This is going to be about putting out fires. There is a lot of nonsense being put out there surrounding the clash between Iran & Israel. Claims of connectivity are surfacing on the internet based upon faulty exegesis and a general misinterpretation of Scripture. I AM NOT ‘Mr Bible Answer Man.’ But I’ve been studying the passages related to the End Times….And I believe I am in good company as I address a couple of claims that vary widely from scholarly biblical-interpretation regarding eschatology.
CLAIM: What we are seeing right now is the beginning of the fulfillment of the Psalm 83 War.
This is a BIG FAT FALSE! – This is a grossly sloppy interpretation of future prophetic events. Scripture tells us clearly that the nation of Israel faces a tough road in the last days. It appears that there are two prophetic wars facing the Jewish nation before the return of Messiah Jesus. Most are aware of the famous Gog-Magog prophecies found in Ezekiel, chapters 38 & 39. The players are clear, even after about 2,600 years; Russia (in the view of many) / Turkey, Iran, some of the former Islamic Soviet Republics. However, Syria, Egypt and the Palestinians are pointedly missing! Yet we know from Micah 5, Isaiah 19, Ezekiel 31 and Obadiah that these nations will suffer devastating defeat after they come against God’s people in the end times. Many prophecy scholars have concluded that there will be a prior war in which Israel will be facing this inner-ring of Arab / Islamic nations: Syria, Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinians. After that, there will be a time of peace, after which Israel will face the infamous Gog-Magog invasion. They are basing this on Psalm 83. Now, there has been some debate over which specific countries may be involved, there exists general agreement on the vast majority of the ten listed peoples.
Here’s the scripture in question. “‘Come,’ they say, ‘let us destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more.’ With one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against you- the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the Hagrites, Gebal, Ammon and Amalek, Philistia, with the people of Tyre. Even Assyria has joined them to lend strength to the descendants of Lot. Selah” (Psalm 83:4-8) Edom refers to Jordan. The Ishmaelites are Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Moab again is Jordan. The Hagrites” refers to the Egyptians and possibly other North African peoples. Ammon yet once more refers to Jordan, Philistia is the Palestinians, Tyre is in Lebanon. Finally, Assyria takes in part of the areas of Syria, Iraq and Iran. Who can deny this is the purpose of these Arab / Muslim nations? Certainly not they! There is some disagreement as to the exact list but this is the general list. Irana, or Persia is NOT involved. And for the most part, the Arab nations of the inner-ring around Israel consider Iran to be a menace to peace and prosperity in the region.
Iran – (called by its’ ancient name, Persia in Ezekiel 38 ) – is part of the second round where it will be joined by Turkey, Libya, Ethiopia (possibly Sudan) and possibly Russia. Some scholars even see Germany as part of this alliance. NOTABLY, Ezekiel tells us that this invasion will take place when Israel is living in a time of peace, “unwalled villages” is the language used. That certainly is not the case today, SECONDLY, none of the Araba states – from the inner ring – are involved in the Magog War. They presumably were dealt with in the Psalm 83 War, creating this time of (false) peace for Israel.
CLAIM: Because he’s making peace: It is being suggested that Donald Trump might just be the Antichrist. I’ve seen this from multiple sources. And there is a scripture in the Book of Daniel that is used to support this claim. This notion comes from many of the same people that have propose in the past that we had likely entered the Tribulation. First, the scripture they use. “And through his shrewdness He will cause deceit to succeed by his hand (influence); He will magnify himself in his mind, He will corrupt and destroy many who enjoy a false sense of security. He will also stand up and oppose the Prince of princes.’ (Daniel 8:25) (AMP) It is through peace or security, that Ol’ AC will destroy many. Yep! All that is prophetically true of the future Antichrist. 1Thessalonians 5:3 even tells us, “For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.”
WRONG! This ignores the biblically assigned time for the start of the Tribulation. And it hasn’t happened yet! – Daniel 9 gives us the event that will signal the beginning of the 7-year long Tribulation. In verse 25 we are given the exact timing of Christ’s first coming. We’ve covered that before and it was accurate to the day, In verse 26 we are told that He will be “cut off” or killed. That happened on the Cross. What follows is the times of the Gentiles. And in verse 27: Enter the Antichrist. We’ll pick it up halfway through Daniel 9:26 and take it through 9:27. “And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined. 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.”
Yeah that’s a mouthful! This prophecy gives the exact timing of Christ’s first coming. The Jewish religious leaders knew this and expected Him in the first century. But they didn’t like the Messiah they got. So, Jesus was “cut off” or crucified. Then the Temple was destroyed thirty-some years later. Thus set in the “times of the Gentiles talked about in Luke 21:24. That period of Gentile control of Jerusalem – (and yes, Muslims still have effective control of the Temple Mount and portions of the Old City) – is still going on. Just as Jesus told us in Matthew 21:24, they were slaughtered and scattered and “trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” Chuck Missler points out that the Church was not present for the first 69 weeks of prophecy, nor will it be there for the 70th.[i] The already 2,000 year period, known as the “times of the Gentiles,” is but an interlude between that 69th and 70th week. The whole point of all of this is that the Tribulation starts with the signing of the covenant.[ii] And that is when all the exact timing sequences kick in.
Here’s an interesting bonus. It is at that time that the Temple will be rebuilt. Perry Stone reveals that Jewish scholarship shows that it would take exactly 42 months to fulfill the ceremonial requirements from the turning of the first shovel to the dedication of the Temple.[iii] Daniel 9:27 tells us that Antichrist shall “confirm a covenant with many for one week.” That’s referring to a seven year treaty, – 84 months. But verse 27 goes on, “But in the middle of the week, he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation.” Catch that: “on a wing of the temple?” 2Thesslonians 2:3-4 explains that “abomination that causes desolation” going on to reveal that when “the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition….he sits as God in the Temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” But notice the timing; – “in the middle of the week,” – half of 84 months is 42 months, – the exact time needed to dedicate the new Temple. It is also the exact time “given unto the Gentiles” to “tread under foot” “the holy city.” Interesting indeed!
[i] Chuck Missler, The Great Snatch, 1995
[ii] Chuck Missler, The Great Snatch, 1995
[iii] Perry Stone, The Pope, The Eagle And The Iron Sickle, Voice of Evangelism, 2006, pg 127
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