Do theories ever come true?

As I write this week I again want to make sure everyone knows that I am simply making speculation on Bible prophecy. Just as an economist or anyone else makes speculations in their field.


Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;
But in the middle of the week
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,
Even until the consummation, which is determined,
Is poured out on the desolate.”
Daniel 9:27

gâbar (confirm)
gaw-bar'
A primitive root; to be strong; by implication to prevail, act insolently:—exceed, confirm, be great, be mighty, prevail, put to more [strength], strengthen, be stronger, be valiant.

The Word Confirm in this scripture is one that has always baffled me. The word can mean that the person who Daniel is speaking of here, being the Antichrist will make the peace treaty stick whereas it never was possible before. It can also mean that he was the one who really fought to have a peace treaty. It can also mean that there was already a peace treaty going on but there began to have some problems so he got involved and strengthened it.
As I write this blog keep in mind that what I have to say is theory, but good reading. Perhaps it will come true in the near future, maybe not. If nothing else I hope it encourages you to study for yourselves the Word of God.
Let’s take a look at this Peace Treaty for just a moment. So far there have been two different peace treaties signed; One between Egypt and Israel, and the other with Jordan and Israel. The nation of Iraq is no longer a threat to Israel and the nations of Saudi Arabia and those southern Arab countries although they are all Muslim, the oil that they have has given them reason to stay out of the fight with Israel. According to the Koran to be a good Muslim you either must fight for Muslim causes or pay to others to do the fighting for you. The Southern countries are doing just that. The problem Israel is having right now is with Hamas, and Iran. The fact is that the Palestinians and the Jews are getting along a lot better if not for the radicals trying to pervert the situation and make it escalate into something violent. So if there is going to be a peace treaty signed the countries and people who will be hardest to the table will be Iran, Syria, The Palestinians, and Hamas.
Now we also know from the news that Iran is currently building another Nuclear Reactor. Along with this we found out that there was an assassination plot on their leader. The UN has made an embargo against Iran and the people of Iran are beginning to get a little tired of their leader.
I can imagine a scenario coming about that somehow the leader of Iran dies, and a young wave of revolutionaries comes into power. As they rise up they want to be more westernized and so they make a number of concessions with the UN. Along with these concessions they also learn the truth about their government and its involvement with Hamas and other such terrorist groups. In order to keep certain things confidential from the world Hamas and Iran make a secret treaty, but along this treaty is the desire for a peace with Israel for a time so that Iran can heal and move forward with the rest of the world. The one giant who gets hurt by all this is Russia and we’ll get to them in a moment.
According to the Muslim religion you can make a temporary peace accord in order to get ahead and then you can break it, if this means the only way out of a situation. The question is who will lead this peace accord?
I’m glad you asked. Who in the entire world is doing their most to bring about good relations between Muslims and the western world? None other than our President! I believe that he will bring all the people to the table, and the entire world will see this as a great day; Everyone, but many in America. It will be through this event our President will reveal much of his Islamic background and how he is being used as a person of different races and different religions all wrapped up in one. This great event will backlash in America with the economy dwindling and the lime light being placed on him not as an American President, but as a man who grew up on all sides of the argument and knows how to fix the problem. Again, remember his rise to this worldwide fame will not be in America, but in the Middle East. This is important especially as we look at Scripture.
Daniel 7 gives us a picture of three beasts or kings who will come to their rise to fame at the Great Sea. Now this Peace Treaty will be signed on a place touching the Mediterranean Sea. I believe our president is a picture of the first beast. He soared until his wings were plucked off and made to stand like a man. In other words this event of peace will make him soar, but there will be weaknesses in his life and that weakness will be found and when it is they will pluck his wings and he will be seen as everyone else. Can it be said that this is an indication that the Republicans will win back the house and maybe the senate? Perhaps, but we must remember all this is just good reading.
Now we come to the next beast in Daniel 7. As I said before the only real loser in all this will be Russia. For one thing they were making money off of the nuclear material Iran was buying from them. Secondly, Iran was a partner with them. Did you notice this summer how much of Russia was on fire. One of the hottest summers in recorded history in Russia and over 20 provinces were in fire at the same time. Much of the crops are ruined and many of the people have lost everything. Now of all the nations in the Middle East who has the most produce, goods and technology? Israel! That’s right; the most fertile ground in the entire world lies in Israel. Here we have a nation who is upset over this peace treaty, and their people are starving to death. Along with a hard winter Russia can be devastated next year. According to Daniel 7 the next beast will be like a bear having three ribs in its mouth and told to eat much flesh. Russia along with three other smaller nations will come against Israel. Again, their fame will arise out of the Mediterranean Sea.
Along with Daniel 7, we need also to look at Ezekiel 38, 39 and 1 Thessalonians 5.
The reason being is we find Israel being attacked by Russia at a time when they will be living in peace and their security will be down. In 1 Thessalonians 5, we find it saying, when they say “peace and safety then sudden destruction.” In order for there to be peace and safety and Russia coming down on a nation of un-walled villages means a peace treaty must have had to occur.
The fact is that this will not be the true peace treaty spoken of in Daniel 9:27, but the first one, and once Russia comes down against Israel then we will find the Antichrist standing up and strengthening the covenant that has already been established, but he will arise to power in such a way to make sure the treaty will stick.
When our president helps in the signing of the first treaty or covenant many luke-warm Christians will say that our president is the Antichrist. It will be chaos. We know this is not true, but this will be the headlines as so many groups will begin to make accusations of him especially at a time when our economy will not be getting any better.
I believe we are truly headed for some turbulent times. I will continue this series and talk more about Ezekiel 38, 39 next week.

It can happen in 2011

Friends, as a pastor I want to bring some thoughts out concerning the times in which we are living in. I am not dogmatic about what I am writing about, but curiousity of Scripture with events I forsee in 2011.



Matthew 24 is a chapter is in answer to a question that the disciples asked Jesus. Jesus begins to explain to the disciples starting from a.d. 70 when the Temple was destroyed, but then He continued to speak of future events leading up to a time of world wide destruction. In verses 31, 32, we find Jesus then giving a parable concerning a fig tree. We find in Matthew 21 Jesus cursing a fig tree because while it should be buding and beginning to bear fruit it was not, and so Jesus cursed it. The next day while walking past the fig tree the disciples commented that it was whithered. Jesus spoke this symbolically of Israel who should have been celebrating and getting ready to bear fruit because the One they had been looking for, for so long had come, but instead they wanted to kill Him. So the fig tree is a picture of Israel. Secondly, Jesus tells us that there will be a time when the fig tree will begin to come back to life. Not bearing fruit, but life. We also know that Israel after being dead for almost two thousand years as a people and a country came back to life in May of 1948. Then we find Jesus telling us that this (the generation living during the time of His prophecy) will not pass away until everything is complete. Psalm 90 tells us that the years of man is 70 years. If you take 1948 and add 70 years you come to 2018. Now according to Daniel 9 and other Scriptures there will be a Tribulation period lasting 7 years. Jeremiah calls it the time of Jacobs troubles. So if you back up 7 years from 2018 we come to 2011.

Now I realize many of you reading this will tell me that you cannot know when Christ return will come. Jesus said while on the earth He didn't even know. The fact is that according to 1 Thessalonians 5, we will know the season, and according to Hebrews 10 that as we see the day approaching we need to continue going to Church so as that we do not fall away. So the fact of the matter is we may not know the day or the hour, we can know the season as it approaches.



Several other factors are quite visible that also agrees with this statement. The Scripture also tells us that there will be a falling away from the faith just before the Tribulation begins. Christianity as a Fellowship of Believers in a congregation is at an all time low. The Scripture also tells us that the AntiChrist will establish a method of money being placed on the hand or forehead. For this to happen there must be a financial crisis.



I have so much more to say about this so keep checking in!

happiness

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:6)
It amazes me how many people are hungering and thirsting after happiness. There whole aim in life revolves how can I be happy. Yet, I have found whenever your whole aim is directed on how to be happy you end up miserable. We find here that according to Jesus if you hunger and thirst after righteousness then you will be filled. A person who has pain wants one thing and that is to get rid of the pain. His attention is consumed on this one thought. When he goes to the doctor and the doctor is more interested in getting rid of the pain then the cause of the pain the doctor lacks judgment. Seeking after righteousness allows us to realize why we are lacking happiness, never the other way around. To hunger and thirst after something means you are diligent and intent on the object. So what is righteousness? Living and walking with God according to Christ example is a good start. I have found that true happiness comes when I less expect it, but when I seek after it expecting it, I am more times than not let down. Righteousness on the other hand I have found makes me fell good about myself. It fills me and satisfies me without costing me anything. Don't follow what is popular follow what works. The opposite of being filled is being empty. Don't live your whole life seeking happiness only to be empty on the inside when the answer to your search is as close as talking to God in prayer!

Back in 1991 when I went to my first Church as Pastor I would have never imagined God allowing me to minister in places like this in Ghana West Africa. The call to service must be one of complete surrender to God's will. I never placed conditions on God. Like the song says, "Trust and obey there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey!" God will take you as far as you are willing to allow Him your life.

The man pictured here is a King of a region in Ghana. To give his life to Jesus meant to deny many of the traditions of his culture. Yet, the message of God's love and forgiveness touched his heart and he received the Word of God gladly.