Israel: The Miracle

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Israel: The Miracle
 
"Indeed, he [God] who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep."¹

If you were to ask me what I thought might be the number one evidence for the validity of God's Word, the Bible, I would answer that question in one word by saying, "Israel."

In fact, the nation of Israel is one of the clearest evidences for the validity of God's Word. Its history is a continual story of biblical prophecy being fulfilled. For instance, some fifteen hundred years B.C., God said through Moses that Israel would turn from him and be driven by enemies from their homeland. God said, "I will bring the land into desolation … I will scatter you among the nations … your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste."²

The result? In 721 B.C., the ten northern tribes of Israel were taken into captivity by Assyria, and in 586 B.C. the two southern tribes were taken captive by Babylon. Seventy years later a small remnant of 40,000 Jews returned to Israel while the rest were scattered throughout the world. In A.D.70 Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans, and the remnant of Israelites was dispersed among the nations. Israel then became desolate as predicted 1,600 years before.

God's word also stated that the nation of Israel would be restored, saying, "Neither will I destroy them utterly."³ "For I will take you from among the nations, and gather you out of all countries and will bring you into your own land."⁴ "I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and live in them again,"⁵ and the nation "will blossom as the rose."⁶ The beginning of these prophecies being fulfilled was on May 14, 1948 when Israel once again became a nation.

The people of Israel have survived heinous atrocities committed against them by the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Greeks, the Romans, Hitler and others. And even today there are surrounding nations who want to "wipe Israel off the map." Israel's repeated survival against overwhelming odds and the rebuilding of their nation—which is still taking place at this time, twenty-five hundred years after God said that it would happen—is irrefutable evidence of the validity of the Bible.

But God has not finished with the nation of Israel by any means. According to the Bible the climax of world history as we know it will be when the nations of the world, headed by the Antichrist (Satan's emissary), will unite to come against Israel in an attempt to destroy her forever.⁷ This war, the like of which the world has never before seen, is known as Armageddon. At this point Jesus Christ will return to earth from Heaven, will rescue Israel and totally destroy all opposing armies. Christ will then set up his Kingdom and rule and reign on earth from Jerusalem for a thousand years⁸—after which he will create a new earth and a new heaven.⁹

Keep an eye on Israel. This tiny nation is without doubt—in God's plan—the center stage for the world's final battle between good and evil. Thus, the more we see nations uniting to oppose Israel, the more we need to realize that the setting of the stage for the entrance of the Antichrist is accelerating. At the same time the setting of the stage for the second coming of Jesus Christ will also be accelerating.

Of these yet unfulfilled biblical prophecies regarding Israel, we can be just as certain that they will be fulfilled in minutest detail just as all prior prophecies regarding Israel have been fulfilled in minutest detail.

The important issue for you and me today is that we are ready for these end-time events and especially for the return of Jesus Christ to earth. You will not want to be left behind. To make sure you are ready, be sure to read the article, "How to Be Sure You're a Real Christian" at: www.actsweb.org/christian.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for your Word, the Bible, that informs mankind regarding the ultimate defeat of Israel's enemies and assures us of the return of Jesus Christ to earth to end forever the rule of evil over mankind, and to set up your eternal kingdom. Thank you, too, for your great gift of salvation so that all who trust in you and accept your forgiveness will be delivered from the coming evil and spend forever with you in eternity. Please help me to be absolutely certain that I am ready for the day of your return. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name."

Note: Again, if you are not absolutely certain that you are ready for Christ's return, be sure to read the article, "How to Be Sure You're a Real Christian" at: www.actsweb.org/christian.

1. Psalm 121:4 (NIV).
2. Leviticus 26:32-33.
3. Leviticus 26:44.
4. Ezekiel 36:24.
5. Amos 9:14 (TLB) (NLT).
6. Isaiah 35:1.
7. Revelation 16:12-16.
8. Revelation 20:1-6.
9. Revelation 21:1-3.

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Are You Possessed By the Spirit of the Dog?

Womanimal. Photo Credit: 109.

Are You Possessed By the Spirit of the Dog?

Many people in Nigeria and the rest of the world are possessed by the Spirit of the Dog, but since majority of them are ignorant of the existence they don’t even know that they are exhibiting the characteristics in their lifestyles and may continue living in the bondage of the Spirit of the Dog till their last days on earth.

Dog eat dog is a common saying which is in fact true, but people have not seen it spiritually and so have not been delivered from the Spirit of the Dog, so dog eat dog has become the most prevalent way of life on earth with majority of humanity behaving and living like dogs even though they claim not be animals, but have we seen much difference between most humans and animals? In fact, there is more balance of nature in the jungle than in the city! It is not common to see cattle attacking and killing themselves or other animals of the same species attacking themselves as humans attack their fellow humans every day in recurrent human conflicts of crimes and wars. In fact, from Adam and Eve to date, we have seen worse violence among humans than among animals! So, where is the human civilization?
What makes humans more civilized than animals?
Our higher IQs and sense of worthiness?
Our belief systems and pursuit of our origins?
The societies we have built over the centuries?
The so called wonders of the world?
Gigantic buildings like the Tower of Babel?
Spacecrafts launching and probing into the heavens?
Academic, technical and professional institutions producing aristocrats and technocrats of either meritocracy or plutocracy of democracy?
Because we make and put on clothes, build and live in houses and make and drive vehicles?
But as the saying goes, the hood does not make the monk.
What makes us civilized are not the perishable possessions and lifestyles we have, but the appreciation of the values and virtues of human dignity, integrity and nobility.


Mystery in Nigeria: Dogs With Human Body Found In Badagry!

In Nigeria where there are more churches than even schools and millions of Nigerians are regular church goers, majority of those who claim to be Christians are possessed by the Spirit of the Dog and their so called pastors, reverend ministers, bishops and prophets do not have the gift of discernment to see through them even when their behaviour shows it all. But many of the Christian ministers themselves are possessed by the Spirit of the Dog! That is why majority of them don’t even preach to warn their congregants. Therefore, both church and congregants remain in the bondage of the Spirit of the Dog.

King David of Israel who was a real and true anointed man of God knew about the existence of the Spirit of the Dog and prayed against it in Psalm 22 when he prayed for deliverance from the power of the dog. So, that is enough proof of the spiritual danger of the Spirit of the Dog.

Examine yourself thoroughly and if you notice the characteristics of dog eat dog attitude in your life, then you are possessed by the Spirit of the Dog and the only way to be freed from the bondage is repentance and deliverance, because your total reformation and transformation can only be achieved by edification. Then, you shall be freed from the evil Spirit of the Dog that is still roaming and prowling for more preys. In most cases it goes about as a friendly dog wagging its tail playfully, but beware of the wolf in sheep clothing.



~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima, author of In the House of Dogs and other books.

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