War is Hell*

The phrase "War is Hell" is attributed to something similar said by Gen. William Sherman, who carried out campaigns during the Civil War. The Chicago Tribune, in 2004, wrote "War is hell, and everyone loses". President Putin of Russia is currently bringing warfare to the nation of Ukraine. He has even now placed his nuclear readiness forces on alert. Jesus prophesied about the increased warfare activity of the times before His return: "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." (Mt. 24:7-8). The word "kingdom" used in this verse is the Greek word basileia, meaning "royal power, kingship, dominion, rule; not an actual kingdom but the right or authority to rule over a kingdom". In this case, Putin wants to subject the Ukraine to his kingdom. While this conflict does not directly involve Israel at this moment, Jesus warned that a certain abomination of desolation in the Holy Place of the temple, mentioned in the Book of Daniel will be the signal for all Judea to flee into the mountains. The destruction will be so widespread and consuming, Jesus said, that unless those days be shortened, no flesh would remain. For the sake of the elect, those days would be shortened. It would be a time of great tribulation. (v. 15-22). Jesus said about the prophecy of Daniel regarding the abomination of desolation that would trigger this widespread calamity, "whoso readeth, let him understand". We are to understand this prophecy of Daniel. The LORD told Daniel to seal the prophecy until the time of the end (Dan. 12:4, 9). Because we can read and understand the prophecies of Daniel, we can know that we are indeed in the last days. The spiritual and natural timing of events was shown to Daniel: "Seventy weeks (of years) are determined upon thy people...to make an end of sins...And after three score and two weeks (62) shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations." (Dan. 9:24, 26). Of the 70 weeks of years spoken of by Daniel, the Messiah dies in week 62. Then, regarding the one who commits the abomination spoken of by Daniel and Jesus: "And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week (7 years); and in the midst of the week (that is 3 1/2 years) he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate...and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate." (v. 26-27). This ruler will break the covenant that he had agreed to, and he will stop the daily sacrifices and offerings, and instead, commit an abomination. From Dan. 12:11: "And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days (3 1/2 years). This requires that a third temple be built, (Ezekiel prophesied of this temple), for which the Israelis have already prepared plans, and the required utensils and robes for priestly service. Daniel continued to prophesy about a time of great trouble, the likes of which had never before been experienced by the nation. This trouble or warfare shall extend into the heavenlies as Michael, the great angelic prince over Israel, shall become involved (Dan. 12:1). Daniel wrote: "...at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." (v. 2). There is a Book of Life in which to be written. We read in Revelation about the Lamb's Book of Life. As we see in the above verse, resurrection of the dead will follow this terrible time on earth. The time of the end, of which Daniel wrote, is also described as a time when "many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." (v. 4). Knowledge has increased in a way and at a speed that we have never seen before in history. We are seeing this now as technology, research, and developments have accelerated in our time in a way that we could never have imagined just a few years ago. During this tumultuous time prophesied by Daniel, he also wrote about the people of God: "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." (v. 3). This is the time for the people of God to shine because of their understanding and knowledge of God, and His Word. "Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand." (v. 10). The people of God are to understand, and bring righteousness to many. The prophet Ezekiel prophesied details concerning specific warfare involving a "kingdom" which we now know as Russia, which we will see. However, first, he prophesied of a miraculous spiritual and natural restoration. Ezekiel was taken in the Spirit to a valley of very dry bones. The LORD asked the prophet if these dry bones could live. Ezekiel deferred to the LORD saying, "LORD, You know." The LORD told Ezekiel to prophesy to the dry bones, and the bones began to re-assemble themselves together, and flesh began to cover the bones. The wind or breath of the Holy Spirit blew upon these, and they came alive, and rose up into a great army (Ezek. 37:1-10). The LORD said that the dry bones were the whole house of Israel, who had been without hope and cut off. Then the LORD told Ezekiel to prophesy further: "Thus saith the LORD God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel...and shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD." (v. 12-14). The LORD fulfilled this prophecy when He caused what seemed like a hopelessly scattered people to be able to return to the land which became the re-established nation of Israel. This was not an end to the miracle, however. The LORD also promised through His prophet that He would unite the whole house of Israel, as He united two separate sticks in Ezekiel's hands into one. The two separate sticks represented Judah and his companions of Israel, and Joseph/Ephraim (half-gentile tribe) and his companions of Israel. These two formerly separate kingdoms and people would become one kingdom under one king and shepherd, His servaant David (Messiah), and walk in God's statutes and judgments. God will be their God aand they shall be His people: "And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob...and my servant David shall be their prince for ever." (see Ezek. 37:15-25). Then, the LORD prophesied regarding a prince who would come against this same land "in the latter years". This prince, named Magog, will come from an area called Gog. He is the prince of Meshech and Tubal (areas of current day Russia). This prince and his army will join with other nations, Persia (now Iran/Iraq), Ethiopia, Libya, Gomer and Togarmah (Eastern Europe/Western Asia and Asia Minor regions). God is against this prince, and will ccompel him to come against this restored nation of Israel, and God will cause a great shaking in the land. (Ezek. 38:1-19). Areas currently within the nation of Russia are mentioned in Ezekiel's prophecy as bringing great warfare to this region in the latter years. We are seeing the rise of this militant Russia against its neighbor today. Another example of warfare involving kingdoms is given in 1 Kings 22. King Ahab of the northern kingdom of Israel wished to go to war against the Assyrians. He wanted Jehoshaphat, the King of southern kingdom of Judah to join him as an ally. The LORD sent a spirit of false prophecy onto Ahab's prophets in order to assure him of victory in his planned attack against the Assyrians. One true prophet of God told Ahab that the people would be left without a shepherd if Ahab continued with his plans. This true prophet even revealed to Ahab that a lying spirit had been sent to the other prophets, but Ahab chose to believe those prophets, because their lying prophecy favored his plans. Ahab, even though he was disguised in an effort to hide his identity from the enemy, was still killed in the battle by a random arrow shot into the air (1 Kings 22:5-28). As Jesus told His disciples, in these last days of signs that point us to His return and the end of the age, kingdoms will rise against kingdoms. There will be wars and rumors of wars. War is hell. All of Europe is on the brink of hell. We care and pray for those in the Ukraine experiencing it now. There are members of the body of Christ, however, who care more for their prosperity, not realizing how quickly it can be lost. However, God calls to a peaople who will humble themselves, turn from their wicked ways, and pray (2 Chron. 7:14). The church needs to come out of its graves, having ears to hear and eyes to see the truth, and to bring people to the saving knowledge of Jesus. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 2/27/2022 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimeschool.com.

Becoming Wise

 

For the coming Marriage Supper of the Lamb, the Lord's bride is expected to prepare herself, to make herself ready, for His soon appearing (Rev. 19:7). Jesus describes some of this preparation in Mt. 25:1-13. In this parable of the ten virgins who all awaited the Bridegroom, Jesus referred to five as "wise", and five as "foolish". The difference between the two groups is that, although both groups slept and slumbered, the first group who were wise, had enough oil with them to keep their lamps lighted as they went out to meet the Bridegroom when He came. The second, or foolish, group did not, and their lamps went out. Consequently, because they had not been properly prepared, they missed the coming of the Bridegroom, and the entrance into the marriage feast. Therefore, an important part in becoming prepared for the marriage to the Lamb, is to be wise, to be "lighted" with lamps and abundant oil.

As our nation is torn apart with racial hatred, violence, and ungodly acts, which are capturing headlines daily, and as the signs of the end of the age are becoming apparent, are we, the Church, lighting our spiritual lamps, shining with the wisdom of God? It doesn't appear to be the case. The Church is strangely silent, not bringing forth that light of wisdom. Wisdom can shine a warning light that leads others to salvation. The Church, without its lighted lamps, cannot be distinguished from the surrounding spiritual darkness.

The prophet Daniel, recounting the visions God showed him of end time turmoil and tribulation that comes upon the whole earth, also prophesies the role of the shining Wise during this time. He describes a terrible fourth beast of iron, who rules over this age:

"After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was divers ("shena"- altered, changed, transformed) from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns... strong as iron:

forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise."   Dan. 7:7, 2:40

This terrible, altered fourth beast has mingled with the seed of men (Dan. 2:41-43), and as a result, the same manner in which this beast is altered or diverse, men have become altered in spiritual character, and twisted in understanding by their association with it (Rom. 1:21-32). In its diverse state, the beast seeks to alter all around it. It even seeks to change times (set time, season, appointed time, stated time, fixed time) and laws (decrees of kings, laws of God, religion, system of religion, plan, purpose, commandment, statute) (Dan. 7:25). Like never before, we are seeing this come to pass in our time. Even as this fourth beast of Daniel is described as speaking great words against the Most High, we are seeing God purposefully removed from every section of society in our nation. Many men no longer revere God, or His Word.

Daniel said that the whole earth would be under the destructive power of this beast:

"...The fourth beast ...shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces."  Dan. 7:23

However, its greatest fury is reserved for the saints of God:

"...made war with the saints, and prevailed against them...and shall wear out the saints of the Most High..."  Dan. 7:21, 25 (excerpts)

Even as the saints are worn out by this beast, and it seems that the beast is prevailing against them, the saints, the Wise, begin to shine:

"Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand...And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever...but the people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many..." 

                                                                                       Dan. 12:10, 3, 11:32-33)

Though the toll is heavy, as the Wise shine through this trying time, even leading many others into righteousness, the Kingdom of God rises up and overcomes the beast that sought to destroy the saints and the whole earth:

"And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever...the Ancient of Days came and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom...the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever...the judgment shall sit, and they (the saints) shall take away his (the beast's) dominion, to consume, and to destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him."   Dan.2:44, 7:22, 18, 26-27

Whether because we are seeing how all of these things which Daniel 

prophesied are now manifesting throughout the earth, or because we understand that the return of our Lord and Bridegroom is upon us, in both cases, the wise are called upon to prepare themselves with oil, to wake up, to light their lamps and shine with the wisdom and salvation of the kingdom of God in the earth. It is time for complaisance, slumber, and compromise and collaboration with the spirit of this world to end.

"And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven saying, "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever."                                          Rev. 11:15

 

 

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