Tuesday, March 13, 2018

GOG?

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 38-40

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

You can see one of the main entrances to what was the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The three closed arches were once open for the public to go in and out from the Temple courtyard. The religion that calls itself Islam now controls the Temple Mount. One wonders, when considering today’s reading of prophecies yet to be fulfilled, what will become of this ancient Jewish centre of the worship of the true God.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verse: 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.”

 

It seems obvious that the prophecies of today’s reading are yet in the future. The geographical and political indications are that Gog, Rosh, Meshek and Tubal are the lands north of Israel. That could be a combination of modern Syria, Turkey, Ukraine, and Russia. Russia has demonstrated its willingness to move its armies into Ukraine a little while back, seizing the region of Crimea. Now its military is on the borders of Israel in Syria. Could this be an indicator of what is to come with these powers continuing to move south, eventually attacking the modern state of Israel? Whatever the intentions of the nations mentioned in Ezekiel’s prophecy, it should be clear to Bible readers that God will come down on the side of His ancient people, Israel. Vladimir Putin, leader of Russia, said in an interview that he reads the Bible as he travels from place to place. God only knows if he has read Ezekiel 38 and 39, or perhaps he has read Revelation 20:7-15. Prophecy, yet to be fulfilled, is much more difficult to understand because we can’t read about it in history, as is the case of so much already-fulfilled prophecy. We should be very careful lest we be carried away with speculation. Chapter 40 is filled with amazing word pictures which underline the importance of our worship of God.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I know from Scripture that You are for individual people and families, but I read today that You will be against certain national entities in the future. I pray for Vladimir Putin as an individual and for his family. I pray for the leaders of Ukraine, and, in particular, for the people of Crimea. Bring peace and, most of all, Your Message of eternal salvation to these precious people. God, Your Word tells us that You: “So loved the world that [You] gave [Your] only begotten Son” (John 3:16). His Name is Jesus, and it’s in His Name I pray. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

As the leader of the Crossroads Ministries in the past, I was excited to place two television series on national TV networks in the USSR (Russia and 14 other republics). They were 13 episodes of The Crossroads Creation Series and 22 episodes of Kingdom Adventure (a production for children). These releases were a first for these officially atheistic states. A missions group led by Hannu Hauka of Finland did the voice translations into the Russian language. Crossroads was recently involved in an outreach mission to precious orphans in Ukraine. These involvements touch my heart deeply as I hear the current newscasts and as I read about the future in tomorrow’s headlines here in Ezekiel. In today’s reading, we discover the time it would take to cleanse the land after the battle (mentioned three times in verses 12 to16). As a young student, I worked for a summer at Atomic Energy of Canada. Many people were employed in “cleansing” the reactor in Building 100, where there had been a serious spill of radioactive material. The cleansing of the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan after the nuclear bombing resembled the efforts which will be made by Israel to cleanse the land. I can’t help but wonder if a form of atomic weapons will be used in the battle described in our reading.

Yours for “Holy conduct and godliness” (Read 2 Peter 3:10-13 which looks like a nuclear holocaust),

David

8 thoughts on “Tuesday, March 13, 2018

  1. Riveted by today’s scripture. How deep the message of God’s words are to us. Cleanse our sins and return to God is ever apparent now, as then. War and destruction is all around us. The Lord our God, is our only hope for restoration and salvation. So grateful for David’s explanation of Ezekiel’s prophetic scripture and how it relates to the present day world. Lord God, we pray for Your Hand upon those in power and for Your Holy Word to come deep into their hearts and resonate there with wisdom—, so their eyes may be opened and they may truly see. Blessings and safety upon all saints. Tons of snow here, again, today.

    I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe.
    Ephesians 1:18-19 BSB

    Michael W. Smith – Open the eyes of my heart
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vnqb7Vn4AEE

    Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
    Open the eyes of my heart
    I want to see You
    I want to see You

    Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
    Open the eyes of my heart
    I want to see You
    I want to see You

    To see You high and lifted up
    Shinin’ in the light of Your glory
    Pour out Your power and love
    As we sing holy, holy, holy

    Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
    Open the eyes of my heart
    I want to see You

  2. Amen, Beverlee. Now Russia is in the news again and not in a good way. Pray protection over God’s people and that God’s will be done. Like the song as well Beverlee and thanks. No snow yet but it’s on its way.

  3. God’s Word tells us “To Watch and Pray” and Lord help us to do so, as we do not know the time and the hour of Your visitation. Thank you Lord that we can lean on You and not our own understanding, And acknowledge You in all our ways, and You will direct our path.
    Praise God from whom all blessings come, Praise Him all creatures here below, Praise Him above Ye Heavenly Hosts. Praise, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! Amen!!
    May your day be filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory!!!

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