When I started this prophecy series, I had sketched out what I thought would be a series of four or five teachings starting with the rapture of the church and culminating with the millennial reign of Christ on earth. This week was to be week three and I was going to speak to you about the Tribulation period and delve into the book of Revelation.
As I was trying to prepare and write this teaching I kept running up against obstacles. I couldn’t seem to organize the teaching into a coherent form. I actually started this sermon four different times, each time coming at the Tribulation from a different direction, and each time I reached an impasse and couldn’t go any further.
What I finally realized, Thursday night around 8 p.m. was that I wasn’t working on the message God wanted me to teach. He was slamming the door on my ideas and I just kept running into the door. Thank goodness, I finally wised-up to what was happening. This morning’s teaching is the message God wants to say to you instead of the message I had planned to give. And the reason I’m so sure of this is because once I started to listen to Him, preparing this sermon became a whole lot easier.
So, instead of focusing on the Tribulation period, we are instead going to turn our attention to what is presently occurring in the Middle East, and more specifically with the nation of Israel.
Since the beginning of the conflict in Israel I have practically been glued to my television set. Questions have arisen as I’ve watched the fighting continue to escalate and the global leaders voice their opinions on what should be done. I’ve wondered if the dramatic events that we are witnessing have anything to do with Bible prophecy? Does God have anything to say about the war(s) in the Middle East? Some people have suggested that we are seeing the beginnings of World War III or maybe even Armageddon. With the many signs that we spoke of last week pertaining to the Biblically prophesied end of the age which we now seem to be staring in the face, it’s important for Christians to stop and examine the things involving this area of the world very carefully.
I. Armageddon Anxieties
“Armageddon” is the Biblical term most everyone thinks of whenever war begins to look imminent in the Middle East. Even the mainstream news organizations bring this troubling name into their reportorial mix at times when war seems to loom.
A. What Is It?
But what really is Armageddon? Armageddon is prophesied in Revelation to be an increasingly stepped-up war, rather than just a single battle. It will be a conflict that progressively involves more and more nations until the military forces of all the nations of the world come together in a triangular valley called Jezreel, in modern day Israel, near the ancient place called Megiddo.
The worry among many who watch troubles in the Middle East is always that the next military conflict might ignite Armageddon, mankind’s final war, according to how most view Bible prophecy. Major wars in that region will, many mistakenly believe, mean the end of the world.
To begin examining the facts and possibilities, we must start with the nation of Israel. Modern Israel, as much as ancient Israel, is the key to understanding the Middle East’s inevitable part in the wrap-up to human history. Because it is how nations treat Israel, God’s chosen people, that determines how God will judge them and what their ultimate outcome will be.
B. Obstacle to World Peace
All prophecy yet to be fulfilled must be considered in light of this one fact: God’s chosen nation is now back in the land of promise. Understanding that country’s position in the arena of the Middle East and world affairs is critical to understanding all other geopolitical realities. In order to know where all the dramatic changes occurring in that area are leading, one must carefully study that tiny, though militarily powerful state called Israel.
Israel is prophesied to become an intolerable problem that world leaders think must be eliminated before there can be peace in the Middle East and in the world. God, himself, will see to it that Israel will be a major obstacle to sin-flawed, man-made peace. This is because only God’s Son – Jesus, the Prince of Peace – can establish true peace on Planet Earth.
Zechariah 12:2-3: “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling (poison) 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.
Do we see a volatile situation today with regard to the modern nation of Israel? Is the world community of nations, especially the United States, fretting over problems between Israel and its neighbors? The answer is, of course, a resounding YES! The world is at present extremely nervous about Israel and its enemy neighbors.
C. The Problem Is Supernatural
A reasonable question for those who truly seek world peace is this: “Why is Israel always at the center of the problem that threatens to involve the whole world in thermonuclear war?”
World leaders cannot understand the answer God’s Word, the Bible, gives to this “reasonable” question. This is because the leaders of the world reason in line with Satan’s thinking, not in line with God’s thinking, which comes from His perfect foreknowledge. Today’s world leaders believe they can find the formula for peace totally apart from taking into consideration God’s explanation of the supernatural causes involved.
Concerning the obstacles Israel presents to Middle East and world peace in our times, God, through revelation given in symbolic language to the prophet John, tells about the ancient hatred that spawned and perpetuates the problem today.
Revelation 12:1-6, “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: [2] And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. [3] And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. [4] And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. [5] And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. [6] And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
Revelation chapter 12, tells about a “woman,” which refers to Israel, the Jewish people out of whom the Deliverer, Jesus Christ, will come. The great red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns, whose tail draws one-third of the stars, refers to Satan who wishes to destroy the woman and the child she delivers. The stars he draws with his tail are the angels who rebelled and followed Lucifer, who was cast out of Heaven.
Satan hates Israel because it is the nation chosen by God to bring the Savior into the world. The Devil, as he is called, is prophesied to do all within his considerable power to destroy that people. Antichrist will be the Devil’s world dictator who will try to carry out Israel’s destruction, as outlined in Daniel chapters 7, 8, 9, and 11 and Revelation chapter 13.
So again, I ask the question: Are the dramatic events we are witnessing in the Middle East the ignition or beginning of Armageddon? The leaders of Iran, Syria, and most all other dictators in the Middle East have long been blood-vowed to completely destroy Israel. They have stated they want every Jew drowned in the Mediterranean or to meet an even more terrible fate.
In a sense, Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran, Syria and the other enemy nations of God’s chosen people bring history ever closer to that final battle in the valley God’s Word calls Armageddon.
II. Lebanon and Gaza In Prophecy
Is there anything of prophetic significance we can make of the attacks on Israel occurring today? Does the Bible have anything to say about end-time Lebanon or Gaza?
As a matter of fact, yes it does. Last week I shared some interesting passages with the Sunday school class that I feel may be speaking about the present conflict between Lebanon, Israel, and the Palestinians of the Gaza Strip. Today, I want to share them with you.
Before we look at the Bible prophecy I want to make sure you understand what is happening in the Middle East. Currently two different Islamic terrorist groups whose goal is to wipe Israel off the map have started a conflict with Israel by kidnapping Israeli soldiers and then firing rockets at Israeli citizens. Hezbollah, in southern Lebanon, has also broken or more specifically, totally ignored the agreement made with the UN to disarm and turn over control of southern Lebanon to the Lebanese government. So with those things in mind, let’s turn to the Old Testament book of Amos.
A. Gaza Strip, Palestinians and Hamas
Amos 1:6-8 give us a prophecy pertaining to the downfall of Gaza. In Biblical times, often an entire area or nation was denoted by the cities that were located there or the people who lived there. In Amos we find the names of ancient cities (Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron) and references to the people (Philistines). If you were to take all these place names and look them up in a Bible atlas (and I have provided you with a map) you would see that they correspond with present day Gaza Strip – the area given to the Palestinians and home to the terrorist group Hamas. Palestinians are also believed to be present-day descendants of the ancient Philistines. So when we come across these names in our passage, you will know that we are talking about the Gaza Strip and the Palestinians who live there. Let’s read.
Amos 1:6-8, “Thus saith the Lord; For three transgression of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom: [7] But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which shall devour the palaces thereof: [8] And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon, and I will turn mine hand against Ekron: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord God.”
1. Reason for Destruction
Notice the reason for God’s wrath in verse six. He says for three transgressions (for everything you have done) and for four (but specifically for this reason) I will not turn away from punishing Gaza and the Palestinian people. What was that specific reason? They carried away captives. – What was it that we said started the battle in the Middle East? – Hamas, the terrorist group from the Gaza Strip took an Israeli soldier captive.
2. Punishment Given
Next, look at the punishment that God promises to send in verse 7. He says he will send down fire and devour the palaces thereof. Have you been watching the evening news when they show pictures of Israel bombing Gaza and sending in tanks? Fire is reigning down on the Palestinians from the sky. What an incredible prophecy, written almost 3000 years ago. We are seeing it be fulfilled right before our very eyes.
B. Lebanon and Hezbollah
But if that isn’t fascinating enough, Amos goes on to describe the downfall of the other party fighting against Israel today.
Tyrus is the city mentioned in the Bible that comes under God’s judgment in Amos 1:9-10. By looking Tyrus up in the Bible Atlas, we see that it is present day Tyre. A city in Lebanon that has been mentioned as being on the receiving end of some of the Israeli bombing campaign. Likewise, since Tyrus is a city mentioned in connection with a specific area, we know that the prophecy in Amos verse 9 and 10 is talking about the entire area around Tyrus, specifically, present day Lebanon. Let’s read.
Amos 1:9-10, “Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom and remembered not the brotherly covenant: [10] But I will send a fire on the wall of Tyrus, which shall devour the palaces thereof.”
1. Reason for Destruction
Again notice the reason for God’s punishment in verse 9. He says for three transgressions (for everything you have done) and for four (but specifically for this reason) I will not turn away from punishing Lebanon. What was that specific reason? They carried away captives. – What was it that we said started the battle in the Middle East? – Hezbollah, the terrorist group from the southern Lebanon took two Israeli soldiers captive.
But notice that God gives two reasons for His judgment on Lebanon. He also says that they remembered not the brotherly covenant. Could this be a reference to the agreement with the UN that the Lebanese government would see to the disarmament of Hezbollah and occupy southern Lebanon if Israel withdrew its troops? The agreement that was followed by Israel but totally ignored, and therefore broken, by Hezbollah and Lebanon. – It just might be.
2. Punishment Given
And finally, notice what form their punishment comes in, in verse 10. God says he will send fire upon the wall of Tyrus and devour the palaces thereof. Again we see a perfect picture of the Israeli bombs reigning fire and destruction from the air down upon Lebanon and Hezbollah.
III. The Bottom Line
So what is the bottom line? Are we seeing Armageddon beginning to unfold before our very eyes? The Bible tells us that it is Israel’s agreement with the Antichrist to sign a peace covenant that will begin the tribulation and set into motion a progressive series of conflicts that grow into the war called Armageddon.
Already the world community is demanding that peace be made between Israel and its Middle Eastern neighbors. The world’s leaders see this conflict as holding the greatest potential for igniting a world war. They are doing everything in their collective power to force peace upon Israel and those who want to push the Jewish people into the Mediterranean. But as we said earlier, God will not allow this to happen. Because of Jesus can establish a lasting world peace, which He will do when He returns to finish the war I believe we are seeing taking form today.
Is this Armageddon? I don’t know for sure, no one does. But I think it very well may be the early stages or at least the foreshadowing of that future conflict.
I have not told you of all these events to scare you. In truth, I hope that the realization that we are so close to the rapture of the church and the coming of Christ, excites you. Be sure of your commitment to Jesus as Lord and warn your family and friends that they don’t have much time. Jesus IS coming again, and I truly believe that it will be soon.
