Christ is coming to reign on earth

  In parts 2 and 3 of this series, we laid out the likely participants in the battle that will rage over the land of Israel.  We separated these into two groups:    Against Israel - Russia and a confederacy of nations, styled in Daniel 11 as the King of the North  For Israel - The English speaking powers and some of the nations of the Arabian peninsula, styled in Daniel 11 as the King of the South  We showed how the north and south references came from the people occupying the territories north and south of Israel during the times of the Ptolemies and Seleucid empires and that these terms were then used to describe the nations that will occupy that same ground at the time of the end foretold in Daniel.     In Daniel 11 we have the following quote.     And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with m...

In part 2 of this series we discussed the probable identity of the invading army which is to come up and lay waste to the land of Israel as outlined in Ezekiel 38.  Now, in part 3, we will discuss those who will line up alongside Israel as their initial defenders. Let's read from Ezekiel 38 v 13.    Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?    We have here three different names to explore in terms of peoples. Let's dive in.    Sheba When we read Sheba, we immediately call to mind the visit of the Queen of Sheba to Solomon at the height of his reign. Unfortunately, the exact location of that ancient Kingdom cannot be determined with any certainty.     What we do know is that Sheba is also mentioned as one of Noah's de...

In part 1, we discussed the broad parameters of the times of the end and the global conflict that will ensue. By definition, if the conflict is global, it will encompass most nations on the earth. However, it's possible to identify the main players from scripture and to set out in broad strokes how things will play out. In this post, we will talk about those who are part of the invading army. In part 3, we will talk about the opposing army that supports Israel.    Before we do that, however, let's put all of this into its appropriate context.    The Kingdoms of men and the times of the Gentiles - Nebuchadnezzar's image  The times of the end is actually the times of the end of the era of the Kingdom of men, otherwise known as the times of the Gentiles. The return of Christ to the earth comes at a time of great violence in the earth but also with the intent of forever destroying the all the architecture of man's self government and the establishment of t...

  "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time" Daniel 12 v 1    A time of trouble such as never was.  Unprecedented. Unheard of.  Most likely unimaginable to mortal man. This is how Daniel chapter 12 opens. It provides a clue to the state of the world at the return of Christ. The reference to Michael in the bible is a prophetic reference to Christ himself.  Daniel 12 rolls on from Daniel 11 which talks about the contest over the land of Israel between the King of the north and the King of the south. We will talk at another time about the identify of the kings of the north and of the south as they change throughout the chapter. These kings represent great powers to the north and south of Israel over the time that Daniel reveals in prophecy, starting from the Greek Kingdoms of the Selucids and Pt...

In my last post I indicated that the Bible foretells a catastrophic turn of events for the nation of Israel still to come. I believe that this turn of events is shortly to unfold and that the trigger will have been the brutal actions of Hamas provoking a response from Israel that will eventually set the Middle East alight.  Israel has possession of the land for now but it is as temporary a possession as was the possession under the return of Cyrus. Israel of today is in a state of unbelief in the eyes of God just as it was in the days before the first captivity and in the days of the first coming of Christ to the earth.    Their possession of the land was conditional upon their continued obedience to God's will. Their disobedience resulted in their removal twice from the land of their fathers, a fulfilment of God's promise to them in Leviticus 26 v 27-33, an excerpt of which is below   And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me.....

Almost twelve years ago, I was Masada in southern Israel. I was listening to the tour guide describe the last stand of the Jews against the Romans in AD73. The Roman empire had besieged and destroyed Jerusalem and mostly captured and enslaved the inhabitants of the land. A few Jewish rebels remained, holed up in the fortress of Masada. The siege eventual overthrow of Masada marks the conclusion of the bloody and violent Roman conquest of the land of Judea.   The siege of Masada is often revered in modern Israel as "a symbol of Jewish heroism". Some Israeli Defence Forces inductees proclaim their loyalty to the Jewish state on top of Masada. Others take it at the Western Wall, the remnant of the sacred Temple in Jerusalem. The oath taken concludes "Masada shall not fall again."    The average Israeli today has an unflinching determination to protect their homeland, the place that they were given by God via the promises to Abraham, partially fulfilled in the conqu...