Update 29 December 2010: This article was originally posted on 21 FEB 2010. Current events have caused me to update and expand it and and then bring it forward rather than compose an entirely new article on the same subject.
21 February 2010: The Israeli left-leaning newspaper Ha'aretz reported today that through a French and Spanish initiative the European Union will recognise the existence of a "Palestinian" state 18 months from now. Based upon "Palestinian" demands, such a state would comprise the yellow-colored areas of the West Bank seen in the small inset in the map image above. That area depicts the un-negotiated but de facto pre-June 1967 (6 Day War) borders", which are also known as the 1949 Armistice Lines. Most geo-political analysts worth their paycheck would offer the assessment that such a map does not geographically represent a viable nation state. Nothing of its kind has existed previously for any length of time.
Would not the total of 18 months from now constitute an exceptionable bit of timing? I mean to say, consider this: if they were aware of Jewish historical facts, would not the secular world's book-makers set odds on whether or not the European Union's official recognition of a non-existent state will occur on or before Tisha B'Av, or Tuesday, 9 August 2011? Or that the gambit of a unilateral "Palestinian" declaration of statehood would be successful or a failure? Would the fact that Tisha B'Av is the historical anniversary of the most tragic days in Israel's long history serve to increase the margin of those hypothetical odds?
Me thinks the answers are, respectively: yes, successful, and yes.
Inquiring minds would like to know because such an initiative as the driving force of Pan-Arab-Islamic expectations (i.e. the Arab League) for the unilateral declaration of "Palestinian" statehood over the intervening months will very likely be the impetus for a major war.
In point-of- fact, I believe that is precisely the goal, albeit unstated, of such a geo-political gambit should those expectations not be realized. A unilateral declaration of "Palestinian" statehood, with many nations of the world recognizing that declaration - prior to the actual declaratory words and institutions of statehood having been created much less functional - appears to me to be a very crafty calculation and political mechanism to achieve the reality of that state as the result of blatant appeasement - or - if forcefully resisted by Israel, for war. A war like the Psalm 83 war.
The group of nations recognizing "Palestine" has grown beyond being just the EU member nations (i.e. the feet and toes of mixed iron and clay seen in Nebuchadnezzar's vision interpreted in the Book of Daniel, and a/k/a the "Tarshish" of Ezekiel 38:13).
ReplyDeleteIn very recent weeks many of the "young lions thereof" in South America are following suit: Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia.
The presence of Shi'a Hezbollah and other Sunni Islamic terrorist organizations in South America appears to be a significant driving force for this political activity; abetted by the fact that the governments of these nations are currently within the world socialist camp of nations.
The number of nations unilaterally recognizing a non-existent "Palestine" will continue to grow and their opposition to Israel will increase expotentially.
Woe unto them for opposing the will of God.
I have a question for you--one that I've asked several prophecy experts and never gotten an answer on (in fact, one flat out deleted my question which I found quite rude).
ReplyDeleteI've always thought that Israel should own their land; HOWEVER, I'm beginning to wonder if I'm wrong because Galatians 15 and 16 says:
Brothers and sisters, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ.
Now, specifically Paul is talking about the blessings of the new covenant (which aren't new at all since they predate the Law). However, notice that he says "promises," and my Bible references the promises of the land.
So, if we use Scripture to interpret Scripture, the LAND was promised to Abraham and to Jesus--but not to the "seeds" "meaning many people."
I've asked prophecy experts to discuss this, but they seem to want to ignore it. Any thoughts?
Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteIt would be very helpful if you used your real name or a screen name besides "Anonymous" to make comments.
Secondly, in my humble opinion, there is/are no such thing as a "prophecy expert(s)" other than the Source of all Bible prophecy, the Lord God Almighty, His only begotten Son, the Word who became flesh to take away the sins of the whole world, Jesus the Messiah, and the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, I am no prophecy expert, but a still learning servant of the Lord. My response to your question is given within these bounds.
Israel does not own the land God has given them in the UNCONDITIONAL Abrahamic Covenant. This link provides excellent details.
In sum, God owns the defined land of Israel. He, as the Creator, owns the entire earth, the entire solar system and the whole of the universe for that matter FOR ALL ETERNITY. In His Divine Sovereignty God may do as He pleases with His Creation forever and ever.
Specifically, your question is very poorly worded, and that might also be the reason others did not bother to respond and/or deleted it.
On the face of it, your question appears to be extremely disingenuous - particularly since it is blatantly apparent through your own admission that you've presented it repeatedly.
The bottom line here is that there are no such chapters as "Galatians 15 and 16" as you state.
The Scripture you cite is from Galatians 3:15-16, which I quote from the NKJV:
"Brothers and sisters, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ."
Verses 17 through 22 unambiguously explain the meaning of verses 15 and 16 (emphasis added):
"What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.
Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator. A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one.
Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
"
I'm going to repeat the key phrase given by Paul with respect to your question concerning the Abrahamic Covenant and Israel owning that land (taking it as a possession):
"Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not!"
You know, in all my time in both living and working in the middle east, I have had a lot of conversations with many "Palistinians". I have come away with the impression that in reality, they don't really want a state of their owm, they just want Israel gone! I am also of the opinion that they will do or say ANYTHING to have that happen.
ReplyDeleteDrew,
ReplyDeleteYou're absolutely correct. This is true for the whole of the Arab League.
56 years ago Egyptian Foreign Minister Muhammad Salah al-Din was quoted by the Egyptian newspaper Al-Misri saying, "The Arab people will not be embarrassed to declare: We shall not be satisfied except by the final obliteration of Israel from the map of the Middle East."
sean 2 things...1)thank you for your answer to anon`s question. tho it was worded poorly i heard many reformed theologans use the galatians passage to prove isreal is the church and the land therefore belongs to the church thru jesus. something told me that was just not right but couldnt quite counter it. thanx for the answer.
ReplyDelete2)as of late i have felt that the failure of a "palastinian" state would be the catalyst that would trigger psalm 83 and the following wars. is that possible? and is that what you`re implying or am i misreading your post? (which i`ve mistakenly done from time to time)
ReplyDeleteAnonymous wrote:
ReplyDelete"...my question still stands unanswered..."
The Bible answers itself. All of it is the inspired Word of God, and the answer you sought was provided in the subsequent verses which you apparently prefer to ignore.
Now I see why my brethren in Christ have previously refused to answer your query or deleted it forthwith from their personal cyberspace. Your words are literally dripping with disengenuousness because of your obvious political agenda vis a vis the existence of the State of Israel.
You apparently are not a born again believer in the Lamb of God, nor have you been indewlt by His Holy Spirit. Were this not so then you would never have asked such a question in thefirst place as the ridiculousness of your question would've blatantly apparent.
In short, you wouldn't recognize the budding of the Fig Tree if you tripped on one of its roots, or brushed against one of its grafted-in braches, as has just occurred once again.
Therefore your disingenuous claim of being a simple unbiased question asker is put to the lie and exposed as such wherein you wrote:
"you (and maybe some other prophecy folks, too, who knows?) don't want to look at too closely because it might make your entire beliefs about prophecy fall apart"
I have a few quotes for you, unambiguous statements of fact actually, from the Lord God Almighty that you should pay serious heed to.
These statements of fact are as basic as basic can be; it doesn't get any more basic than this Mr. Anonymous: (emphasis added)
Genesis 12:1-3
Now the LORD had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you.
I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Genesis 12:7
Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.”
Genesis 13:14-15
And the LORD said to Abram... “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are —northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever.
Read Genesis 12:3 again:
"I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you..."
Abram (Abraham) is represented on this earth today by his descendants, which are all of Israel, and blessing Israel is blessing Abram, and cursing Israel is cursing Abram, and there lies the curing by the Lord for all who curse Israel today.
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
i was talking to an 18yr whose father is steeped in reformed theology and uses the galatians passage to prove his point. all i had to do was open the scriptures (actually i pointed them out and the holy spirit opened them) it only used the word SEED once but when refering to the promise of land it used the word DESCENDENTS (plural) several times and that convinced my 18yr old friend the land was indeed promised to (national) isreal
ReplyDeleteThe New Covenant was made with physical Israel and was ratified by Christ’s shed Blood. The New Covenant was NOT made with the Church, which is Jew and Gentile, the ‘One New Man’. The Church SHARES the spiritual blessings of physical Israel, such as salvation, but NONE of the physical blessings such as the Land.
ReplyDeleteThe Reformation Theorists are ignorantly claiming to build God’s Kingdom on planet earth; not realising that unless the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it. All their hard work will be burned up as dross, their ‘kingdom’ is a house made of hay, wood and stubble, built on a foundation of sand (false apostles and prophets.)
In Revelation 21:9,10 the angel showed John the Bride, the wife of the Lamb (The Church) descending from heaven - the New Jerusalem.
Revelation 21:14 “And the wall of the city had TWELVE FOUNDATIONS, and in them the names of the TWELVE APOSTLES of the Lamb”.
The Christ appointed Apostles are Simon Peter, Andrew, James son of Zebedee, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, Matthias or Paul?
The Apostle Paul stated clearly that he was the LAST Apostle sent by Jesus and all were eye witnesses to the life, crucifixion, resurrection and the ascension of Jesus more than 2000 years ago. After their deaths, inspired revelation ceased and the Canon was closed.
Foundations are only laid once and a name missing from them is the traitor, Judas Iscariot the false apostle. Here is a small sample of other false apostles/prophets conspicuous by their absence. Rick Joyner, Rick Warren, C. Peter Wagner, Todd Bentley, Paul Cain, Kennith Hagin, Benny Hinn, Ruth Heflin, Bob Jones, Mike Bickle, Patricia King, Bob Buford ……..
Not one of these deceivers has their name written on the foundation stones because they are counterfeits spouting false revelations from their own vain imaginings.
Sue
A Statement of My Belief on the Covenant(s) of God based upon the Word of God.
ReplyDeleteThere is the Covenant of Moab (see: Deuteronomy 29). This is a covenant that God established between Himself and the Hebrews through Moses. This covenant stands besides the one made in Horeb. The Covenant of Moab is still in effect.
There wiill be a "New Covenant." This "New Covenant" is a prophetic covenant for both the house of Israel and the house of Judah (i.e. the Hebrews) according to the Word of God as found in Jeremiah 31:31-34.
The time when God will make this new "New Covenant" with the Hebrews is directly related to the time of or the conclusion of the War of Gog/Magog, with Ezekiel 39:29 as a specifc past tense point of reference even though it still lies in a future time. I believe that future is an imminent future from our current point of reference in the year 2011 A.D.
What we Christians (Jews and Gentiles) have is the salvation of our souls through the Grace of God that was made possible by the shedding of the Blood of the Lamb.
God's Grace of Salvation is only upon those human beings who of their own free will accept by faith and believe in our Lord's sacrifice which washes away our sins.
This acceptance by faith is what makes an individual human being one of the Bride of Christ. It is the only Way to the Truth and Life everlasting.
At this time the dead in Christ and His living bride await ever imminent decsion of the Father to send the Son to collect both in the blink of an eye.