Israel and the Last Days
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· 22 viewsThe war between Israel and and Iran is sad. But some have come to the conclusion that it is apocalyptic. Could this be true? Is the War of Gog and Magog unfolding in the Middle East before our very eyes?
Notes
Transcript
Israel / Iran Conflict
The most recent Israel slash Iran conflict has gotten a lot of people up in arms not. People are very divided on the topic. This is not only true politically, but also theologically.
Along with the catastrophizing philosophies, and fears of a third World War, people have developed an entire biblical theology around this war.
For many years it has been common among evangelical denominations to focus on the importance of Israel in last day events. Of course those that have taken this perspective are very keen to take everything that's happening in the Middle East and try to find some prophecy associated with him.
Most recently, I've been sent videos about a particular interpretation of Ezekiel chapter 38 and 39. There are a lot of our Christian brothers and sisters who believe that these chapters are a description of what's going on currently. It behooves us to be aware of the common interpretations being presented within Christianity near us so that we'll know how to communicate and respond.
The purpose of this sermon is not to explain all the teachings that we do not agree with. Rather, my goal is to explain what teachings are prevalent and explain why we would not agree with those teachings. I'm only gonna give a quick bird's eye view of what I believe to be false teachings currently being presented. There's no reason to spend a lot of time explaining false theology.
I'll spend most of this sermon teaching accurate theology. I'll explain why Israel has no major significance in last day events.
Buckle your seat belts, because I'm gonna try to attempt a lot of somewhat complex theological teaching in this short sermon.
Popular Modern Interpretations
Popular Modern Interpretations
Gog and Magog
Gog and Magog
And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
This verse is
clearly about the end
of the world.
I just preached
on this verse last week
if you want more context
and you missed that sermon
YouTube.
I taught that,
this happens at
end of millennium
begging of hell.
What is currently being taught
is that the current
Israel/Iran conflict
is the beginning of the
great final war of
Gog and Magog.
This is based on teaching
from Ezek 38-39.
The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him and say, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. And I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great host, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords. Persia, Cush, and Put are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all his hordes; Beth-togarmah from the uttermost parts of the north with all his hordes—many peoples are with you.
This is a prophecy about
a great war in Israel.
Enemies:
Gog of Magog
Meshech
Tubal
Persia
Cush
Put
Gomer
Beth-togarmah
When is the war?
Where is the war?
After many days you will be mustered. In the latter years you will go against the land that is restored from war, the land whose people were gathered from many peoples upon the mountains of Israel, which had been a continual waste. Its people were brought out from the peoples and now dwell securely, all of them.
All of these nations
come to fight in Israel.
End of the prophecy,
Israel wins...
Question:
When does this prophecy happen?
These modern teachers
emphasize the words
in this passage.
“In the latter years.”
They teach,
this is in the last day.
They connect it with Rev 20.
They claim these nations are:
Russia,
Iran,
Ethiopia
Others.
You can see...
war between Iran and Israel...
Iran and Russia are allies
it is last days...
It is all coming true!!!
Unfortunately...
IT IS NOT!
This is misinterpretation.
good-hearted teachers
confused.
And this phrase,
“the latter years”
does not always refer
to the end of the world.
Look at these examples:
אַחֲרִ֥ית "יָּמִֽים׃"
אַחֲרִ֥ית "יָּמִֽים׃"
This literally means
future days
end days
latter days
days to come
And now, behold, I am going to my people. Come, I will let you know what this people will do to your people in the latter days.”
Balaam predicts
1st coming of Jesus
destruction of Edom
Is that the end of the world?
no.
Then Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in days to come.
talks about slavery in Egypt
Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab in the latter days, declares the Lord.” Thus far is the judgment on Moab.
Is the restoration of Moab
going to happen
at the end of the world
NO!
They don’t exist!
I suggest,
this prophecy
from Ezek 38 is
not significant for
end of the world.
Zionism and Dispensationalism
Zionism and Dispensationalism
As the decades past
Zionism and Dispensationalism
are quickly becoming
foundational theology for
many evangelical Christians.
Dispensationalism teaches
that God has worked on earth
in different manners
during different
time periods (dispensations).
Generally speaking
that is somewhat true.
But they take it further.
they teach that
during the OT
Dispensation for Israel.
During NT
Dispensation for Christian.
In the end
back to dispensation for Israel.
God calls Israel to him
they accept gospel
they believe in Jesus.
Jesus 2nd coming is in Israel.
Jesus rules on earth
Peace on earth
Millennium on earth
1000 year.
Zionism
Zionism
Because they believe
Israel is important
at the end.
Final dispensation is
for Israel.
They look at the OT prophecies,
prophecies about
everlasting covenant...
His people forever.
Restore their nation.
They believed that
for end to come
Israel needs to be
restored as a nation.
In 1948 -
Israel did re-establish
some level of sovereignty.
Problem is,
they don’t rule
the entire region
previously their nation.
There is war between
Israel is Palestinians.
Israel believes that
God promise this land.
Must have entire area.
Most of the last two millennia
Jews kicked out and
Palestinians living there.
They feel it is theirs now.
Many Christians teach
1948 partial fulfillment
prophecies of OT
final events of earth.
What must still happen:
Entire land for Israel
Sanctuary rebuilt
Priesthood re-established.
Sacrifices restored.
Big problems...
Dome of rock
Palestinians
Iran.
These theological ideas
are becoming political ideas.
Obviously,
US is ally of Israel.
US uses Israel to
manage and oversee
their concerns in the middle east.
These include issues like:
oil
political regimes
most recently
(nuclear weapon development programs).
Israel has been
armed by US
lots of money sent to them.
You are entitled to
your political views
on the topic.
The political issue
are becoming more complex
because they are beginning
to be major groups
motivated by theological reasons.
For many
US and Israel
not just about
political interests in Middle East.
Theological interests.
That muddies the water
especially when
theological conclusions
false interpretations!
The Rapture and Millennium
The Rapture and Millennium
This group usually believes:
Pre-tribulation rapture.
Those who are ready
don’t live through tribulation.
Taken to heaven.
Also believe
Millennium on earth
Peace on earth
after Jesus comes.
144,000
144,000
When they read passages
from book of revelation
about 144,000
12,000 from each
tribe of Israel.
They take this literally.
literal Israel
must be brought to truth
before end of the world!
Apocalyptic False System of Truth
Apocalyptic False System of Truth
All of this is
Apocalyptic False System of Truth.
Why???
There is a true system.
It focuses on
1st Beast
2nd Beast
Mark of Beast
Seal of God
Sanctuary
Great Controversy
Satan has come up with
yet another alluring counterfeit.
It is so alluring
many SDA people have
begun to believe that
Israel must have
end-time significance.
Let’s go to the Bible
see what it says:
True Teaching about Modern Israel and the End of the World
True Teaching about Modern Israel and the End of the World
First topic to address:
What is the Modern-day Theological Significance Israel?
What is the Modern-day Theological Significance Israel?
So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
Does God have
a special nation now?
NO.
God’s covenant is
with any person
from any nation
who believes
does what is right.
For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.
circumcision was
the way to
enter the covenant.
Now circumcision
does not apply.
No way to
enter the Abrahamic covenant.
or Mosaic covenant.
For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.
How do you enter
covenant now?
by faith.
We are all Jews
spiritual Israel.
What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law.
Israel failed covenant because
they focused on pure obedience.
They did not
experience righteousness by faith.
Like Christians of
New Testament
New Covenant.
for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
We are all spiritual Jews.
Part of Spiritual Covenant.
by faith.
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Summary
Summary
OT
God had covenant with
one nation (ethnic group).
Enter through circumcision.
Covenant tied to
Ownership of land
Priesthood
Sanctuary system
Sacrifices.
Davidic Linage of Kingship.
All of this was
said to be
eternal/everlasting/
covenant promises.
But God’s Covenant
had boundaries.
And it would
come to an end.
In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
God is clear.
There is an new covenant.
The old one is obsolete.
The old one was
God’s covenant with Israel.
That has ended.
So,
what is the modern
theological significance
of the nation of Israel?
NONE!
Furthermore,
the literal nation of Israel
hold not significance
for last-day events!
Unfulfilled OT Prophecies
Unfulfilled OT Prophecies
So what do we do
with all of those
OT prophecies
about Israel that
are unfulfilled?
Two Options:
Conditional Prophecies
Fulfilled Prophetically in Spiritual Israel
I suggest that
all of God’s promises
are conditional.
Look at this famous verse:
Most only quote
the first part:
And we know that all things work together for good
… second part
gives condition:
to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
All of God’s promises
are conditional
whether the condition
is stated emphatically or not.
This is true of all
except prophecies
that must occur
for the Great Controversy.
Example of Conditional Prophecy:
If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it. And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it.
If nation repents - no destruction...
Example Jonah and Nineveh.
If nation does evil
God will not fulfill promises....
Example Non-conditional Prophecy:
Second Coming.
Jesus will come.
He must come.
To Fulfill Great Controversy.
Not necessary
when
which covenant.
Apocalyptic Language About Israel in the New Testament
Apocalyptic Language About Israel in the New Testament
What about when
New Testament
Book of Revelation
Speaks of Israel
in prophecies
about end of world?
And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed, 12,000 from the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 from the tribe of Gad,
How can we
understand verse like these.
Same way we understand
Revelation Mentions:
Balaam
Balak
Jezebel
Babylon
Why does the
book of Revelation
refer to all of these names?
Symbolic.
God is saying
Remember this story
Remember this person
similar in last days.
Eschatological Timeline
Eschatological Timeline
As I mentioned
at the beginning
of the sermon.
The evangelical world has
been promoting a false
timeline of last-day events
Dispensationalism
Zionism
Pre-Tribulation Rapture
Millennium of peace on Earth
etc.
So,
What is the true timeline?
Not going to go
into much detail because
just finished sermon series
including last-day events.
If you want to know more
watch those sermons.
YouTube.
Simple Timeline:
2nd Beast Rise to Power
1st Beast Deadly Wound Healed
Alliance Between Beasts
Great False Revival
Tribulation and Persecution
Mark of the Beast
Seal of God
Seven Last Plagues
Glorious Second Coming
Wicked Living Killed
Earth Destroyed
Satan on Earth
Saints In Heaven with God 1000 years
End of 1000 Years
Wicked Resurrected
Satan Release from Prison
New Jerusalem Descends from Heaven
Wicked attack City (war of Gog and Magog)
Great White Throne Judgment
Hell
New Earth
Notice,
what is conspicuously missing?
Nation of Israel!
No Secret Rapture!
No Peace on Earth During Millennium!
Satan developed these
false teachings so
people will be confused
looking the wrong way
for last-day events.
Appeal
Appeal
Don’t be confused.
Don’t be distracted.
Don’t be deceived.
Israel Has Nothing to do
With Last-Day Significance.
We are not perfect.
We are broken.
We will continue to be led.
But we do
have truth about
last-day timeline.
Take it to the bank.
Have faith.
Believe His Prophets.
