words in Psalm 83.

4They have said, "Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation,

That the name of Israel be remembered no more."
5For they have conspired together with one mind;
Against You they make a covenant:
6The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
Moab and the Hagrites;
7Gebal and Ammon and Amalek,
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8Assyria also has joined with them;
They have become a help to the children of Lot. Selah.
9Deal with them as with Midian,
As with Sisera and Jabin at the torrent of Kishon,
10Who were destroyed at En-dor,
Who became as dung for the ground.
11Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb
And all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12Who said, "Let us possess for ourselves
The pastures of God."

The nations named here in this passage are the modern equivalents of Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt.  None of these countries are mentioned in the battle of Magog [Russia] in Ezekiel 38, also leading Muslim allied forces.  It could be that this faceoff, this confrontation results in the destruction of these peoples, and a war of the size and extent that has not been seen yet. 

And this will move the prophetic description in place, of Ezekiel 38, "a people, brought out from among the nations... living in unwalled villages... who are at rest, that live securely... living without walls and... no bars or gates" (Ezek. 38:8,11).

According to the Psalm, it sounds like the results of the war will be catastrophic.  But they are fulfilling the will of the Lord.  "He makes everything for its own purpose, even the wicked, for the day of destruction" Pr. 16:4. 

But the purposes of the LORD, Yhvh, are clear from the last three verses:

16 Fill their faces with dishonor,

That they may seek Your name, O LORD.
17Let them be ashamed and dismayed forever,
And let them be humiliated and perish,
18That they may know that You alone, whose name is the LORD,
Are the Most High over all the earth.

God's intent is that people turn to Him in repentence, recognizing that He alone is the one true God.  And at the last day, all who rejected His offer of salvation, will stand without excuse.  For all who call on the name of the LORD will be saved.

Have you turned to Him in repentence, making Him LORD of your life?  If you have not, there is still a little time.  Repent today, that you may have life!

No comments:

Post a Comment