Israel's Unlikely Adversaries

One might expect political entities such as the United Nations or individual Islamic nations to discount the significance of Israel; however, minimizing Israel is also being done by the least expected constituency, i.e. the ‘church’. The movement is termed ‘replacement theology’. It is a movement that has been around for centuries but is presently re-emerging with millions of proponents. The church was a mystery to the Jews and was not mentioned in the Old Testament but rather was established after the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ.

The major thrust of replacement theology is that God has permanently written Israel off due to their continued disobedience, subsequently proponents believe all the promises made to Israel in the Bible have been transferred to the church. Further ammunition for replacement theology includes the fact that Israel was crushed and the Jewish people disbursed under Roman rule in the first century AD 70. There are more than a few mainline denominations that belong to the National Council of Churches and World Council of Churches that have adopted the tenets of replacement theology based on flawed human reasoning.

To adopt such a position, one has to overlook several basic scripture passages.

“…and I will establish My covenant between Me and you (Abraham) and your descendants after you…for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” Genesis 17:7-8

This passage describes the original promise that God made to Abraham. It stresses the fact that His promise, i.e. covenant or contract is everlasting. The covenant also includes the promise of the physical land to be the everlasting possession of Abraham’s descendants. God made these promises to Abraham approximately 2,000 years before the birth of Christ. It should be noted there are no conditions required from Abraham or his descendants to receive this promise.

Now fast forward over the next 1,000 years during which time Israel grew into a nation while in Egypt, experienced the exodus, and was then ruled by judges during the initial years in their promised homeland. Following the time of the judges began the period when Israel was ruled by kings. God provided more details of His covenant originally made to Abraham to King David.

“When your (David’s) days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom…and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever…if he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of me. But My mercy shall not depart from him…and your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” II Samuel 7:12-16

This passage explains that even though King David’s future son Solomon might be disobedient and require chastening; the promise of an everlasting kingdom remained.

Progressing another 400 years we find the words of the prophet Jeremiah.

“Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for a light by day, the ordinances of the moon and the stars for light by night…‘If those ordinances depart from before Me, says the LORD, then the seed of Israel shall also cease from being a nation before Me forever.’” Jeremiah 31:35-36

“Thus says the LORD: ‘If heaven above can be measured, and the foundation of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, says the LORD.’” Jeremiah 31:37

The above passages explain that if and when the light from the sun, moon, and stars cease and if and when man could measure the height of the heavens and comprehend the depth of the earth, then Israel will cease from being a nation.

Now those who subscribe to replacement theology are saying all of the above listed promises were limited to the Old Testament and when Israel rejected their Messiah the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David and their descendants were transferred to the church.

Let’s then, look in the New Testament and consider the words of the apostle Paul who wrote approximately 30 years after the death of Christ and the birth of the church.

“I say then has God cast away His people (Israelites): Certainly not! ...God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew.” Romans 11:1-2

“I say then have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their trespass, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Now if their trespass is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!” Romans 11:11-12

For countless generations man has attempted to reason the sovereignty of God in order to understand His actions. And for as many generations man has failed in that endeavor because God’s covenants and promises are a matter of grace which is not reasonable.

Therefore, the Bible succinctly rejects such heresy labeled replacement theology. Perhaps we should focus on several words so often repeated relative to Gods promises to Israel, i.e. forever, forevermore, and everlasting.

Oil Leak Pollutes Gulf Waters

The recent Deep Water Horizon oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico off Louisiana shores produced catastrophic results. The consequences have been measured primarily in economic terms, i.e. loss of income for those who made their living from the fishing industry and the loss of tourism dollars because of tainted beaches. The incident can be attributed to human activity driven by the need/desire to obtain energy sources. And while this incident is devastating, the percent of sea water affected is relatively small compared with the volume of sea water around the globe.

Polluted water has not, however, always been attributed to human activity. Consider the historical Red Tides around Florida. Red Tides are a natural phenomenon caused by toxins released by certain microscopic plankton organisms. Red Tides also have a negative economic affect similar to that caused by the BP incident.

So water pollution has been caused both by human activity and natural phenomenon. In addition the Bible tells of water pollution caused by the direct intervention of God in the affairs of men to get their attention and show that He is God.

Recall the ten plagues that God brought on Egypt because Pharaoh would not release the Hebrews from their bondage of slavery. The very first of the ten plagues was polluting the waters of the River Nile.

“So the LORD said to Moses: ‘Pharaoh’s heart is hard; he refuses to let the people go.’” Exodus 7:14

“So Moses…lifted up the rod and struck the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh…And all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. The fish that were in the river died, the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink the water of the river.” Exodus 7:20-21

“…So all the Egyptians dug all around the river for water to drink, because they could not drink the water of the river...” Exodus 7:24

This incident was localized, i.e. confined to the waters of the Nile River. Pharaoh didn’t heed God’s warnings; therefore, the plague was ordered. However, in the future God will cause water pollution on a much larger scale. And the reason for the future plagues is the same as the former, i.e. man will not heed God’s warnings. The Bible states there will be two instances of major water pollution during the approaching seven year tribulation period, one occurrence during the early part of the tribulation and another during the latter part of the period.

“Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.” Revelation 8:8

This verse describes the result of the second trumpet plague. Notice that an apparent asteroid is hurled into the sea and turns one third of the world’s seas into blood which destroys one third of the sea life along with one third of the world’s ships. This incident is far from a localized catastrophic event.

But that’s not all, right after that the fresh waters of the earth are affected.

“Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.” Revelation 8:10-11

One would think that such events would cause all men to acknowledge and honor God, but such will not be the case.

“But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver…which can neither see nor hear nor walk.” Revelation 9:20

Things will get progressively worse as the end of the seven year tribulation period approaches. Once again the seas and fresh waters are polluted. This time all the waters of the earth will be affected

“Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.” Revelation 15:1

“Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man/ and every living creature in the sea died.” Revelation 16:3

“Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters saying: ‘You are righteous, O Lord, the One who is and who was and who is to be, because You have judged these things. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.’” Revelation 16:4-6

Indeed, water pollution can be a terrible thing. According to the Bible the present crisis in the Gulf of Mexico is really just a ‘drop in the bucket’ compared to the future.

Westernization of Islam?

NASA administrator Charles Bolden stated in a recent interview, “When I became the NASA administrator…he (President Obama) charged me with three things…perhaps foremost, he wanted me to find a way to reach out to the Muslim world and engage much more with dominantly Muslim nations to help them feel good about their historic contribution to science…and math and engineering. It is a matter of trying to reach out and get the best of all worlds, if you will, and there is much to be gained by drawing in the contributions that are possible from the Muslim (nations).”

President Obama’s supportive position of the Muslim world was made clear in his Cairo speech last year. Even his predecessor exhibited naivety on the subject as evidenced in the following quotes spoken by George W. Bush.

“We see in Islam a religion that traces its origins back to God’s call on Abraham. We share your belief in God’s justice, and your insistence on man’s moral responsibility…”

“…The enemy of America is not our many Muslim friends…”

“The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam. That’s not what Islam is all about. Islam is peace…”

It’s interesting that such rhetoric surfaced as the United States is engaged in a nearly decade old war with Afghanistan, not to mention the age old Palestinian conflict in Israel. Isaac and Ishmael are still at it.

Let’s examine some recent quotes from Islamic sources, i.e. spokesmen for the ‘religion of peace’ to see if the Muslim world is ready for westernization.

“The whole world is watching this war and the two adversaries; the Islamic nation on the one hand, and the United States and its allies on the other.”

“Let the entire world hear me. Our hostility to the Great Satan is absolute…I conclude my speech with the slogan that will continue to reverberate on all occasions so that nobody will think that we have weakened. Regardless of how the world has changed after 11 September, Death to America will remain our reverberating and powerful slogan…”

“Undoubtedly, I say…with the support and power of God, we will soon experience a world without the United States and Zionism and will breathe in the brilliant time of Islamic sovereignty over today’s world.”

“It is our pride that the great Satan (America) and the head of despotism, corruption and arrogance in modern times consider us as an enemy…”

“America is the head of heresy in our modern world, and it leads an infidel democratic regime…that contradicts the way of Allah…America is the reason for all oppression, injustice, licentiousness, or suppression…We have the right to kill 4 million Americans…2 million of them children…Furthermore it is our right to fight them with chemical and biological weapons…”

“…to kill the Americans and their allies, civilians and military, is an individual duty for every Muslim who can do it in any country in which it is possible to do it…to comply with God’s order to kill the Americans and plunder their money wherever and whenever they find it. We also call on Muslim leaders, youths, and soldiers to launch the raid on Satan’s U.S. troops and the devil’s supporters allying with them…”

“Islamic governments have never and will never be established through peaceful solutions…”

“We must keep the hatred of America burning in our hearts until the moment of revenge arrives.”

It appears that to become westernized is not the first priority of Islam. By now it should be well known that Islam’s overriding priority is to rule the world with their religion and Sharia law. Their imperialistic aspirations leave no tolerance for infidels.

America recently celebrated the birth of their independence, the birth of a nation founded on Godly principles. Now we are placing in jeopardy that wonderful independence by allying with an ideology that denies the ‘God of our fathers.’ We are allying with an ideology that appeared 600 years after the words of Christ.

“For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book…” Revelation 22:18

We are allying with an ideology that flatly denies Christ was even the Son of God. From the Koran:

“They said, ‘The Most Gracious has begotten a son!’ You have uttered a gross blasphemy. The heavens are about to shatter, the earth is about to tear asunder, and the mountains are about to crumble. Because they claim that the Most Gracious has begotten a son. It is not befitting the Most Gracious that He should beget a son.” Surah 19:88-92

This administration is indeed playing with fire. Our foolish quest for political correctness is leading us to ally with a people whose primary goal is our annihilation.

Many have said that an initial warning was sounded loud and clear when our current president took the oath of office as he boldly proclaimed, “I, Barack Hussein Obama…”

Making God Laugh

We have stressed in recent months the necessity and imminence of God’s wrath on those who take Him lightly. Does God ever laugh, and if so what does the Bible say it takes to make God laugh. King David and his son Solomon addressed this issue in the Psalms and Proverbs.

The Hebrew word for laugh is sachaq which translates to deride, play, scorn, mock, or to make sport.

Firstly, God laughs at those who are hostile towards Him and His people. Those who hate God are termed evildoers. King David writes:

“Do not fret because of evildoers…for they shall soon be cut down like the grass…do not fret because of him who prospers in his way…Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret – it only causes harm…The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth. The Lord laughs at him, for He sees that his day is coming.” Psalms 37:1-13

When David was being pursued by those who tried to kill him before he was anointed king, he wrote to explain how God would deliver him from his enemies. David’s enemies didn’t believe God would notice them or their transgressions.

“Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; defend me from those who rise up against me. Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloodthirsty men. For look, they lie in wait for my life; the mighty gather against me…You therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to punish all the nations; do not be merciful to any wicked transgressors. At evening they return, they growl like a dog, and go all around the city, indeed, they belch with their mouth; swords are in their lips; for they say, ‘who hears?’ But You, O LORD shall laugh at them; you shall have all the nations in derision.” Psalm 59:1-8

King Solomon addressed the issue of those who do not fear God and refuse His wisdom. Such are called simple, scorners, and fools and attempt to ‘reason’ their way through life.

“Wisdom calls aloud outside; she raises her voice in the open squares. She cries out in the chief concourses…She speaks her words: ‘How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?’ For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge. For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them…Turn at my rebuke; surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, because you distained all my counsel, and would have none of my rebuke, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, when your terror comes like a storm…” Proverbs 1:20-27

And then there are those who deny the sovereignty of God in the affairs of men and nations. They take God’s plan for the future lightly. Such men and nations are developing their own plans for dealing with Israel and Israel’s enemies. They not only deny God’s sovereignty, but also His omniscience. They totally discount the proclamation that Christ will some day rule the nations with a rod of iron from Jerusalem. Such will not be dealt with lightly.

“Why do the nations rage and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, ‘Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.’” Psalms 2:1-3

“He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the LORD shall hold them in derision.” Psalms 2:4

“Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure: ‘Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree:’ The LORD has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’” Psalms 2:4-9

“Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little…” Psalms 2:10-12

It becomes clear that God’s laughter cannot be separated from His wrath, i.e. those whom He laughs at during this age become the recipients of His wrath at the end of the age. He laughs at those who do not take Him seriously, He laughs at those who persecute His people, He laughs at those who reject His wisdom, He laughs at those who reject His plan for the nations, and He laughs at those who deny the deity of His Son. In other words, God laughs at those who insist on doing it ‘their way.’

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Proverbs 16:25

Therefore, any common person, leader, or nation that finds they are being laughed at by God for any of the above reasons will discover that it is not really very funny.