Torah Reading

Deuteronomy 25:17–19 (ESV)

17 “Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you came out of Egypt, 18 how he attacked you on the way when you were faint and weary, and cut off your tail, those who were lagging behind you, and he did not fear God. 19 Therefore when the Lord your God has given you rest from all your enemies around you, in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven; you shall not forget.

The Haftarah (Prophetic Reading)

1 Samuel 15:2–3 (ESV)

2 Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt. 3 Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’ ”

Saul failed to execute Agag, the Amalekite king.

An Amalekite ended up killing Saul

500 years later, 16 generations later, an Amalekite by the name of Haman was born.

Haman was a govt official living in the kingdom of Persia.

Haman, King’s right hand man, everyone to bow before him, Mordecai, a Jew, wouldn’t bow. Haman infuriated and wanted to destroy all Jews. Asked the Persian king to make the law

Esther 3:13 (ESV)

13 Letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with instruction to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all Jews, young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods.

Haman ends up being executed on the same gallows he had created to execute Mordecai

TIMING OF THIS WAR -DIRECTLY COINCIDES WITH READING OF BOOK OF ESTHER AND COMMAND TO EXECUTE AMALAKITES, AGAG AND HAMAN

PURIM

Haman – descendent of Agag – (aka, amalakite)

War began (Ayatollah assassinated) on Saturday – Shabbat Zachor – “sabbath of remembrance” – word for the day about Amalek – wiping out the mention of his name

Also read that day – God’s word for Saul to wipe out Amalek

Haman sought the annihilation of Jewish people – just like Ayatollah

Haman builds gallows to execute Mordecai but same gallows used to execute Haman

Nuclear reactors built by Ayatollah (to kill Israel) – reason for Trump’s war on him.

Ayatollah slogan – Death to America, Death to Israel

Jeremiah 49:34–39 (ESV)

34 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah. 35 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the mainstay of their might. 36 And I will bring upon Elam the four winds from the four quarters of heaven. And I will scatter them to all those winds, and there shall be no nation to which those driven out of Elam shall not come. 37 I will terrify Elam before their enemies and before those who seek their life. I will bring disaster upon them, my fierce anger, declares the Lord. I will send the sword after them, until I have consumed them, 38 and I will set my throne in Elam and destroy their king and officials, declares the Lord. 39 “But in the latter days I will restore the fortunes of Elam, declares the Lord.”

1979 only 500 Muslim background Believers living in Iran (Christians)

Millions of Shia Muslims have left and become Christians – more than any other Middle Eastern nation – “GOD SET HIS THRONE THERE”

IRAN Eschatology – 12th Imam

Sunnis constitute approximately 85–90% of the Muslim population (about 1.7–1.8 billion), while Shia Muslims make up about 10–15% (200–300 million). Sunni Islam is the dominant branch worldwide, with majorities in most countries, while Shia populations are concentrated in Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, and Azerbaijan

IRAN against Saudis

2 targets – Israel and US (Great Satan, Little Satan)

Iran has attacked:

Turkey

Lebanon

Cyprus

Qatar

Iraq

Kuwait

Saudi Arabia

UAE

Oman

Bahrain

Azerbaijan

Iran – Persia/Elam in the Bible

Multiple prophecies – Jer 49:34-39

Ezekiel 38-39

Iran’s theology – Muslim – Shia, opposed to Sunni unless working together to overthrow Israel

Looking for the 12th Imam, the Mahdi (their Christ figure)

They believe the Mahdi will appear when the world is burning, being destroyed

They feel they may be called to blow up the place to usher in the Mahdi

View US as the Great Satan and Iran as the Little Satan

Ezekiel 38:1–6 (ESV)

1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him 3 and say, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. 4 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. 5 Persia, Cush, and Put are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 6 Gomer and all his hordes; Beth-togarmah from the uttermost parts of the north with all his hordes—many peoples are with you.

Gog – title/king;

MAP – includes Persia (Iran)

Ezekiel 38:4 (ESV)

4 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.

Hooks in the jaws (v. 4) God forcing Russia into the battle

Great host (army)

Ezekiel 38:7–9 (ESV)

7 “Be ready and keep ready, you and all your hosts that are assembled about you, and be a guard for them. 8 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. 9 You will advance, coming on like a storm. You will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your hordes, and many peoples with you.

v. 8 – regathered – land had been continual waste

VERSES PREDICTING ISRAEL BEING REGATHERED AS A NATION

Isaiah 11:11–12 (ESV)

11 In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea. 12 He will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

Jeremiah 31:7-9, 31-33, 35-38; Ezekiel 36-37

ISRAEL – will remain as long as sun and moon

Amos 9:14–15 (ESV)

14 I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit. 15 I will plant them on their land, and they shall never again be uprooted out of the land that I have given them,” says the Lord your God.

Jeremiah 31:35–36 (ESV)

35 Thus says the Lord, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— the Lord of hosts is his name: 36 “If this fixed order departs from before me, declares the Lord, then shall the offspring of Israel cease from being a nation before me forever.”

Isaiah 66:8 (ESV)

8 Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment?

May 14, 1948

Ezekiel 38:10-13 (ESV)

10 “Thus says the Lord God: On that day, thoughts will come into your mind, and you will devise an evil scheme 11 and say, ‘I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will fall upon the quiet people who dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having no bars or gates,’ 12 to seize spoil and carry off plunder, to turn your hand against the waste places that are now inhabited, and the people who were gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell at the center of the earth. 13 Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all its leaders will say to you, ‘Have you come to seize spoil? Have you assembled your hosts to carry off plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to seize great spoil?’

Coming for spoil –

MAP OF ALLIANCES

MAP – of invaders compare with

Map of Diplomatic ties post Abraham Accords

Ezekiel 38:14-16 (ESV)

14 “Therefore, son of man, prophesy, and say to Gog, Thus says the Lord God: On that day when my people Israel are dwelling securely, will you not know it? 15 You will come from your place out of the uttermost parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great host, a mighty army. 16 You will come up against my people Israel, like a cloud covering the land. In the latter days I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me, when through you, O Gog, I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.

Dwelling securely –

Israel – dealt with Gaza, dealing with Iran, also bombing Lebanon/ Hezbollah

Great army – “like a cloud covering the land”

God deliver Israel – God get the credit

Ezekiel 38:17-23 (ESV)
17 “Thus says the Lord God: Are you he of whom I spoke in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel, who in those days prophesied for years that I would bring you against them? 18 But on that day, the day that Gog shall come against the land of Israel, declares the Lord God, my wrath will be roused in my anger. 19 For in my jealousy and in my blazing wrath I declare, On that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. 20 The fish of the sea and the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the field and all creeping things that creep on the ground, and all the people who are on the face of the earth, shall quake at my presence. And the mountains shall be thrown down, and the cliffs shall fall, and every wall shall tumble to the ground. 21 I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Lord God. Every man’s sword will be against his brother. 22 With pestilence and bloodshed I will enter into judgment with him, and I will rain upon him and his hordes and the many peoples who are with him torrential rains and hailstones, fire and sulfur. 23 So I will show my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.

Iron Dome? Something more – torrential rains, hailstones, fire and sulfur

Ezekiel 39:1–6 (ESV)

1 “And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. 2 And I will turn you about and drive you forward, and bring you up from the uttermost parts of the north, and lead you against the mountains of Israel. 3 Then I will strike your bow from your left hand, and will make your arrows drop out of your right hand. 4 You shall fall on the mountains of Israel, you and all your hordes and the peoples who are with you. I will give you to birds of prey of every sort and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. 5 You shall fall in the open field, for I have spoken, declares the Lord God. 6 I will send fire on Magog and on those who dwell securely in the coastlands, and they shall know that I am the Lord.

God dealing – fire upon Magog and “those who dwell securely in the coastlands”

Ezekiel 39:7–8 (ESV)

7 “And my holy name I will make known in the midst of my people Israel, and I will not let my holy name be profaned anymore. And the nations shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel. 8 Behold, it is coming and it will be brought about, declares the Lord God. That is the day of which I have spoken.

Ezekiel 39:9–10 (ESV)

9 “Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and make fires of the weapons and burn them, shields and bucklers, bow and arrows, clubs and spears; and they will make fires of them for seven years, 10 so that they will not need to take wood out of the field or cut down any out of the forests, for they will make their fires of the weapons. They will seize the spoil of those who despoiled them, and plunder those who plundered them, declares the Lord God.

Make fires with the weapons and burn them – for 7 years? Nuclear?

Ezekiel 39:11–16 (ESV)

11 “On that day I will give to Gog a place for burial in Israel, the Valley of the Travelers, east of the sea. It will block the travelers, for there Gog and all his multitude will be buried. It will be called the Valley of Hamon-gog. 12 For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them, in order to cleanse the land. 13 All the people of the land will bury them, and it will bring them renown on the day that I show my glory, declares the Lord God. 14 They will set apart men to travel through the land regularly and bury those travelers remaining on the face of the land, so as to cleanse it. At the end of seven months they will make their search. 15 And when these travel through the land and anyone sees a human bone, then he shall set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the Valley of Hamon-gog. 16 (Hamonah is also the name of the city.) Thus shall they cleanse the land.

v. 14 – select professionals to clean up the waste (nuclear radioactive)

Ezekiel 39:21–22 (ESV)

21 “And I will set my glory among the nations, and all the nations shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid on them. 22 The house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God, from that day forward.

Open the eyes of Israel

144,000 Jews saved during the Tribulation – is this what God uses?

SKIP?

Ezekiel 39:25–29 (ESV)

25 “Therefore thus says the Lord God: Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel, and I will be jealous for my holy name. 26 They shall forget their shame and all the treachery they have practiced against me, when they dwell securely in their land with none to make them afraid, 27 when I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them from their enemies’ lands, and through them have vindicated my holiness in the sight of many nations. 28 Then they shall know that I am the Lord their God, because I sent them into exile among the nations and then assembled them into their own land. I will leave none of them remaining among the nations anymore. 29 And I will not hide my face anymore from them, when I pour out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, declares the Lord God.”

Ezekiel 38 – Israel dwelling securely in the land, unwalled villages

2 Main End Times Views

Pre-Tribulation Rapture – believe things are going to get worse, Christians raptured (caught up to heaven), nothing else needs happen before the Rapture.

Pre-Wrath or Post Tribulation Rapture View – things are going to get worse, we are going to go through at least part of the Tribulation, then after temple desecrated – rapture

LESSER VIEWS

Dominionist – Christians going to gain more and more influence and Christianize the world prior to Christ coming back

No rapture -

WHAT ABOUT THE UNITED STATES IN PROPHECY?

OPTIONS

1. Not listed (therefore disabled prior or tied up so as not to support Israel)

2. Referred to as the “coastlands” in Ezekiel 38 – and receive “fire down upon”

3. Referred to as Babylon or Daughter of Babylon (Revelation 17-18, Jeremiah 50-51)

SO WHAT?

Are you ready to meet Jesus?

1 John 3:1–3 (NIV84)

1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.

Are you prepared for difficult times?

War could be over quickly – and non-event for us in the US

OR

Cyber attack

Power outage/EMP (nuclear bomb detonated couple hundred miles in atmosphere)

Societal chaos

Proverbs 27:12 (NLT)

12 A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

PREPARED ROUND TABLE GROUP – THIS SATURDAY, 8AM AT THE J-HOUSE

John 14:1–3 (NIV84)

1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Luke 21:25–32 (ESV)

25 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

29 And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place.

Iran and the last days

ABIDING DISCIPLESHIP: “What God Is Saying Right Now”