A MEDITATION FROM MICAH 6:16

Mic. 6:16 For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people. 

Omri and Ahab, his son, were evil kings.

1Kings 16:25-26 & 29-30 “But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD, and did worse than all that were before him.  For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin, to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities….And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years.  And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him.”

This is a terrible indictment from God.  He is declaring that His people have chosen to follow the example of these evil kings rather than obey Almighty God.  Because of their wickedness and rejection of Him, He is going to bring the nation to ruin and make His people an object of shame and derision among the nations.

I can’t help but want to make application to America today.  No matter how the revisionist historians try to paint it, we were founded as a Christian nation, a people that honored God.  We have steadily and purposely chosen to follow a path of rejection of God and His Word through the leadership of those in our government and judicial system.  God is not going to allow our rejection of Him and our disregard for His word to go unpunished.  He will hold us accountable just as surely as He held Israel and Judah accountable.  I personally believe we are already feeling the effects of judgment, but I also believe that there is much worse to come.  I am also reminded that the LORD established a principle in His dealings with Israel, and it’s found in the book of Chronicles.  And since He never changes, I believe that principle applies to all who are called by His name.  

2Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 

Romans 15:4 “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

This verse has been echoing in my thoughts a lot recently.  The principle is that if God’s people, we who claim His name, who call ourselves Christian, will—

• Humble ourselves
• Pray
• Seek God’s face 
• Turn from our wicked ways

--then God will hear, forgive and heal the land.

The call is to God’s people, not those who have rejected Him.  I can’t help but wonder how many of us are quick to condemn the heathen in our nation without consideration of our own responsibility and where we are falling short.  Have we as Christians truly humbled ourselves to make God the LORD of our life?  Are we fervent in prayer with a burden for the church and our nation and ALL its leaders?  Do we seek God’s face in asking Him to identify where we need to change and what we need to do differently?  Do we seek His face as to how we can encourage other Christians to yield to Him as LORD?  Are we willing to give up our own sins—no matter how minor we might consider them to be?  Do we discern and identify what is wicked and what is good according to God’s word rather than the world’s standards?  Do we justify compromises in the name of tolerance and political correctness?  The LORD wants each one of us to examine ourselves and make corrections where we don't measure up.

2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.”

A MEDITATION FROM KING DAVID

1Chronicles 16:34 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

1Chronicles 16:35 And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise.

1Chronicles 16:36 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel for ever and ever. And all the people said, Amen, and praised the LORD.

David closes his song by giving thanks to the LORD because of His goodness and the truth that His mercy endures forever.

It is because of the pity and compassion of a long-suffering Father that we can experience mercy, His willingness to spare us the treatment we deserve.  How thankful we can be as His children that His mercies and compassions are new every morning.

Lamentations 3:22–23 “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”

David urges the people to cry out to God for His salvation and deliverance from the heathen (those that do not recognize Him as LORD).  We should pray for Him to gather us together so that we may give Him our thanks and rejoice in praising Him.

Again, David reiterates that the LORD God of Israel is to be adored (from the Hebrew for blessed) forever.  What does it mean to adore the LORD?  Webster tells us that it is to “worship with profound reverence…to honor as deity….to love in the highest degree….”  Thought:  Does my life reflect my adoration for the LORD?

All the people affirmed their agreement with David by saying “Amen” and praising the LORD. 

“gather us together and deliver us” – David’s words concerned Israel.  I read those words and look forward to the soon coming of Jesus to take His family home to heaven in glorified, sinless bodies to live with Him forever!.

THE CASE FOR A JEWISH ANTICHRIST

 This is just another one of those topics in the study of eschatology in which the views are varied.  I have personally always adhered to the view that the Antichrist will be Jewish, primarily based on the words of Jesus in John 5:43—“I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.”   I believe the statement He made was in reference to His identity as the Jewish Messiah.

In his book, “The Antichrist,” Arthur Pink provides scriptural and logical support for the Jewish heritage of the Antichrist and the understanding that he will present himself as the Jewish Messiah in the quotes below.

• “In John 5:43 we have a further word which helps us to fix the nationality of this coming One. In speaking of the false messiah, the Lord Jesus referred to him as follows, ‘Another shall come in his own name.’ In the Greek there are four different words all translated ‘Another’ in our English versions. One of them is employed but once, and a second but five times, so these need not detain us now. The remaining two are used frequently, and with a clear distinction between them. The first ‘allos’ signifies ‘another’ of the same kind or genus - see Matt. 10:23; 13:24; 26:71, etc. The second, ‘heteros,’ means ‘another’ of a totally different kind….the striking thing is that the word used by our Lord in John 5:43 is ‘allos,’ another of the same genus, not ‘heteros,’ another of a different order. Christ, the Son of Abraham, the Son of David, had presented Himself to Israel, and they rejected Him; but ‘another’ of the same Abrahamic stock should come to them, and him they would ‘receive.’ If the coming Antichrist were to be a Gentile, the Lord would have employed the word “heteros,’ the fact that He used ‘allos’ shows that he will be a Jew. 

• The very name “Antichrist” argues strongly his Jewish nationality. This title “Antichrist” has a double significance. It means that he will be one who shall be “opposed” to Christ, one who will be His enemy. But it also purports that he will be a mock Christ, an imitation Christ, a pro-Christ, a pseudo Christ. It intimates that he will ape Christ. He will pose as the real Messiah of Israel. In such case he must be a Jew. This mock Christ will be “received” by Israel. The Jews will be deceived by Him. They will believe that he is indeed their long-expected Messiah.  

• At every point he is the antithesis of Christ. The word “Antichrist” has a double significance. Its primary meaning is one who is opposed to Christ; but its secondary meaning is one who is instead of Christ. Let not this be thought strange, for it accords with the two stages in his career. At first he will pose as the true Christ, masquerading in the livery of religion. But, later, he will throw off his disguise, stand forth in his true character, and set himself up as one who is against God and His Christ. Not only does anti-christ denote the antagonist of Christ, but it tells of one who is instead of Christ. The word signifies another Christ, a pro-Christ, an alter christus, a pretender to the name of Christ. He will seem to be and will set himself up as the true Christ. He will be the Devil’s counterfeit. Just as the Devil is an Anti-theos - not only the adversary of God, but the usurper of the place and prerogatives of God, demanding worship….

In contrast, many of the prophecy teachers that I listen to and for whom I have great respect hold the view that the Antichrist will be a Gentile.  These arguments are rooted primarily in the reference that Daniel makes in chapter nine.  

Daniel 9:26-27 “…and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate….”

Just as they, I believe “the prince that is to come” is a reference to the Antichrist, but I do not believe that means the man can’t be Jewish.  He may be a Jewish man that is a citizen of another country that is located in what was part of the area that conprised the Roman Empire.

It’s interesting that they like to quote the early church fathers to support their positions in other areas of study, but seem to ignore the views of these same men regarding this subject.  My research revealed that most of the early church fathers believed that the Antichrist would be Jewish and many believed he would be a descendant of the tribe of Dan. 

The earliest church father for which I could find documentation that he held the belief that Antichrist would be Jewish was Irenaeus, who was taught by Polycarp, a disciple of the Apostle John (who wrote the book of Revelation).  He posited that Antichrist would be a Jew and claim to be fulfilling prophecy in “Against Heresies.”  Irenaeus mentored Hippolytus, who stated that the Antichrist would be a counterfeit of Jesus Christ, the Messiah.  In his “Treatise on Christ and Antichrist” he states the following.

“For the deceiver seeks to liken himself in all things to the Son of God. Christ is a lion, so Antichrist is also a lion; Christ is a king, so Antichrist is also a king. The Saviour was manifested as a lamb; so he too, in like manner, will appear as a lamb, though within he is a wolf. The Saviour came into the World in the circumcision, and he will come in the same manner. The Lord sent apostles among all the nations, and he in like manner will send false apostles. The Saviour gathered together the sheep that were scattered abroad, and he in like manner will bring together a people that is scattered abroad. The Lord gave a seal to those who believed on Him, and he will give one like manner. The Saviour appeared in the form of man, and he too will come in the form of a man.”  (Note:  “the circumcision” is a reference to the Jews.)

At truecatholicfaith.com in an article labeled 8.127.12 regarding the Antichrist, I found the following statement:  “The consistent testimony of the Fathers, Saints, and theologians of the Church teaches that the Antichrist will likely be of Jewish origin, and that he will be initially welcomed and aided by many Jews, especially as a false messianic figure.  This belief is not based on racial prejudice or antisemitism, but rather on Sacred Scripture, Tradition, and centuries of Catholic theological commentary. It reflects the tragic fact that, as a people, the Jews rejected Christ and continue to await a messiah of their own — one who fits their worldly expectations.”

Not that it matters to true believers who will be raptured before Antichrist is revealed, but it is food for thought in trying to put together the prophetic puzzle.

JESUS, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

My thoughts are all over the place as we once again commemorate the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus to provide for our salvation.  I am so thankful that He loves us so unconditionally! 

Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

I am so looking forward to His soon return to take us home to the Father’s house! 

John 14:1–3 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

I am so looking forward to getting an immortal body with no taint of sin! 

1 Corinthians 15:51–54 “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”

Yet…I am so sad that so many refuse to accept Jesus as LORD and Savior as I think of the horrific future before them—suffering God’s vengeance and an eternity outside the presence of God.

2 Thessalonians 1:7–10 “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.” 

Jesus came to shine the light of salvation so that no person would have to live eternally in the darkness outside His presence.  He doesn’t want one person to perish and suffer eternal judgment. 

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

My prayer is that you will accept Jesus as your LORD and Savior before it is too late!

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

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RETHINKING...JEREMIAH 49 & GOG'S ATTACK

“The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might. And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come. For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, saith the LORD; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them: And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the LORD. But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the LORD.”   Jeremiah 49:34-39

Since the previous post, I have listened to several teachers with differing points of view, and I think the best thing I know to do is to list the facts as I see them.

• This prophecy is future to the time that Jeremiah declared it—at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah (597 BC according to most sources I found).

• God is going to destroy the might of Elam (“break the bow”), a known world power from ancient times, mentioned as far back as Genesis 14.  Isaiah mentions Elam as a distinct nation in the company of other nations such as Assyria, Egypt, Cush, Shinar and Media (cf Isaiah 11:11 & 21:2).  Jeremiah also mentions it in association with the Medes (25:25).  Ezekiel (chapter 32) mentions it among the nations that will greet the multitudes of Egypt in hell.  And Daniel mentions it as a province of the Babylonian empire—no longer a separate nation.

• Persia first appears in scripture as a powerful nation under the reign of Cyrus (2Chronicles 36 & Ezra 1).  It is noted that Persia ruled as a joint power with Media as stated in Esther (1:3) and Daniel (8:20).  Daniel goes on to reference Persia as the reigning dominant power until it was conquered by Alexander the Great and the armies of Greece (10:20, 11:2).  Ezekiel identifies it as part of Gog’s coalition (38:5), an attack yet future since such a coalition has never existed in the past. 

• Research indicates that Elam was eventually absorbed by Persia.

• At some point future to Jeremiah’s prophecy, the people of Elam will be scattered by the four winds to the four quarters of heaven.  The assumption is that this references the four cardinal directions—north, south, east and west.  (Note:  Assumptions can be misleading.). Point is made that this is a reference to all the nations to which the outcasts of Elam will be scattered.  The Hebrew for outcasts references expulsion, banished and thrust away; in other words, they are forced or driven out of their land.

• Point is made that it is God that brings evil upon them that results in their being consumed.

• God will set His throne in Elam, destroying its king and military and civil leaders (from the Hebrew).  In other words, God will determine the ruling authority in that land.

• “In the latter days” God will bring the exiled Elamites back to their land.

Questions:  When were the people of Elam scattered among the nations?  Was Elam destroyed as a nation and the people scattered as a result of Nebuchadnezzar’s actions?  Doesn’t it seem likely that this would have occurred prior to the land being absorbed as a part of Persia?  

Because Elam was reduced to being a province of Babylon and eventually absorbed as part of Persia, I tend to place this prophecy as having been fulfilled in the past, except for the part about bringing the exiled Elamites back to their land.  “In the latter days,” is a reference to the days associated with the return of Jesus as King of kings.  Knowing that the Elamites have not yet been reestablished as a nation, I believe it most likely that this will be fulfilled as Jesus establishes His kingdom.

To associate this prophecy with events in Iran today, one would have to assume that Elam represents the whole of Persia/Iran.  Scripture seems to deal with them as separate entities, so I think that is a pretty big assumption. 

I do believe this current war is setting the stage for the attack of Gog and his hordes (Ezekiel 38) by bringing about the conditions for Israel to be at rest and dwelling safely as described by Ezekiel when this attack occurs.  

Ezekiel also identifies Persia as part of Gog’s coalition (38:5), so we know that it will still exist as an enemy nation of Israel when that occurs.  Because of that, I don’t see the type of regime change that many are hoping for as a result of this war.  

But God.  Powerful words that remind me that His ways and thoughts are far beyond what we can understand.  

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  Isaiah 55:8-9

All I know is that when we look back, we will see that God’s word has been fulfilled to the nth degree.