“I the Lord do all these things” (Isa 45:7). And our response.

Posted on January 8, 2025 by ez3728

The suffering prophet Job was visited by four friends:
Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and  Zophar the Naamathite. The fourth was a younger man named Elihu, who notably was never corrected by God and in fact spoke certain things to Job pretty much as God later spoke to Job. Elihu spoke truth.

Below is an excerpt from Elihu’s message in the book of Job – regarding the omnipotence and sovereignty of God, revealing that such sovereignty and omnipotence apply to the forces and elements of nature (weather) – wind, fire, rain, snow, ice, thunder, etc. The image below is of Moses, at the burning bush of God. That bush was ignited by the King of the Universe to get the attention and response of Moses the man of God, and because He can do things like that. (Ezek 1:12-14, Isaiah 66:16)


I will post the following scripture passage without comment. It is inarguable and startingly clear, and is confirmed many other similar scripture passages throughout the bible.

Job 37:2-13 (NLT)
2 Listen carefully to the thunder of God’s voice
as it rolls from his mouth.
3 It rolls across the heavens,
and his lightning flashes in every direction.
4 Then comes the roaring of the thunder—
the tremendous voice of his majesty.
He does not restrain it when he speaks.
5 God’s voice is glorious in the thunder.
We can’t even imagine the greatness of his power.
6 “He directs the snow to fall on the earth
and tells the rain to pour down.
7 Then everyone stops working
so they can watch his power.
8 The wild animals take cover
and stay inside their dens.
9 The stormy wind comes from its chamber,
and the driving winds bring the cold.
10 God’s breath sends the ice,
freezing wide expanses of water.
11 He loads the clouds with moisture,
and they flash with his lightning.
12 The clouds churn about at his direction.
They do whatever he commands throughout the earth.
13 He makes these things happen either to punish people
or to show his unfailing love.

The New King James word-for-word translation from original Hebrew presents this for verse 13:
Job 37:13 (NKJV)
13 He causes it to come, (‘it’ being the weather and its elements: water, wind, fire, etc.)
Whether for correction,
Or for His land,
Or for mercy.

It’s notable that ancient civilizations correctly recognized and acknowledged some kind of supernatural control over the natural elements – rain, wind, fire, ice, etc. – although they incorrectly ascribed power over those elements to their false gods. Sadly Western Civilization, for the most part materialistic and not accurately spiritual, refuses to ascribe power and complete authority to the one true God. Sadder still is a silent Church who for the most part will not recognize scriptural truth nor speak that truth to a lost and dying world, so that people might pray and repent and find favor and mercy from a loving God. The word of God is chockful of accounts of His restorative mercy and grace.

Hosea 6:1 (NKJV)
1 Come, and let us return to the LORD;
For He has torn, but He will heal us;
He has stricken, but He will bind us up.

As things on earth and in heaven (Haggai 2:6-7) escalate day by day, I believe the Spirit and the Word of God calls believers/students of scripture everywhere to embrace the biblical truths that:
a. Our God is in complete control (including corrective works) on earth; and that
b. We are on a timeline for His return, as evidenced by the escalating incidences of trouble and wonderment (Psalm 2, Haggai 2:6-7, Luke 21:25-28, etc.).
c. We are to redeem the time by living in the Spirit, understanding and accomplishing the will of God (Ephesians 5:15-21), and that will includes our speaking truth in love.

Those biblical truths may well require a critical shift from what we may have been taught, and/or have ourselves embraced as the ‘goodness’ of God. His goodness in part is purposed to lead us to repentance (Romans 2:4). That understanding invites and challenges those who would ‘tremble at the word of God’ (Isa 66:2) to read, and to pray, and to literally tremble at the word of God – be in awe of the word.

We’re here to be living and proclaiming truth, in love, to all – so that many might come to the saving grace of the one and only Savior, at this time and on His terms. (Isa 60:1-2)

Below are links to some earlier writings on this site addressing the sovereignty of God, the accountability of covenant, the times in which we are living, etc. Their dating of original posting is notable. Some references in the writings pertain to events that in some cases have been eclipsed by other events – from plagues to terror attacks, etc. Perilous times (2 Tim 3).

https://ez3728.com/?p=1664  Weather or not, it is God – August 2023

https://ez3728.com/?p=1645  The Days when Holiness is Hated – March 29,2023

https://ez3728.com/?p=1616  Offer to God Thanksgiving – Nov 23, 2022

https://ez3728.com/?p=1154  National Accountability – Sept 16, 2018 then updated June 8, 2020

https://ez3728.com/?p=1457  Amos 3 and Amos 4 – God dealing with covenant breaking Israel – May 5, 2020

Isaiah 45:7 (NKJV)
7 I form the light and create darkness,
I make peace and create calamity;
I, the LORD, do all these things.’

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Posted in Apocalypse, End Times Related, Fear of the Lord, Hearing God, Holy Spirit, Israel, Jesus, Movement of God, New Testament, Old Testament, Peace, Prayer, Prophecy, Prophets, Repentance, Revelation(s), Righteousness, Salvation | Leave a comment

Weather or not, it is God.

Posted on August 31, 2023 by ez3728

Weather or Not…

I was asked recently whether God might have something to do with the weather on earth. That is not a cloudy issue and in fact it’s a fair question. OK – no more puns. It is too serious and sobering a topic for humor.

The weather on earth has become far more threatening these past few years, with everything from increasing floods and droughts to disastrous fires brought about by both winds and severe dry conditions, as well as by man-involved collateral matters, such as downed power lines. The fires in Malibu and more recently in Maui were disastrous, and involved the loss of life of both humans and animals. Since I began a first draft of this writing, the category 5 hurricane Idalia has swept through Florida and up the east coast, leaving a trail of destruction.

It might be helpful to look into the word of God and see what we’re told about “natural” disasters. Might the Lord have any biblical track record for sending natural as well as even supernatural disasters upon the earth when civilizations require correction or judgment, and have failed to respond to lesser degrees of correction?

This writing will quote biblical scripture without alteration, and I’ll plan to comment within and around scripture for the purposes of clarity and understanding. Please know these are definitely not the only verses that could be utilized to confirm part of the means and methods of God. And also please note that not every storm is a result of God’s particular anger towards specific people who might have suffered loss in a particular event. And at the same time let’s remember we are all living in a very much fallen world, so if anything, “credit”/blame man-unkind/mankind for all of the troubles on earth. Things are quite a mess, and we’re told it will get messier prior to it getting better (when the Lord returns). I don’t think there had been plans for devastating earthquakes, floods and fires to be sweeping through the Garden of Eden.

First, we would do well to understand this eternal truth: The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is never a bully, is never delighted in the destruction of anyone.

A declaration of God’s heart can be found in Ezekiel: Israel was suffering through a 70-year Babylonian captivity, brought on by their consistent rebellion. They were pining away in hopelessness. They knew as a nation that they were suffering for their sin. In the midst of that suffering, loving-God was calling His people to repentance. The Jewish prophet is told this by God:
Ezekiel 33:10-11
10 “Therefore you, O son of man, say to the house of Israel: ‘Thus you say, “If our transgressions and our sins lie upon us, and we pine away in them, how can we then live?”‘
11 Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’

In the New Testament – in scriptures divinely intended for both His Jewish people as well as all the Gentiles who would come into covenant with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob by way of the crucifixion of the only Messiah of the world, Y’shua (aka Jesus in Greek), fisherman-Peter tells us this, confirming the words earlier spoken by God to Ezekiel:
2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

The overarching plan of God, from the very beginning, was and remains “salvation” – literally a saving/salvaging of any and all people, people already condemned to judgment as a result of their own choices as to how they would live their lives. Live for God, and live. Live for yourself, and die.

Rabbi Paul, in 1 Corinthians, speaks to the matter of the Old Testament (which the world often refers to as the “Jewish scriptures” when in fact they are intended to be for  anyone/everyone). The New Testament, Jesus-believing people of God would do well to not ignore or even minimize the earlier “Jewish” scriptures:

1 Corinthians 10:1-11
1 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers (writing to a primarily Gentile congregation in Turkey, Paul is reminding them that by spiritual adoption the Gentiles were now considered to be full-fledged members of the family of God. (….”all our fathers…”) were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, (referring to the supernatural Red Sea deliverance – part of what we would all be reminded of each year, were we to observe the forever/for all generations holiday of Passover)
2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, (meanwhile past experience is insufficient, in and of itself, to get someone saved or keep someone in relation with God)
3 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we (New Testament readers, during the age in which we are living) should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.
(verses 7-10 provide a list of destructive judgments for sin are cited, and then a reminder God’s hand was/is in it all, and then we’re told the recount is for us, and also we’re reminded that there’s an “end of this age”)
11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

Let’s go back further back in time, before Moses, to the one example of a global flood, and why it occurred.

The Flood of Noah.
Genesis 6:5-22
5 Then (at that time) the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Currently we are not YET quite at that level of wicked-world-condition, although we’re sadly heading towards that level of wickedness, again. And more).
6 And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
7 So the LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.”
8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
12 So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.

13 And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
14 Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch.

17 And behold, I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die.
18 But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.

22 Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.

That global flood was a worldwide disaster, destroying life, destroying the technologies and accomplishments of all of mankind. It was precipitated by the sin of all mankind. It ended when the work was complete. The rainbow was given as a sign by God to mankind – not that He would never again destroy the world, but that He would never again destroy it by a global flood. That rainbow is a holy sign. Like the oil running down the beard of the priests of Aaron, that rainbow is holy, and no one will do well trying to highjack God’s holy sign for any illegitimate purpose.

Helpful to our understanding of the nature of God, and how He in the past particularly has dealt (and therefore will deal) with people walking under covenant with Him, can be found in the book of Amos.

Notable is that the Jewish people to this day remain under covenant with God – because God is always faithful to covenant, as He expects people to be, as well. Should one want to read the primary Jewish covenant, it can be found in the book of Deuteronomy. Chapters 27-30 are a solid and sobering read.

Perhaps the clearest imagery and illustration of God and weather, God and crops, God and captivity, God and trouble, can be found in the book of Amos, the Jewish prophet. This was written around 750-750BC.

Amos 3:1 – 4:13
(Spoken by God to the children of Israel, at that time representing the only covenant people on earth. Meanwhile, in these days, the church is composed of primarily Gentile believers – and they/we along with the Jewish population on earth, would do well to embrace these eternal truths as examples of consistent-God, who does not change in His holiness and His honoring of covenant. Those who have come into covenant with God are the ones spoken to by Paul in 1 Corinthians 10. We read of that inclusion earlier in this article, and then it appears often throughout the New Testament scriptures)
1 Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying:

(2A – The exclusivity and specialness of being in covenant – although literally everyone/anyone is invited into that covenant – the primary purpose of that covenant being blessing)
2 “You only have I known of all the families of the earth;

(2B – That specialness of intimacy necessarily positions a person for correction, as a son or daughter)
Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”

(3 – The purpose of the correction is so that man/woman might walk in closeness to a holy God who is rightfully desiring intimate relationship, so we are called to change, since God will not become unholy to be intimate with us. That’s fair)
3 Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?

(4-6 – nothing happens by chance. God is God. Even forewarned trouble will be coming from Him, because His is sovereign)
4 Will a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey?
Will a young lion cry out of his den, if he has caught nothing?
5 Will a bird fall into a snare on the earth, where there is no trap for it?
Will a snare spring up from the earth, if it has caught nothing at all?
6 If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid?
If there is calamity in a city, will not the LORD have done it?

(7-8 – God will always have His people on earth to declare His truths and His purposes)
7 Surely the Lord GOD does nothing,
Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
8 A lion has roared!
Who will not fear?
The Lord GOD has spoken!
Who can but prophesy?

(God’s call to the enemies of Israel, people whom God has utilized as instruments of stern correction upon Israel, time and again. And still to this day)
9 “Proclaim in the palaces at Ashdod,
And in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say:
‘Assemble on the mountains of Samaria;
See great tumults in her midst,
And the oppressed within her.

(when Israel’s condition is injustice it will result in their being surrounded by enemies)
10 For they do not know to do right,’
Says the LORD,
‘Who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.'”
11 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:
“An adversary shall be all around the land;
He shall sap your strength from you,
And your palaces shall be plundered.”

(the remnant work)
12 Thus says the LORD:
“As a shepherd takes from the mouth of a lion
Two legs or a piece of an ear,
So shall the children of Israel be taken out
Who dwell in Samaria—
In the corner of a bed and on the edge of a couch!

(God’s judgment will not be about honoring places sanctified for holy purposes, when the people remain unholy. He’s looking for holy people more than holy places. The places are holy when holy people are there, at which time holy-God is there).
13 Hear and testify against the house of Jacob,”
Says the Lord GOD, the God of hosts,
14 “That in the day I punish Israel for their transgressions,
I will also visit destruction on the altars of Bethel;
And the horns of the altar shall be cut off
And fall to the ground.
15 I will destroy the winter house along with the summer house;
The houses of ivory shall perish,
And the great houses shall have an end,”
Says the LORD.

(an unflattering rebuke upon the Hebrew women of leisure and luxury, prioritizing pleasure over compassion and social justice)
1 Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria,
Who oppress the poor,
Who crush the needy,
Who say to your husbands, “Bring wine, let us drink!”
2 The Lord GOD has sworn by His holiness:
“Behold, the days shall come upon you

(2B literally occurred during the taking away of thousands of Israelites into Babylon, many pulled and led into captivity by fishhooks through their faces)
When He will take you away with fishhooks,
And your posterity with fishhooks.
3 You will go out through broken walls,
Each one straight ahead of her,
And you will be cast into Harmon,”
Says the LORD.
(Again: going to a holy place but continuing to live in sin, is worthless)
4 “Come to Bethel and transgress,
At Gilgal multiply transgression;
Bring your sacrifices every morning,
Your tithes every three days.
5 Offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven,
Proclaim and announce the freewill offerings;
For this you love,
You children of Israel!”
Says the Lord GOD.

(Here comes God’s dealing through progressive “natural” disasters, brought upon them by a holy, righteous and supernatural God in hopes they would turn back to Him instead of requiring escalating troubles)
6 “Also I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities,
And lack of bread in all your places;
Yet you have not returned to Me,”
Says the LORD.

(Rain – unusual weather patterns)
7 “I also withheld rain from you,
When there were still three months to the harvest.
I made it rain on one city,
I withheld rain from another city.
One part was rained upon,
And where it did not rain the part withered.

(meanwhile the people attempted a work-around, instead of coming to repentance)
8 So two or three cities wandered to another city to drink water,
But they were not satisfied;
Yet you have not returned to Me,”
Says the LORD.

(God necessarily raised His voice of correction by dealing more severely)
9 “I blasted you with blight and mildew.
When your gardens increased,
Your vineyards,
Your fig trees,
And your olive trees,
(a plague of locusts)
The locust devoured them;
Yet you have not returned to Me,”
Says the LORD.

(another plague sent)
10 “I sent among you a plague after the manner of Egypt;

(invasions and warfare and loss of life, precipitated by God Himself)
Your young men I killed with a sword,
Along with your captive horses;
I made the stench of your camps come up into your nostrils;
Yet you have not returned to Me,”
Says the LORD.

(God references His own actions against the famous cities now sitting below the Dead Sea)
11 “I overthrew some of you,
As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah,
And you were like a firebrand plucked from the burning;
Yet you have not returned to Me,”
Says the LORD.

(and God remains relentlessly righteous, so He will continue in His dealings with His covenant people)
12 “Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel;
Because I will do this to you,
Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!”
13 For behold,
He who forms mountains,
And creates the wind,
Who declares to man what his thought is,
And makes the morning darkness,
Who treads the high places of the earth—
The LORD God of hosts is His name.

“The Lord of Hosts” is also written in some biblical translations as “Lord Almighty”.
In transliterated Hebrew it would be understood as: “Yahweh t’sva-oat” – King of the universe, Commander of the armies of heaven. Throughout scripture, that particular title (one of many of God’s titles) appears when situations demand the actions and authority of a powerful and mighty God who brings judgment upon mankind, when necessary.

Is God in the weather of the world? Particularly, might God be involved in the current and escalating troubles of America, including but certainly not limited to intense weather?

In 1620 our forefathers bowed their knees aboard the Mayflower and entered covenant with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 400 years from 1620 takes us to 2020. That was a sort of “action-year” for America, was it not?

The solution remains the same: national repentance beginning with personal repentance. Churches and also synagogues preaching and teaching repentance and turning from sin. Those with “ears to hear” turning from doing things their own way. Success is about coming to God on His terms. His terms in this age include, specifically, coming to the One and only Savior that God intended and purposed for the salvation and rescue of anyone/everyone who will turn to Him, on His terms. And those terms are non-negotiable because they are perfect. Because He is perfect.
2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

How amazingly kind and patient is our holy God? And meanwhile He has chosen to provide each and every person ever born to own and exert his/her free will. The Yes or the No that a person chooses to live by will massively impact their life path, and eventually their eternal destiny. Knowing that, God deals with us here on earth so that we might consider the validity of His word, the righteousness of His ways, and the impact of our choices.

 

All scripture NKJV

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Posted in Everything, Fear of the Lord, Free Will, God's Word, Holiness, Israel, Jesus, New Testament, Obedience, Old Testament, Peace, Prophecy, Repentance, Salvation, Sin, Suffering, Testing, Tribulation, Understanding & Knowing God, Wisdom, Word Of God | Leave a comment

A repost of a repost of prior teachings & updated thoughts re Daniel, chapters 2 and 7

Posted on August 23, 2023 by ez3728

This is being posted SEPTEMBER 2023 as we are entering a teaching series on the book of Daniel. Although the posting date above says August, I’ve been working on this even while I already had it up and online. It’s actually completed September 1, 2023.

A GOOD DEAL OF THESE NOTES WERE ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2021, DURING A 20-WEEK TEACHING OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL. And to further complicate matters, the 2021 writing includes notes and sections from my earlier 2018 teaching of the book of Daniel. Do bear with me, though, as the timing to have this available (n0w, in Sept 2023) has been trying to make dating-sense of the writing that is timeless because what we are studying is timeless, and critical to these days. So please don’t get wrapped up in WHEN I may have written or taught something, but instead focus on WHAT I wrote and taught/am writing and teaching. It’ll work if you do that. Trust me!

These notes remain timely and pertain to some additional current communications. I hope and believe they will assist/inform readers as to how to see what is occurring on earth in these critical days: how to pray, and how to stand strong in our God. He has the plan. It’s His world. Ps 2 – the nations indeed will be raging more and more until His glorious, disruptive, triumphant return.

Psalm 2
1 Why do the nations rage,
And the people plot a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces
And cast away Their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
The Lord shall hold them in derision.
5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,
And distress them in His deep displeasure:
6 “Yet I have set My King
On My holy hill of Zion.”
7 “I will declare the decree:
The LORD has said to Me,
You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
8 Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron;
You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.'”
10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry,
And you perish in the way,
When His wrath is kindled but a little.
Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. 

Below are some of my earlier book of Daniel teaching notes, so please pardon some perhaps funky capitalizations, exclamation points, text color changes, etc. They were primarily intended for my own usage while speaking and teaching, and secondarily as follow-along writing for that teaching, which later was published as a podcast.

NOTES: Daniel Session 08 – 2021 – DANIEL Chapter 2 MOSTLY as it relates and introduces us to critical Chapter 7

Here’s the 2021 podcast link (and once you are on the www.podbean.com site if you like you can locate, download and/or listen to the entire series). Podbean also offers a free downloadable app for iOS and Android.

https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-3nknb-1086e54

Besides the Podbean app or www.podbean.com on your computer, you can also access EZ3728 podcasts on Spotify, Itunes Podcasts and some other platforms. Simply search: EZ3728. As of 2023 – 11,000 downloads and counting. Folks are hungry for the word of God. Thanks , all!  The current 2023 teaching is beginning  onloine (EZ378) and will progressively be posted as we continue forward.

THE 2021 NOTES (with some edits 2023) Anything substantive that I am adding (in 2023) below will be in bold type:
This (2021) is the third time I’ve taught the book of Daniel. I have never encountered more spiritual resistance to my teaching of any book of scripture, ever – and more so this time as I believe the current timeliness of this revelation can be life-changing in taking us into a place of deeper understanding, and more importantly, into a deeper resolve to be intimate with the Lord and obedient to His revealed purposes. Our understanding of the things of God, and our increased intimacy with the Lord are two components of our faith that our adversary dreads, and therefore we would do well to anticipate resistance, and not draw back.

Week Three of THIS 2021 series I taught on Daniel Chapter 02 – Daniel (1.) REVEALING and then (2.) INTERPRETING a troubling dream of the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar.

The DREAM centers around a magnificent yet frightening (Hebrew: ‘yare’ – ‘awesome’) statue that Daniel accurately interprets to be a revelation, by God, to King Nebuchadnezzar – about his own empire (Babylon, represented by the golden head) and about the empires that will follow afterward.

As I had been preparing for that Chapter 2 teaching, I managed to get sidetracked and backtracked by some commentary writings, and I presented to my audience what most bible teachers typically offer as being the generally accepted as most accurate interpretation of the legs, feet and toes of the frightening statue.

Meanwhile and most importantly – that ‘most widely accepted’ interpretation was and remains CONTRARY to what I have come to believe as being far more accurate. So I not only want to go back and address the statue-dream interpretation again, but I know that this teaching, positioned prior to addressing chapter 7 – will provide for us a clearer view of the entire book of Daniel – as well as a clearer picture of God’s end-of-age revelation that most closely aligns with virtually all scripture throughout the complete word of God.

That week in 2021 as I prepared for chapter 7 teaching, I went back into my own notes from 2018 and in 2021 I wrote:
I am seeing that the same thing happened to me when I got to chapter 7 in 2018(!), and at that time I purposely went back to chapter 2 as well. Seriously. I believe these two chapters (chapter 2 and chapter 7) are clearly and most effectively – and in fact likely intended to be taught together or at very least chapter 2 might want to be reread when students of Daniel get to chapter 7. so we might do that, now in 2023).

THINK ABOUT IT – as far as THE PROPHETIC-MESSAGE is involved:
Chapter 2 is PROPHETIC
Chapter 3 is Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego and their unwavering test of faith.
Chapter 4 is God dealing with Nebuchadnezzar along his personal journey – seemingly towards his own salvation (at least per scripture – we don’t know how he finished out his life after the chapter 4 testimony). Chapter 4 was the king’s ‘divine parking lot’ experience and testimony.
Chapter 5 is about the handwriting on the wall – the collapse of the kingdom of Babylon, as the Medes-Persians invaded the empire and the first of the earlier Daniel-prophesied (chapter 2) Empire Transitions occurred.
Chapter 6 is Daniel in the lion’s den – God rescuing the prophet and convincing Darius, the king of the Medes-Persians, re the sovereignty of the God of Israel as well as the divine favor that Daniel walked in.
Chapter 7 continues the Prophetic Message – functionally presenting itself as the first prophetic message since chapter 2. See the tie-in of chapters 2 and 7?

I wrote the following in 2018 – about this very same conundrum (we’ll get to that conundrum in a moment):
“IMPORTANT AS WE GET INTO CHAPTER SEVEN – there’s something we need to circle back to from WEEK ONE (MY TEACHING IN 2018 WERE TWO HOUR SESSIONS – INFO OVERLOAD) so that we don’t miss this most critical point of revelation – it may have gotten cloudy in some of my earlier accounting of commentary by some folks – AND it will become more and more critical in this study to understand what I believe to be a very accurate point of view regarding WHO and WHICH NATIONS will be leading the charge against God, and Israel, in the final days of this age.’
I FURTHER WROTE:
‘A critical comment from David Pawson coordinates with a strong conviction by Joel Richardson (author of the Mideast Beast and Islamic AntiChrist) – and something I am at this time very much inclined to agree with – which I further think is CRITICAL to the accurate understanding of what is truly being revealed to us by our great God in these scriptures, and is critical to clarify and understand virtually all eschatological scriptures going forward.’

ALL THAT IS BACKSTORY for the PROPHETIC STORY OF PERFECTLY-COORDINATED PROPHETIC CHAPTERS 2 and 7 – chapters that work in concert to take a praying audience into understanding the purposes and plans of God. That praying audience would be the saints.

The Prophetic Conundrum is the popularity and acceptance by a majority of Western-civilization bible teachers and bible students that a revived Roman Empire will play a key role in the final days of the nations raging against the Savior’s people, and then against the Savior Himself. Prophetically that fourth kingdom – presented both in chapter 2 (as feet) and then as a  fourth beast (chapter 7 – described as a unique and terrible creature) will clearly play a huge and active role in the times just prior to the return of our Lord. Beast #4 may be off your personal radar right now, but we’ll see that this Beast #4 was clearly on Daniel’s radar, because it is on God’s radar for His people to understand, including, especially us. God is the author of these dreams and visions, and they are purposeful. I do believe the more we all press into the prophetic storyline, the more the entire plan of God will be on our radar, as it should be.

I’d also like to assure you that knowing all of the critical intel behind the plans of God would be truly great, but there’s much still to be revealed to us – according to the word of God things remain “sealed up” in varying degrees. Meanwhile, our prayers, even with a certain degree of “un-knowing/not knowing” can still be most effective. Rabbi Paul tells us this when he writes about a Holy Spirit-infused prayer life, when saints have been baptized in the power of God and are praying in their heavenly language. In essence (my paraphrase, combining some scriptures together) Paul is saying “you might now exactly know how you ought to be praying, word for word, about the situations on earth that will be forthcoming, but God has purposed you to be filled with the Holy Spirit, praying as they prayed in the Upper Room (Acts 2), speaking out things that defy human understanding because what they were praying/saying was heavenly and was (and will be for us) Spirit-infused and Spirit-led, because with the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the mind of Christ, so that you can pray in alignment with the purposes of heaven”

Paul literally says it this way: Romans 8:26-27
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

BEFORE WE GET TO DANIEL – The entirety of the Word points to WAY MORE THAN TEN NATIONS (no matter which nations you might think will be “leading the charge” against Israel and the Jewish people, in the final battle to take place in Jerusalem:
Zechariah 12:1-3
1 The burden of the word of the LORD against Israel. Thus says the LORD, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him:
2 “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem.
3 And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.

AND:
Joel 3:1-2
1 “For behold, in those days and at that time,
When I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem,
2 I will also gather all nations,
And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;
And I will enter into judgment with them there
On account of My people, My heritage Israel,
Whom they have scattered among the nations;
They have also divided up My land.

Joel Richardson, in The Mideast Beast (first few chapters) presents a solid case against us believing the EVERY SINGLE nation on earth will be fully under the control of the Antichrist. Richardson does not rule out the potential for all nations to be represented in the hatred and dark plans against the people of God, and God Himself, during the final days of this age, but Richardson presents a most-solid case for us to consider that the Middle-Eastern framework of the bible’s writing style and the employment of specific words in critical sections of eschatological prophecy, appear to differentiate between neighboring nations surrounding Israel and the rest of the “whole earth”. I am leaning to agree with Richardson. I suggest you read chapters 4 and 5 of “Mideast Beast”.

MEANWHILE – WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL, FOR US, RE: ARAB NATIONS or A REVIVED ROMAN EMPIRE leading the charge?
ANSWER: Much – as we keep our eyes on the work happening on earth in these days, and also because we are called to be LEARNING HOW TO READ AND UNDERSTAND the entire word of God. AND HOW TO PRAY. The world, without knowing it, is banking on the praying people of God knowing what is happening on earth during these most critical times, times when I believe (as do many) that we will see the greatest in-gathering of people around the world, to salvation. Ref: Haggai 2:6-7. The troubling work will draw many to the Desire of the Nations. Hence the uncomfortable shaking by God in these days is actually a work of love.

The Word of God is purposeful in all that it says.

The spectacular nature of God’s plan is critical for us to understand so that we might pray with knowledge and understanding. And the more we know of God’s plans, the more amazed we will be with the glory of those plans as they unfold, accurately.

DANIEL is told this at the conclusion of his account – written to us (1 Peter 1:10-11 assures us the Old Testament prophets were in fact writing for the New Testament saints):
Daniel 12:4
4 “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
We, at this time, have lengthier history to confirm the accuracy of the prophetic word of God, and I believe that the long-ago written prophetic word, looking forward in regards to upcoming events, will also continue to be 100% accurate, on our watch.

BACK TO Daniel 2 – This chapter pertains to what “EMPIRE” is prophetically represented by the statue’s LEGS and FEET, and that gets more critical when we look into the FOURTH BEAST OF CHAPTER SEVEN.
Let’s read ONE OR TWO VERSES for our understanding:
Daniel 7:7
7 “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.


AND THEN: Daniel 7:21-23
21 “I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them,
22 until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.
23 “Thus he said:
‘The fourth beast shall be
A fourth kingdom on earth,
(THREE CRITICAL DESCRIPTIVES THAT REQUIRE FULFILLMENT):
(a) Which shall be different from all other kingdoms,
(b) And shall devour the whole earth,
(c) Trample it and break it in pieces.

AGAIN IN 2018 – I HAD WRITTEN:
“…I am more inclined than ever to ascribe the MIXED FEET AS DESCRIBING an ISLAMIC/ARAB CONFEDERATION OF PEOPLES.

For the most part, the Western Church has been taught, and has accepted without much question the idea that the fourth beast, and the legs and feet of Nebuchadnezzar’s (Daniel chapter 2) statue, point to a revived Roman Empire. There is a wee bit of argument to favor a revived Roman Empire. And I, like many, accepted that for many years. But I don’t any more. And in understanding this a little more clearly, digging deeper into scripture, and considering what is happening on earth in the past 100 years including right now, inclines me to see things through a different lens, and in fact allows me to focus my prayer and all that I do to be better in line with what I believe God is doing in these times. I appreciate you might be of different opinion re that.

DANIEL 2 – after the captive-prophet Daniel successfully revealed the entire kingly dream to Nebuchadnezzar, identifying the king as the head of gold:

Daniel 2
39 But after you shall arise another kingdom (#2) inferior to yours; then another, a third kingdom (#3) of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth.
40 And the fourth (#4) kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others.
41 Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed (interesting although in and of itself arguably not necessarily THE confirmation of opinion: the Aramaic word for ‘mixed’ is literally: ‘arab’ – the mixed people group) with ceramic clay.
42 And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile.
43 As you saw iron mixed (‘arab’) with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay.
44 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
45 Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.”

DAVID PAWSON – a respected bible commentator (he went home to be with Jesus in 2021) held to TWO THEORIES RE THE FOURTH KINGDOM – FYI: Pawson was prior to Joel Richardson writing THE MIDEAST BEAST, and agreeing with one of Pawson’s two opinions.

PAWSON THEORY #1 (most popular in the church world): “After that came the empire of Rome, and how symbolic it was: legs marching, trampling, crushing, and Rome marched through the world and extended the empire greater than ever before—such is the meaning”.

Before we continue with Pawson’s second theory (his theory #1 and theory #2 cannot coexist) let’s read some history from another commentator – Geoffrey King – who believes the two legs DO NOT represent the Roman Empire:
Geoffrey King (supporting David Pawson’s Theory #2) questions Pawson’s Theory #1 (revived Roman Empire):
“….in A.D. 364 the Roman Empire split in two. There was the Eastern Empire with its capital in Constantinople and the Western Empire with its capital in Rome…..If you want to make two parts of the Roman Empire to be represented by the two legs, you are in difficulty because the Western Empire lasted only a few hundred years – (AUG 24, 410 – the Visigoths sacked Rome). The Eastern Empire lasted until 1453 (– until it was over-run by the Muslims.) You have to make this image stand on one leg for most of the time!”

NOTABLE FOR ALL OF US IS THAT ALL OF THE DARK EMPIRES in this prophecy of Daniel OVERTOOK (and for the very most part even geographically OVERLAID the DARK EMPIRE BEFORE IT:

Page 94 – “The Islamic Anti-Christ” – also by Joel Richardson – addresses 8 Beast empires (the eighth coming out of the seventh) also discussed in Rev 17:9-11.
COMMON FEATURES:
All ruled the Middle East.
All defeated, overcame, and replace their predecessor.
All ruled in Jerusalem.
Six (and at the time of John on Patmos during Revelation) were done, and one – Rome – was currently in place)
1. Egyptian
2. Assyrian
3. Babylonian
4. Persian
5. Greek
6. Roman – clearly a beast empire “is” (per Rev 17) during the days of John and Revelation
7. BIG QUESTION: Which “empire” took out the longer lasting Eastern Roman Empire? – Because THAT Empire, who is #7, will also be the empire from which Empire 8 will emerge. And remember that Daniel’s chapter 2 interpretation of the Statue and Daniel’s chapter 7 vision address 4 empires, the primary ones, and the fourth being different from any other before it.

History: In 395 A.D. the Roman Empire divided in two. East and West. Eastern became the Byzantine Roman Empire. Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople in 1453, and continued until 1909, and in fact it was not until 1923 that the Islamic Caliphate was abolished (by a Muslim leader Ataturk, who embraced some Western-culture leanings, he determined the Caliphate was “TOO RADICAL” and succeeded in shutting it down.

The revival and return of the Caliphate was/is therefore awaited – and it’s clearly having its own birth pains in our season. Some believe the “healed head wound” mentioned in Revelation may well be the revival of that final empire, after it looked to have been annihilated earlier. 

Notable is that the Ezekiel nation list (chapter 38) – a companion prophecy to an end-time gathering of nations against Israel) – focuses on Turkey – the birthplace of Gentile Christianity (and the season of the Gentiles, and also the centerpiece of the Turkish Ottoman Empire and core to the Islamic Caliphate).

Page 184 – RE THE TWO LEGS OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S STATUE:
“Mideast Beast”:
“…..this is a perfect description of the global Islamic community, which from its beginnings has been divided between the two sects of Sunni and Sh’a Muslims. It is also a perfect fulfillment of the ancient prophecy declared over Ishmael, the father of the Arab (remember: Aramaic for “mixed”) people, who would forever be in conflict with other men and even his own brothers (Gen 16:12)”

Genesis 16:12
12 He shall be a wild man;
His hand shall be against every man,
And every man’s hand against him.
And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.”

BACK TO DAVID PAWSON and his THEORY #2:
“Now what do the feet mean? (first Pawson had mentioned the possibility of a European alliance – pointing to a lead-role by a revived Roman Empire and an alliance of nations that for the most part have their roots in a Romanic culture. But then Pawson (wisely!) says this (he wrote this years ago, before much of what is now occurring throughout the whole world, spreading each year):

Pawson: “But there is another possibility….

“When Rome fell, it fell first in the West, but not in the East until a thousand years after Christ. Who took over from Rome? In the area of the world in which God’s purposes are worked out, the area that covers Babylon and Jerusalem, who took over? The answer is the Muslims took over; the Arab world took over. When you think in that direction, a new thought occurs: could it be that the Arabs descended from Abraham could be those who present the final challenge to the God of Israel? And could it be that we should look for ten nations of Arabs uniting together against God’s people and therefore against God, and presenting the final challenge to the world? An uneasy federation of countries, some of which would be the (LEG# 1) iron of dictatorship and (LEG#2) some the clay of democracy, but joined together in a federation to establish world power –could that be also? That again is human opinion.” DAVID PAWSON WASN’T THAT SURE WHEN HE WROTE THAT, YEARS AGO. I BELIEVE WE CAN BE MORE SURE, NOW.

The concept of ARAB (Aramaic: “MIXED”) nations (and the religion of Islam being the fourth “KINGDOM” is presented by David Pawson, and that flies in the face of the classical, convenient and questionably Euro-centered WESTERN LENS OF INTERPRETATION that has proclaimed that a REVIVED ROMAN EMPIRE will be the fourth “RESISTANT COMPONENT” – the fourth empire, the fourth beast of further scripture.

Suggestion: read Joel Richardson/ I’ve mentioned him before:
“ISLAMIC ANTICHRIST” – read pages 80-100. “MIDEAST BEAST”. ALSO: “MYSTERY BABYLON”.

Richardson says re Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Mideast Beast, page 65)
“The dream was not intended to reveal the future of America or Europe. Instead the dream was simply showing Nebuchadnezzar those kingdoms that would succeed his own. Let’s briefly review the history of the region”…..(and then Richardson does exactly that).

Richardson contends (and I agree – and here’s an artist’s image, for convenience):
1. Head of gold – Babylon (most all agree)
2. Chest and arms of silver – Medes-Persians (most all agree)
3. Belly and thighs of Bronze – Greece (most all agree)
4. Legs of iron – Islamic Caliphate.

GOOD QUESTION THEN: WHY is there NO ROMAN EMPIRE portrayed in the Nebuchadnezzar dream statue?
According to Joel Richardson, the Roman Empire for the most part failed to overlay the region of the world dominated by Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonian rule, while all the others did, AND also the Caliphate state then, in rising up and taking out the eastern Roman Empire, did likewise. Another point to note is that Rome typically allowed the conquered nation to maintain its language, culture and even religion. The Caliphate violently and forcefully crushes all of those. 

This map contrasts the position of the Roman Empire (westward, primarily) to the other Empires (Babylon, Mede/Persian, then Greek that functionally OVERLAY each other in their positioning. That is notable when looking into Daniel 7’s vision and, per this study, considering the elimination of Rome as a prophetic participant nation empire in the plan of God (although it is definitely not out of the question that many more nations, if not  all nations to some degree, may be joining together in the final conflict, per scripture).

Page 67-68 Richardson: (the dream)….”is a Babylon-centered prophecy”.
“There are actually FIVE pieces of the statue:
1. HEAD: Gold
2. BREAST: Silver
3. BELLY: Brass/Bronze
4. LEGS: Iron (Pawson and Richardson – the historical Caliphate empire)
5. FEET: Part Iron, Part Clay (Richardson – the revived Caliphate empire)

A PRIMARY ARGUMENT AGAINST ISLAM BEING THE FOURTH EMPIRE OF DANIEL 2, OR BEING THE 4th BEAST OF DANIEL 7, is actually defeated by HISTORY.

Let’s address perhaps THE primary verse often cited to confirm that Rome led the charge during the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70AD. This verse, in fact, and once historically researched, actually CONFIRMS the opposite. The verse reads as follows:
Daniel 9:26
26 “And after the sixty-two weeks
Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself;
And the people of the prince who is to come
Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.
The end of it shall be with a flood,
And till the end of the war desolations are determined.

Who destroyed the Jerusalem Temple in 70AD? Wasn’t it the Romans? If it was Rome, the verse points to a revived Roman Empire. We know Rome was involved in the 70AD temple destruction. Doesn’t this there prove what we are considering to be inaccurate? Doesn’t this mean the eventual “prince who is to come” is out of a revived Roman Empire?

Publius Tacitus was a respected Roman history.
TACITUS’ ACCOUNT:
“…at the beginning of the first century, Emperor Augustus made a series of sweeping reforms that led to dramatic changes in the ethnic make-up of the Roman armies. After Augustus’s reforms in AD 15, the only portion of the Roman army that continued to consist largely of Italians from Rome proper was the Praetorian Guard, an elite military unit whose job was to specifically guard the emperor and the tents of the generals. The remainder of the army was increasingly composed of anything but Italian soldiers. Instead, they were known as “provincials,” citizens who lived in the provinces—the outer fringes of the Empire, away from the capital of Rome. The “provincialization” of the army was true for all of the Roman legions of this time period, but it was most clearly and markedly the case for the Eastern legions that were used to attack Jerusalem.

“KNOWLEDGE WILL INCREASE” says Daniel.
We now have historical records telling us re TACITUS:

Publius Cornelius Tacitus was both a senator and a historian of the Roman Empire who wrote extensively concerning the specific period that we are now examining. The surviving portions of his two major works—the Annals and the Histories—have become vital sources of information from this period. Speaking of the Roman attack of Jerusalem, Tacitus detailed the specific legions and the peoples that primarily composed the attacking army: “Titus Caesar … found in Judaea three legions, the 5th, the 10th, and the 15th … To these he added the 12th from Syria, and some men belonging to the 18th and 3rd, whom he had withdrawn from Alexandria. This force was accompanied … by a strong contingent of Arabs, who hated the Jews with the usual hatred of neighbors.”

JOSEPHUS:
Later, Josephus also detailed the specific number of Arab soldiers who joined forces with the invading armies: “Malchus also, the king of Arabia, sent a thousand horsemen, besides five thousand footmen, the greatest part of which were archers; so that the whole army, including the auxiliaries sent by the kings, as well horsemen and footmen, when all were united together, amounted to sixty thousand.”

TO OUR POINT OF OPINION: CALIPHATE ACTIVITY THIS WEEK IN JULY 2021:
(Jay Sekulow emailed this week [2021]):
This heartbreaking situation is really getting out of control. In fact, we just warned the U.N. that if no action is taken, it is turning a blind eye to “genocide.”
Defenseless Christians in Nigeria live in constant fear of deadly violence and unthinkable devastation. Christian children aren’t safe going to school.
One Christian teen, Leah Sharibu, was abducted in 2018 by the Islamic militia, Boko Haram, which threatened to murder or enslave her because she refused to renounce her Christian faith. 18-year-old Leah Sharibu just spent her 4th birthday in captivity, and gave birth to a SECOND CHILD of her captors.
YOUR BLOOD SHOULD BE BOILING.
Enough is enough. We have dramatically expanded our efforts to defend persecuted Christians in Nigeria. In fact, ACLJ Senior Counsel for Global Affairs Mike Pompeo, who placed Nigeria on a U.S. persecution watchlist when he was Secretary of State and credited our work for helping him make that determination, is directly working with us.
Jordan recently delivered an oral intervention to the U.N. And we also just made our 18th U.N. submission demanding action to save Leah and protect Nigeria’s Christians.
Pray for Leah’s safe return to her family, as well as for those babies currently in the clutches of evil, and pray for all of Nigeria’s persecuted Christians.
Be their voice. Take action with us.”

Let’s read just a little from Ezekiel and then read what Joel Richardson tells us – which clearly aligns with what David Pawson theorizes re the “ARAB” (mixed people) component of the end-times warring army campaign.

(2021 I wrote this) AS I OFTEN SAY: Don’t get stuck on the mysterious name “GOG” – it appears no place except in scripture, in Ezekiel re end-of-this-age (which we are studying) and then again in Revelation re the end of the 1,000 year millennial reign. BOTH TIMES the terminology is God’s title for the demonic leadership of TWO DIFFERENT rebellions.

2023 – since my 2021 teaching of Daniel, we’ve been through much of Ezekiel 35-39, having spent a good deal of time looking into the Balaam prophecy of Numbers 24:7, and learning/confirming (myself included) that “Agag” appears as “Gog” in the Masoretic text. and in fact it is found in all of these most ancient translations:
The Greek Septuagint from 200’s BC
The Samaritan Pentateuch from 100’s BC
Greek Theodotion Manuscript from 100’s AD
Greek Symmachus from 100’s AD
Old Latin from 100’s AD and predated the Latin Vulgate

We therefore NOW (in 2023) can know that the book of Ezekiel is NOT the first appearance of Gog (the antichrist) in scripture. First was Numbers 24:7. That is what you will soon see when we get to Ezek 38:17 below. The word of God testifies and confirms the word of God. 

Ezekiel 38
1 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
2 “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog (likely Syria – there’s purpose in that conclusion), the prince of Rosh (Hebrew for “head” so perhaps a leader-title), Meshech, and Tubal (both are in Turkey), and prophesy against him,
3 and say, “Thus says the Lord God: ‘Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal.
4 I will turn you around (so we see Who is instigating things – it is God and His timing for this conflict and the settlement of all events of rebellion) put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords.
5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet;
6 Gomer (central Turkey) and all its troops; the house of Togarmah (south eastern Turkey, near Syria) from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you.

Do you see a common thread here? Either GEOGRAPHICAL OR SPIRITUAL? Yes to both. These are the nations currently surrounding Israel. These are Muslim nations. These are nations that have chronically and consistently been the enemies of Israel since the beginning.

7 “Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them.
8 After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely.
9 You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.”
10 “Thus says the Lord God: ‘On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan:
11 You will say, “I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’—
12 to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land.
(ADDITIONAL NATIONS JOINING THE ASSAULT – and of course there are even verses that point to most if not every nation coming against Israel in the final battle):
13 Sheba (Ethiopia), Dedan (Saudi Arabia), the merchants of Tarshish (Lebanon), and all their young lions will say to you, ‘Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?’ ” ’

THE EZEKIEL LIST OF MIDEAST NATIONS coming to war against Israel at the final battle: Turkey, Persia (Iran), Ethiopia, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Shinar (Iraq – mentioned in Zechariah), and then there’s catch-all phrases like “other nations with you”.

Meanwhile Israel is situated squarely within the growing land mass of Islam.

“THE ISLAMIC ANTI-CHRIST page 92: Joel Richardson says re the nations of Ezekiel’s prophecy:
“Thus in the final assessment, five of the eight nations mentioned by Ezekiel occupy modern Turkey and possibly some of the southern Russian regions near the Caucasus Mountains, as well as some of the Turkic nations of central Asia. Obviously, the Lord directed Ezekiel to significantly highlight Turkey”.

(I’VE BEEN SAYING “KEEP YOUR EYES ON TURKEY” for years)

OF NOTE TO US IS THAT TURKEY is where the Gentile church was fundamentally birthed – the seven churches of the book of Revelation are all there. The failure of that church, the backslid nature of that geographic region, inclines itself to a national fulfillment of this warning to every saint:
Matthew 12:43-45
43 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.
44 Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order.
45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”

In light of Matt 12:45 you can imagine the dark void that the “withdrawal” of Christianity has created within the region of Turkey.
BACK TO RICHARDSON:
“The other three nations mentioned – Libya, Sudan, and Iran – together with Turkey form a perfect circle around Israel finds herself surrounded on all four sides by the Islamic nations of the Antichrist’s empire”.

NOW BACK TO EZEKIEL 38: (please don’t miss this)
16 You will come up against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes.”
17 Thus says the Lord God: “Are you he of whom I have spoken in former days by My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied for years in those days that I would bring you against them?

This is a most a notable verse that, until we months ago dug into Numbers 24:7, had me personally wondering as to where in earlier scripture God Himself had been referring when He said: “Are you he of whom I have spoken in former days by My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied for years in those days that I would bring you against them?

THE ANSWER (THAT WE NOW UNDERSTAND): It was spoken of by the Prophet Moses (writing the book of Numbers and telling the story of the on-again-off-again Prophet Balaam – a sad man but who is still confirmed in Micah 6 as being a prophet of God when He spoke of GOG (not Agag) in Numbers 24:7. Bingo.

Ezekiel 38
18 “And it will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,” says the Lord God, “that My fury will show in My face.
19 For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: ‘Surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel,

21 I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains,” says the Lord God. “Every man’s sword will be against his brother.
22 And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed (re Zech 12-14); I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.
23 Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.” ’

The LEGS and FEET of Nebuchadnezzar’s statue MIGHT to some small degree, be considered as representing ROME and/or even to other gathered-nations who have joined forces for the final battle INITIATED BY GOD. But it doesn’t hold up to scriptural examination.

AND WE NOT WANT TO MISS THIS CRITICAL POINT AS WE GET TO DANIEL 7:
7 “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.

The DIFFERENCE between the first three kingdoms and the fourth beast kingdom is that all the others are Geo-Political, inspired and satanically motivated, for sure.
BUT (here’s the difference – a difference Rome never shared, as it was similar to the prior kingdoms).
The FINAL KINGDOM was, is and will be a, not a governmental, geo-political kingdom but instead a SPIRITUAL DEMONIC KINGDOM, overtly and blatantly religious in nature, violently crushing every culture and religion it had ever conquered, comprised of the MIXED (ARAB) PEOPLES and then joined up with other (perhaps to some degree) all nations:

Zechariah 12:1-3
The burden of the word of the LORD against Israel. Thus says the LORD, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him:
2 “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem.
3 And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.

Hebrews 10:24-25
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

PETER ASKS US THIS, IN LIGHT OF THE DESTRUCTION THAT HE PROPHESIES IN THE TIMES OF THE APPEARANCE OF MESSIAH – which:
2 Peter 3:10-13
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

There is way more to this ongoing story.
1. God loves the Muslim people. Their roots are from Abraham and there were and remain promises to them because of that bloodline. So we pray for those people, pray they will encounter, in biblical truth and accuracy, their one and only Messiah, Jesus – which will require a supernatural revelation to divorce them from the counterfeit presentation of “Jesus” from the quran.
2. The scriptures (above and elsewhere) containing blanket statements like “all nations” points to a worldwide confederacy of hatred and animosity towards Israel (which is yet another reason we are told to pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
Psalms 122:6
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May they prosper who love you.

That peace will only finally come when the Prince of Peace is welcomed in, by His Jewish people.

Here’s a sobering image comparo: The illustrated beasts of Daniel’s vision, compared to the recently (recent in 2021) installed statue outside the United Nations in New York City:

All scripture NKJV

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A post from my friend Avner Boskey re the Scriptures vs the writings of the Rabbis, Scribes, etc.

Posted on April 27, 2023 by ez3728

(this picture is intentionally a composite of faces)

Avner Boskey’s most current writing is a tremendous statement of truth, worthy of reading and then quite frankly reading again.
We all appreciate:
A. Our calling as redeemed saints of God is spiritual more than political; AND
B. To this day there purposely remains a veil over Jewish eyes and that veil is only taken away in Christ, per rabbi Paul:

2 Corinthians 3:12-18
12 Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech —
13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away.
14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ.
15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.
16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
(NKJV)

Particularly in these days,  as the Lord illuminates the saints’ awareness of Israel and His faithful and dramatic plans for His Jewish people (as well as the primarily Gentile Church) in these days, we as both Messianic Jewish and Messianic Gentile believers would do well:
A. To carefully and prayerfully align with (only) scripture and resist getting bogged down with exaggeration or theological (even historic theological) speculation; and
B. To understand exactly what Avner has so well stated in the article accessible via this link: https://davidstent.org/and-you-are-not-to-fear-what-they-fear-isaiah-812/

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The Days When Holiness Is Hated

Posted on March 29, 2023 by ez3728

The city names “Sodom and Gomorrah” are synonymous with sin, and also synonymous with judgment by a righteous God. To get technical, there were more cities than just those two that were totally destroyed by fire and brimstone at that particular time of judgment from heaven.

Moses cites four cities when he wrote of future events of judgment during which time a comparison-of-destruction would be observed:
Deuteronomy 29:23-26
23 ‘The whole land is brimstone, salt, and burning; it is not sown, nor does it bear, nor does any grass grow there, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in His anger and His wrath.’
24 All nations would say, Why has the LORD done so to this land ? (“this land” being Israel in this Deuteronomy warning against future covenant breaking) What does the heat of this great anger mean?’
25 Then people would say: ‘Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD God of their fathers, which He made with them when He brought them out of the land of Egypt;
26 for they went and served other gods and worshiped them, gods that they did not know and that He had not given to them.

This above recitation appears in Deuteronomy 29, which is part of the covenant the Lord entered into with His people Israel, offering them blessings for obedience and warning them of curses for disobedience. The recitation about Sodom and its neighbors presented a dire warning, forward in time, to Israel and I am inclined to believe with virtually any nation that would covenant with God, walk in the blessings of covenant relationship, and then proceed to move into blasphemous living, wickedness and perversion.

America has been in covenant with God since 1620.  4’s/40’s/400’s  are a notable number in biblical prophetic context: desert years, ark/flood years, fasting days for Jesus, spies in Canaan, Moses’ days on Sinai, etc.). Our forefathers aboard the Mayflower in 1620, entered into covenant with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We’ve been nationally blessed while we’ve progressively blown off holy commitment to God. In 2018 I wrote a brief piece mentioning the 400-year anniversary of covenant, mentioning I would not be surprised at 2020 (then upcoming) in essence being an activation-year.

Another notable mention of Sodom appears in the final bible book of Revelation, declaring that the sin of Jerusalem, at the time of the upcoming end of this age, will sadly warrant worthy comparison:
Revelation 11:7-10
7 When they (the two holy witnesses of God) finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.
8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified (unquestionably: Jerusalem – here nicknamed Sodom).
9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations (effectively all nations, obsessed at that time with sin and the rampant demonism on earth in those days) will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves.
10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

Can you see where we appear to be going, as a world and as a nation, these days?

Also, to clear the spiritual air in reference to a particular verse in Ezekiel that mentions Sodom – verses that some have unwisely and vainly attempted to twist to their purposes hoping to prove homosexuality is not a sin (and the leisure of Sodom was their downfall), the verse below actually and accurately speaks of the climate of the city that, once their self-indulgence and obsession with pleasure and leisure overcame them (can we relate?), at that time their spiritual rebellion and ongoing rage against God and His laws took them (Sodom) all the way to the most abominable sins of homosexuality and sexual perversion, precipitating destructive judgment. The Ezekiel verses below do not “correct” or over-ride the Genesis account of Sodom’s homosexual sin – it in fact explains the slippery spiritual slope into degeneracy that accompanies complacency, pleasure seeking, selfishness, self-indulgence, and abandonment of the principles of God.

Ezekiel 16:49-50
49 Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had (here’s the progression, it began with pride and went all the way to warranting destruction for committing abomination) pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
50 And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw fit.
(Reference: Leviticus 18. We’re told what the Lord, the righteous Judge, deems abominable)

The above is in complete accord with what is told to us in the New Testament book of Romans, chapter 1. God is most serious about His call to the world. Holiness is a requirement for spiritual survival and ongoing rebellion will eventually invoke judgment action by God Himself:
Romans 1:20-32
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,
25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,
30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

And Paul (who wrote of the magnificent grace of God available in these New Testament times), also tells all of us all of this:
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,
10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
Verse 11 describes the miraculous conversion from sinner to saint, exclusively available through the death of our Savior on the cross, for Jew (His people) and Gentile, alike. Whosoever will. Meanwhile, we find ourselves in a world that is more marked by whosoever won’t.

A world raging against God and His word will eventually rebel not only against the Him and His word, but will in fact eventually turn to hate God and hate His word and hate those who love God and therefore love His word.

The agenda of humanism will eventually get us to the place, especially as a covenant-breaking nation, where the word of God will be outlawed and condemned, and anyone who would dare to speak teach or preach the word of God will be considered a lawbreaker. We are getting there. Meanwhile, saints – for your own eternal success and the salvation of others: dare to obey God.

When a murderer breaks into a school (Nashville: March 27, 2023) and guns down innocent 9 year olds along with 3 school teachers, and when that story is then for the most part nationally media-spun to imply, accuse or condemn Christianity of in any manner warranting such violence as a result of Christian-principles inciting hatred towards people living lifestyles contradictory to holy scripture – something ought to stir deeply in the hearts of believers. And those whose hearts are stirred ought to be stirred to holiness, to prayer, to deeper conviction and consecration, and to God. Our God told us beforehand how these days would look, and how they would play out. He is not surprised.

Isaiah 60:1-2
1 Arise, shine;
For your light has come!
And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.
2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people;
But the LORD will arise over you,
And His glory will be seen upon you.

Murder has recently taken place, and sin remains sin. Meanwhile nothing anyone can do or has done justifies anyone else’s sin. It doesn’t work that way. God the Creator has the right and authority to require mankind, excuse me – ‘peoplekind’, lest I offend anyone – to live by the laws of heaven or suffer the consequences of disobedience. And those consequences can be national as well as personal. History proves it will happen that way.

If there are professing Christians who hate other people caught in sexual (or any other) sin, be sure the Lord will be dealing heavily with those Christians, as He ought to. Our God calls all of us to repentance, saved and unsaved. Sin requires repentance. We’re to love the lost as Christ loved us when we were lost. Meanwhile the lost are still lost, and the God they are raging against is calling them to repentance, now, as He shakes heaven and earth (Hag 2:6-7).

Believers are accountable to love sinners and hate sin and there is grace for saints to walk in that distinction. That line of differentiation is only effectively established in and by the Spirit of God being active in our lives – us keeping oil in our lamps. Meanwhile, God is Judge and will judge, and the course that this world is on, along with the prophetic timeline associated with the events of this season – are clearly outlined throughout the eternal text that many love and live by, while sadly more hate and want to condemn. Psalm 2 speaks to that.

Ephesians 6:13
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

All scripture NKJV

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‘OFFER TO GOD THANKSGIVING’ – and the current war against that powerful invitation and holy charge

Posted on November 23, 2022 by ez3728

Prior to our nation ‘officially’ becoming a country, our pilgrim forefathers, having safely arrived aboard the tiny Mayflower ship, bowed the knee and entered into covenant with God Almighty, asking for His divine favor, protection and guidance, declaring their intent to establish a society that would glorify God. What became known as The Mayflower Compact is a brief read. Recommended.

In 2018, around the time of Yom Kippur observance, I wrote an online article titled “National Accountability” (https://ez3728.com/?p=1154) at that time looking forward to the year 2020, mentioning that scripture confirms the holy significance of the number 4, some examples being: 4 seasons, 40 days of flood-judgment rain, 40 days spying out Canaan, 400 years wandering in the desert of Sinai, Jesus contending with Satan 40 days prior to the start of His salvation ministry.

In that article I mentioned the then upcoming year 2020 could well be significant because we’ve collectively breached and broken covenant with our God countless times. The year 2020 surely was significant. God always honors covenant, righteously addressing breached covenant. It’s part of His righteousness. Of course there’s been good works accomplished by America over its notable 400 history. But the overall trend has been worldliness, unfaithfulness, and casual Christianity, which biblically is no Christianity at all.

Prophesied throughout scripture: as society devolves (2 Tim 3), as the nations rage and cast off holiness (Ps 2), as vileness is exalted and spiritual doors swing open for wickedness (Ps 12:8), as people scoff (2 Pet 2) at the imminent return of the Lord (2 Thess 1:8-10), it should be obvious there’s a satanic assault against everything God created, mandated, established and set forth as holy: righteousness, holiness, pure love, equity, kindness, marriage between man and woman, protection of the innocent – including the unborn, etc.

Currently on the chopping block of damnation is thanksgiving, both:
A. The act and attitude; as well as
B. The holiday.
In a darkening society this sadly should not be a surprise. Thanksgiving is notably a most critical component to success and to relationship with the God of heaven and earth, the one and only God who personally intended and ordained that the act of reverential thanksgiving, among other things, was and is to supernaturally function even as a doorway to divine rescue.

Psalms 50:14-15
14 Offer to God thanksgiving,
And pay your vows to the Most High.
15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”

Admittedly, our now 403 year post-Mayflower covenant nation has broken and breached our vows to God time and again. And we’re suffering the current consequences of His disciplinary hand being heavy upon us. Through disobedience we’ve opened doors to demonism and societal erosion. Our raging society currently often  academically and ‘intellectually’ vilifying the holiday, stands as yet another marker of national decay. No wonder so many are tormented and troubled in their lifestyles. There is no peace in rebellion against the God of peace.

Our holy response: Observe, celebrate, be thankful in all things. This is the will of God. Saints: stand in the gap for our nation.

Colossians 3:15
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Rejoice always,
17 pray without ceasing,
18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Scripture: NKJV

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Psalm 32. Forever. For us. For now.

Posted on September 11, 2022 by ez3728

Today is 9/11. This psalm of David is both personal and also global, global of course including national. We first entered into covenant with God aboard the deck of the Mayflower. Legally we were not yet nationalized, but God hears praying people when they pray, and He had and has a plan for America. That covenant was in 1620. 202o therefore marked our 400th covenant year, a notable anniversary in God’s prophetic math formulas. Flood days. Years in Egypt, wanderings in the desert, spies searching out the Land, Moses on Sinai receiving the Law, Jesus encountering Satan. 4’s, 40’s, 400’s. In 2018 I wrote an article noting 2020 was upcoming, looking forward: “National Accountability”.

The message of the Church should be “repent, for the Kingdom of God, and the upcoming return of Messiah, is at hand.”

PSALM 32. David, confronted by the prophet Nathan (2 Sam 11-12), sins, is busted, repents, then writes his own experience of denial, suffering God’s purposeful correction, repentance, forgiveness, and restoration all the way to proclamation of God’s goodness and even restoration to the place of prophet – declaring a word for us all.

Our Lord’s holiness, and His lovingly relentless intent that we would, per His standards, be holy too (so that we might walk close to Him in holy intimacy – Amos 3:1-3) is an eternal truth. This is particularly necessary and so very critical in these troublesome times, as we’re told by Isaiah in 60:1-3). His rod as well as His staff comforts us.

Psalms 32
The Joy of Forgiveness
A Psalm of David. A Contemplation.
1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit.
(Denial):
3 When I kept silent, my bones grew old
(Troubling):
Through my groaning all the day long.
(The divinity of the troubling):
4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was turned into the drought of summer.
Selah
(Repentance):
5 I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I have not hidden.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,”
(Immediate forgiveness):
And You forgave the iniquity of my sin.
Selah
(David preaches the exemplary opportunity of forgiveness for all):
6 For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You
In a time when You may be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters
They shall not come near him.
(His prayer to God):
7 You are my hiding place;
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.
Selah
(David prophesies, speaking for His God. Our God):
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye.
(The Option: bit and bridle or eye contact intimacy and guidance)
9 Do not be like the horse or like the mule,
Which have no understanding,
Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle,
Else they will not come near you.
(Life truth – understanding not all trouble is a result of our own sin):
10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked;
(There is always mercy for the ones trusting and obeying):
But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him.
(Reserved for the saints):
11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous;
And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
(NKJV)

PSALM 33 follows. Also particularly timely.

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Ephesians Podcast – Session 04. Called for the Outpouring Of Glory

Posted on August 13, 2022 by ez3728

Fully qualified by the cross, we’re now called to the place of voluntary surrender – so that the work of the Holy Spirit IN and THROUGH us can maximize our potential to participate in the global work of glory prophesied for these final days prior to our Lord’s glorious and dramatic return.

From the link below (8.13.22 podcast) you can access the Podbean podcast and then poke around that site to locate all prior podcasts. Podbean is both a free app as well as a website from which you can access all of the EZ3728 podcasts.

https://ez3728.podbean.com/e/the-offer-and-urgency-of-holiness-the-purpose-outpouring/

 

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Rain

Posted on August 5, 2022 by ez3728

Rain is a powerful component of our great God’s Creation Plan.
We can’t live without. It represents Outpouring, Growth, Judgment, and more.

One of my favorite invitations and admonitions is Zechariah 10:1, that tells/invites/charges us to:

Zechariah 10:1
1 Ask the LORD for rain
In the time of the latter rain.
The LORD will make flashing clouds;
He will give them showers of rain,
Grass in the field for everyone.

Those concluding chapters in young (Hebrew: “naar”) Zechariah’s book inarguably/prophetically point to a mighty outpouring by God upon His faithful servants who are both aware of the timing of the plans of God, and walk in the sensitivity, hunger, and confidence to ask for that great final outpouring prior to our Lord’s return.

Meanwhile, the old video below presents itself fresh w the presence of God, as this saint of the Lord sings of the Flood Judgment, reminding us even now that our God means what He says and says what He means in regards to holiness, righteousness, and judgment to come. A solid message always, particularly now.

And for us: Zech 10:1

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Innocent Blood, like the blood of the unborn, for instance

Posted on June 24, 2022 by ez3728

June 24,2022 marks a good day for America. We’re clearly not out of the woods of impending divine judgement, abortion “rights” are still under the control of the government, but now it’s the individual states that can determine their laws, and in fact their own fates as states. The Supreme Court of the country has rightly ruled this to be an individual state matter, not a federal matter. Perhaps there can be some redemption in this. And meanwhile, pray for peace as we can be confident satan is dissatisfied with any assault on his ways of death, so he will work to stir up riots and destruction, threats and violence. His ways are never new. 

The scriptures make it clear how our God stands on the shedding of innocent blood:

2 Kings 24:1-4
​1 In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years. Then he turned and rebelled against him.

2 And the LORD sent against him raiding bands of Chaldeans, bands of Syrians, bands of Moabites, and bands of the people of Ammon; He sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD which He had spoken by His servants the prophets.

3 Surely at the commandment of the LORD this came upon Judah, to remove them from His sight because of the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he had done,

4 and also because of the innocent blood that he had shed; for he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, which the LORD would not pardon.

scripture is NKJV

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