Category: Palestinian Covenant

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.

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…!