Category: earthly kingdom / Millennial Reign of Christ

Aerial Attack! #11

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

“And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines” (2 Samuel 5:24 KJV).

Some 3,000 years ago, Israel had aerial military support, and it is only a preview of the “fighter jets” yet to come!

Remember Psalm 68 enumerates Jesus Christ’s Second Coming, to redeem Israel and restore His headship in the Earth. Notice verses 17 and 18: “[17] The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. [18] Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.”

The Apostle Paul quoted Psalm 68:18 in Ephesians 4:8. Understand that these two verses are not describing the same event, but two similar events in two separate programs.

Read Ephesians 4:7-10: “[7] But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. [8] Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. [9] (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? [10] He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)”

After Jesus Christ ascended into heaven (Acts chapter 1), He then “ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.” He began the Body of Christ with Saul of Tarsus (the Apostle Paul) in Acts chapter 9, and “gave” (notice, past tense) the members of the early Body of Christ spiritual gifts (listed in Ephesians 4:11), gifts to disseminate a body of doctrine (verses 12-16) that would form a group of mature saints (Body of Christ) who would fill up “all things” (governmental offices in heavenly places [see Colossians 1:16-20] which Satan has polluted [Ephesians 2:2; Ephesians 6:12]).

Jesus Christ will restore His headship in the heavenly places, similar to how He will reestablish His authority on Earth….

Aerial Attack! #10

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

“And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines” (2 Samuel 5:24 KJV).

Some 3,000 years ago, Israel had aerial military support, and it is only a preview of the “fighter jets” yet to come!

While we have only briefly scratched the surface, we can list some of the various weapons Jesus Christ will bring with Him at His Second Coming, as He majestically flies over the Middle East on a white horse to fight for His nation Israel (Revelation 19:11):

  • Plague and pestilence (Habakkuk 3:3-5) will afflict His enemies (those who have fought against Jerusalem), instantly consuming their flesh, eyes, and tongues (Zechariah 14:12).
  • A consuming fire will wipe out His enemies (Psalm 97:3,5; Isaiah 66:14-16), especially those who have united against Israel and assembled in her land to overrun Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:12), it will burn up Israel’s idols and all the other elements of pagan religion (Micah 1:3,4,7), and it will expose (subterranean) hell (Psalm 97:3,5; Deuteronomy 32:22) so that Christ’s enemies can be cast into it. God’s memorial against sin will be erected so that, in the Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 14:9-11), believers can view those wicked souls burning (Isaiah 66:23,24; Mark 9:43-50). Jesus Christ will control this fire with His spoken word, instructing it where to go (Revelation 19:15; cf. Amos chapters 1 and 2), eventually causing it to overtake the Antichrist himself (2 Thessalonians 2:8) and his false prophet (religious leader) and instantly whisking them away into everlasting hellfire (Revelation 19:20).
  • Lightning (Psalm 97:4), strong winds (Jeremiah 25:32), thunder (Isaiah 29:6), and storms and hailstones (Isaiah 30:30) will be useful in fighting against Satan’s angelic and human allies.
  • Tens of thousands of angelic soldiers will also accompany Jesus Christ back to Earth (Jude 14; Revelation 19:14). One angel slew 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in a single night (2 Kings 19:35; Isaiah 37:36)—just imagine an army of tens of thousands of angels!

Before we conclude this devotionals arc, we will briefly examine how we have an appointment for a similar future battle, but in the heavenly places….

Aerial Attack! #9

Monday, July 14, 2014

“And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines” (2 Samuel 5:24 KJV).

Some 3,000 years ago, Israel had aerial military support, and it is only a preview of the “fighter jets” yet to come!

Zephaniah the prophet wrote: “Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land” (1:18).

The Prophet Isaiah (34:8-10) explained: “[8] For it is the day of the LORD’S vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion. [9] And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch. [10] It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever.”

The Prophet Amos further discussed Jesus Christ’s Second Coming in wrath and vexation: “The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem….” (1:2). Throughout chapters one and two, the Prophet delineates the “flight path” Messiah will take as He returns to the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4): Damascus (Amos 1:3), Gaza (Amos 1:6), Tyrus (Amos 1:9), Edom (Amos 1:11), the land of the Ammonites (Amos 1:13), Moab (Amos 2:1), Judah (Amos 2:4), and Israel (Amos 2:6). Amos also prophesied that Christ would send a “fire” into each of these wicked areas.

Psalm 97:1,3-5 foretells Jesus Christ’s return to Earth to reign as King: “[1] The LORD reigneth;…. [3] A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about. [4] His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled. [5] The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the LORD of the whole earth.”

Let us now summarize this devotionals arc….

Aerial Attack! #6

Friday, July 11, 2014

“And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines” (2 Samuel 5:24 KJV).

Some 3,000 years ago, Israel had aerial military support, and it is only a preview of the “fighter jets” yet to come!

The Old Testament prophets provided many glimpses of Jesus Christ’s Second Coming “in flaming fire.” It will be a most glorious event when the King of kings and Lord of lords comes to judge and pour out His wrath on wicked mankind, and to establish His eternal, earthly kingdom of righteousness:

  • “Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him” (Psalm 50:3).
  • “Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God” (Psalm 68:1,2).
  • “…[A]nd the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his enemies, and his indignation toward his enemies. For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD will be many” (Isaiah 66:14b-16).
  • “God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power. Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet” (Habakkuk 3:3-5).

Hence, the Bible speaks of “the brightness of [Jesus Christ’s] coming” (2 Thessalonians 2:8). This fire will light up our planet’s atmosphere, and then it will burn down into the Earth’s surface to expose hell….

Aerial Attack! #5

Thursday, July 10, 2014

“And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines” (2 Samuel 5:24 KJV).

Some 3,000 years ago, Israel had aerial military support, and it is only a preview of the “fighter jets” yet to come!

John the Baptist (Matthew 3:7-12; Luke 3:7,16,17) and even the Apostle Paul warned of “the baptism with fire,” “the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10), when the Lord Jesus Christ would return to Earth “in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:8). Let us search the Old Testament prophets to see what the Holy Spirit had already foretold centuries earlier.

Firstly, consider the following, written 700 years before Jesus’ earthly ministry: “[27] Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire:… [30] And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones. [31] For through the voice of the LORD shall the Assyrian [the Antichrist] be beaten down, which smote with a rod…. [33] For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it” (Isaiah 30:27,30,31,33).

Having been treated so shamefully at Calvary, so ridiculed and snubbed for 2,000 years, the mighty Lord Jesus Christ has returned, in undiluted wrath and righteous anger, to the planet that is rightfully His. He will take it by force from Satan, his evil world system, and all of its participants. Let us see what else the prophets have to say about this fire….

Aerial Attack! #4

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

“And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines” (2 Samuel 5:24 KJV).

Some 3,000 years ago, Israel had aerial military support, and it is only a preview of the “fighter jets” yet to come!

Just as David and Israel’s army heard their God flying overhead to defend them against the Philistines (today’s Scripture), so Israel and her enemies will hear similar rushing or marching sounds above, as Jesus Christ returns to planet Earth to defend Israel and defeat her adversaries, abolish Satan’s evil world system, redeem Israel from sin and death, and establish His literal, physical, visible, earthly kingdom. While the Apostle John merely summarized Christ’s Second Coming in Revelation 19:11-21, the Old Testament prophets detailed it.

Consider Jeremiah 23:19,20: “Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked. The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly” (cf. Jeremiah 30:22-24).

Read the Prophet Zechariah’s words that speak of Messiah’s coming to save Israel: “[14] And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the Lord GOD shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south. [15] The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar. [16] And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land” (9:14-16).

In addition to whishing sounds (due to whirlwinds, violent air movements caused by Jesus Christ passing through Earth’s atmosphere), a consuming fire will precede the King of kings as He returns for battle….

Aerial Attack! #3

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

“And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines” (2 Samuel 5:24 KJV).

Some 3,000 years ago, Israel had aerial military support, and it is only a preview of the “fighter jets” yet to come!

Isaiah 31:5 says, “As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.” The context indicates this is Messiah, the Lord Jesus, returning to planet Earth at His Second Coming, to deliver Israel from the Antichrist’s oppression. Compare this with Deuteronomy 33:26 and Psalm 68:4,33 (which we read earlier). Jesus Christ will fly over Israel’s land, to defend His nation against—and rescue it from—Satan and his policy of evil.

Over 700 years later, the Apostle John continued Isaiah’s narrative: “[13] And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon [Satan], and out of the mouth of the beast [the Antichrist, a global political leader], and out of the mouth of the false prophet [the Antichrist’s global religious leader]. [14] For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. … [16] And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon” (Revelation 16:13,14,16).

Psalm 83 speaks of 10 Middle-Eastern nations that will unite against Israel during the seven-year Tribulation to “cut [Israel] off from being a nation” (verse 4). The Antichrist will head these nations, and they (along with other kingdoms), in the final months of the Tribulation, will gather their armies in the Valley of Megiddo (also called the Plain of Esdraelon, or Jezreel Valley, southwest of the Sea of Galilee) to destroy Israel. John called this “the battle of that great day of God Almighty” (Revelation 16:14). What a battle it will be, as it will dwarf that of today’s Scripture….

Cain Came and Brought Shame #10

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

“And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD” (Genesis 4:1 KJV).

Can you identify the very significant phrase our King James Bible contains in today’s Scripture, and why it was said?

The Bible student understands what began in the book of Genesis is brought to its ultimate fulfillment in the book of the Revelation. God’s purpose and plan for creation initiated (and delayed) in Genesis is thus brought to fruition in the Revelation; Satan’s evil world system that began in Genesis is destroyed in the Revelation.

One of the primary ways that God will comfort believing Israel during those most difficult years—the horrors of the seven-year Tribulation—is to teach them using types, previews of their situation, found in the Holy Bible’s historical narratives. All of the Old Testament Scriptures about enduring hardship (especially the Psalms) will be critical to believing Israel’s spiritual edification as Satan tries their faith.

Israel will particularly benefit from the Bible’s accounts of how their ancestors were delivered from Pharaoh (a type of Antichrist), how David was delivered from Saul (a type of Antichrist), how Daniel’s three friends were delivered from Nebuchadnezzar (a type of Antichrist), how Daniel endured the lions’ den (a type of the Tribulation), how Job survived his awful ordeals (a type of the Tribulation), and so on. JEHOVAH was faithful to all of these saints, and He will be faithful to Israel’s believing remnant now facing the Antichrist’s wrath.

Regarding the story of Cain and Abel, Israel will learn how Abel gave his life for the very God they will now be serving to the Antichrist’s hatred. They need not be discouraged; they need not marvel that the world hates them (1 John 3:11-13). Even if they lose their lives (and many Messianic Jews will perish; Matthew 10:39; Revelation 20:4), Abel’s testimony still affirms that God is faithful (Hebrews 11:4). After all, Jesus Christ will return to defeat Satan, the Antichrist, and all of Earth’s wicked, and believing Israel will be resurrected bodily, to enter God’s earthly kingdom (Revelation 19:11–20:6).

Cain brought shame, but the real Messiah, Jesus, what joy and hope He will bring! 🙂

A Prophet in the Wilderness #5

Friday, June 13, 2014

“In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:1,2 KJV).

Why is John the Baptist “preaching in the wilderness?”

John the Baptist’s message to Israel was simple, “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (today’s Scripture). Israel was to “repent”—change her mind about JEHOVAH, to remember God’s covenant with her, to acknowledge her failure to keep that covenant, to quit thinking like the Gentiles and to stop serving Satan and his evil world system. Israel’s confession of sins in the following verses was to acknowledge her breaking the Old Covenant, Law (see Leviticus 26:40-46). John’s water baptism was the means whereby Israel was cleansed of her idolatry, equipping her to become JEHOVAH’S kingdom of priests (Ezekiel 36:25; cf. Exodus 19:5,6).

Israel’s conversion was urgent: “The kingdom of heaven is at hand [near]” (today’s Scripture). In the near future, Jesus Christ would be baptized of John, thus manifesting Himself as Israel’s Messiah-King (John 1:31). Israel’s long-promised kingdom (foretold through the Old Testament prophets) was soon to be established.

Most of Israel’s priests were entangled in spiritual error, so John’s ministry was out in the wilderness, far from the Temple, far-removed from Satan’s religious system. This arrangement ensured John’s converts would be pure, untainted by the evil world system that had deceived Israel previously. God’s people would hear God the Father’s message about His coming Son and Israel’s Messiah, Jesus, from John the Baptist (see John 1:6-34)—it was a message unadulterated by Israel’s satanically-inspired priesthood.

The lesson we can take from this is simple: the same pagan religious system that gripped Israel still pervades Christendom, so we do not appeal to clergymen, denominational teaching-bodies, preachers, catechisms, creeds, seminarians, bulls, et cetera. We should go to the Apostle Paul (Romans through Philemon) to learn what God has to say to us Gentiles, just as the nation Israel was to go to John the Baptist to learn what God had to say to them. Thus, we will be a pure agency for the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 11:1-33).

Joshua and Jesus

Thursday, May 29, 2014

“For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day” (Hebrews 4:8 KJV).

Why did our scholarly King James translators render this verse in such an oft-derided manner?

Emulating countless others, an arrogant seminary professor once wrote a scathing article about so-called “King James Bible errors.” The wayward professor included today’s Scripture in his list of flaws: he criticized our 1611 translators by arguing that the Greek word they rendered “Jesus” should actually be “Joshua” to fit the context (the modern Bible publishers were thrilled to receive publicity and backing!).

Before we grow angry with God’s Word for being right 100 percent of the time, and before we attack the 400-year-old King James Bible, we would do well to let God teach us instead of us “correcting” Him. A quick lesson in anthroponomastics will cause us to appreciate why our King James Bible says “Jesus” not “Joshua” in Hebrews 4:8 (and Acts 7:45); the related anti-KJB remark will also be manifested as pointless.

“Joshua” is the contracted version of the Hebrew “Jehoshua” (which is pronounced “yahowshuwa”)—Hebrew is the language of most of the Old Testament Scriptures. In Greek, the language of the New Testament, “Joshua” is “Iesous” (ee-ay-sooce), and in English, “Jesus” (meaning “saviour, deliverer;” see Matthew 1:21). Interestingly,  “Jehoshua”/“Joshua”/“Iesous”/“Jesus” means “Jehovah-Saviour” (in English, we pronounce “JEHOVAH,” the name of Israel’s God, as “jahovah,” but in Hebrew, it is pronounced “yahovah”).

Today’s Scripture refers to Israel entering the Promised Land under Joshua, Moses’ successor (recorded in the Old Testament book of Joshua). According to Numbers 27:15-23, which see, Moses said Joshua was to be Israel’s “shepherd,” the man to lead Israel into God’s Holy Land to possess it (God would have then established His earthly kingdom). Historically, Israel rebelled against God by following pagan idols, thereby delaying God’s earthly kingdom. Jesus Christ—Israel’s true Shepherd (John 10:1-30) whom Joshua pictured/typified (see Acts 7:45)—will lead God’s people Israel into her Promised Land to establish His earthly kingdom (see Isaiah 35:1-10; Ezekiel 37:1-28; Hebrews 4:1-11).

Basically, our King James translators alerted us in Hebrews 4:8 that Joshua’s leadership represented Jesus Christ’s future headship of Israel. Our Authorized Version translators are hereby vindicated, and their critics still puzzled! 🙂