Category: Palestine / land of Canaan / Holy Land

A Vegetable Garden Worth Defending

Monday, April 8, 2013

“And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines. But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory” (2 Samuel 23:11,12 KJV).

Why did Shammah passionately fight for such seemingly insignificant real estate?

The Bible says very little about this Sammah, but here is the description that God’s Word gives him. Firstly, he was one of King David’s “mighty men,” a brave man of war who served David (verses 8-39). Secondly, he engaged in a battle that, to us, seems ridiculous, but to Israel, was highly significant.

In today’s Scripture, we read of one of Israel’s many battles with the Philistines, a group of Gentiles who lived in the land of Canaan along the southeastern coastline of the Mediterranean Sea. The Philistines have gathered together where there is “a piece of ground full of lentiles.” A lentil is a bean plant that is grown for its seeds. In other words, the Philistine soldiers are standing near a vegetable garden, and Israel has fled in fear!

Shammah, however, literally stood his ground. He defended that “pea patch,” and killed these Philistine soldiers. Again, we ask, why would this mighty man of David passionately fight for a bean plant garden?

We find the answer back in Genesis 15:18, what we call the Palestinian Covenant: “In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates.” Circa 2100–2000 B.C., the God of heaven and earth gave the title deed of the Promised Land—much of the Middle East—to Abraham (later, to Abraham’s son Isaac, and Isaac’s son Jacob).

Even if it was a simple garden of beans, Shammah was willing to die for that holy land God had given his people—he was not about to let pagan Philistines have it! (Interestingly, the names “Palestine” and “Philistine” are etymologically related.)

A Papal Prophecy? #5

Monday, March 4, 2013

“And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time” (2 Thessalonians 2:6 KJV).

The recent resignation of Benedict XVI as pope is being greatly discussed within “Christian” circles in light of eschatology. Are we seeing Bible prophecy fulfilled today, or is this simply the (usual) failure to “rightly divide the word of truth?”

Firstly, why is the antichrist in Scripture?

2. To deal with the nation Israel: to separate the believing Jews from the unbelieving Jews.

Most Jews today are lost, spiritually blinded, and ignorant of Jesus Christ: they reject the New Testament Scriptures, so they are still waiting for their Messiah to come (the first time) as promised in the Old Testament Scriptures. Israel has already rejected the authentic Messiah (the Lord Jesus) as fraudulent; in the future, the antichrist (the counterfeit Messiah) will come, and ironically, Israel will accept him as genuine. Jesus Christ warned Israel: “I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive” (John 5:43). Jesus is referring to the antichrist!

As in biblical times, the nation Israel today still longs for peace in her Promised Land, for the Arabs, the Palestinians, and their sympathizers still relentlessly hassle her, hoping to “drive [her] into the sea” and possess her God-given land (Psalm 83:1-18). The Jews long for their Messiah to come and rescue them, and usher in that peaceful kingdom promised by the Old Testament prophets so long ago.

One day, the antichrist will come “peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries… and such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries” (Daniel 11:21,32). The smooth-talking, double-talking antichrist will promise Israel a peace treaty, just like the Old Testament spoke of (Jesus) Christ’s peaceful kingdom. “He [the antichrist] shall confirm the covenant with many for one week” (Daniel 9:27). Halfway through that seven-year Tribulation period, the antichrist will betray Israel’s trust, and he will side with Israel’s enemies by killing those (believing Jews) who refuse to worship him as God (Revelation 13:5-10,15; Revelation 17:12-14). This persecution will sort believing Jews from unbelieving Jews.

By Little and Little I Will Drive Them Out

Friday, January 11, 2013

“By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land” (Exodus 23:30 KJV).

God promises to slowly evict Canaan’s inhabitants so Israel can possess the land. Will Israel believe God?

The LORD claims He will drive out the Promised Land’s inhabitants “by little and little,” as opposed to instantaneously. Why? The previous verses demonstrate God’s wisdom in that regard!

God says to Moses regarding Israel’s entering the Promised Land: “I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee. And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee. I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee” (verses 27-29).

Firstly, notice God’s power over the natural world. We cannot help but smile when He promises to utilize hornets (wasps) to chase Israel’s enemies out of the land! Secondly, observe why God will slowly drive them out. These Gentiles have houses, fields of crops, and herds of livestock, and God will give those possessions to Israel. Lest the wild beasts come into the land and take it over before Israel comes, God will gradually remove these Gentiles, and slowly, Israel will move into their residences, gaining all of their substance.

Joshua and Caleb encouraged Israel, who feared the size and strength of those Gentiles: “Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not” (Numbers 14:9). Israel, despite all of God’s promises, wanted to stone to death Joshua and Caleb (verse 10). And so, sadly, foolish Israel spent the next 40 years wandering outside of the Promised Land, until that generation died, for they believed not the LORD who said, “by little and little I will drive them out….”

Psalm 23 in HD #1

Sunday, December 9, 2012

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1 KJV).

Cutting through the “static” of religious, traditional thinking, we present to you Psalm 23 in HD, dispensationally delivered with astounding clarity.

“The LORD is my shepherd.” Jesus Christ likened Himself to a shepherd who led and cared for His sheep (Israel): “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep…. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine” (John 10:11,14). Jesus used the term, “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:6; Matthew 15:24; cf. Matthew 18:11-14; Luke 15:3-10).

Moses, because of his rebellion, cannot enter into the Promised Land, so he asks the LORD to “set a man over the congregation [nation Israel]… that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd” (Numbers 27:16,17). The LORD then chooses Joshua to take Moses’ place in leading Israel into Palestine. Moses and Joshua are types/previews of what Jesus Christ will ultimately do when He returns at His Second Coming, to lead Israel into His kingdom and her Promised Land.

Israel’s restoration (after our Dispensation of Grace has ended) is described in 1 Peter 2:25: “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls” (cf. Hebrews 13:20). The Bible calls the LORD the “Shepherd of Israel” (Psalm 80:1).

In today’s Scripture, David, a believing Jew, also wrote, “I shall not want.” Christ will meet Israel’s spiritual and physical needs (yet future), just as a shepherd provides for his sheep. Israel will lack neither material goods (Amos 9:11-15; Joel 3:17-21; Luke 12:22-32) nor spiritual blessings (particularly forgiveness; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Acts 3:19-26; Hebrews 8:8-13) in her kingdom.

Describing the Millennial Reign (Kingdom) of Christ, we read: “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young” (Isaiah 40:11). Recall John 10:11,14 from earlier? As their faithful Shepherd, the Lord Jesus, upon His Second Coming, will feed Israel, spiritually and physically, forever. They will lack nothing.

One Little Nation With a Big God #3

Saturday, November 17, 2012

“Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud” (Psalm 94:2 KJV).

Israel’s enemies are persecuting and destroying her, and today’s Scripture is her plea for JEHOVAH to shew Himself!

For the past 4,000 years—ever since her beginning with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the nation Israel has been harassed, oppressed, and mistreated by the Gentile world. This is partly due to her sins and God’s chastisement (Leviticus 26:31-39; Deuteronomy 28:48-53). Moreover, it is also due to Satan seeking to wipe out Israel (for in doing so, prophecy and God’s purpose and plan for the earth would be abolished).

Even today, little Israel battles her enemies to retain what small amount of real estate she has. Is not Israel God’s “chosen people?” Then, why has God not gotten rid of Israel’s opponents? Actually, God has temporarily set aside the nation Israel, and her program that operated in “time past” is paused: “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in” (Romans 11:25). When God is finished forming the Body of Christ, He will return to Israel, and then He will take care of her enemies.

After our Dispensation of Grace terminates with the rapture, and the Church the Body of Christ is removed from earth, Israel will experience “one week” (seven years; Daniel 9:27) of God’s wrath, during which He will separate believing Jews from unbelieving Jews (Zechariah 12:8,9). Also, the satanic antichrist will be ruling the world, and he will persecute believing Israel. His religious leader, the “false prophet,” will gather the armies of the world, in hopes of annihilating Israel (Revelation 16:13-16). In this last great battle, Armageddon, Gentile armies will assemble in Israel, eagerly waiting to defeat her once and for all (Revelation 19:18,19; cf. Psalm 83:1-4).

However, these haughty Gentile armies are unaware that the “judge of the earth” has left heaven’s glory, and He is rapidly nearing planet earth, to “render a reward to the proud….”

One Little Nation With a Big God #2

Friday, November 16, 2012

“Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud” (Psalm 94:2 KJV).

Israel’s enemies are persecuting and destroying her, and today’s Scripture is her plea for JEHOVAH to shew Himself!

Today, there are 13.4 million Jews worldwide, but only 5.7 million live within Israel’s borders. God gave them that Promised Land nearly four millennia ago (Genesis 15:18-21), so why are most Jews scattered around the globe? Why are those who are dwelling in the land, having to fight in order to keep it? Why is God not helping Israel? Will Israel ever dwell peaceably in her land?

God will “lift up [Himself]” (today’s Scripture) to defend Israel against her proud enemies and persecutors. He will bring her into her Promised Land to dwell safely. However, not in this dispensation, because God is forming the Church the Body of Christ. For the last 2,000 years, our Dispensation of Grace (mystery) has been operating, so God’s program for Israel (prophecy) is in abeyance. Today, Israel is “fallen,” “cast away,” and “blinded” (Romans 11:11,15,25). When our dispensation ends, then “all Israel shall be saved” (verse 26).

Describing Israel’s future restoration, “And I [the LORD] will bring them from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country” (Ezekiel 34:13). “And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers” (Deuteronomy 30:5).

Speaking of Jesus Christ saving Israel, “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth [see today’s Scripture]. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Jeremiah 23:5,6).

Nevertheless, before Israel can enjoy this everlasting peace, JEHOVAH must “shew [Himself]….”

One Little Nation With a Big God #1

Thursday, November 15, 2012

“Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud” (Psalm 94:2 KJV).

Israel’s enemies are persecuting and destroying her, and today’s Scripture is her plea for JEHOVAH to shew Himself!

With rising tensions in the Middle East, and Israel’s national security uncertain, today’s Scripture is especially fresh in our minds. In the context of today’s Scripture, the believing Jew asks God: “LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves? They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage” (verses 3-5). In today’s Scripture, this believer is saying, paraphrased: “God, fight for us, your people Israel! Render to our proud enemies what they deserve!”

Circa 2,000 B.C., God gave Abraham the Palestinian Covenant, the deed to the Promised Land: “In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates” (Genesis 15:18). In God’s mind, a substantial portion of the Middle East actually belongs to the Jews. Whether the United Nations and/or Arabs acknowledge it is beside the point.

Some may ask, “If God gave Israel that land, then why is she fighting to keep it even today, 4,000 years after His covenant with Abraham? Why does God not help Israel today, and rid her of her Arab and Palestinian enemies once and for all?” The answer is a dispensational one—God is currently forming the Body of Christ, not dealing with Israel. That will change….

In Psalm 83, we read of a future time—the Tribulation period—when 10 kingdoms (the antichrist’s government) will reach an agreement: “They have crafted against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. They have said, Come, and let us cut them [Israel] off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance” (verses 3,4).

Even today, Israel’s enemies want to destroy her. The problem is—little Israel has a BIG God…!

A Perpetual Marriage

Friday, September 21, 2012

“And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD” (Hosea 2:19,20 KJV).

The nation Israel is engaged to the LORD, but the wedding is postponed….

In the context of today’s Scripture, the LORD is sending the prophet Hosea, who preached circa 785–725 B.C., to warn Israel of His impending judgment. “For [Israel] hath committed great whoredom, in departing from the LORD” (Hosea 1:2). Pagan idol worship abounds in Israel, and it has for centuries. Spiritually, Israel is “playing the harlot” (Hosea 2:5): she was the LORD’s wife, but now she is an adulterous wife by worshipping other gods.

God’s wrath came on apostate Israel! Eventually, the Assyrians captured and deported Israel’s ten northern tribes (722 B.C.), and the Babylonians captured and deported Israel’s two southern tribes (606–586 B.C.). From the time of these deportations to our present-day, the Jews are scattered worldwide, still waiting for their Messiah to come the first time and rescue them (sadly, they are blinded, unaware that their Messiah, Jesus, came 2,000 years ago).

But today’s Scripture is a gleam of hope for Israel: after God would judge her, He would restore her to Himself (Christ’s Second Coming to establish Israel’s kingdom). After our Dispensation of Grace ends (rapture), God will return to dealing with Israel, and she will be saved (Romans 11:25-29; cf. Hosea 2:23). Peter writes to future Israel: “which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God…” (1 Peter 2:10). Had God not interrupted Israel’s program with our dispensation, Israel would already be married to the LORD!

Israel was unfaithful to God, but never has God been unfaithful to Israel. At Christ’s Second Coming, He will fulfill His promise (today’s Scripture) to Israel. Via the New Covenant (Hebrews 8:8-13), Israel will be rejoined to the LORD, forgiven of all her sins. She will be married to the LORD forever, living with Him in her Promised Land forever (Isaiah chapters 61 and 62). Wow!

The Promised Land Seen Only From Afar

Thursday, August 16, 2012

“And the LORD spake unto Moses that selfsame day, saying, Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession” (Deuteronomy 32:49 KJV).

Moses did see the Promised Land, but he never did enter it. Why?

The LORD continues telling Moses: “And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people: because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the water of Meribah-Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel. Yet thou shalt see the land before thee; but thou shalt not go thither unto the land which I give the children of Israel” (verses 50-52).

Numbers 20:1-13 explains why God disallowed Moses and Aaron from entering the Promised Land. They were to be spiritual examples to Israel, but when Israel complained for lack of water, Moses and Aaron grew upset. When God instructed Moses to speak to the rock to provide water for Israel (verse 8), Moses in an unbelieving fit of rage struck the rock twice (verses 10,11).

Verse 12 amplifies: “And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.”

By verse 28, Aaron is dead, and about two years later, we find the context of today’s Scripture, where Moses will now stand on Mount Nebo to see the Promised Land from a high vantage point, but he cannot enter, and will die shortly, just before Joshua leads them in. (Prophetically, Moses and Aaron will be resurrected and they will enter the Promised Land someday!; Revelation 20:6)

Why this “strict” punishment? The rock symbolized Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4), and unbelieving Moses disrespected Jesus Christ by striking Him when God had said to speak to Him.

When Christ Returns

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things…” (Acts 3:19-21 KJV).

The perfect planet that existed prior to man’s rebellion and fall has been absent for 6,000 years now. According to the Bible, “as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin” (Romans 5:12). It was in Genesis 3:16-19 that the LORD placed a curse on creation, “the bondage of corruption” (Romans 8:21). Consequently, we have sickness and death, thorns and thistles, and women have birth pangs. That is only until Christ returns….

In today’s Scripture, the Apostle Peter tells Israel that Jesus Christ will return one day to earth to set up His earthly kingdom (“the times of refreshing” and “the times of restitution of all things”). He will also restore and forgive Israel. After Christ’s Second Coming, the curse of sin will be lifted from creation and Earth will revert back to the conditions of the Garden of Eden! Isaiah 51:3 says: “For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.”

Ezekiel 36:33-36 also describes Israel’s barren land restored: “This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited” (verse 35). Isaiah 11:1-10 describes Christ’s earthly kingdom. There will be no carnivorous or venomous animals—children will not be harmed by snakes, wolves will dwell peacefully with lambs, and leopards will coexist calmly with baby goats. Wow!

For now, the human, plant, and animal kingdoms will continue to suffer—sickness, heartache, and ultimately physical death. But, this is not permanent. Creation will be restored to its original glory, and finally delivered from the curse of sin… when Christ returns….