As we draw close to Thanksgiving, it is natural for Americans to contemplate the Pilgrims and the occasion of the “First Thanksgiving.” I suspect that many of us immediately envision the drawings and pictures presented to us as children – pictures of happy Native Americans with even happier Pilgrims, all gathered around a large outdoor table so laden with food that it looked ready to collapse.
The real story is much more winsome, but rarely told in its fullness. That first Thanksgiving, held in October of 1621, came at the end of a horrific year of suffering and privation. I doubt that many of us today, with all our modern conveniences, can even conceive of the scene that unfolded in the lives of these men, women, and children, almost from the moment they set foot on the Mayflower. Storms battered them at sea, their first winter battered them on land, and when it was over they had lost 47 of their members. Their pain must have been great. For instance, of the 18 wives who landed at Plymouth, only five survived that first winter. Of the families who left the English coast, only three remained intact and unscathed by death after the worst winter months.
Most people would be rendered useless by vicissitudes of this magnitude. The Pilgrims, however, continued to praise and pray to God, and in March, 1621, one of many miracles walked into their small settlement. Samoset was a friendly Native American and member of a tribe in Maine. He seems to have been an intrepid adventurer, and learning about the Pilgrims he brought another Native American, named Squanto, to meet them. Squanto was a Patuxet and had been raised on the very land where the Pilgrims had settled. His remarkable story began 16 years earlier when he was kidnapped and taken to England by the explorer Captain George Weymouth. Weymouth taught English to Squanto in order to question him about the favorability of land in the New World. Squanto then spent nine years in England, and was able to return to his home across the ocean via the 1614 voyage of Captain John Smith.
Unfortunately for Squanto, Captain Thomas Hunt was part of Smith’s expedition and was tasked with remaining on Patuxet land to finalize some of Smith’s trades. After Smith left, Hunt determined that the slave trade would be the most lucrative, and grabbed twenty Patuxets – including Squanto – and sailed for Spain. They were all sold as slaves, but miraculously, local friars rescued Squanto. After leaving the friars, Squanto made his way to London, then once again to his home across the Atlantic by attaching himself to another trading expedition. He arrived in 1619, six months before the Pilgrims landed, and was heartbroken to discover that his entire tribe – every man, woman and child – had been wiped out by a plague. No one was left. Not knowing where else to go, he stayed with his adventurous friend Samoset and they both went to visit the Wampanoag tribe 50 miles to the South.
Now fast forward to March of 1621. Imagine the shock of the remaining, half-starved Pilgrims when, after a grueling and heartbreaking winter, an English-speaking Native American strolled into their little camp. Not only did he speak English, but after spending time with friars in a European monastery, Squanto must have had at least a passing understanding of Christianity. William Bradford and Edward Winslow recorded in their diaries that Squanto spent the next several months deeply engaged in teaching the entire Pilgrim settlement how to survive. He introduced them to corn and to the Native American way to plant and harvest it. He taught them when, where, and how to catch fish and eels. Squanto introduced them to beaver pelts, which became a significant form of capital for trade. In short, God provided for them richly in the most unlikely of ways. Who would have guessed that a Native American, who was kidnapped not once but twice, would be so used by God on their behalf?
Even Bradford, in his History of Plymouth Plantation, noted that when Samoset left to return to the Wampanoag, “Squanto continued with [the Pilgrims], and was their interpreter, and was a special instrument sent of God for their good beyond their expectation (111).” Thanks to Squanto’s expertise and God’s Providence, by October of that year the harvest was so plentiful that the Pilgrim’s Governor Bradford declared a day to give thanks to God. It was what we call the First Thanksgiving. Not only were the Pilgrims giving thanks, but Chief Massasoit (of the Wampanoag) brought all 90 of his warriors! And even then, God provided. Feeding so many would have taxed the stores of food that the Pilgrims were preparing for the next winter, but Massasoit’s warriors arrived with five fully dressed deer and other assorted game already prepared. Jehovah Jireh – God provides. The story does not end there, however. The next several years tell a fascinating tale that many tend to overlook. There were two more times in the next decade that the Pilgrims faced near starvation – first in 1623 and then in 1631. Both times their dire situations were not due to negligence or sloth, but to circumstances beyond their control. And in both instances, their leaders declared a day of fasting, asking God to miraculously intervene on their behalf. He did. In 1623 the Pilgrims were facing famine because of ships that had been sent to them – not with supplies, but with hungry mouths to feed. They had accepted the new settlers, fed them, restocked the ships, and rationed the remaining food. Finally, with their rations almost completely gone and a horrific drought gripping the land, they feared the end was near. “‘These and the like considerations,’ says Mr. Winslow, ‘moved not only every good man privately to enter into examination with his own estate between God and his conscience, and so to humiliation before Him, but also more solemnly to humble ourselves together before the Lord by fasting and prayer’.” They gathered and prayed for nine hours. Just as they ended, the sky became overcast and “on the next morning distilled such soft, sweet, and moderate showers of rain, and mixed with such seasonable weather, as it was hard to say whether our withered corn or drooping affections were most quickened or revived. Such was the bounty and goodness of our God.” [Journal of the Pilgrims, 284.] Even more remarkable was Governor Bradford’s note that there was no wind or violent storm, which would most certainly have destroyed the fragile and near-starved crops. And God was glorified in yet another way. Several Native Americans were in the Pilgrim settlement, and wondered among themselves why every single colonist was at the meetinghouse, engaged in prayer – in the middle of the week! One of them, Hobbamock, found a little boy and demanded an explanation – which was given – and only hours later the soft, perfect rain began to fall. “[Hobbamock] and all [the Native Americans with him],” said Winslow, “admired the goodness of our God towards us.” What a mighty God we serve!
The other day of fasting came in 1631. Some reports say that the Pilgrims’ last loaves of bread were literally in the oven when an unexpected Irish ship arrived laden with food. In both instances, in 1623 and in 1631, the Pilgrims changed their Fast day to an official day of Thanksgiving. So the story of the First Thanksgiving is not just about eating and making merry. In its proper context, taken with a view of the first decade of the Pilgrim settlement, it is a far more beautiful story of praise, provision, and perseverance. The Pilgrims knew that fasting and praise are two strong pillars that we as Believers may use to express our faith in a mighty God.
Dear friends, as you and your families celebrate Thanksgiving this year, take some time apart to consider these Pilgrims and the courage their lives represented. Not just at their First Thanksgiving when times were good, but their deep and abiding commitment to fasting, prayer, and praise even when times were desperate. These men, women and children were well acquainted with Scripture and they followed the examples set before them in ages past. I pray that when our own trials advance, we may do likewise.
Frank Wright President & CEO National Religious Broadcasters
God’s final plan and hope for every human race is to be with him forever. Whoever believes in the King of Kings will live with him in his holy city Jerusalem. Hebrews 11:10 calls this city “the city which has foundations whose builder and maker is God.”
After the Millennium, once Satan and his followers have been banished to the lake of fire, God will destroy the present world. Judgment is passed and a new heaven and earth will be made. Then out of this new heaven, from God the New Jerusalem will descend.
Rev. 21:1-27″ I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem coming out of heaven from God, prepared as a new bride beautifully prepared for her husband. And I heard a loud voice saying ‘now the dwelling of God is with men and he will live with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ …”
The following of Revelations and Ezekiel 39 onwards (chapters 40-48) describes this glorious city. It is a city that shines with the glory of God, with brilliance of a very precious jewel- clear as crystal. It has high walls and twelve gates and angels will stand at each gate. (Rev. 21:22) This gates will never be shut as there is no night there and on the twelve gates are written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Rev. 22:1-6 The river of the water of life will flow from the throne of God and of the lamb, down the middle of the great city. No longer will there be any curse. His servants will see God’s face and serve him, His name will be written on their foreheads. There will be no more night and light won’t be from a lamp or the sun for the lord God will be their light. The chosen ones whose name is written in the Book of Life will reign with him for ever and ever. They will be the only ones to enter this holy city. Rev. 21:27 “nothing impure will enter.”
Let us wait in faith for God’s word to unfold, “for the lord is not slow in keeping his promise” 2 Peter 3:9-10
Glory be to the King!!!
God’s final plan and hope for every human race is to be with him forever. Whoever believes in the King of Kings will live with him in his holy city Jerusalem. Hebrews 11:10 calls this city “the city which has foundations whose builder and maker is God.”
After the Millennium, once Satan and his followers have been banished to the lake of fire, God will destroy the present world. Judgment is passed and a new heaven and earth will be made. Then out of this new heaven, from God the New Jerusalem will descend.
Rev. 21:1-27″I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem coming out of heaven from God, prepared as a new bride beautifully prepared for her husband. And I heard a loud voice saying ‘now the dwelling of God is with men and he will live with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ …”
The following of Revelations and Ezekiel 39 onwards (chapters 40-48) describes this glorious city. It is a city that shines with the glory of God, with brilliance of a very precious jewel- clear as crystal. It has high walls and twelve gates and angels will stand at each gate. (Rev. 21:22) This gates will never be shut as there is no night there and on the twelve gates are written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Rev. 22:1-6 The river of the water of life will flow from the throne of God and of the lamb, down the middle of the great city. No longer will there be any curse. His servants will see God’s face and serve him, His name will be written on their foreheads. There will be no more night and light won’t be from a lamp or the sun for the lord God will be their light. The chosen ones whose name is written in the Book of Life will reign with him for ever and ever. They will be the only ones to enter this holy city. Rev. 21:27 “nothing impure will enter.”
Let us wait in faith for God’s word to unfold, “for the lord is not slow in keeping his promise” 2 Peter 3:9-10
Glory be to the King!!!
The period know as The Millennium, in biblical terms is the thousand year reign of Christ here on earth. Millennium comes from the Latin word mille, which means a thousand and annum which means year. This period of time is very controversial because it is only found in the book of Revelations and is only mentioned once. (Read Rev. 20:1-6)
At this period Satan is tied and is thrown in prison where he wouldn’t be able to deceive nations. After this 1000 year period he will be released again for a short while and he goes out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth – Gog and Magog and gathers them for battle. Here they march across to God’s city. But they are killed by fire and Satan is finally thrown into the lake of burning sulfur.
Rev. 20:7-10 “When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth — Gog and Magog — to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”
We often think of The Battle of Armageddon as a short battle that occurs at the end of the Tribulation, but this is only part of the picture. It is a long campaign by the Anti-Christ to fend off challenge after challenge, to his world rule. Even though the final actual battle is fought at the plains of Armageddon, the build up takes a long 3 1/2 years.
The Plains of Armageddon are a strategic plateau overlooking northern Israel and the southern Syrian plains. It is a critical military point, a towering 480 square miles. The world’s most natural battlefield! One guiding principle in warfare is to ‘take the high ground’. Whoever owned the this area could make all of Israel a literal ‘killing field’. That is why this area is now heavily guarded by the Israelis.
In the world now the Satanic Trinity is at large. The Satanic trinity; Satan (the dragon), the Anti-Christ (the beast) and the false prophet will stir up exactly as much trouble as God allows them to and they will experience exactly as much difficulty and punishment as God intends. It is all according to His plan and it will be fulfilled as the prophesies had said.
The Anti-Christ and Satan (the dragon) will have dominated the world. Buying and selling wouldn’t be possible without Satan’s mark and anyone who wouldn’t worship the image of the beast in Jerusalem would be killed (read Rev. 13:15-18). But not everyone will accept this. He will be greatly opposed. Firstly the muslim world over the desecration of the Dome of the Rock are still angry and want to regain their holy place. Secondly the Anti-Christ has setup an image of a beast in their holy place and was practicing a religion which contradictory to the book of Islam, the Quran. The Anti-Christ at this time is also too powerful to be left alone. He is too untrustworthy to be allowed to continue to grow in power without a future possibility of a conflict with him. If this happened they would risk loosing their Oil fields so he has to be stopped now! They will do whatever possible to pry his hand off their Middle Eastern Oil. They start gathering all their forces for war! The campaign leading to Armageddon will be set in motion.
The King of the North (Russia) and the King of the South (who controls the Islamic confederation and the nations of Ethiopia, Libya, Iran) after their massive defeat earlier rebuild and draw out their vast resources of men and fighting force available. This is just one battle they have to win! But this big nations won’t be alone in the ‘cleansing of Jerusalem’. They have more help for fighting beside them will be the Kings of the East. This new great army, the Bible says will be 200 million strong. Rev. 9:16- “The number of the mounted troops was 200 million….Their breastplates (armor) were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The head of the horses resembled the head of lions and out of their mouths came fire smoke and sulfur.”
There are many millions Muslims, zealous for their faith living in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Malaysia and Indonesia. This new Eastern Army, 200 million strong could well come from there. But there is also the massively populated nation of China and even Japan that could be interested in Middle Eastern Oil. The Bible itself doesn’t tell us why the “Kings of the East” move to confront the Anti-Christ, only that they will do so.
They will march right through the supernaturally dried bed of the river Euphrates to the very center of the Anti-Christ’s empire, Israel. They will confront at Armageddon. Rev. 16:12 “The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great bowl Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the Kings of the East….. The spirit of demons performing miraculous signs go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the Battle on that great day of God Almighty…. Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called ARMAGEDDON.” The Anti-Christ has already won the King of the North and South with his treachery even though it was God who actually came forth and destroyed them. But the Anti-Christ now has three new allies of his own and will be very confident to go to battle. He has Satan (the dragon), the false prophet (with his ability to call down fire from heaven) and the image of the beast (which has the power to destroy those who refuse to obey the Anti-Christ). The time was ready for that great day of battle. After hearing the news about the advancing Eastern army the Anti-Christ will advance to Armageddon to face the onslaught from the North, South and East. Yet as the arms of the world converge on Armageddon on a massive collision course their objective will suddenly change. Instead of contending with each other they will unite to fight the mighty army of the Messiah that will descend from heaven to the fields of Armageddon. To avoid Christ’s come back they will unite and fight the long foretold battle which they will totally loose. (Also read Daniel 11:36-45 about the Anti-Christ and how he looses the battle.) Matthew 24:30 “Then the sign of man will appear in heaven and then all tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”
” I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse..the armies of heaven were following him on a white horses” (Rev. 19:11-21 ) Zechariah 14:1-12 “Then the lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle. On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the mount of Olives will split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountains north and half moving south. You will flee by mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel….Then the lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. On that day there will be no light, no cold or frost. It will be a unique day, without daytime or nighttime — a day known to the Lord. When evening comes, there will be light. …….. This is the plaque with which the Lord will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem:Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.” Rev.14:20 declares that the blood from this battle will rise up to the horse’s bridal’s for a distance of 1600 stadia (approximately 200 miles) the full length of the battle field. When the actual battle site measured from the northern part of Palestine to the southern boundaries it was found to be approximately 200 miles, just as it was foretold in the prophesies! Armageddon will be bathed with blood and the Bible has predicted it to the last length of the Battlefield!!! The Anti-Christ will finally be done and over with! His boastful deceitful tongue will be silenced forever. Rev. 19:20 “but the beast was captured and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf … The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.” THE VICTORY IS THE LORD”S. Amen!
In fact the world will commend this actions. Thus you can see even today that the stage is being set for people based on their hatred for Christians–which is why during the Tribulation this whorish religion called Babylon will be able to kill Christians by the thousands and advance perversion, yet still be regarded as the quintessential guardian of faith and morality. In the first half of the tribulation Babylon will be the religion’s high priestess. As the AntiChrist comes, this Babylon will be his only opposition that will hold him from ruling the world. He will therefore launch a swift coup d’etat against this planet-wide interlocking system. He will have accumulated enough power to eliminate Babylon and he is very successful, at destroying this Babylonian system. Rev 17:12-13,16 “And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the Harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire.” (Also read Rev. 18 on Babylon’s destruction)
But what the AntiChrist does not realize is that God has sovereignty moved to give him the ability to overthrow the Babylonian system and that soon it will be the his turn to experience a judgment that is so swift, total and dreadful: “For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their Kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled” (Rev. 17:17). Once the AntiChrist has eliminated Babylon, he will move in with alacrity to fill the void with his own system. But now most importantly the Jews are insulted by the AntiChrist’s take over of Jerusalem and his setting up of his image in their holy temple (read Rev.13:15). Their heart has been softened to God as he had come to their help and had laid their enemies before their eyes.
Now the Jews will attempt an assignation and they will succeed! The AntiChrist is pronounced dead! Rev.13:3 “one of the heads of the beast seemed to have a fatal wound.” But the AntiChrist after associating with Satan himself comes back to life in front of the whole world. His fatal wound miraculously heals. Probably this is seen on CNN and the whole world will be amazed. Rev.:13:3-7 “…but the Fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast. Men worshipped the dragon(Satan) because he(the AntiChrist) had given authority to the beast and they also worshipped the beast and asked who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?……He (The AntiChrist) was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them (they had tried to kill him and he will revenge). And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. All inhabitant of the earth will worship the beast.” Here God warns not to bow to the image for those who will be left behind after the church has been raptured. This is their second chance to accept christ! They must watch out, or else when christ comes for the last time in Armageddon, they will be killed and be thrown in the lake of fire along with Satan and the AntiChrist (Read Rev. 14:9-10). This will be the second and final death. They can only prove themselves worthy by enduring the hardship that cometh and by not bowing down to satan! Rev.13:10 “If anyone is to go to captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints(the ones’s that have accepted Jesus after the Rapture).”
Now lets go back and look at the way the AntiChrist sets up his world domination, immediately after he overthrows Babylon. It is done by a one world government, one world economy and a one world religion that would eventually focus it’s worship on the AntiChrist himself. One World Government The false man of peace will “devour the whole earth” Dan7:23. He will rule them by their own agreement and with absolute, total authority (Dan 11:36). His personality will be persuasive subtlety and craft, “his mouth will speak pompous words” (Dan. 7:8) and is a “master of intrigue” (Dan.8:23). One World Economy The AntiChrist’s Economy will be a cash less society and one in which he could control every financial transaction. “He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their heads, so that no one may buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast (the AntiChrist) or the number of his name. This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man’s number. His number is 666” Rev.13:16-18. This AntiChrist’s rise like said before, is likely to be from the Europenian (European) Union who are now striving for a universal monetary system. It is of course well known that they already have a Common Market.
The ECC (European Economic Community) now known as the Union, at the moment is playing a part in Europe in trying to develop a political and economic unity. With 15 strong members it has it’s own blue flag with yellow stars, making a circle. As the AntiChrist sets foot in Europe he sure will make use of this introductory system. His system will only be different in that he will add his own one world religion, Satan worship. One World Religion George Washington had once said “it is impossible to govern the world without God and the Bible.” The AntiChrist slowly adds his own religion; himself. Rev.13:15 “He will set up his image in Jerusalem and all who refuse to worship him will be murdered.” Jesus had confirmed this. Jesus had said, Matthew 24:15 “When you see the ‘abomination of the desolation’ spoken by the prophet Daniel (the setting up of the beast in the temple) let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains..for them there will be great distress unequalled from the beginning of the world until now and never to be equal again.” The world is under the rule of the AntiChrist and for now he will devour it as he likes!
You will advance against against my people Israel like a cloud that covers the land. In the days to come, O Gog, I will bring you against my land, so that the nations may know me when I show myself Holy through you before their eyes.” Ezek. 38:18-23 “This is what will happen in that day: When Gog attacks the land of Israel, my hot anger will be aroused, declares the Sovereign Lord. In my zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that time there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. The fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the beasts of the field, every creature that moves along the ground and all the people on the face of the earth will tremble at my presence. The mountains will be overturned, the cliffs will crumble and every wall will fall to the ground. I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign Lord. Every man’s sword will be against his brother. I will execute judgment upon him with plaque and bloodshed; I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulphur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him. And so I will show my greatness and my holiness and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.” God will strike the enemy and they will be left for the beasts of the earth–birds and wild animals to feast on, read the rest of Ezek.ch39.
God doesn’t exactly tell us how many will be dead but he tells us how many will be left: only a “sixth part” (39:2 kjv). That means that the casualty rate for this battle will be 84 percent, unheard of in modern ware fare. An almost total be wipe out! The dead bodies of the invaders will be strewn in the fields and mountains of Israel and the burial will take 7 months and will involve all the people of Israel. (read the rest of Ezekiel for the long burial details) On that day God will have testified to his beloved Jewish people who have turned from him. He will have proved to them that he alone is their God by coming to their aid once again. Note here very carefully that the Jewish people at this point have yet to accept Jesus as their Messiah.
The Bible is very clear that this will happen at the end of the Tribulation, when christ will come to fight at the Battle of Armageddon. That is when the Jewish people who will remain living look upon Him and cry! Jesus speaks ” ‘they will look on Me whom they pierced.’ Yes, they will mourn for Him as one grieves for a firstborn” Zech. 12:10. That will be the day when “all Israel will be saved” Rom. 11:26. Now, because of this cataclysmic battle that their God has delivered them from, the nation of Israel will abandon it’s disastrous relationship with the AntiChrist. They will begin turning toward the Most High God. The AntiChrist after the war immediately begins to show his face. The forces of the North and South had been shattered by God but he is safe and comes out of hiding. He had failed to come to Israel’s aid and therefore avoided exposing his military to danger. Now not only are these invading forces weakened but with casualty rates of 84% , their capacity to wage war or even defend themselves simply doesn’t exist for the moment. It is now time to set up his kingdom.
Not only is the AntiChrist cunning in his ability to form alliances and tricking nations by breaking alliances but his power is also due in no small measure to the patronage he enjoys from this Babylon System described for us in Rev. 17&18. This system is a planet-wide interlocking system of religion and commerce. It will be the dominant force in the world throughout the first half of the Tribulation. She ( the country) will have ruled all the nations of the world as well as over the AntiChrist and his European federation, which is signified in the book of Revelation by Babylon sitting on top of the nations and then specifically the AntiChrist and his federation (read rev.17:1-3). Her influence over the world stems from her complete dominance of two major areas: religion and commerce. The way is already being paved for this kind of world-wide religious system by central beliefs like: >Every practice must be permitted, for we must not judge anyone! >Every belief must be respected, for we must not be bigoted towards anyone! >Every form of expression must be allowed, for we must not censor anyone! Everyone of this expressions have a important exceptions behind them..”anyone except Christians.” It will be perfectly acceptable to judge Christians, to be prejudiced towards Christians, and to censor Christians.
While no one knows the exact location of this area, going far north from Israel will eventually land you in the heart of Russia. Even if this is argued and said that Turkey is the one, it doesn’t rule out the possibility of those areas being conquered by Russia in the coming years or even after the Rapture. So Russia is a sure participant. She is the one called ‘Gog, of the land of Magog’ throughout the Bible and she will lead many nations in the war against Israel and the Jewish people. The Kings of the South, according to Ezekiel (Ezek. 38:5) will control Persia (modern-day Iran, the present incubator and disseminator of militant Islam), Cush (Ethiopia, could represent more than the one country that now bears it’s name), Put (the modern terrorist state of Libya). Also conspiring with the coalition of the Kings of the North and South are (Ezek. 38:13) Sheba (modern day Yemen), Dedan (a territory is southern Edom, located in southern Jordan) and Tarnish (which is traditionally identified as being on the coast of southern Spain or the Mediterranean Island of Sardinia. Here in Ezekiel 38:13, Sheba(Yemen), Dedan(Jordan) and Tarnish(sardinia) won’t agree with the the king of the North and his plunder. But they will be with him and with the king of the south (the king who will control Ethiopia,Iran & Libya having behind them all the support of the Islamic nations)and march towards Israel. Coming back to our world, did you know that Islam is the largest growing Religion in the United States today? With the church Raptured Islam will also play a great part in Africa. This has already started by the Islamic countries of Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Somalia. As far as Israel and the arabs go, the Arab Palestinians by Israel’s 1947 gain of land feel displaced. They have certainly been defeated lots of times and they have a great hatred for Jews. One other factor for their hatred is also the question of religion.
In some parts of the middle East it is against the law to carry a Bible. There is much persecution and a convert is considered a traitor. Even though there are Muslims who sincerely want peace there are Extremist Muslims like HAMAS, who believe in absolute violence to achieve their aims .. putting on pressure on all Muslims. The late Imam Hassan al-Bana of their resistance movement had said “Israel will exist and it will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it just as it obliterate others before it.” All Muslims are bound by religion and they are all pressured to act according to Allah. The Quran declares ( 2:190) ” Fight is the cause of Allah against those who fight against you…and fight them until aggression is no more, and religion is for Allah”. The Quran further advises “if you fear treachery from any group throw back (their treachery) to them on equal terms.” As Ezekiel had prophesied, the King of the North (Gog-Russia), with the King of the South (a king who will control the Islamic nations: Iran, libya and Ethiopia) will march against the holy city, Jerusalem. But why would the reborn Russia join hands with the Islamic nations and attack the Jews? Well the main reason open here, is because she would want to become a superpower once again. But for this she would need to have control over the main industrialized world’s oil-The Persian Gulf. If the Islamic Nations cede some control of their oil to Russia in return for her co-operation in the invasion of Israel and destruction of the hated temple, what better reason could there be to join? The Islamic Nations on the other hand gain another nations strength of army.
The AntiChrist had signed a treaty protecting Israel and this might worry the Islamic nations over their success in attacking Israel. Russia here could also serve by threatening to use her Biological, Chemical or Nuclear Bomb on the AntiChrist or should the west intervene. The King of the South might not have seen Russia as a threat as he might think they could easily get rid of Russia once she served her purpose, just like in Afghanistan (in Afghanistan 1970, the Muslim forces had got rid of the invading Russians). Now the two kings feel strong enough to go to war on Israel, from all corners and they surround the holy city. But this attack will greatly fail as God himself will strike them down. Ezekiel describes it… Ezek. 38:14-16 “this is what the sovereign lord says: In that day when my Israel are living in safety, will you (Gog-Russia) not take notice of it? You will come from your place in the far North, you and many nations with you, all of them riding on horses, a great horde, a mighty army.
The Coming anti-christ…..
As soon as the church is raptured things make way for the AntiChrist. The one the bible calls ‘the lawless one’. The son of satan will appear upon the stage of the world but this appearance is going to be gradual. The AntiChrist is a great deceiver. His Deception will finally lead him to have control over the whole world. The bible says this times will be by far the worst the world had ever known. This great Tribulation period will fulfill the prophecy that had been foretold by the prophet Daniel! The AntiChrist is full human, who has ‘paid his dues’ in the military and the political sense and many will willingly follow him. He is evil personified and some even call him the ‘son of satan’, but he is pure man who only later joins hands with Satan himself. In Daniel 8:25 it says that this peace ‘shall destroy many’, but will be destroyed by the prince of princes, Jesus himself. This man will come from a country or a confederation of the old roman empire or the Europenian (European) Union.
As we now see in this area there is great suffering. Millions have already died in Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia and it is still going on unresolved. The AntiChrist will defeat and merge three kingdoms and bring peace to that area. This would be a modern-day miracle as anyone who would bring peace to that area is indeed a man of peace. He will guarantee peace for Israel and the whole Middle East and he will sign a seven year peace treaty. This inaugurates the 7 yr Tribulation period! But as we’ll see the AntiChrist breaks this treaty in just only 3 1/2 yrs (Dan9:27). His peace is a just a temporary hypnosis. (Read Daniel 12:11-12 for the time calculations) Israel now desperate for peace, and because of the AntiChrist’s worldwide influence entrusts her security to him. This is unbelievable now because Israel has a long history of distrust to outsiders. Israel had never before depended upon anyone else for it’s national safety! This treaty happening shows the AntiChrist’s great influence over the years to come. There will be a change in attitude in Israel! In fact so great will Israel have confidence in the protection of the AntiChrist that when they are attacked by the kings of the North and South (just after the three year break of the tribulation) they will be described as a ‘land of un walled villages…a peaceful people who dwell safely with no walls and having no bars nor gates” (Ezek 38:11). Now at this moment their security is top priority: soldiers, machine guns, tanks, walls and wired perimeters throughout. But God’s word says this will change. Israel 3yrs after the Rapture, will have already freely surrendered her security to the AntiChrist and his protection. We are told that the AntiChrist seizes the Holy Temple and stops the sacrifices of the Jews. In ( 2 Thess. 2:4) it says the Antichrist seized the holy temple and sets himself up. In ( Dan. 9:27) it says in the middle of the 7yr he will put an end to sacrifice. How could he have done this if there weren’t already a temple built? This tells us that the Jews had undoubtedly built their holy temple in Jerusalem and had like once before, started performing their sacrifices. The AntiChrist comes, seizes their temple and stops further sacrifices. Going a bit further back, as the Jews build this holy temple just like it was back then in the old testament times it will sure constitute a problem.
As for the place the Bible decrees for the location of the temple, is currently occupied by the Dome of The Rock. This is located on Mount Mariah which is now the the 3rd holiest place in the world for Muslims. If you doubt that the Jewish people would ever attempt something so audious, ask any Jew today. Some Jewish people are already planning for it, working to make the preparations for it’s construction of the 3rd temple (the 1st was Solomon’s, the 2nd Herod’s). One of the organizations working for this is called Temple Foundations. But this great destruction of Islam’s sacred place will lead to the prophecy predicted by Ezekiel (read Ezekiel 38 & 39) and by Daniel (read Daniel 11). While Israel is enjoying a time of peace, the king of the North will lead the Islamic nations led by the king of the South against Israel.
Looking at the descriptions of Ezekiel, this King of the North is in some general area of Turkey, Syria, Iraq and at least some of the Islamic republics of the former Soviet Union. Here don’t count Russia out as in Ezekiel 38 & 39 there are tantalizing references to “Gog, of the land of Magog who will come out from a place out the far north and march against Israel” (Ezek. 38:15).