Sunday, 6 July 2014
Bible Prophecy Jerusalem: A Cup of Trembling, ...and a Burdensome Stone!
Jerusalem is once again the scene of riots and violence, and it appears that the Government of Israel is either unwilling or else unable to take the necessary action to stop it. There certainly is an unwillingness on the part of Israel to act with sufficient determination, and the reason for their weakness is not difficult to identify as leading world powers issue the usual calls for "restraint" and "justice" etc. The pope, who calls himself "Francis," visited the city just a few weeks ago, but now has fallen silent; he did not condemn the murder of three Israeli teenagers near Hebron and he has not called upon the Palestinian rioters to behave themselves in a more civilized and decent way. They claim that the death of a Palestinian teenager was a revenge attack by right-wing religious Jews, but there is no proof of that - but the case was a handy means of pushing back the sympathy for the three murdered Israeli teens.
Jerusalem has erupted with Arab protests and violence.
We all have access to the news reports and can make our own judgments about the prejudices and bias that is projected. But for the Bible believer there is guidance as to what lies behind the news stories. Of particular relevance is the fact that the Creator of all things is involved in bringing about His own purpose through these events. In the prophecy of Zechariah chapter 12 we read this:
So the Creator says that He will make Jerusalem an issue that makes the people round about irrational, mad, drunk with hatred! In other words people's minds are poisoned! And it is "the people round abut" (neighbours) who are drunk with hatred. This is "when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem."
"The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it" (verse 1-3).
At a time - and in such an age when the world does not recognize the reality of the Creator, this is telling us that the Creator has revealed his purpose and has spoken - this is his "burden" (the word literally means "oracle" or utterance). Gesenius' lexicon tells us that the word is meant in a good sense, and the Companion Bible says that the passage is "concerning Israel's affliction and final deliverance."
But what is this "utterance" telling us?
"BEHOLD," Look! Take Note! Here is something to arrest our attention. The Creator tells us that He will "make" Jerusalem a cup of trembling!
Now just check out that word "trembling" - it is Strong number 7478, and has the idea of intoxication, drunkenness (reeling). Many have translated this as "a cup of poison" (e.g. the Hebrew Tanach).
Arabs violent protest.
What is this "siege"? The word carries the idea of distress, says Gesenius. This is "a period of threatening" says the Companion Bible. This describes the situation today. Look at a map which includes Israel's neighbours - How many friends does Israel have? She is surrounded - besieged - by enemies.
But in Zechariah 12:2 and 3, we can see two stages featured. First, Jerusalem is an issue poisoning all the peoples round about. Secondly Jerusalem becomes "a burdensome stone for all people. The word for "people" in verse 3 is Goy, that is Gentiles who are "gathered together against it."
This prophecy is parallel to the one in Joel 3:1-2,
"For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land."
Judah and Jerusalem are at the centre of the controversy; a controversy sparked by the return of the Jews to their ancient land - this is what the troubles in the promised Land are all about. So the Creator says:
"And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it."
This expression "a burdensome stone" is interesting. Jerusalem is to be a STONE OF BURDEN that will "cut" or "break" in pieces the people of the earth that are gathered together against it.
This is the "stone" that we read of in Daniel 2:34.
This "stone" is in process of development - of being cut out without hands - it is "the stone of Israel" (Genesis 49:24); "the shepherd and stone of Israel." It is this stone - the Jerusalem stone - which is called the city of the Truth which will smite the enemies of Israel: As we read again:
"Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain" (Zechariah 8:2-3).
Thus the stone will become a great mountain and fill the whole earth (Daniel 2:35). So it is that while violence and rioting fills the streets of Jerusalem today, the day is coming when the City of the truth, as a stone of burden, will smite the nations, and become the centre of the kingdom of God upon earth under the reign of the shepherd King, Jesus the Messiah.
God sent the Muslims to kill the Trinitarians
The trumpet sounding of the fifth angel is followed by a star falling from heaven unto the earth with a key to open the bottomless pit. On the opening of the pit, the sun and air is darkened by the ascending smoke, out of which pour a cloud of locusts. They are commanded to avoid any green foliage, and attack only those men who have not the seal of God in their foreheads. This they do for some months, moving as cavalry under the direction of a king. The sounding of the sixth angel is followed by the releasing of four angels bound in the great river Euphrates. They lead a vast horde of cavalrymen to battle, as a result of which, the third of men are killed. The Eastern Empire is thus brought to an end, but even this tragedy does not cause the rest of mankind to cease from their sin and blasphemy against Almighty God
The "star" was Mahomet. It is appropriate to the symbol, that Arabia, the region from whence Mahomet originated, is noted for the remarkable depression of the Arabah, the Jordan Valley and the area around the Dead Sea. This is the lowest point of the earth's surface which is above water, so that the term "abyss" is appropriate to it. Mahomet was born about the year 570, and belonged to the Koreish clan, whose special privilege and duty it was to guard the sacred Black Stone at Mecca.
Mahomet was still a young man when he commenced his "great imposture," declaring that he was a "prophet" in communion with God, and had been appointed to set before the people the true religion. The people of Mecca, who made no small gain out of the Black Stone, drove Mahomet from the city, and he fled to Medina. Mahomet wrote the Koran, and proclaimed the tenets of Mahommedanism. Gradually the number of his converts increased. Proclaiming his belief in one God, he declared open war upon the Trinitarians of the Greek and Roman Catholics. As his power grew, he sent ambassadors to the court of Constantinople, and when they were contemptuously rejected by the authorities of the eastern Roman Empire, he decided to overthrow it by force. The way, or shaft to the abyss was domination of the Middle East. Accordingly he laid claim to Arabia, and then made preparations for an attack on the bastionof the eastern Empire. He died in 632 before he could accomplish this, and was succeeded by Abubeker, the first Caliph.
The "star" was Mahomet. It is appropriate to the symbol, that Arabia, the region from whence Mahomet originated, is noted for the remarkable depression of the Arabah, the Jordan Valley and the area around the Dead Sea. This is the lowest point of the earth's surface which is above water, so that the term "abyss" is appropriate to it. Mahomet was born about the year 570, and belonged to the Koreish clan, whose special privilege and duty it was to guard the sacred Black Stone at Mecca.
Mahomet was still a young man when he commenced his "great imposture," declaring that he was a "prophet" in communion with God, and had been appointed to set before the people the true religion. The people of Mecca, who made no small gain out of the Black Stone, drove Mahomet from the city, and he fled to Medina. Mahomet wrote the Koran, and proclaimed the tenets of Mahommedanism. Gradually the number of his converts increased. Proclaiming his belief in one God, he declared open war upon the Trinitarians of the Greek and Roman Catholics. As his power grew, he sent ambassadors to the court of Constantinople, and when they were contemptuously rejected by the authorities of the eastern Roman Empire, he decided to overthrow it by force. The way, or shaft to the abyss was domination of the Middle East. Accordingly he laid claim to Arabia, and then made preparations for an attack on the bastionof the eastern Empire. He died in 632 before he could accomplish this, and was succeeded by Abubeker, the first Caliph.
Saturday, 5 July 2014
Three Great Bible Prophecies A King to Rule 2 Samuel 7:1-17
When it existed there of old, it was occupied by David and Solomon as the kings of Yahweh over Israel. It was then styled "the throne of Yahweh," and the throne of the kingdom of Yahweh over Israel" (1 Chron. xxviii. 5; xxix. 23). By the covenant of the Olahm, or Hidden Period, this throne was established in the family of David. The proof of this is found in numerous places of the Scripture. Thus in 2 Sam. vii. 12-16, the covenant to David reads, "YAHWEH will make for thee a house. When thy days shall be completed, and thou hast slept with thy fathers, I will cause to raise up after thee thy seed who shall proceed out of thy bowels; and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom ad-olahm, during the hidden period;" that is, the Millennium. "I will be to him for a father, and he shall be to me for a son; whom, in his being caused to bow down, I will chasten with a sceptre of men, and with stripes from the sons of Adam; but my mercy I will not take from him as that I put away from with Saul, whom I removed from before thee. And thy house and thy kingdom shall be established during the Olahm before thy face; thy throne shall be set up for the Olahm," or the thousand years.
Now when David's days were about completed, he thus expressed himself in reference to this covenant of the throne and kingdom. In 2 Sam. xxiii. 1, it is written: "Now these words of David, the last, are an oracle of David, son of Jesse; even an oracle of the mighty man enthroned, concerning an Anointed One of the Elohim of Jacob; and the pleasant theme of Israel's songs.
"Yahweh's spirit spake by me, and His word was upon my tongue; Elohim of Israel spake to me, and the Rock of Israel discoursed, saying, There shall be a Ruler over mankind, ruling in the righteous precepts of Elohim. And as brightness of morning, He shall rise the Sun of an unclouded dawn, shining forth after rain upon tender grass out of the earth.
"Though my house is not so with AIL, yet He hath appointed for me THE COVENANT OF THE OLAHM, ordered in everything and sure: truly this is all my salvation, and all my delight, though he cause it not to spring forth.
"But the wicked shall be all of them as a thorn-bush to be thrust away; yet without hand shall they be taken; nevertheless A MAN shall smite upon them. He shall be filled with iron and the shaft of a spear; but with fire to burn up while standing, they shall be consumed."
The above testimonies I have translated from the Hebrew. The reader can compare them with the English version, and adopt which he thinks the more intelligible and correct. He will find that both renderings agree in affirming this:
1. That a dynastic house was guaranteed to David;
2. That the kingdom and throne of this dynasty should be established during a future period;
3. That the commencement and duration of that period were hidden from David;
4. That said kingdom and throne should be established by AIL; or, as Daniel says, by "the Eloah of the heavens;"
5. That the occupant of said throne should be a resurrected seed of David and Son of the Deity;
6. That this seed should come to his death by the violence of his enemies; and be pierced with a spear:
7. That the establishment of said kingdom and throne should come to pass after David's sleep with his fathers, and before his face; so that the establishment of the throne and kingdom would be after David's resurrection from among the dead;
8. That this Covenant of the then, and yet, Hidden Period, ordered in all things and sure, contained all that constituted the salvation looked for by David; and in which was his delight;
9. That He who should be at once seed of David and Son of the Deity should be Ruler over mankind, ruling them in righteousness and in glory, when occupying the covenanted throne; and,
10. That he should utterly destroy the power of the wicked.
Friday, 4 July 2014
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