Israel
 
What exciting times we live in!  To see the alignment of so many nations against Israel knowing that only Israel, according to God’s Word, has any right to that land – and much more that is currently in the possession of several Islamic states.  Yet the world supports the Islamic jihad, a war of terror on the innocent!
Many in the world today, including Saints, are deceived into blaming the troubles of today on Israel, the US (or people/companies from either), and anyone else that joins in their fight.  The world understandably has no ability to discern the truth.  Yet the saints should know better that our real battle is against principalities and powers - those unseen evil beings.  They bring divisive conflict by deception of the truth.
It seems to me that the world today only points the finger at those that uphold Israel as the rightful occupier of Jerusalem.  No one blames the Islamic nations for their evil, their attacks on innocent civilians.  Israel and the US have always sought out military targets and taken great care to prevent civilian casualties.  On the other hand those blinded by Islam seek out the innocent to destroy.
We must remember the end of the story in God's Word to us and open our eyes to its unfolding before us.  Our failure to do so finds us as guilty as five of those seven churches in Revelation.  They were full of Christians, but each had turned their back on the truth and the Lord Jesus.  It's much like the blindness God placed on Israel spoken of by Paul in Romans.  Yet our blindness comes not from God, but from a lack of faithfulness to His Word, closeness to His bosom, and failure to fervently speak to Him in our prayers.
The Lord Jesus warns in Matt 24:4 to “take heed that no man deceive you.”  In the book of Daniel, God warned that the final days shall see a great deceiver, the Antichrist.  Dan 11:21-34 “And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries (a smooth talker that deceives – typical politician) . . . .  And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people. He shall enter peaceably . . .  And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries . . . but many shall cleave to them with flatteries .”  Yet there are many antichrists who precede that one’s arrival by continual deception.
If we remind ourselves of the ending to the story we will know that it is not Israel that is evil nor the US (relatively speaking.)  It is the deception that will ultimately see ALL nations come against God's own people in an effort to destroy her.  Those powers are approaching their peak of battle - their war of deception.  Truly the Antichrist is on the horizon and we are near to seeing our Saviour.
Are you ready?  The Lord tells us to WATCH, AND BE READY !  He gave us the parable of the bridesmaids – half were ready and had their lamps filled with oil,  the other half had no oil in their lamp.  Are you ready to give account at the Judgment Seat?
Even more important – have you began a relationship with the Lord Jesus?  Christ awaits and is calling you through the Spirit.  If you have any questions, please speak to one of the elders so we can explain the great power and simplicity of faith in salvation.
Maranatha (the Lord cometh !)
 
Agape
Zelma