Is the Israel Hamas Conflict a Sign of The End Times?

Why do ultra conservative Christians see conflict in Palestine as a sign of an approaching Armageddon leading to the salvation of all Jews?  Why do liberals see Israel defense of its sovereignty as a violation of Palestinian human rights?

You may have heard conservative Christian preachers preaching how the establishment of the Jewish state in 1948 is the fulfillment of biblical prophecy and the attacks on present-day Jerusalem is a sign of Christ’s soon coming.    They say those who advocate a view that supports a two-state solution with Jerusalem not being an exclusive city of Israel will bring the wrath of God and judgment upon themselves.   States who support or promote an anti-Israeli agenda will suffer and lose prominence in the world.   This loss of prominence may be economical, political, militarily, etc. and will be as a consequence for their forsaking the Jewish State.

It is said that this is the fulfillment of biblical prophecy and the states that oppose Israel represent nations predicted in the scriptures who will attack Israel in the last days (end times) prior to Christ’s return.   Scripture is cited and reference as the identifier of the nations (kingdoms) who oppose Israel.    Text from the book of Revelation and the book of Daniel are interpreted as speaking of a  ten-nation alliance as the enemies of Israel that God judges in the last days.

Revelation and Daniel both wrote about a beast with ten horns and the beast and the horns represent kingdoms and governments.   However, a careful study of the beast with ten horns in the book of  Revelation and the beast with ten horns in the book of Daniel reveals that these horns do not represent the same kingdoms. What I found to be true is that the horns in Revelation have a similar characteristic to the prophetic statue of Daniel 2.   For those of you who are not familiar with the statue from the dream of Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel revealed that the statue represented four kingdoms.   The final power was represented by iron legs and ten toes partly of iron and of clay.   The toes lack the stability in strength by composition (being partly iron and partly clay) of the legs.   That is, they do not endure as the legs   The ten toes are not firmly established or of a temporary nature.   Such is also the case of the ten horns on the beast of Revelation in that the book says they continue for one hour and give their power to the beast.

“Rev 17:12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. “

“Dan 2:42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. Dan 2:43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. ”

The key to understanding the meaning of the prophecies of Revelation and Daniel is a familiarity with related scripture and understand all scripture relate to Christ.   The other side of the coin are those who say that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people in their assaults on Hamas.    They accuse Israel of human rights violations and war crimes.   Never mind that Israel is responding to attacks against her, and her attacks are aimed at defending herself and is not an act of aggression.   Some say that Israel is no longer the chosen of God because she rejected Christ.   Then there are those of us who say that the 1948 establishment of the Jewish state is a fulfillment of prophecy.   We think this because we are interpreting scripture from a literal natural perspective.    The specific prophecy in question is Isaiah 66:8.

“Isa_66:8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.”

Now I am going to make a simple statement here which I hope to elaborate more in posts to follow.  I also covered this topic in a writing called “The Key”.   This statement is that the establishment of Israel in 1948 is not the fulfillment of Isaiah 66:8.   This scripture is about True Jerusalem and True Israel born from above. True Israel is born through and in Christ.   A nation of believers was born through Christ’s death on the cross being cleansed by his blood and the scripture is a prophecy about the crucifixion.    The day that Christ died all believers were born children of God for the penalty of sin was paid.  The travail of Zion in the prophecy is the travail of  Christ for Zion is fulfilled in him and those who trust in him became children of God.   Paul was quick to point this out:

“Gal 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. Gal 4:27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath a husband. “

Now this is the conclusion of the matter:   God is both the God of the Jews (Israelis) and the Palestinian.  That is he is God of both Jew and Gentile that believes.   He is not a respecter of persons.    Since this is true then the following questions emerge. Should we support Israel in its defense of its homeland? Should we support a Palestinian state? The answer to the first question is a definite yes.   Here’s why.  It is true the nation of  Israel rejects Christ and as a consequence they are not his.   But also true they are his witness and the root of the faith.   More specifically the messianic Jew is the root of the faith.   For the sake of the messianic (believing Jew) and for our sake (the gentiles who believe) Israel as a nation must be preserved and protected by God.

This is why God brought them back in 1948.   However, God has also preserved the gentile nations for the same reason he preserved the Jewish nation and that is so that he can collect his elect from among them. Also, Satan knows the best way to kill a tree is to kill its roots.   Kill the root and you can easily kill the tree.   The forces are darkness would destroy the Jewish nation first, that is “push them into the sea” as one of Israel enemies says.   If they could destroy the Jewish nation, who do you think would be next?   Let me say it loud and clear for you: CHRISTIANS!!!

If the Jew could be eliminated the Christian faith would quickly be reduced to a thing of fable. There are already people (the Dan Browns of this world) writing fables about Christ (The Davinci Code).    Should the Jewish nation be destroyed men would emerge and write huge volumes of books proposing that the Jewish people never existed in an effort to destroy the foundation of the Christian faith.   So the natural Jew is preserved for the sake of the true Jew (born in Christ).   We are his name’s sake.

“Isa_48:9 For my name’s sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off. “

But when Christ comes all who have not believed in him whether they be Jew or Gentile will be cut off.   Until that time, both are preserved according to his purpose.  Incidentally there is a teaching that when Christ comes he will establish the Jewish nation as his throne (although they to this day have not believed on him).   God willing I will write on this in future posts.   This interpretation is based on the flesh that is he who is a Jew by flesh and blood and is not scriptural from a New Testament perspective.

Now to the question should we support a Palestinian state?    To address that question we need to determine who wants a Palestinian state?    Is it the Palestinian people?  Or is it a group of radical Islamists who under the guise of Liberty are not truly interested in a two-state solution?  According to their rhetoric they appear to be interested in a one-state solution.   That is an Islamic state that could eventually replace or eliminate Israel.    The Palestinian people seem to only want equal treatment and opportunity under a prosperous state.    It is evident to the world that Israel pound for pound is likely the most progressive and most prosperous nation on the face of the earth.    This can not be ignored.    A nation formed just yesterday (1948) and it is already a world power in the region.   This is favor.

Now from what I can determine all the Palestinian people want is to share in this prosperity.    However, it is difficult if not impossible for Israel to determine friend from foe among the people of Palestine.   So the many suffer because of the actions of a few. So it is my contention that radical forces in Palestine truly want a one-state solution, they just want it not to be Israel.    An honest assessment of Israel contributions to the world in business, science, agriculture to name a few and even a novice would know that the Palestinian people would not be better off under a Palestinian state.  Such a state would likely continue to be violent and even oppressive to its own people.   Therefore the people already have what Hamas is truly fighting for:  One state for the Palestinian people.   So I would say yes to the Palestinian people but no to Hamas.

The Beast of Revelations 13/The seed of the serpent

Now that I have explained the seed of the woman in my previous video and my previous writings I will now explain the seed of the serpent and how it relates to the end times.   As I stated previously, that the saga of salvation involves two seeds, the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent.

Gen 3:15 (KJV)  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. 

Genesis 3:15

New International Version (NIV)

15 And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring[a] and hers;
he will crush[b] your head,
and you will strike his heel.”

It is important to understand the Bible is a colorful book.   Because of the inadequacy of human language, the creator uses a variety of literary devices through the prophets in order to give insight into things that can not necessarily be understood through strictly literal terms,  for these things are beyond the natural mind.   Therefore he uses metaphors, idioms, parables, shadows or representations to give us insight that we might glimpse into that we would not otherwise be able to understand.

Such is the case with the serpent.   The serpent though a natural creature of the earth is a representation of a spiritual creature from heaven.  This spiritual creature is Satan (the devil).

Rev_12:9  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world:

Rev_20:2  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil,

So we know from scripture that the serpent is a representation of Satan the dragon.   Now we can examine who or what is the seed of the serpent (devil).

Scripture reveals that after the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, because of their fallen nature, the kingdoms that issued forth became subject to Satan .   These kingdoms sought not God, but were at enmity with him and at war with God.    All were taken captive by these kingdoms and followed the ways of the world.   The elect, those who hearts yearned for God were captives of these nations and Satan.   They needed a deliverer a savior.   The savior is Jesus (Yeshua) the Christ (Messiah).   We know that the nations were given to Satan, for he offered them to Christ.

Luk 4:5 (KJV) And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

Luk 4:6  And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.

Scripture reveals that there were four major powers that ruled the nations and who were the direct adversary of Israel and Israel was the representation of the Christ who was to come.  These powers (empires) were the Babylonians, The Medes and Persians, The Greeks, and The Romans.  They were known in scripture as beasts.  We start our count of the powers (empires) after the time Israel settled in Canaan.   This is why the Egyptian empire is not counted among the powers.    This is the pattern revealed in scripture:

Dan 7:2  Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.

Dan 7:3  And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

Now the vision was explained to Daniel.

Dan 7:16  I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.

Dan 7:17  These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.

Dan 7:18  But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.

The fulfillment of Daniel 7:18 is through Christ.   The saints possess the kingdom through Christ.  In order for Christ and the saints to possess the kingdom, the beast(s) must be overcome.  These four empires subdued Israel because of their sin and are the adversaries of Israel.   They are also the adversaries of Christ.   There was a great war in which the beast(s) fought Christ and were overcome by him and made his subjects and the subjects of all believers.   However, at that time, this war did not occur in the natural realm but in the spiritual realm.  This is why so many do not perceive that the kingdom of Heaven is present.

In Daniel the beast is identified as four distinct entities which are the Lion, the Bear, The Leopard, and The Beast with Iron Teeth.  In the book of Revelations the beast is identified as a collective that is a single entity and is said to have the mouth of a lion, the feet of a bear, the body of a leopard, and seven heads (Seven hills and Seven Roman Caesars of Julian descent).   Many believe the beast in Revelations is a power coming in the future.   But if you compare scripture you can see, these are the same beast(s) of Daniel now being represented as a single entity in the book of Revelation.   This entity is who Christ did battle with when he came to the earth.    He overcame the beast by his blood on the cross.   The Jews expected victory by natural means with weapons of war and so rejected him.  This is what was promised by the prophet:

Zec_4:6  Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

If you understand that the seven heads of the beast of Revelations 13 is Rome you will understand that it was the Romans who put Christ on the cross.  They did not know that he would rise from the dead and establish a kingdom that at the last day all will be judged thereby making them his subjects.  Seeing that the Rome is the head of the beast of Revelations 13, this is the head that is crushed or bruised and brought into subjection thus fulfilling Genesis 3:15.   The dragon who is the serpent gave the beast its power.   The beast is therefore the seed or offspring of the serpent.

Rev 13:1  And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

Rev 13:2  And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

Genesis 3:15 is fulfilled in this manner.    The cross is the heel of Christ, and Rome is the head of the serpent.  Rome bruised Christ heel by putting him on the Cross and he crushed Rome’s head by his resurrection making him the final authority.

Gen 3:15  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

The Seed of The Serpent

Why it is Important to understand the End Times

WorldChristians have various views and understandings about the end times, but we all arrive at the same conclusion.   JESUS IS COMING BACK AGAIN.   We are in the last days and his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, all Christians agree.   Then why is there so much controversy?

Where there is a quest for greater understanding and growth there is often controversy. As believers, we are admonished to grow in grace and knowledge of the truth.   However, in the process of growth we should not judge one another for we grow at different rates and understanding comes to us at different times and in different ways.

End time prophecies came by revelation and understanding the (endtime) come by the Holy Spirit.   In my study of scripture and learning how the apostles interpreted scripture,  I found they used spiritual discernment.    That is to say, their interpretation was not based on fulfillment of the scripture by or through the fleshly descendants of Abraham (The Jews), but through the spiritual descendants of Abraham by faith through the seed which is Christ.

I have found that the most popular end time prophecy views taught today all see the fulfillment of the end times being through or by the natural descendants of Abraham, that is those of Jewish descent by blood.   They see the promises to those of Jewish descent as being unfulfilled by scripture and that biblical end times will fulfill the promises made to the Jews.

Men seek to understand biblical prophecy through the natural realm some even suggesting various codes that lead them to interpreting or identifying men in their generation as being the fulfillment of a prophecy.   While this is possible, most of the figures identified as the fulfillment of prophecy through the generations can not be truly harmonized with the finished work of Christ.  This makes such interpretations speculations  from the natural mind.

The true bible code is Christ.  He is the key.  In this blog I will venture to show that all prophecy points to Christ and that the promises are only for those that have complete faith in Christ.

(KJV)

2Co 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

I believe an incorrect understanding of prophecy leads to a false expectation by those who hear it, however; I do not believe true believers are harmed by it because we all have one true expectation which is  Christ.  However, an erroneous view can dilute the message even making God appear a respecter of persons and making some less receptive to the gospel.    Some views are natural minded interpretations or the end of the world predictions that erroneously teach the Jews of natural descent that a time of salvation is reserved for them although they presently reject Christ. To those who receive them, such interpretations are to their detriment.  In this blog we will examine the primary views of eschatology and test them by scripture.   That which we believe to be in complete harmony with scripture we will hold fast.

(KJV) 1Th 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

The videos posted below provide a preview of some of the topics we will be discussing