All Discussion PAGE 213

Part 10.

The Islamic Threat To Israel (Part 3)

Home, Not-so-sweet Home

On May 14, 1948, Israel declared itself an independent nation once again. Israel's Proclamation of Independence stated: "We extend our hand to all neighboring States and their peoples in an offer of peace...and appeal to them to establish bonds of cooperation and mutual help with the sovereign Jewish people settled in its own land...placing our trust in the Almighty...." That olive branch was trampled by the regular armies of at least five Arab nations attacking Israeli settlers in what they described as a war of extermination. That to exterminate Israel is required by Islam (no Arab map shows Israel's existence) makes real peace in the Middle East impossible--but political correctness won't admit it.

More than 800,000 Jews fled from Muslim lands to Israel for refuge, leaving behind virtually everything they had possessed. This was almost double the number of Arab refugees who fled from Israel during the war of independence. Yet these Jewish refugees who fled persecution and slaughter are ignored in the media. For example, in 1948 there were about 265,000 Jews in Morocco, today there are about 5,000. There were about 140,000 Jews in Algeria, while today there are none. There were about 135,000 in Iraq, 75,000 in Egypt, and 30,000 in Syria, with only about 100 remaining in each of these countries.

See Part 11.

Part 9.

The Islamic Threat To Israel (Part 3)

Muhammad also declared, as recorded in the Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith, "The last day will not come until the Muslims confront the Jews and the Muslims destroy them. In that day Allah will give a voice to the rocks and the trees and they will cry out, 'Muslim, there is a Jew hiding behind me. Come and kill him!'" This is not an obscure teaching from Muhammad, but the very foundation of Islam, taught to Muslims through the centuries from their earliest years.

As a result, ever since the Muslim conquest of the Middle East, Jews have suffered in Muslim countries from inhumane treatment and periodic bursts of violence that left many of them dead or seriously wounded. Take only one country, Morocco, as an example of what occurred everywhere under Islam. Jews were forced to live in ghettos called mellahs. One historian writes that rape, looting, burning of synagogues, destruction of Torah scrolls and murder were "so frequent that it is impossible to list them." As only one instance of many, in Fez, in A.D. 1032, about 6,000 Jews were murdered and many more "robbed of their women and property." In 1066, after Islam took over Spain, the Jews of Granada were massacred--and that fate periodically overtook those who would not bow to Islam.

The fierce persecution of 1640, in which even women and children were murdered, was called the "al-Khada." Under Muslims, Jews suffered "such repression, restriction and humiliation as to exceed anything in Europe." Continuing that tradition, although there were no Jews in his country and none are allowed to enter to this day, Saudi Arabia's King Ibn Saud said, "for a Muslim to kill a Jew...ensures him an immediate entry into Heaven...." Diabolical motivation indeed!

See Part 10.

Part 8.

The Islamic Threat To Israel (Part 3)

Dave Hunt

His Legacy Lives On

In obedience to Muhammad, successor and father-in-law, Abu Bakr, and loyal Muslim warriors killed about 70,000 Arabs, former Muslims, in the "Wars of Apostasy." Thus Arabia was forced back into Islam once again.

Thereafter, under Abu Bakr and succeeding caliphs, Islam spread swiftly by the sword from France all the way to China--"defensive" wars, of course. Millions were killed by the conquering Muslim armies. There is no way to "explain" away today's suicide bombers and other Muslim terrorists as a handful of extremists. This is Islam as Muhammad and his successors established and practiced it from the beginning and down through the centuries. Historians describe the conquest of India as "the bloodiest story in history." There Muslims killed more Hindus, Buddhists, and Sikhs than Hitler killed Jews. The Taj Mahal was built by a Muslim mogul with 20,000 slave laborers.

Foundational to Islam is the declaration Muhammad made: "Allah has commanded me to fight against all people until all people confess that Allah is the true god and Muhammad is his prophet." The entire world is divided by Islam into Dar al-Islam (the house of peace) and Dar al-Harb (the house of war). There is perpetual Jihad by Islam against Dar al-Harb. There can never be "peace" until Islam has subjected the entire world to Allah. Verses advocating fighting to take over the world for Islam (of which there are more than 100) include the following: 2:190-193, 210, 224; 4:74-76, 89, 101; 5:36, 54; 8:12, 17, 59-60, 65; 9:5, 14, 29, 41, 123; 47:4, etc.

See Part 9.

Brother Giannis:

The whole gospel of the Kingdom of God revolves around the death and resurrection of Christ.

The Old Testament saints and the New Testament saint were all resurrected with Christ ..... first resurrection .....

It all happened 2000 years ago, but we, not yet born when this event happened, are BORN GAIN by the words of GOD.

He tells us what happened.

Now there are TWO types of people, believers .... first resurrection ..... and non believers ..... the second resurrection

The wages of SIN (unbelief) is DEATH.

The GIFT of BELIEVING is eternal LIFE.

At Christ resurrection, all flesh died on the cross with Christ, ONLY Christ arose, the only one with eternal life.

All men arose a New Creation with Christ joint heirs of eternal life, TWO became ONE, a MARRIAGE, flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone, we became the wife of Christ, ONE FLESH.

Those who believe they were made one IN CHRIST, have already died, never to see dead again, they are just harvested ONE by ONE, not collectively, as man teaches.

If you make everything revolve around the death and resurrection of Christ, it becomes easier to understand the prophecies and REVELATION.

Most people don't spend enough time studying Mosses and the prophets.

Remember Jesus told the Pharisees, who knew the Old scriptures inside out, they failed at understanding their meaning.

It is no different today, unless you let the spirit of truth teach you, and that means repenting of the doctrines taught by man, you will have to go through the second death at the second resurrection and judgement.

God Bless YOU.

Good Evening GiGi,

Thank you so much for praying for me. I'm so depressed, frustrated and stressed because my implant surgery is on hold until my appeal go through with the insurance company. But I know God is working it out for me. Please continue to pray for me that I get an expedient appeal so I can go forward with my implant surgery. I need this surgery because I'm having problems eating, talking, swallowing and weight problems. Thank you in advance for praying for me and with me. God bless

Hello brother Jordyn,

Okay, so I have a few questions. First, what was the message? Second, if God gave the message to an angel, what did the angel do with the message? And thirdly, I know that ANGELOS can also mean messenger. So, if I (me personally) am the angel of the church (as you say), why in all of John's writings, the gospel of John, 1, 2, & 3rd John, and Revelation, John never uses the word ANGELOS for human messengers?

Hello Jordyn.

You asked "What if the rapture is a doctrine of man, and not the truth of scripture? God's word cannot contradict itself."

What makes you think that the rapture is a doctrine of man?

Hello Jesse, Spencer

Thanks for your comments, this is my understaning as well.

GBU

Hello Ronald.

Firstly you are right about the no, of resurrections, two of them.

On the other hand in Rev it seems that the saints are resurrected before Jesus starts descenting to earth. In Thess they are ressurrected as Jesus comes to earth and we meet with Him in the air. Also in my previous posts I underlined the different conditions of the world in the rappture and in the 2nd coming. They don't seem to match at all. They are completely different.

Today I remembered what Paul said about the Istaelites at the end. Rom 11:25, "For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in." We know that the Israelites will accept Jesus during the great tribulation. If the rapture is the same event as the 2nd coming there seems to be a timing problem, because the verse says after all of the gentiles will be saved.

Last, in your opinion who are the people that are called into the marriage supper of the Lamb?

GBU

I am a bit limited on time here; but the story of Saul trying to kill David 21 times (quite often attempting to impale him against a wall) and the love/hate sort of emotion he had toward David is a classic illustration of such an issue. Surely we could say the actions of Judas Iscariot and the Antichrist fit in there as well; in fact the final end of the unregenerate in Revelation truly is insane; attempting to fight God as seen in Psalm 2 and Revelation 19.

God would cause enemies to fight after each other as well as elicit fear among them. God also is going to send strong delusion in the last days; so God Himself can allow this to happen. Ultimately; of course it is the spiritual entities of devils that affect men; as seen today with those afflicting pain on themselves or committing suicide; many behaviors which are identical to those in cults in the scriptures as well as today. We see this with the worshippers of Dagon I believe when they were trying to get their "god" to do something during the prophetic challenge of Elijah (and or with Baal). Child sacrifice would be considered insane too; although in today's society we have made it a social or human rights issue instead.

Ez.17:5-10 "In a fruitful field"

'He placed it by great waters, and set it as a willow tree' refers to Judea was 'a good land-a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills (De.8:7)

6And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and the roots thereof were under him: so it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs.

'Became a spreading vine of low stature' Judah subjugated by the king of Babylon could not have been as high as Babylon. In Daniel's vision the majesty of the king is made clear."The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth.(Dan.4:10-12)'

The stability of Judah depended on Babylon. The repetition "branches" and "sprigs" emphasizes the ingratitude of Zedekiah, who, not content with moderate prosperity, revolted from him to whom he had sworn allegiance.

7There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers: and, behold, this vine did bend her roots toward him, and shot forth her branches toward him, that he might water it by the furrows of her plantation.

Pharaoh of Egypt is referred here. Water it by the furrows refer to Egyptian irrigation system by means of canals from the River Nile crisscrossing the arable lands. 'Behold, this vine did bend her roots toward him, and shot forth her branches toward him' touches on bad faith on the part of Zedekiah who sought the alliance of Egypt, as though by it he could throw off his dependence on Babylon.

It shall not need all the forces of Babylon to destroy it; a small division of the army will suffice because God will deliver it into Nebuchadnezzar's hand. (Je.37:10)

Judah was planted by God in a fruitful field; now be transplanted by the king of Babylon again in a fruitful field. Zedekiah burning with pride and ambition makes his secret plans. ""Let favour be shewed to the wicked,yetwill he not learn righteousness" (Is.26:10)

Ez.17:5-10 "In a Fruitful field" (1 of 2)

Here we have a riddle where Babylon and Egypt are two eagles. Judgment of Judah is the certain outcome for rejecting divine chastisement by resorting to their own strategies. In their revolt against Babylon they were resisting God's plan. In their rushing off to Egypt similarly ran counter to God's Will. Like Sodom, Egypt has been judged so it was foolishness to seek help from a tottering wall.

Splendor of Babylon owed to it strategic location, trade routes facilitated commerce with India and other places and the name Babylon which we shall come across is reinvented for the end times (Re.18:2). Mighty Babylon is not precisely the place we are here concerned with. As with the Spirit's narrative mode persons and places are often a double for some other. We had just seen daughter of Zion once removed from her vows of betrothal being compared to Sodom.'Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness (16:49).'

King of Babylon took ' the highest branch' meaning Jehoiachin king of Judah. "Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiachin captive to Babylon. He also took from Jerusalem to Babylon the king's mother, his wives, his officials and the prominent people of the land./The king of Babylon also deported to Babylon the entire force of seven thousand fighting men, strong and fit for war, and a thousand skilled workers and artisans(2 Ki.24:15-16).Only the poorest of the people were left behind.

5He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful field; he placed it by great waters, and set it as a willow tree.

Seed of the land or son of the native soil meaning Zedekiah who was the uncle of Jehoiachin, of David's family. In allowing him to continue under changed circumstances it ought to have been fortuitous for his family.

'He placed it by great waters, and set it as a willow tree' refers to Judea was 'a good land-a land with brooks, streams,

Ez. 16:35-64 "O Daughter of Zion" (2 of 2)

The mighty Samson's fall did not come out of a vacuum. His daily walks and the company chose were ever at heels. Evil communication corrupts good manners, in his case his Nazarite vow and it shall lead him inevitable to Delilah's lap. As a lamb to the slaughter he walked into disaster. " And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him." (Ju.16:20. One of the saddest lines ever penned for our instruction. No different is how those who ought to be teachers err in photoshopping Jesus by making him more salable to the congregation. Take away his deity and what is left ? This slipshod attitude to what is holy makes apostate church. Comparing apples with lemon is OK because fruit is a fruit. But knowing holiness of God is a spiritual task so literal significance of a fruit is not called for but what taste has it? "Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?" This is how one need to approach comparing spiritual with spiritual. (Jas.3:10-12)

"Thou art thy mother's daughter, that lotheth her husband and her children." When one has left off the godliness and simplicity, mother could be Sodom for all that was her characteristic is now reborn in daughter of Zion. "And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD,thatthou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali( Hosea 2:16)". "For thy Makeristhine husband; the LORD of hostsishis name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called (Is.54:5)".

Thank you for taking the time to explain that. God bless you.

Ez.16:35-63 "O Daughter of Zion" (1 of 2)

"And thine elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell at thy left hand: and thy younger sister, that dwelleth at thy right hand, is Sodom and her daughters.(v.46)"

Judah has been compared figuratively as daughter of Zion and here God finds her many sins worthy of judgment as He did with Sodom. Sodom is dead but continued in the many sins of omission and commission of Judah. Isaiah faulted her faithlessness, "For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against theLord, to provoke the eyes of his glory./The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves(Is.3:8-9).

In forsaking the fountain of living waters what Judah chose for herself is something worse. When beasts of the field cannot find fresh grass they are required to pasture far and wide in order to get their daily needs. Suppose one eats and the body cannot absorb anything of it so one feels more starved after it must be pitiable. A mind also could be similarly affected by sin. A reprobate mind is willing to sells one's own future for the moment's pleasure. Sin is disruption of normal working between God and man. "And even as they did not like to retain God intheirknowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;(Ro.1:28)"

Daughter of Zion is like insatiable in seeking her thrills even as Sodom and Gomorrah did. "For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters,andhewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water (Je.2:13)". In this age of sexual permissiveness one can see parallel. Love that is natural has become debased. If ministers of God preaching love of Christ seem more after filthy lucre, the small mis-steps in judgment took them farther away in course of time.

Ez.16:15-34 "Israel's whoredom" (2 of 2)

"O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?"

Israel similarly began and now her conduct is tantamount to spiritual whoredom. In our own times are we any better? All that was past,- sacrifices of martyrs, acts of love and joyfully suffering loss of all things in order to please the Lord have become null and void. Modern churches must be said to be most prodigal indeed to scatter all their spiritual inheritance; what have we for posterity but shame? Evangelicalism is in no way better than what Israel has become in the time of Ezekiel.

When a believer shifts his faith from God to things we see the disaster coming into play with his spiritual life. Consumerism as a philosophy ought to be kept in its place. For children of God if trust in His promises is gone everything is lost. Yes. Israel forgot having received all the advantages of being a theocratic nation. "For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold,whichthey prepared for Baal (Hosea.2:8)". Instead of Baal the name mammon is more apt.

Sin of Israel :Instead of attributing the glory of her privileges and gifts to God, Israel prided herself on them as her own. In wanting to be like other nations and to be led by a king her sin was to impose her own will. They were sated by waters from the rock in the wilderness. Doing the will of God set a royal fare before his Son. Spiritual meat and drink. " So the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him./ He made him ride on the high places of the earth"(De.32:12-13)

Israel'swhoredom brought this:Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.(Mic.3:9-12)"

Thanks Gigi.

More on this once I finish my chores.

God bless.

Ez.16:15-34 "Israel's whoredom" (1 of 2)

But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was.

What a contrast do we find in the circumstances of Israel from that of Abraham. "For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness(Ro.4:3)".Walking with God and being in the centre of His Will as Abraham did is the path to righteousness. Faith is one and when it is adulterated as Israel did, embracing foreign gods and also taking pride in their temple it was a recipe for disaster. Ezekiel is given charge to show his people where they went wrong.

As said before faith is one as the gospel of God is one. No nation can dilute either faith or the gospel and expect God's favor. Israel whoredom was in the many advantages she would receive from the nations about her by following their ways. So faith in her case was not completely relied on God.

Faith works in those who have no confidence in their flesh so would instead build up squarely on the eternal word and promises of God. "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things thatpertainunto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:(2 Pe.1:3)". Our own times is a good example. Many are loath to admit the wonders and miracles in the Bible as true. Their rational mind is in denial of what had worked into the spiritual lives of their fathers. In denying it their steadfastness is gone but can they manufacture something new in its place? In denying their own faith how genuine is faith that is borrowed according to current fads? Instead, wanting to be a good citizens they embrace also the national goals and wealth for everyone which are practiced patently on amoral principles. If faith was genuine and had knit him with God could he have tolerated social injustice and racism as though it never existed?

"For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father." (1 Ki.11:4) Just the opposite to what Christ did. "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it/That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word;"(Ep.5:25). Solomon's heart was not perfect. Israel went whoring after foreign gods. Christ came to do his perfect will. Comparing apples with lemon makes a mongrel church. In Christ there is no Barbarian or foreigner.

Hi Jesse,

Thanks, there is much darkness in the world that many in the churches today do not even believe exists, to them, it is like Hollywood productions and not in real life. Some are used without even knowing they are being used but many since they are not a threat are left alone, to walk blindly to what is all around them, unknowingly being engulfed in the lusts of the world following the huge congregations having itching ears. It is the wide road to destruction.

There is a rude awakening in the future that most will fail to flee and be overtaken by ''the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world''.

Thanks again, God bless,

RLW

I was thinking about an earlier post of mine where I said that the three heavens were : the garden of Eden , the kingdom of Israel under Solomon and the Kingdom of God on Earth during Christ's one thousand year reign . Looking at the kingdom of Israel under Solomon , it seems very imperfect considering that Solomon married many foreign women who turned his heart from following God wholeheartedly . As I believe very much that the old foreshadows the new , how can I justify my belief in this ? Solomon is a type of Christ . He married many foreign women :) what are we ? Not Jews most of us ! Foreigners ! Only instead of us turning Christ away from God , Christ has turned our hearts to God ! So that's how I feel about Solomon and his foreign wives , they are a foreshadow of Christ and his foreign wives , us ! :) .

We must remember that Israel in the old testament had a history of relying on its "friends" . Time after time , when Israel strayed from the Truth , worshipped idols etc , even put idols in the Temple ! God would pronounce judgement upon them for their actions and ask them to repent and turn back to Him . They would refuse and put their trust in their friends that they had hired to protect them . This never worked out for them of course , God's punishments stood and Israel suffered defeat after defeat . Only after they had been defeated by their enemies and let down by their friends did they turn their whole hearts back to God . I believe the old to be a foshadow of the new . Solomon says : there is no new thing under the sun . This I think will happen again . Israel has a lot of support and "friends" at the moment , this is emboldening them . To require justice is natural but revenge ? That's for God , vengeance is Mine , I shall repay . How close will Israel's friends stick if Putin openly declares support for Hamas / Palestinians ? He has the biggest nuclear arsenal by far . How close will Israel's friends stick if they keep on killing ordinary Palestinians caught in the cross fire ? I believe that Israel's friends will at some point draw back from them and let them down leaving them extremely vulnerable , this will be too much temptation for their enemies . From Zechariah it would seem as if nuclear weapons will be used , but by who and on whom ? That I can't answer for certain . I think that when Israel is on the brink of destruction this is when the most awesome thing will happen :) . I'm guessing you all know what I'm thinking ! This is how I interpret the last days , the last days of the kingdoms of men and the first days of the Kingdom of God on Earth . It's going to be a bit scary at times for sure , but we who know the Truth should be strong and excited and try to help our loved ones through this scary time for them . Much love to you all .

Ez.12:16; 23-28 "The long and short of prophesy" (2 of 2)

Of this we shall see in this nugget of God's providence,"And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us./And Jesus said unto him, Forbidhimnot: for he that is not against us is for us(Lk.9:49-50)". Partisan spirit of John had to go a long way before he would come to be known the Apostle of Love. So learning as he went in the company of Jesus is what Christian Living in its kern teaches us. We are not dying to sin in water baptism so we may spend the rest of our lives like Israelites hungering for the fleshpots of Egypt. It is what prosperity theology of false teachers work with.

Ezekiel's words "vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel' are for our times as well. Similarly it shall be spoken of the churches in future before out Lord shall make an end of blasphemy from the church."25For I am theLord: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the LordGod(v.26). When these false diviners are in charge we are to be like Ezekiel.

"Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy water with trembling and with carefulness;(v.18) .

Ez.12:16;23-28 "The Long and Short of prophesy" (1 of 2)

"But I will leave a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, and from the pestilence; that they may declare all their abominations among the heathen whither they come; and they shall know that I am theLord (v.16)."

Power and glory of God is such all creation can bask in it. Providence is not alone for animals of the day that are taken to their stalls for the night; night owls have their task cleaning up rodents and big cats on the prowl at night have carcasses to dispose off. Land, air, sea, ocean deep deserts heath and tundra each are part of Providence so glory of God has worked out an order that underpin the well being of everthing on the earth and in heaven. Sin of man perhaps simple flouting of law creates stresses that must ripple through entire web. We know that sin of disobedience began with Adam. "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:(Ro.5:12). Adam placed his own will above that of God. It is never an individual choice but sin must spawn its own brood. So flouting of truth written in heart makes itself visible. For example when Moses ground the golden calf and made the children of Israel drink it and we know that it was not the end."And he took the calf which they had made, and burntitin the fire, and grounditto powder, and straweditupon the water, and made the children of Israel drinkof it(Ex.32:20)" . We read that when the kingdom of Israel was split Jeroboam had a ready answer:"golden calf!"

"Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt./And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan./And this thing became a sin..(1 Ki.12:28-29)" In place of the golden calf destroyed, it doubled!

Ez.12:12-16"The Net and the trident" (2 of 2)

Nations that disobey the commandment of God are taken in a net that is weighted.

In flouting God's commandments Israel was taken in by the very laws, which they vowed to obey. Since their focus was more on flesh than on Spirit they interpreted the Law literally. "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God(Ro.10:3)". Righteousness of God is not in outward form of worship but loving God 'with all my heart, mind and soul.' Loving they neighbor is not merely an idea but is in relation to you. Any one may say I love so and so. Without showing how saying the word 'love' is merely wind. Loving another,- the only way he can be called a good neighbor, is in loving him/her how you love your own. It is what God demands from you. This being the case what shall we say of loving only the white or colored but as a travesty of God's commandment? "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets(Lk.22:40)".

Famine, pestilence and the sword,- the trident of God's vengeance is not by stealth and a gladiator uses it only after tiring the opponent in spending all his energy ducking the short sword or the net that the gladiator may frequently wave about as a matador does with his cape. Thus in a nation's downfall there would have occurred series of events steadily weakening its resources so when these three finally pin it down the famine has taken its toll already and pestilence finish off the weak body that has depleted its auto-immune system. Here we are seeing God's judgment on Israel. It is done for all to see and learn from.

God set Ezekiel as the watchman but he had to publicly decamp as a robber digs through mud-wall 'And I did so as I was commanded: I brought forth my stuff by day, as stuff for captivity, and in the even I digged through the wall with mine hand; I brought ht it forth in the twilight."

Ez.12:12-16 "The Net and the trident" (1 of 2)

And the prince that is among them shall bear upon his shoulder in the twilight, and shall go forth: they shall dig through the wall to carry out thereby: he shall cover his face, that he see not the ground with his eyes.

13My net also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare: and I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; yet shall he not see it, though he shall die there.

"Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird (Pr.1:17)". It is thus the devil sets trap to take the foolish in his net. Here we are considering the entire house of Israel for their many sins of commission and omission. In general terms they played ducks and drakes with the Law by treating the Law of Moses literally. If Constitution can be argued for and against at face value is it to be wondered at that the nation would end up as a rebellious house? For example we have in the Gospel of John an incident of a woman taken in adultery. "In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women.Now what do you say? They were using this question as a trap,in order to have a basis for accusing him.(8:5-6-NIV) " In the end the Pharisees and scribes could not settle the matter because their own conscience proved they were incapable. Their heart was not right in the first place: they consulted Jesus on the point of law showed why. Secondly their own sinful nature convicted them.

The net as we associate with the Roman gladiator is to get the opponent entangled in it. We shall consider the net used by gladiator. A gladiator with a net was a retiarus or literally net-man (The word reticule or woman's purse with draw string is derived from it.). He fought with a trident, which we can for our intent and purpose name as famine pestilence and sword. In order to finish off the man taken in the net he has his sword. His additional weapon is a dagger (pugio). Nations that disobey the commandment of God are taken in a net.

Ez.7:10-27 "Day of Wrath" (2 of 2)

Vv. 12-13

The time is come, the day draweth near: let not the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn: for wrath is upon all the multitude thereof./For the seller shall not return to that which is sold, although they were yet alive: for the vision is touching the whole multitude thereof, which shall not return; neither shall any strengthen himself in the iniquity of his life.

Compare the above passages with a land transaction Jeremiah entered with his kinsman. God commands Jeremiah who was shut up to buy the land."Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee saying, Buy thee my field that is in Anathoth: for the right of redemption is thine to buy it (Je.32:8-9)". It is not the case here. Ezekiel's prophecy is looking forward to the end times and Jerusalem of the rebellious nation no more would merit God's favor. They shall be like doves as mentioned in v.16,'But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity.'

"And I will give it into the hands of the strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of the earth for a spoil; and they shall pollute it./My face will I turn also from them, and they shall pollute my secret place: for the robbers shall enter into it, and defile it."(vv.21-22)

In v.21 we have a clear passage of Jerusalem under the Ottoman Empire. 'for the robbers shall enter into it, and defile it'.

Ez.7:10-27 "Day of Wrath" (1 of 2)

Overview

The time Ezekiel predicted this Jerusalem had not yet been destroyed and Judah had not yet been completely conquered. As discussed before elements of prophesy as delivered are from God and the time is God's Time,- reconstituted time so what is happening touches upon the present, also what has been determined earlier. So Time is on the wings of an arrow that moves one eternity to another. The man in the Linen who shall come in subsequent chapters is the Word of God given a shape consistent with this being a vision. The prophet is among other captives in exile yet he is in Jerusalem witnessing the abominations practiced behind a cloak of piety. It is true now as it was then. So abomination of ministers set over modern churches is cut from the same cloth of Ezekiel's time. Elders prophets and princes worshiping idols in the Holies is covetousness, another variant for idolatry. Jerusalem points to Zion that is in future,"Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken(Is.33:20)".

V.v 10-11

Behold the day, behold, it is come: the morning is gone forth; the rod hath blossomed, pride hath budded. /Violence is risen up into a rod of wickedness: none of them shall remain, nor of their multitude, nor of any of their's: neither shall there be wailing for them.

Here is Aaron's rod is referred. When it blossomed it was a clear indication of God's favor for the nation and the temple worship. Now it has blossomed into one of indignation. Judgment and Mercy are two sides of the word of God."O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation (Is.10:5)".

Please pray for my daughter Jessica and her family

Ez.6:8-14 "A Remnant" -Conclusion

"Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed(Ro.9:31-33)".

Finally we shall examine the manner remnant moves forward. Cain slew his brother but God did not write 'finis' to the story of Adam's disobedience. Cain was rejected and how shall God's Salvation Plan move forward? "For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew(Ge.4:25)." Why a remnant? We shall understand its significance from the next verse. It was through his son Enos the world shall know the glory of God.'Then began men to call upon the name of theLord.'

Equivalent to the remnant the Spirit gives us the Law of Moses concerning gleaning without which Ruth a Moabite woman would not have been adopted into the holy family of God.

Gleaning of cornfields as well as of fruit trees were allowed in ancient Israel for the poor,- and it was a lowly task but according to the will of God Ruth who was alien, and outside the promise of God found her name in the book of life. She was indeed foreknown of God and become the matriarch of Davidic line.

The lame take the prey is a Spiritual truth because the lame is in the safekeeping of God and physical circumstances do not concern Him. Lazarus was poor nevertheless his future lled him into Abraham's bosom. No less the quantity: God wanted only 300 to fight on the side of Gideon. In the face of so many evidences a remnant is no different in His sight. "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?"(Je.32:27)