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©November 26, 2011 Revive Israel Ministries
Signs of the Times
by Asher Intrater
The
entire Middle East is in an unprecedented time of upheaval. The clashes are
between "old guard" dictatorships, militant Jihadist
groups trying to takeover, and liberal elements seeking freedom.
I Chronicles 12:32 – "the sons of Issachar who had understanding
of the times, to know what Israel ought to do."
The basic message of the Bible is timeless and universal. However, each apostle
or prophet presented his message with a certain perspective or emphasis relevant
to his generation and to the historical context concerning Israel, the Middle
East, and the Nations.
Abraham was called to leave Iraq and settle in Israel. Joseph was called to
lead the children of Israel into Egypt and administrate the government there.
Moses was called to lead the people out of Egypt; Joshua to conquer the land;
David to set up the kingdom; Jeremiah to prophesy the destruction of Israel
and the coming Exile; Ezra and Nehemiah to re-establish the remnant.
Yeshua (Jesus) and the disciples preached right before the destruction of the
Second Temple and the great Diaspora. (For this reason, Yeshua was compared
to Jeremiah – Matthew 16:14). That was the time for the gospel
to go out to the nations and the international Church to be established. Today
God is restoring the Messianic remnant within Israel (a development that affects
spiritually both Israel and the Church.)
Luke 12:54-55 – "Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west,
you say, 'a shower is coming'; and so it is. And when you see the south wind
blow, you say, 'There will be hot weather'; and there is."
Yeshua's point here is one of cause and effect. In Israel, the Mediterranean
Sea is located on the west side. If the wind blows from the west, obviously
humid weather will come. On the south side is the Negev desert. Therefore,
if the wind blows from the south, there will be dry, hot weather.
Just as there is cause and effect in the natural world, so is there cause and
effect in the spiritual world. What any person or any nation sows, they will
reap the proportionate result (Galatians 6:7). To discern
the times we live in, we must look at the spiritual causes and effects behind
the events in the political, economic, and military realms.
Meaning of Apostasy
excerpt from Francis Frangipane
"Let no one in any way deceive you, for [the day of the Lord] will not
come unless the apostasy comes first" (2 Thess. 2:3)
The apostasy has been described as a time of deception and massive falling
away from authentic faith in Christ. However, the original word for apostasy, apostasia,
in classical Greek literature, meant "a political revolt." From
this we understand that the End Time apostasy is not just a time of sinfulness
or backsliding; it is a time of open defiance and warlike aggression
against divine moral foundations. The apostasia is a political insurrection
against the laws of God.
This interpretation of the apostasy is not an isolated view. The NIV, RSV,
NEB and Philips translations all render apostasia as "the rebellion." The
Living Bible interprets the apostasy as the "great rebellion," while
the Jerusalem Bible assigns a proper name to this era: "The Great
Revolt."
As we consider the fulfillment of so many other prophecies, let us carefully
observe: mankind has entered an era of open revolt and outright rebellion---an
apostasy---against the moral standards of God.
For the full article, click here
(Look for the entitled “Ask of Me” (11-18-2011).
Prelude to World War II
Excerpt from Simcha and Bella Davidov
Hitler planned his military takeover of Europe in stages. First he turned
democratic Germany into a dictatorship. In October 1933, Hitler withdrew
from the League of Nations. In the months that followed, Hitler tripled
the size of the German Army and ignored the restrictions on weapons that
had been imposed by the Treaty of Versailles.
By 1935, when it was clear that no action was going to be taken against
Germany, Hitler decided to send German troops into the Rhineland, on the
border with France - an area demilitarized under the Treaty of Versailles.
The French government objected to German troops on their border, but didn't
want to take action without the support of the British. The British government
argued against going to war over the issue.
Hitler then moved to make Austria part of Germany. In March 1938, Austria's
Chancellor Schuschnigg, who opposed Hitler, resigned and was replaced by
Austrian Nazi Party leader Seyss-Inquart, who invited the German Army to
occupy Austria and proclaimed union with Germany the following month.
Hitler's next move was to take over the Sudetenland area in Czechoslovakia.
Hitler didn’t take no for an answer even when British PM Chamberlain told
him that plans to invade Czechoslovakia were unacceptable.
On September 29, 1938, Hitler, Chamberlain, French PM Daladier, and Italian
PM Mussolini signed the Munich Agreement which transferred the Sudetenland
to Germany. In return, Hitler promised not to make any further territorial
demands in Europe. Czechoslovakia's head of state protested, but on October
1, 1938, Germany invaded Sudetenland.
Chamberlain feared the devastation a modern war would bring on the western
world, and the possibility of a communist takeover. Hitler's words in private
after that meeting: "This fellow Chamberlain shook with fear when
I uttered the word war."
Hitler's next plan was to invade Poland. To do so, Hitler signed a military
agreement with Stalin. The Nazi-Soviet Pact took the world by surprise.
Fascists and communists had always been enemies. However, both Hitler and
Stalin were opportunists who sought to divide Poland among them. (Later,
Hitler broke this agreement and went to war against Russia.)
In August 1939, Hitler accused Poland of attempting to invade Germany by
having a group of concentration camp prisoners dressed in Polish uniforms
shot and then placed just inside the German border. That was Hitler's excuse
to invade Poland on September 1, 1939. World War II had begun.
For the full article, click here.
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