Mark Copfer (30
Sep 2008)
"Completely Different Look at Psalms 108 & War On Terror"
I dont know, maybe we got a few more years left here. This is an
interesting article. Have a look.
The Amazing Hidden Prophecy In Psalm 108, and
the War on Terror - Are They Connected?
Many people are filled with
anxiety today, wondering what is going to happen in regard to the war on terror,
and America's place in it, as well as the part the Middle East nations will play
in upcoming world events.
In that regard, the God of Israel has hidden
much in Scripture about this very time in history. However, few scholars seem to
be aware of the hidden prophecies in the Book of Psalms attributed to King
David. For thousands of years, the Psalms have primarily been seen as praise and
worship songs, with only a few directly prophetic psalms like Psalm 22, which
clearly pertains to Christ's First Advent. For this reason, few books on End
Time events discuss these prophecies.
In my book, "The Language of God in
Prophecy," I show how many Psalms - especially the Hallel Psalms 110 through 118
- may be directly related to global prophetic events occurring in the years 2010
through 2018. These nine psalms appear to describe unfolding events that will
usher in the most terrible time in world history prior to the Great Flood: the
seven-year Great Tribulation! My book on prophecy gives a thrilling glimpse into
future world events, even though I neglected to look at Psalm 108, which is
directly connected to the years 2008 through 2009.
If I had looked at
Psalm 108 closely while writing my book, it would have added greatly to my
prophetic interpretation of what the Hallel Psalms may mean in regard to the
West's ongoing war on Terror. In this article, I would therefore like to explain
what this Psalm might foretell for the United, States, the United Kingdom, the
Middle East, and the rest of the world in the next two years leading up to 2010
- a year signaled out in several prophetic channels.
Throughout Psalm
108, there are many terms that apply to nations and people groups in the past,
as well as the present and future. What is doubly thrilling about this is that
all the nations mentioned are directly involved with the current, globally felt
war against Terrorism. To show how Psalm 108 reveals this, abridged portions of
its thirteen stanzas will be quoted, followed by interpretations of what people
groups and events these verses pertain to.
Let's begin with the first
seven stanzas:
O God (Elohim), my heart is steadfast; I will sing and
give praise… Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise You, O
LORD (Yahweh)… among the nations… Be exalted, O God (Elohim), above the heavens,
and Your glory above all the earth; That Your beloved (i.e. Jerusalem) may be
delivered, save with Your right hand, and hear me. God (Elohim) has spoken in
His holiness: 'I will rejoice; I will divide (or separate) Shechem (a city of
refuge in Ephraimite territory which now refers to the Palestinian allotment of
land in the West Bank) and measure out (i.e. set apart) the Valley of Succoth
(part of Gad's ancient territory - refers to the Palestinian occupied Gaza
Strip)." -Psalm 108:1-7 (NKJ)
Fascinatingly, one of the two portions of
land that have been portioned out to the Palestinians is the West Bank, which
surrounds Jerusalem on three sides. This portion of land is called Shechem in
Psalm 108, and it was rich pastureland when Jacob's sons tended their father's
flocks there. It was near Shechem that Joseph made his fateful trip out into the
fields to check on the welfare of his brothers, only to be beaten, imprisoned,
and sold into slavery by them (Genesis 37:13-28). It was also in Shechem where
Joseph was later buried.
Interestingly, the story of Joseph's slavery,
and later rise to power in Egypt echoes the current conflict between the West,
and the Muslim nations. Perhaps this is why Joseph's tomb is located in Shechem,
or the West Bank, and why the Palestinians barbarically destroyed his tomb in
2003. As shown in my book "The Language of God in Humanity," Joseph's two sons
Ephraim and Manasseh would come to represent two powerful Gentile nations in the
Last Days: The United States (Ephraim), and the United Kingdom
(Manasseh).
The Scripture "I will divide (or separate) Shechem" directly
states that it is God's Will that there should be a separation of the West Bank
from the rest of Israel through the auspices of the United States, United
Kingdom, and United Nations! In double fulfillment of this, the West Bank is now
separated, or divided by political strife as well since it was set up as a
secular democratic state, but was quickly overrun by fundamentalist Islamic
terrorist groups.
Even more fascinating is the fact that "the Valley of
Sukkoth" in the preceding Scripture may be referring to the Gaza Strip, which is
indeed measured out, or set apart from Israel and the West Bank! These two
sections of land were recently given to the Palestinians in order to secure
peace with them, and the rest of the Middle East. However, this grand gesture of
generosity by Israel has failed miserably in winning support and friendship from
the Palestinians, or other Muslim nations.
The reason this modern bid at
peace is failing is bound up in the past, and directly relates to the seemingly
perpetual blood feuds between Isaac and Ishmael, and Jacob and Esau. It is also
tied to the failure of the Israelites to make any lasting peace with the hated
Philistines, and Amalekites after the Exodus, and the conquest of Canaan.
Intriguingly, the next two stanzas of Psalm 108 tell us what nations are
intimately involved with, or opposed to this dividing up of Israel in an effort
to bring peace to the region. It also states which nations are under God's
current control, or acting on His behalf, and also which ones are the targets of
His wrath:
Gilead (i.e. the grandson of Manasseh, likely referring to
Canada today) is Mine; Manasseh (the United Kingdom) is Mine; Ephraim (the
United States) also is the "helmet for My head" (or chief stronghold); Judah
(the nation of ISRAEL) is My lawgiver. Moab (Syria, Iraq, and Iran) is My
washpot; over Edom (Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and possibly Yemen and Oman) I will
cast My shoe; over Philistia (Lebanon, Syria, Palestinian territories) I will
triumph.' " -Psalm 108:8-9 (NKJ)
This portion of Scripture indicates that
the Western nations with the most troops in Iraq and Afghanistan today, and
those most closely allied with Israel today in friendship - the United States,
the United Kingdom, and Canada - are doing God's will in the Middle East. So, no
matter what people in these countries may think of their current political
leaders, or government decisions concerning the War on Terror, these governments
are (most likely unwittingly) acting on God's behalf right now, though I must
strongly emphasize here that this situation will change dramatically when the
Antichrist becomes leader of the West in Europe sometime during, or after the
predicted war described in Psalm 108.
The remaining portion of Psalm 108
tells us that the Western nations allied to Israel are going to have a major
military show down with the Islamic terrorists allied against them, which
include those living in Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Saudi Arabia. Now based on my
interpretation of Psalms 110 through 118 in "The Language of God in Prophecy",
this war will likely be waged for two to three years, or until just before the
Rapture of the True Church - which could occur in 2010 through 2012 AD.
Furthermore, based on the final stanza of Psalm 108, the armies of the West will
not be able to defeat their Terrorist enemies unless the people of the West
(particularly the USA) openly call upon the God of Israel to help them:
Who will bring me into the strong (or fortified) city (i.e. Babylon;
a.k.a. Iraq - with its many US-built military bases surrounding it)? Who will
lead me (in)to Edom (Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and possibly Yemen, and Oman)? Is it
not You, O God (Elohim), who cast us off? And You, O God (Elohim), who did not
go out with our armies? (OR: Elohim, will You cast us off? Elohim, will You
abandon our armies?) Give us help from trouble, for the help of man is useless.
Through God (Elohim) we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our
enemies." -Psalm 108:10-13 (NKJ)
In this final section of Psalm 108, the
passage which reads: "it is He who shall tread down our enemies" suggests that
God will miraculously intervene, and bless the West with a temporary victory in
the Middle East. Furthermore, the lamentations and pleas to God in Psalm 109 -
the psalm tied to events in late 2009 through 2010 - indicates that this war
will lead to both suffering, and great spiritual revival (as witnessed in this
psalm of prayer and lamentation) in the land of Israel, and the countries allied
to it:
But you, O Sovereign LORD (Yahweh), deal well with me for your
name's sake; out of the goodness of your love, deliver me. For I am poor and
needy, and my heart is wounded within me. I fade away like an evening shadow; I
am shaken off like a locust. My knees give way from fasting; my body is thin and
gaunt." - Psalm 109:21-24 (NIV)
Psalm 109 also suggests that the
resolution of this war may lead to a much greater openness among Jews and Arabs
to hear the Gospel, and be saved. Perhaps the miraculous events leading to this
short-lived victory of Israel and the West against the Arabs will spur this
revival, and the sharing of the Good News of the Kingdom of God with all of
Abraham's descendents through Ishmael and Isaac in preparation for the Rapture,
and Great Tribulation:
Help me, O LORD my God (oh Yahweh my Elohim); save
me in accordance with your love. Let them know that it is your hand, that you, O
LORD (Yahweh), have done it." "With my mouth I will greatly extol the LORD
(Yahweh); in the great throng I will praise him. For he stands at the right hand
of the needy one, to save his life from those who condemn him." - Psalm
109:26-27, 30-31 (NIV)
Could this worldwide time of peace and revival be
the result of a peace treaty between Israel and the Arab world that will be
signed with the diplomatic help of a politician who either represents, or will
become the Antichrist? Based on other clues in Scripture, this peace treaty will
likely allow the Jews to build a new Temple adjacent to the Al-Aqsa Mosque on
the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. But that, my friend, is another story.
For those who want to study the clues in the Psalms, and the other
prophetic books of the Bible, and learn more about the spiritual and political
implications of this current time in history, go to my Pillar of Enoch Ministry
web site at http://pillar-of-enoch.com,
and check out the heavily-researched, fascinating "Language of God" four-book
series - particularly the book in prophecy.