TWENTY
RECENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS on the 'LAST DAYS'.
[
Revised 2015 ]
Answers
given here, are prayerfully prepared after many years of study,
By
Suzanna, for the 'Gethsemane Olivet Fellowship'.
They
may give some encouragement as we steer our way
through the ‘oceans’
of news and ideas!
[If
you have other specific questions - from Scripture - you may
send them to:
g.o.fellowship@maxnet.co.nz
]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Throughout
this article we will give names of some
Studies with more
complete answers to questions.
Please feel free to look for any
of these on Internet
and be sure to check our answers out for
yourself,
especially the Bible references!
Why
we care about peoples’ questions - some explanations first…
>
Because we are the people who write and post a range of articles
for our web site, (and have written 2 books and occasional
newsletters), we really DO have a genuine prayerful concern to
actually make a useful contribution to God’s people like
you, who might also be interested.
>
We so much want Believers to be blessed and prepared for Jesus
Second Coming, when we will rise to meet Him in the air and return to
Earth with Him!
What
we are trying to offer here and on our web site:
www.watchmanspost.com
Useful
information about current events
in the light of the Bible – God’s Word. You may like to
see our Newsletters.
Encouragement to those who need encouragement in their faith,
in hard times, even in times of disasters. *
1.
Some insights of possible very serious future developments, even
warnings of Tribulation* -so we can be prepared for what God may
ask of us, as Believers in Yeshua/Jesus Messiah.
2. Invitations to find the truth about a
real relationship with God, through repentance and faith in the
death of the Son of God, Jesus, as our Sacrifice for sin, Who died so
that we can really be children of God.
3.
Then to invite all Believers, to seek to stand true, also by
faith, in God’s power, making Jesus the LORD of our lives,
until Messiah comes! This is the MOST important subject – some
other subjects are not quite so important, although of real interest!
4. An awareness of the present
suffering of many Believers and the reasons for this - as the
fulfillment of many prophecies about the increasing wickedness/ wars
and disasters in this ‘Last Days’ world - [as the New
Testament calls them], showing that there will be even more
ahead*.
Other
reasons for studying this subject of 'Last days'.
> SO
many (sometimes) confusing articles, web sites, radio sermons, books
and films are available now! This can be good and bad!
>
The reality we see is, that there are just so many variations
in the messages one can hear, read or see via our modern technology,
about ‘eschatology’, (study of End times or 'Last days'
as they are called 7 times in the N.T.) So it almost becomes
disheartening, to the point of ‘flagging it all away’!
This is especially if we think that, * maybe we will not
escape from a terrible time of testing, as so many teachers
are saying? Perhaps *Jesus Messiah returns for Believers after
the terrible time of 'Tribulation' as He said in Matthew 24:
29?
>This is only
one subject we address, but it is an important one, as we are
obviously in the minority, when so many Bible Teachers believe
in a ‘Pre-tribulation’, or ’Pre-wrath’,
2-part coming of the LORD Jesus, with 2 separate resurrection days
some years apart…
>
This web site offers several articles to prove * a
'Post Tribulation Rapture' of all Believers in Jesus/
Yeshua on one glorious Resurrection Day. One good Scripture is
Hebrews 9: 28 note 'a second time' only - since He went back
to Heaven! Not a third time as Pre-tribulation Rapture indicates
in their teaching.
>
Here is one of the very best web
sites with a good range of articles by Rhett Totten; "The
Second Coming of Jesus".
This is the main focus of our ministry –seeking, not to be ‘scare-mongers’ but to try to prepare people for a future of great tests, just like many of our Fellow Believers are already facing! We believe Yeshua/ Jesus was not asking us to “WATCH" to be ‘entertained’ or in order to be experts on the events of the future. But by being prepared in the "renewing of our minds" with the Holy Spirit’s help, we will be able to stay true even through we might have to suffer in the Tribulation -“to the End”. Yet God will see us through.
WHERE
did we get these questions from? With the help
of modern technology sometimes supplied by Christian people, we can
get an idea of the kind of questions and search words people use to
find our web site. We use one called, ‘Stat Counter’
free and very useful.
This
does not tell us anything about individual people. But
the broadest information; like, the country people are in,
what subject was being searched for; the articles that
were looked at and the approximate number of articles a person
looked at.
Sometimes we felt
that people were directed by the ‘search engines’ to
articles that did not answer the question the person asked. So
we want to give some extra help, to really find answers to these
enquiries! They probably represent unasked questions, which other
people have wondered about.
As always they are NOT offered dogmatically, but simply as a thought-provoking basis for your own study, but with the hope they will give some clearer aspects of Biblical knowledge.
NOTE
that we often use the N.I.V 1985 Bible and in order to honour the
Word of God we use the purple, italic,
bold font as a royal tribute.
[Sadly
since then many translations are being corrupted for modern
tastes.]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HERE
ARE 20 GENUINELY ASKED QUESTIONS.
(Often
there are many Scriptures giving answers to the questions
but
we give only a few very brief references here, to keep it
simple.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1.
What part of the Bible tells of the 'End of the World'?
(a)
There will be an end to the wicked rule of mankind
under the Antichrist/ False Messiah as given in Revelation 19, and
great desolation of the Earth is described in Isaiah 13 and Isaiah
chapter 24, but this will not be the end of
this Planet Earth, because we believe when Man’s wicked
rule ends and Yeshua/ Jesus comes back He will remake
it as a recreated world – like it was at Creation!
Isaiah 2: 1-5, and chapter 11 & 12 are some descriptions of many.
This is exciting!
We don’t
know how long it would take – but probably less than 6 days!
[See articles on ‘Messiah’s
Kingdom on Earth’, Part 1 and 'Heaven
on Earth with Messiah' Part 2.]
(b)
Later, at the end of the 1,000 reign of Yeshua/
Jesus on Earth ~there will be an actual End to this physical
Earth, when it is replaced by a New Heaven and Earth,
described in Revelation 21 –22. These will be totally
different from this Earth, which will have ‘passed away’
completely. It will be so different it is hard for us to imagine,
inspite of Revelation 21 & 22, which indicates it will be real –
but spiritual and Eternal –lasting forever! Another
fascinating, exciting study!
[See
article ~ a separate Study, ‘Eternity
– Heaven on Earth’.]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2. Is the Second Coming (of Yeshua) mentioned in the Tanakh/ O.T?
Yes, it
is more than once, in places like Daniel 7: 13 & 14, & Psalms
72, 93, & 97. Also Zechariah 14: from verse 3. (As these were
written before Jesus'/ Yeshua’s first Coming it is
easier for us to study about Yeshua’s Return to Earth,
with the extra knowledge of the B’rit Chadashah/N.T.) But it is
good to build on the messages in the Tanakh – God’s
special book - in all subjects. Psalm 45 is about the Royal Son’s
wedding day – it could only be Yeshua’s: “In
Your majesty, ride forth victoriously…Your throne O God will
last for ever and ever, a sceptre of justice will be the sceptre of
Your kingdom!”
[See
Study, ‘Jesus
Second Coming’.]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3.
Will all the Jews alive be ‘saved’/restored spiritually
to trust in God? *
Yes! We
do believe Romans chapters 9 -11 gives the answer,
because of the way they come in this special letter to Gentile
Christians, where Rome had previously exiled all Jewish
People, but Jewish Believers were later able to return but to
a predominantly Gentile congregation/ synagogue, so they all needed
to accept each other, as fellow Believers in Messiah Yeshua/ Jesus
*
[We are indebted to
Rev David Pawson, for this excellent explanation.]
Other Scriptures show the truth of this answer,
like Jeremiah 50: 19 & 20. *
4.
When and how will Jewish People become Believers through Jesus?*
From our studies, Ezekiel 39: 26 -29 tells us when
the Sovereign God will save/ deliver all Israel from an
impossible situation, because Jews will finally call out to God, [see
Zechariah 12: 9 – 13: 2] in repentance and trust;
and Jews will recognise Jesus/ Yeshua as "the Face of God",
(by His Holy Spirit being poured out on them.) Ezekiel 39: 29 sums it
up. “I will no longer hide My Face
(Yeshua) from them, for I will pour out My Spirit on the house of
Israel, declares the Sovereign LORD.” Isn’t
that wonderful?
But, we
believe they can only be saved when they “call on
the Name of the LORD (Yeshua)” in faith and repentance.
There is no other way! God does not save anyone except through their
faith in Him; NOT when they see Yeshua at His coming. (Yes,
God is so gracious to give some people visions of Yeshua, like some
Jewish people, now.) Rabbi Sha’ul, (Paul) wrote, “if
you acknowledge publicly… that Yeshua is ADONAI ~ LORD and
trust in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you
will be delivered/ saved (spiritually).” Jewish
NT- Romans 10. Yeshua said in Matthew 23; 32, “you
will not see Me again until you say ‘Blessed is He that
comes in the Name of ADONAI’.” (“Baruch
ha ba B’Shem ADONAI”, in Hebrew.)
[See article on ‘Israel’s
Glorious Future'. *]
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4.
What nations of the world will be blessed by Israel?
>
This question could be based on the clear promise
to Abraham, Genesis 12: 2 & 3. "I
will bless you... and you will be a blessing. ANY
person, at anytime, anywhere, as an individual, who has repented of
sin and accepted the Jewish Yeshua/Jesus’ life and death and
resurrection by trusting is blessed! Therefore many
millions of people have been blessed by the truth of the complete
Jewish Bible containing the Judeo/Christian Faith, with Truth of God
for each one.
> The
influence of the good laws in the Bible – (a Jewish Book),
on many societies – e.g. ‘legal rights’ have
brought great blessings to the nations, (especially in the ‘West’),
that use them.
> Also
Jews have been, and still are - involved in many great
‘inventions’ and scientific, medical and other
developments to enhance and bless the lives of people,
everywhere.
> A
special answer is “we believe most nations”
will be blessed in a special way, in the future, after Israel
individually, but as a Nation, “calls
on the Name of the LORD” as described in
Romans 11, Zechariah 12; and in Isaiah 19: 23 -25. We have
several articles about this exciting question.
[See
‘The
Future of Israel’, (short version) & ‘Israel’s’
Glorious Future’, also the
‘http://www.watchmanspost.com/biblicalfuture/gog-magog2.html.]
>
In Matthew 25: 31 –46 it tells of a division of ‘nations’
after Jesus Second Coming, between the people (‘sheep’)
that cared for ‘the brothers of
Jesus’ and so will be blessed; and (‘goats’)
people - those that did not care. We actually suspect this has been
fulfilled in several ways, but we wonder if the Jewish Restored
Nation will minister or 'bless' persecuted Gentiles in the
Tribulation? So we believe it could be through 144,000 Jewish
‘servant or 'social workers’ – but we do not know
for sure. (In Revelation 7: 3 – 8, it simply calls the 144,000
of Israel ‘servants’.
Note:
Jews cannot be ‘evangelists’ in the
Tribulation as: - after people have ‘taken the mark’
that will lock people into the worship of the False-messiah.
So Israel will be a blessing spiritually beforehand. God
has always wanted to bless the world through Israel and we
find it impossible to believe that God will wait until after the
Return of Yeshua to Earth. God will use Jews greatly beforehand as
Romans 11: 12 & 15 says to bring “Greater
riches” for the world! See Isaiah 60, &
66:19 – 21 ~ amazing verses of blessings on Earth!
[See our Internet article, ‘The
Greatest Sign of Messiah’s Coming.’]
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5.
So, will people left on Earth, be able to become Believers in Jesus,
(i.e. ‘converted’) after they have taken “the
mark of the Beast”?
[Such
as the so-called ‘Left Behind’ people, or people alive
under the Anti-christ’s rule.] This seems very unlikely,
as the ‘mark’ is more of a worship symbol than
even a monetary system. Revelation 13: 15 –17. It will be
totally binding on those who take it, and be the basis of total
control, by the Beastly Anti-christ. [See our article, ‘Tribulation
or Wrath’.]
But
this is not what those who believe in a 'Pre-trib Rapture' - believe
about those who have been ‘left behind’ – as
they are called ‘Tribulation saints’. But this teaching
suggests there is a 2nd chance to accept Jesus, and a second
resurrection day for Believers - which is not so, ~ no group
will be specially favoured. The true 'Tribulation Saints' of Rev ch
7, are those who refuse the 'mark' and are imprisoned, left
destitute, hungry and cold and cruelly killed.
The loveliest name for them is "brothers
of Jesus" as in a Matt. 26 parable.
There is no Scriptural support for a
second chance to become Christians after God’s People/Bride
have been ‘caught up’ to meet, Yeshua/Jesus on
the Day He returns once to Earth! We believe in only one
Rapture resurrection day for all Believers, and no 2nd
chances to accept Jesus at any time after that.
“Now
is the Day of Salvation.” Faith is not -
‘seeing’ - yet ‘faith’ is absolutely
essential to have a relationship with the Loving LORD God!
However there will be a huge harvest just before the
Antichrist takes over. See Joel chapter 2, 1 – 27- about ‘the
Ezekiel/ Magog War’, and the result for Israel is in vss
28 – 32! Also Isaiah 19: 23 - 25, re a time when the 3 nations
Bless the Earth!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6.
What is the difference between
“the times of the Gentiles”,
in Luke 21: 24; and “The
fullness (or full number) of the Gentiles”,
in Romans 11: 25?
a) We
believe the first (in Luke) was when Yeshua/ Jesus was
speaking of a political time of change that would
come to give the Jews the possession of the City of Jerusalem.
Many people believe this happened in 1967, but in a sense it is not
complete yet, but very soon Jewish Israel will be given the full
responsibility for this Covenant City, in a covenant with the Beastly
Antichrist.
b) The
second reference (in Romans) is to the full number of Gentile
people ~ Believers in Messiah Jesus, a spiritual time of
completion – here on Earth, and known only to God. It will
also match with a given time when all Jewish people – here on
Earth - will have finally realised Who Yeshua really is! That’s
why it says, “and so all Israel
will be saved.” (Vs. 26.) This emphasises our
belief that every Jewish person alive at that time, (even though a
‘small remnant’ of maybe 20 million –
compared with 360 million Arabs), will accept Yeshua as
Saviour and their Messiah, before the Return of Yeshua to
Earth.
[Please see the
full explanation in our article, ‘The
Times of the Gentiles’.]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7.
When is Jesus Coming back?
No
one but GOD knows the actual date, but
we will know it is getting nearer as we watch for the signs.
We believe it will be after some 7 years of Tribulation,
followed by a short time of God’s judgments, during
which true Believing Jews and many Gentiles will be kept safe. We
believe that NO one knows the “day
or the hour”. But while non-believers will have
no idea what is happening, (Matthew 24: 36 –39) yet godly, true
Believers will NOT be caught by surprise as they see the time getting
nearer. 1 Thessalonians 5: 1 –11 says it well! “You
are not in the dark, so the Day would take you by surprise.”
[Please see, ‘Comparing
Pre- & Post Tribulation Points of View’, and ‘Scripture
Explanations of the Future’.] It is a BIG subject!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
8.
Is Islam the End Time 'Beast', of Daniel 7: 29 and
Revelation 13?
No,
we do not believe so. We believe God will break the power of
fanatical Islam earlier, before - due to ‘The
Magog Ezekiel War’, [ch.38/39] but that soon after
as a result of a worldwide Quake, [vs 20] the real False-messiah will
emerge and head up the 'Beastly kingdom' – also called
‘Babylon’. This will be supported by ‘a One
World Religion’ that will include many moderate Muslims,
carnal Christians and every other religious group in a
homogenous Satan-worshipping group. Of course any powerful, cruel,
Satanic regime in history or in the world now, (like Islam) shows the
same cruel features, which, sadly will be even worse, when the
Antichrist emerges to set up his world ‘Babylonian’ evil
kingdom, as described in Revelation ch. 17 and 18.
[See articles
on ‘The
False-messiah’ * & ‘The
Greatest Lie’.] We believe the * '1st Beast' in Rev. 13 is
more than a 'Anti-christ' of 1 John 2: 18 the final one.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
9. Is America ‘Babylon’?
No,
we do not believe this. ‘Babylon’
will not be one nation. It will be a total, global
economic and religious system – a new UNO -headed by a very
powerful and seemingly clever MAN – that will claim to be the
'messiah'. He is alive now - and could be gaining worldwide
influence just as some 'leaders' are already doing. He will be backed
by a worldwide, humanistic, ‘religious inter-faith’,
conservation minded lobby group with a leader like the Dalai
Lama. The False-messiah will be supported by 10 ‘power-blocks’
like: Africa, Arabia, South America, Asia, China, India, Nth
America (Canada & USA) Russia, Europe & Oceania (Australia &
all Island nations in the Pacific) = 10.
Each will have one ‘king’ or leader
to become the ‘10 kings’ of Revelation 17. But
the world is becoming more ‘inter-dependant’, forming big
alliances, such as the G8, WTO, Multi-lateral financial and cultural
groups, and other efforts such as setting up Conservation
‘initiatives’. Even the UNO have set up a special
organisation called ‘AOC’ = Alliance of Civilisations,
see www.unaoc.org/.
It is fashionable to bring Leaders together, as the ‘Clinton
Global initiative does, see www.clintonglobalinitiative.org/ ~
plus the ‘Inter-Faith Conferences’, and other groups,
talking about ‘values’ and seemingly noble humanitarian
ideas – like the Non-Government Organisations, which are not
only financially based world bodies, though several talk about
Trade. Even the Security Council cannot stop wars.
[See our studies on ‘Daniel’s
Five End-time Kingdoms’ Part 2.]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
10. Who is the ‘Restrainer’ of 2 Thess 2?
We believe this is a very powerful Angel, as in many places in the Bible, great Angels are given very special assignments, as shown in Daniel 12. Time-wise it is before the Tribulation that ‘the Restrainer’ is removed in order to allow the ‘Lawless one’ to take over! So we do not believe it will be the Holy Spirit, because Jesus by the Holy Spirit will be in all true Believers, even in the time of Tribulation. As Jesus said, “I will be with you always, yes, even to the end of the Age.” This is another reason out of many, why we do not believe in a Pre-tribulation event/ Rapture. God by His Spirit will always be omni-present – everywhere, always, with all of His people by faith - Jews included! But by the increasing liberal attitudes of even Christians ~ there is less ‘restraint’ of evil, so there is also an “increase of wickedness”. [See excellent article at: www.lastdaysmystery.info/he_who_holds_back.html]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
11.
How important is World Evangelism and will there be a great End-time
Harvest of millions of people (esp ex-Muslims) becoming true
Christians? Isaiah saw the answer in chapter 19: 23 – 25!
YES!
This is the exciting key to the Return of Yeshua/
Jesus! Joel chapter 2 describes it in verses 29 - 32 so it will
happen! It will partly be because of * “all Israel
being saved” – all Jewish people finally
realising Who Yeshua is, and then turning to everyone they know
around the world, to tell them the Good news, bringing BLESSING
out of the curse of the ‘Diaspora’. Also a huge
harvest of new Believers in Islamic nations of the M.E, as
Isaiah 19: 23 – 25, implies. Yeshua/ Jesus said clearly in
Matthew 24: 14, “This Gospel…
will be made known in all the world ~ then [later on]
the end will come.” It’s
so important! You see, because Jesus Coming as at "the end"
~ (after the Tribulation as Jesus said in Matthew 24: 29 "immediately
AFTER the distress of those days") ~ "the End" ~ will
be 7 years later after the world hears the Gospel, and so by then God
will know "the full number of the
Gentile Christians" as in Romans 11: 26.
[See ‘The
Greatest Sign of Messiah’s Coming’.]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
12.
When will Believers in Jesus and non- Believers be resurrected from
the dead?
a)
There is only ONE resurrection Day for
all Believers; it is at the one and only Return
of Jesus to Earth. “This is the
first resurrection,” Revelation 20: 5. We
believe that it will include all people since Seth, (see Hebrews 11)
-all Believers in the Tanakh/O.T, and all other Believers
right through to the ‘end of the Age’. Anyone
who has ‘believed’ and therefore their
‘faith is reckoned to them as righteousness’,
like Abraham, or ‘the dying thief’, and people over the
past 2000 years.
b)
Revelation 20, verses 7–15 tells clearly of the time 1000
years later when another, ‘second resurrection’
happens but only for non-Believers and sadly they will
die a second time. There is NO second chance to become Believers by
faith, because they will see Jesus their Judge and know they have
sinned and will die in the "second
death.” Some Scriptures suggest levels of
punishment, but it is not clear. It is clear from Romans 1:18 –
20 everyone knows what is right, from Creation, and their own
consciences, will have no excuses on the Judgement day. However we
agree with Abraham’s statement in Genesis 18:25,
“Shall not the Judge of all the Earth do right?”
All little children and intellectually handicapped people from
birth, will be saved and be where Jesus is. Everyone else will
have to answer to Him, one day. [See ‘Messiah
Jesus is Coming Again’. *]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
13.
How much do we know about the future of Jerusalem, and the 3rd
Temple?
There
is quite a lot about this in the Bible, which we comment on in
different articles. Our intensive study is different from many
Teachers as we believe the 'Anti-christ ' will bargain with Israel,
when they are NOT willing to give him their sovereignty, for 7 years.
So his covenant with them, (may be) that he will allow
Israel to: (1) be a separate Nation not under his
control; (2) build a 'third' Temple in Jerusalem [for them to
learn about what Yeshua's sacrifice meant - in the light of the
original sacrifices - (perhaps by T.V. screening) to the
Nation] and (3) he will insist that every Jew must go and live in
an enlarged Israel. 2 Thess ch 2, underlines these facts, as the
Beast breaks his 'covenant' with the Jews after 3.5 years, and "sets
himself up in God's Temple, proclaiming himself to be 'god'. Daniel
9: 27 tells of this: "In the middle
of the 7 years, he will put an end to sacrifice and offering."
So
we know THIS Temple is before the Millennium, and will be the place
Jesus mentioned in Mark 12: 13, "when
you see the Abomination of desolation standing where it does not
belong"; that is - in the Temple, which will be
desecrated, [like the first Temple was by Antiochus Epiphanes,
see good notes in NIV 1985, for Matthew 24: 15]. It maybe destroyed
as in Rev. 19:19. If you are not happy about these concepts please
check them out carefully.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
14.
Where can I read about End Time earthquakes and
sky signs in Israel?
We
give a summary of some of these.
[See
our article, ‘Earthquakes
and Sky Signs in Jerusalem’.]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
15.
Can we know Man’s true origin? Does it
matter to know?
We
believe God made one man and one woman absolutely perfect
physically, mentally and spiritually on the 6th day of Creation.
Genesis 1: 26 –31. Can you imagine God making anything that was
not perfect in every way? Many Christian scientists believe God
created the world and people perfectly, less than 10,000 years ago.
Sin has caused a ‘decline’ in many people over the
centuries, but God can ‘restore’ those who believe in
Him, in this life, and even better at the Resurrection,
“when we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him!”
[But see our article ‘Comfort
for Sorrow’ Part 1.]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
16.
Will weapons be made of ‘lignostone’
in a future war?
Yes, we
believe so. This is because after the ‘Ezekiel War’,
Israelis will ”go out and use the
weapons for fuel and burn them up…. For 7 years they will use
them for fuel… they will use the weapons for fuel…”
Ezekiel 39: 9 & 10. In Ezekiel’s time, wood was the main
source of burning for cooking or warmth. (Oil was for lighting.)
Present-day Israel is very good at using solar heat for electricity,
but since great reserves of Gas have been found, close to the coast
of Israel they are already using it to meet needs. But modern slow
burning stoves, etc would offer a lot of reduction of other fuel
needs, so now there is this burnable substance called ‘lignostone’
which is as hard as steel, but being made from wood, will be less
visible on radar or from satellites.
It
seems possible the 'Magog Army' would use it for at least carrying
other weapons. Their weapons could even include modern kinds of
‘shields, bows and arrows’ as Scripture clearly says.
[Refer to: ‘Gog
& Magog -What Do They Mean?’ Part 1 & 2. [For Cptr
users, see link please.] www.lighteningboards.com/lignostone.htm.]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
17.
Why does it say Jerusalem will be called ‘Sodom’ and
‘Egypt’ in Revelation 11:8?
We
like the NIV rendering about the two killed ‘prophetic
witnesses’, “their bodies
will lie in the street of the great City, which is figuratively
called ‘Sodom & Egypt’ where also their LORD
was crucified.” It is very clear this
is during the time of the False-messiah’s rule, who hates them
and everything they stand for. So like all people who hate the Lord
Jesus, they use angry and blasphemous words and names. So this
does not mean Jerusalem has become evil. We believe it will be
a righteous City under the control of newly Believing Jewish Leaders,
who will rebuild the Temple and worship God through Yeshua, for 3.5
years, as this chapter 11 describes.
But
it suits the jealous False-messiah (who will give them permission to
build the Temple), to then besmirch and blaspheme God’s City,
until finally he jealously decides to seat himself in the
Temple in Jerusalem with his statue, or 'image' and proclaim
‘he is god’, there. (2 Thess, 2: 4.) Evil people love to
speak badly about good organisations, people, etc.
[See
our article, ‘The
Great Lie’]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
18.
Will God provide a place of refuge and safety, on Earth, to Jews (and
some Gentile Believers) in the Tribulation?
Yes,
we believe the whole Land of Israel, from the
Euphrates river across to the great (Mediterranean), Sea, and down to
the ‘river of Egypt’ as it says in Joshua
1: 4, etc, will be restored as a safe place for all Jews alive
at that time. In fact we believe that because the False-messiah/A.C
will be like Pharaoh he will order all Jews to go to live in
Israel. (Compare Revelation 12).
But
some Gentile Believers who have prayed for Israel, will be
able to go there too, as Zechariah 8:23 says, though many others will
die for their faith. It is possible the new areas Israel will gain
(after ‘The Ezekiel War’), will be even more than
originally promised. As it says in Isaiah 61:7,
“ they will inherit a double portion in their Land.”
Those people who do not love Israel will have left
before the Magog War. Compare Isaiah 14: 1, Zech ch 8!
[See articles, ‘Times
of Tribulation & Wrath’ & ‘Sequel
to the Ezekiel War’ part 2 of ‘Gog & Magog...’]
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19.
Which nation will be the ‘Sheep nation’?
We
are not dogmatic about this but believe it is Israel.
Specifically, during the Tribulation, Israel will help persecuted
Gentile ‘brothers of Yeshua’
(perhaps by sending out 144,000 Jewish “servants”
as they are called in Revelation 7), to be the actual ‘social
workers’ on behalf of Israel. Later Israel after the
Return of Yeshua, will be divided into 'sheep' and 'goats' as Yeshua
sets up His Earthly Kingdom. See Matthew 25: 31 –45.
However
God has used the message & meaning of this story to
encourage all Christians in every place and every age to find ways of
ministering to both Jews and Gentiles, Believers or un-believers. We
note that it is ‘nations’ that are separated from other
nations, (Matthew 25:32) - perhaps not individuals. This is an
example of things we do not fully know or understand till
they happen. Christians have always been and are in the forefront
of many rescue and relief agencies as they should be.
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20.
How can a Jewish person understand how YHWH is three in ONE?
a)
Only by the help of the Ruach ha
Kodesh/ the Holy Spirit. This is a very special question, with a very
special answer, for Jewish people, who repeat ‘The Shema’,
(from Deuteronomy 6: 4), every day. The affirmation in Hebrew says:
”Shema, Isra’el; ADONAI
Elohaynu ADONAI Ehad”. In English it is:
“Hear, O Israel, The LORD,
our God, The LORD is One.” For
those who will accept it – it is in fact an affirmation of the
three-part nature of their great eternal ‘ADONAI’ / LORD
= (translation of the Hebrew ‘YHWH’.)
The repetition of the Name 3 times, is
significant, as is the use of the plural possessive form of ‘
Elohim’ being ‘Elohaynu’- our God. It is
also noteworthy that the word ‘ehad’ for ‘one’,
is often repeated 3 times at the end of the prayer. "Ehad"
can be at times and is used elsewhere in Scripture, for the concept
of a multiple number of people, (as an army) but designated as ‘one’.
b) Illustrations can only
be a help ~ to understanding that God has shown Himself in 3
FORMS, or personalities. Perhaps this concept will help?
Just as
there is NO separation between the SUN, and the SUN-LIGHT rays, and
the 'LIFE- FORCE' that comes from the Sun, so ALMIGHTY GOD ~ is [1]
like the powerful SUN that man cannot look at [normally], ~ [2]
YESHUA/ Jesus GOD's SON [in the spiritual way alone] is the warm,
SUNLIGHT that we can see and feel ~ and [3]the HOLY SPIRIT is the
LIFE-FORCE that makes all life exist and grow!
If
we could mentally, fully understand how God is 3 personalities in
One, we'd be equal to God. Yet we NEED a
great God who has communicated in amazing ways, through
words, miracles, the Person and Life of Yeshua, and the inner
FAITH God's Holy Spirit gives those who believe in ~ and accept and
worship ~ all three Persons, as ONE!
c)
As the Holy Spirit [Ruach Ha Kodesh] is responsible for
"convicting us of sin, and righteousness and judgement”
- so
-we can simply pray still, that even more Jewish people will
recognise that Yeshua is ~ "THE FACE
of God", as Yacov discovered at the place he
called ‘Pin-iel’. Genesis 32:30.
A
little like Joseph's brothers realising this great Leader - was their
own brother!
In John 14: 9.
Phillip [one of the Talmedai/ disciples] asked Yeshua/ Jesus to
show them "The Father." ~ But
Jesus said "you are looking at Him" because ~
“Whoever has seen Me has seen the
Father…” In the end, this is a question
that no one can understand with his or her mind, (as we would
be equal with God), so we must accept it by
faith, alone!
[See our article, ‘Who
is the Face of God?’]
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We
trust these questions and answers have been a help to you.
We do
not claim to know all the answers, but do believe that
God wants
us to "ask and seek",
most of all for Him,
Himself
and what He can be to us!
Here are some precious
thoughts about our individual relationship to God.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“The
love of my poor heart can be - to God’s beloved Son,
Something He nowhere else has
seen, and in no other, won!
“And
His dear love can be to me - my own, my very own;
Something He can only be ~ to me
~ and me, alone.”
(Author
unknown.)
We
are happy to answer other questions if you would like to contact us,
by
writing to g.o.fellowship@maxnet.co.nz
Our
urgent prayers are that God Himself will teach us all ~
as
we read and pray over His written Word.
AMEN
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