Zechariah 12 – Battle of Armageddon

Leave a reply

The burden of the word of the LORD against Israel. Thus says the LORD, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him: “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem.  Zechariah 12:1-2

The judgement of Israel has been fortold and has been fulfilled as Gods people rejected their Messiah Jesus, whom they crucified on a cross. As the prophet begins this message “the word of The Lord against Israel” , make no mistake about it, this is judgement by God upon Israel

The Lord himself, who became flesh and walked among us (John 1:14) also prophesied about this very moment in 70 AD when the Romans will destroy Jerusalem and the Temple

But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you will know that her desolation is near.  Luke 21:20

And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.  In that day,” says the LORD, “I will strike every horse with confusion, and its rider with madness; I will open My eyes on the house of Judah, and will strike every horse of the peoples with blindness.  Zechariah 12:3-4

This is also a future prophecy about the final battle of Armageddon, when all the nations, all the demonic forces of the world, will come against Israel once and for all to destroy her. As prophesied “ I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all people” Why does the world hate Israel? Why is their so much anti-semitism since the beginning of time?

Because Satan hates Israel, Satan hates Gods elect, Satan knows that the return of Christ is all centered around the restoration of Israel

And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.  Revelation 16:16

And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in the LORD of hosts, their God.’  In that day I will make the governors of Judah like a firepan in the woodpile, and like a fiery torch in the sheaves; they shall devour all the surrounding peoples on the right hand and on the left, but Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place—Jerusalem.  Zechariah 12:5-6

Even though Israel is a small nation, even though Israel is hated by the majority of the world, including the apostate “Church”, Israel will prevail because they are under the divine providence of God

There are many even reading this that may not like that, many want Israel to be destroyed forever, however God never breaks his promises or covenants!

“The LORD will save the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall not become greater than that of Judah.  In that day the LORD will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the one who is feeble among them in that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the Angel of the LORD before them.  It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.  Zechariah 12:7-9

Notice what God promises here, “I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem” How will this happen? The prophet Zechariah will reveal later in this book, but The Lord Jesus himself will return to the Mt of Olives and deliver Israel

You might say, how or why? Because God always had a remnant, an elect group of Jews that never bowed a knee to Baal, this is why Israel is always the center of all Biblical prophecy, because the return of Christ is centered around Israel

But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.  Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.  Romans 11:4-5

Are you poor in Spirit? Matthew 5:3

Leave a reply

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3

Is this a contradiction? How can we be poor and be blessed? Well first we need to understand what it means to be “poor in spirit”. T0 the world, to the carnally minded, they first reach for finances. To be carnally minded is death (Romans 8:6) We are all like sheep that have gone astray (Isaiah 53:6) We look to fill the needs of our flesh, but we pay no mind to our spirit or soul. Yet we are starving and on life support

To understand the condition of your spirit, is one of the greatest insights of wisdom you can obtain. Most don’t know they are already condemned (John 3:18) A sinner headed to eternal damnation, while they rejoice and laugh with the pleasures of the world, their time is running out. They are like sheep headed to the slaughter 

Oh to be enlightened by the Holy Spirit , to understand you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked (Revelation 3:17) without Christ . To understand you are a sinner in need of a Savior, is to be the most blessed in all the universe. When you understand your spiritual condition, you understand your need for Jesus! You understand you can’t go a day, a minute, or even a second without the Good Shepherd leading you through the valley of death (John 10, Psalm 23)

But what must a wretched sinner like me do to inherit the Kingdom of God? The Lord of Life says “You must be Born Again” (John 3:3) The glories of regeneration, when our dry bones were breathed upon and raised up into a New Creation in Christ You must be Born of the Water and the Spirit (John 3:5) says The Great I AM

Only Jesus can take the spiritually dead and make them alive in Him (Ephesians 2) when you experience this, you are blessed beyond blessed. You went from an enemy of God to a child of God, yours is the Kingdom of Heaven, because Christ lives! Amen!

Saved Today, Condemned Tomorrow?

1 Reply

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Hebrews 13:8

Do you remember the day you were saved? Do you remember when the Father drew you to the Son? Do you remember when the Holy Spirit regenerated you and made you a new creation in Christ? If you are a Child of God, you probably remember this day like it was yesterday

If you have never been Born Again (John 3:3) then please, get on your knees and give your life to Jesus Christ today! The Lord is faithful and all His works on the cross are sufficient for our salvation! Unless you are Born Again, you wont see the Kingdom of God

However as the walk with Christ presses on, you find that its not easy being a Child of God. You find out that you will need to deny yourself , carry your cross , and follow our Master just as He said (Matthew 16:24) And some days you wondered if you were ever saved at all! 

The good news friend is our Lord is the everlasting God, He was in the beginning at Creation (John 1:1-3) and He will be with us till we come into glory! Our Lord does not change! Jesus is the same today, yesterday, and forever! If you were sealed by the promise of the Holy Spirit today, you are still sealed by God tomorrow (Ephesians 1:13)

Some just can’t accept this Grace and Mercy of our Father in Heaven. They toil night and day trying to earn their salvation, they agonize that today they might have lost grace. Please don’t fall into the pit of false religion, its where Satan loves to dwell, to torture the lost sheep

Instead put your true faith in the Good Shepherd, Christ has never lost one of his sheep! (John 10:28) Never! There hasn’t been one sheep that was lost by the Great Shepherd, or God must be a liar. Friends, if we are able to lose our seal of the Holy Spirit, they we are all doomed, because nobody is worthy of Gods grace and salvation

Put your trust in the finished works of our Master, when He said “Teltelestai” meaning “It Is Finished (John 19:30) Your sin is forgiven, the atonement has been paid, you are a regenerated Child of God, no longer a slave to sin but part of the body of Christ, (1 Corinthians 12:27) Amen!

Zechariah 11- The Anti-Christ

Leave a reply

And the LORD said to me, “Next, take for yourself the implements of a foolish shepherd.  For indeed I will raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for those who are cut off, nor seek the young, nor heal those that are broken, nor feed those that still stand. But he will eat the flesh of the fat and tear their hooves in pieces.  “Woe to the worthless shepherd, Who leaves the flock! A sword shall be against his arm And against his right eye; His arm shall completely wither, And his right eye shall be totally blinded.”  Zechariah 11:15-17

Who Is The Anti-Christ? While we don’t know exactly who the Anti-Christ will be, we know there will be one, raised up as fortold by the prophet Zechariah here. “Take for yourself the implements of a foolish shepherd” 

In the previous verses, the prophet Zechariah foretold that Israel would reject and kill the true Christ, our Good Shepherd, Our Lord Jesus, who was sold for 30 pieces of silver. Now God has given them over to their depravity and they will choose a false Messiah, an Anti-Christ, that will promise peace but bring utter destruction, and raise themself up as God

Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,  who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.  2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

Also foretold by the Apostle Paul, let nobody deceive you! Just as foretold by the prophets, just as foretold by our Lord Jesus himself (Matthew 24:5) the Apostle Paul foretold the Son of Perdition, the Man of Lawlessness, the Anti-Christ is coming!

While many “Anti-Christs” have come into the world (1 John 2:18) There will be one, “who exalts himself above all that is called God” and the Anti-Christ “sits as God in the Temple of God, showing himself that he is God”

Many scoff at these writings and warnings, but don’t be deceived , the Holy Spirit has revealed these mysteries to you! 

For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north;  Isaiah 14:13

This has been Satan’s plan since the beginning of time, to exalt himself as God, to elevate himself as The Lord Almighty. Don’t be deceived when the Anti-Christ comes to exalt himself and blaspheme our Lord Jesus

Why do you think the world is the way it is? Because the entire world is under control by the evil one (1 John 5:19) Don’t fall under the deception of this world, don’t conform to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2)

All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.  Revelation 13:8

The entire world will worship Satan, by the Anti-Christ, except who? Except those who have been washed in the blood of The Lamb, except those who’s names are in the book of Life, except those who are Born Again in Christ (John 3:3) and are victorious in Jesus! Amen!

Only Begotten Son- John 3:16

Leave a reply

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  John 3:16

Probably the most famous scripture in the Bible, maybe the most well known words in the world, however does the world understand this proclamation? Does the world understand the significance of the Only Begotten Son of God coming into the world to die for our sins?

Why would the immortal Creator become one of the creation, to suffer and die the most horrible death in our history? Because God so loved the world, because the Creator does love His creation. Even though the world curses his name on a daily basis, even though the world rebels in lawlessness on a daily basis, God wants all to come to repentance and be saved (2 Peter 3:9)

You might say God doesn’t love me! Look at the pain and suffering of the world, how can a loving God allow this to happen? First, God demonstrated His love towards, while we were still sinners, Chist died for You! (Romans 5:8) He gave His only begotten Son,how can you say God doesn’t love you, when he bled and died for you?

Your sin, your rebellion put Christ on that cross! Your sin brought the curse upon the whole world, that includes pain and suffering, your sin is the disease and Christ is the only cure! Why do you harden your hearts at the name of Jesus? Because your heart is hardened , you are deceived by the Father of lies , Satan (John 8:44) 

But whoever believes in Him, in who? In the Only Begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ, whoever puts their faith in Christ for salvation, whoever puts their trust in the finished works of Christ on the cross, will have everlasting life! 

The head of the serpent was crushed (Genesis 3:15) sin, death, Hell, and Satan were all defeated at the cross! Thanks be to God for our victory we have in the Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, do you believe?