Is This the Calm before the Storm?

Barry Borthistle, Spiritual Entrepreneur – building a Biblical Worldview… 

bborthistle@shaw.ca

A Biblical Worldview has a radical effect on a person’s life.   

Biblical prophecy is approximately 1/3 of the Bible. Revelation 1:3 tells us that we are blessed (happy) if we do 3 things: 

 1) read it 

2) hear it   

3) obey it. 

Studies show that 52% of people today are living in the spirit of fear.

Hamas attacking Israel on October 6, 2023 has haunting memories of the war of 1967. Both wars began on Yon Kippur, the most sacred day in the Jewish faith, also known as the Day of Atonement. For Israelis, Saturday’s surprised assault from Gaza was a recurring nightmare, coming 50 years and a day after invading forces from Egypt and Syria caught Israel off-guard, setting off a 19-day war that has long traumatized the nation.

Israeli television channels and newspapers have been filled in recent days with the commemorations of that war and many Israelis on Saturday saw parallels between the attack unfolding around them and the events decades earlier. That war also began on the Sabbath, with sirens wailing across the country on October 6, 1973 on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.

On October 6, 2023 many Israelis had been planning to celebrate the holiday of Simchat Torah. Instead, the armed wing of Hamas, the Islamic group that controls Gaza, fired thousands of rockets toward Israel. Simultaneously, reports flooded in of a major breach of Israel’s fortifications along its border with Gaza, the Palestinian coastal enclave that Israel and neighboring Egypt have kept under blockade for 16 years, citing security reasons.

Unverified images soon began to emerge of heavily armed Palestinian militants entering Israeli border communities in pickup trucks, on motorcycles and in at least one case crossing the fenced border by paraglider. Gruesome unverified videos began to circulate, purporting to show the bloodied corpses of Israeli soldiers and of hostages taken into Gaza. Terrified Israeli residents in border villages phoned in to local television stations from safe rooms. Speaking in whispers, they pleaded for help and said they could hear the militants outside or even inside their homes.

Israel was prophesied to become a nation in one day (Isaiah 66:8). This was fulfilled on May 16, 1948. Since then, Israel has fought 8 wars and won all 8, AGAINST ALL ODDS. Westpoint Academy will not teach the strategies of any of these victories because there is no explanation. The explanation obviously is God.

1.   Israel is about the size of the state of New Jersey with a population of about 9 million people.   

2.   God chose the boundaries of Israel. The UN did not choose the boundaries (Numbers 34).

3.   Israel is mentioned over 2500 times and Jerusalem is mentioned over 800 times in the Bible.

4.   It has been calculated that Abraham was born 1948 years after Adam. Israel became a nation in 1948, in one day, after 2000 years in exile. That day was May 16, 1948 (Isaiah 66:8).

5.   “The Economist” ranked Israel as the 4^th most successful economy among developed countries for 2022.The IMF estimated Israel’s GOP at US$564 billion its GDP per capita at US$58.270 in 2023 (13^th highest in the world), a figure comparable to other highly developed countries.

Biblical Prophesies – End Times

There are many End Times signs in the Bible, 12 of which are included in this article. Some may be new to you. The Word of God is basically divided into 3 parts: past, doctrine, prophecy.

Please consider the coming woes that will happen. Jesus Christ Himself said events will happen and all are happening today: 

1.   “Take heed” (to be aware).  Matthew 24:1-14

“Heed” is a present imperative, meaning a command to do something which involves continues or repeated action.

2.   False prophets; Matthew 7:15-20

3.   Apostasy – some shall wax cold. Many say that the church today is the Laodicean church; Rev. 3:14-22

4.   Wars and rumors of wars. 32 wars happening today involving about 2 billion people. Rumors of wars: China – Taiwan;  Iran – Israel

5.   Famines – 20% of homes in the world today suffer food shortages; a million people are on the brink of starvation (Oxfam)                                       

“We are facing the worst famine in 50 years”.  World Vision         

Global famine is now over 1 billion and is getting worse (W.H.O.)

6.   Earthquakes – about 20,000 in 2022 or about 55 every day (National Earthquake Centre)

7.   Pestilence, Pandemics, Plagues 

What does the Bible Teach about Pestilence, Plagues and Global Pandemics?                 

By Joel C. Rosenberg, Founder and Chairman of The Joshua Fund

"While the term “pandemic” is a modern term and never used in the Scriptures, the Bible does use ancient Hebrew and Greek words for ‘pestilence’ and ‘plagues’ at least 127 times. While not every uses of the words, ‘pestilence’ and ‘plagues’ in the Bible refers to a terrible, infectious disease, many of the references do. Throughout the Bible, we see repeated examples of God using diseases to accomplish His divine and sovereign purposes. = There are also Biblical prophecies that warn us that God intends to use terrible, infectious disease to accomplish His divine and sovereign purposes in the future.

What are God’s sovereign purposes for using such terrible disease?

·      Executing divine judgment on an individual, a nation, or many nations for chronic, unrepentant sin.

·      Warning other individuals and nations that they, too, could face divine judgment for chronic, unrepentant sin.

·      Shaking an individual, nation or many nations so that they will wake up from spiritual slumber or rebellion, repent or their sin and turn in faith to a holy, personal, biblical, healthy relationship with God.

Repeatedly in the Bible, God explains that in His mercy He will shake individuals and nations in a desire to get our attention and draw us to Him.

·      In Amos 9:9, the Lord God says, “I will shake the house of Israel among all nations.” 

·      In Haggai 2:7, the Lord God says, “I will shake all the nations.”

·      In Hebrews 12:26, we read, “And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “yet once more I will hake not only the earth, but also the Heaven.”

 The last two plagues will destroy our world as we know it today. The greatest, most powerful earthquake the world has ever seen and will destroy every mountain and every island with hailstones of 100 pounds or more; Rev. 16:17-21. This occurs at the end of the Tribulation Period, Jesus said in Matt. 24:6-8: After the seven signs, Jesus gave these words, “Do not be troubled, but these must come, as these are just the beginnings of sorrows (birth pains).”

Persecution

Jesus also tells us that in the End Times there will be persecutions; Matt. 24:9 Paul was writing from jail, telling us the same thing in II Timothy 3:11.

Open Doors 2023 World Watch List: What persecution Christians face (sobering content). Christian persecution has grown alarmingly.

·      Globally, more than 360 million Christians suffer at least “high” levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith.

·      In 1993, Christians faced high to extreme levels of persecution in 40 countries, this number has nearly doubled to 76 countries in 2023.

·      In the top 50 alone, 312 million Christians now face very high or extreme levels of persecution.

·      Worldwide, 1 in 7 Christians now experience at least ”high” levels of persecution or discrimination; with 1 in 5 in Africa, 2 out of 5 in Asia, and 1 in 15 in Latin America.

One of the most important chapters about End Times in the precious Word of God is II Timothy chapter 3.

v. 1-9 signs of the Last Days; Paul gives us 18 signs calling them perilous or stressful – miserable – evil shall come (to show itself) to all who are present – worldwide today.

v. 5 gives the reason there is a form of godliness but we are denying (refuse – to disavow – to reject the power (dunamis, meaning miraculous, miracle, wonderful work

The power is the Word for the Holy Spirit which Jesus Christ promised in His last words before He ascended to Heaven; Acts 1:7,8

According to Barna and others, about 58% of Christians do not believe that the Holy Spirit is God. 

v. 10-17 how to live in End Times. Paul tells us how to live a Godly life. But we will suffer persecutions and how we need all of the Scriptures because they are given by inspiration of God. 

“Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.”  Ps. 119:11. This verse was given to me by my parents when they gave me my first Bible at the age of 8.

The vital importance of repentance; I John 1:5-10. Please see my article on my webpage entitled, “What Happened to Repentance?”

Zechariah 14:16; “And it shall come to pass, that everyone that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to hear to worship the King, the Lord of hosts and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles."

v. 1 the day of the Lord begins at Armageddon

Hamas attacked Israel on October 6, 2023 killing a thousand or more and Israel calls this their 9/11. Percentage wise, if this occurred in the U.S., this would be approximately 35,000 killed.

v. 12-15 the people that come against Israel will have their flesh melt away (possible nuclear war)

In the Word of God, Egypt represents the sinful life. Egypt symbolizes the sinful powers of the world and ultimately fails. 

v. 16-19 All the nations come to Jerusalem to worship the Lord.  And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord. 

a) Shall go up from year to year to worship the King; instead of coming to Jerusalem for battle, now the nations come to honor God and to remember His faithfulness to Israel in the wilderness by keeping the Feast of Tabernacles. Jesus told us to go to the end of the earth with the Gospel in the millennium he earth will come to Jerusalem to worship and honor God.

b) Whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem… on them there will be no rain. God won’t ‘make’ people worship Him during the millennium, but the advantages of worshipping and honoring God will be more evident than ever.

c) If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain. Egypt is specifically mentioned because they were a nation not especially dependent on rain, yet they too would be punished if they were disobedient.

A Feast for All People

Tabernacles is unique, however, in that the nations also were invited in ancient times to come up to Jerusalem at this season to worship the Lord alongside the Jewish people. This tradition first arose from the command given to Moses that Israel should sacrifice seventy bulls at Sukkot, which were offered for the seventy nations descended from Noah; Numbers 29:12-35

When Solomon later dedicated his temple at Sukkot, he also called on the Lord to heart the prayers of all the foreigners hat would come there to pray (II Chronicles 6:32,33). Thus, Jerusalem and the Temple itself were destined from the start to be a “house of prayer for all nations.” (Isaiah 56:7; Matthew 21:13).

A second unique aspect of Sukkot is that it is a feast of joy. It is a fall harvest feast to be marked with great rejoicing in the ingathering of the fruit of the land. Israel also was called to instruct the nations in the laws of God and the people were to take joy in this task. Thus, Sukkot also serves as harbinger of the joyous last-days ingathering of the nations.

This is amazing:

For the last 35 – 40 years at the invitation of the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem 90 countries accepted the invitation in March of 2023 and included:

1.   Egypt

2.   Iran

3.   Indonesia

4.   Fiji

5.   North Korea

6.   Turkey

7.   Algeria

 Jesus said that only Father God knows the exact time that He will return. “The days will be like the days of Noah”; Matthew 24:36-44. What were the days of Noah like? They included three major acts of rebellion:

·      Anti-God

·      Sexual immorality

·      Violence – Hebrew word for ‘hamas’….  Sounds just like today!

God was sorry that He had created mankind because there was so much sin. But in His mercy, He gave mankind 120 years to repent; Gen. 5:18                                                                                                                   

No one knows for sure, but it is estimated that anywhere from 1 to 4 billion people lived during that period. The results were that only 8 people repented. We do not know the timing of His return and that is why prophecy is so important.

The Coming of Jesus Christ

Just like the flood in Noah’s day when only 8 people were prepared, Paul tells us that the coming of Jesus Christ is a mystery (secret) and it will be in a moment in the twinkling of an eye; I Cor. 15:51-58 

Paul also tells us that the dead in Christ shall be caught up first and those alive on earth will follow; I Thessalonians 4:13-18

Here is the state of society when Jesus Christ returns for His bride, the Church:

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses,” Matthew 6:14,15.

Some religious people will be lost; Luke 13:25-27

“Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils and in thy name done many wonderful works?

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity (Matt. 7 21-23.)”

Salvation requires entering; Luke 13:24

“Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the age and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be which go in thereat;

Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Matt. 7:13,14).”

Question:  Are you ready for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?

The Place of China in the Last Days

China is not named in the Bible but appears to be by 1) location and 2) an army of 200 million men. They are the only one in the world.

“And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand; and I heard the number of them. And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone. And the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouth issued fire and smoke and brimstone. By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.”              . 9:16,18

“And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared (Rev. 16:12).”

The River Euphrates is drying up at a startling rate and could be completely dried up by 2040.  (Iraq Ministry of Water Resources)

China is writing a new Bible calling Jesus Christ a sinner which includes a command to serve the Communist party.   (CBN News)

We Are the Apple of God’s Eye

What Does it Mean to Be the Apple of God’s Eye?

The apple of one’s eye is a very sensitive place and therefore very protected. Think about your own eye for a moment. What happens if something flies in it or toward it? Your eyelids reflexively close, you head turns and your hands position themselves to ward off the threat. Our eyesight is valuable and our body naturally protects that vulnerable spot to prevent injury.

The prayer in Psalm 17:8 is for God to keep guard over us as He would the pupil of His own eye. And the description of God’s care for His people in Deuteronomy 32:10 emphasizes Israel’s vulnerability and God’s tender, loving affection. God provided complete protection; His people were a priority. In the “howling wilderness”, God provided manna for them to eat, water from a rock and safety form their enemies. His care was as automatic as if He were guarding the center of His eye form harm.  What a loving God we serve.

There are only 2 things that are the apple of God’s eye:

·      Israel – Deut. 32:10

·      God’s Word – Prov. 7:2

The word ‘apple’ in Hebrew means ‘pupil’. “The pupil of the eye is what let’s the light come into your brain.”  ~~ Cleveland Clinic 

So, the instruction in Proverbs 7:2 is to hold godly wisdom in high regard as the valuable thing it is.

What should be our response?

1.   We should bless Israel – Gen. 12:2,3.  The result:  promises to Abraham are ours today – Galatians 3:28, 29

2.   Pray for the peace of Jerusalem – Ps. 122:6-8

3.   The spiritual authority that the Lord gives to us for Him to heal our land is awesome.  The word ‘heal’ means (like a physician or divine intervention). 

“If I shut up heaven that there be no rain or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Now mine eyes shall be open and mine ears attend unto the prayer that is made in this place.” II Chron. 7:13-15

The vital importance of a Biblical worldview especially in End Times. The Bible predicts the internet…. 

“And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth to of the bottomless pit shall make war against them and shall overcome them and kill them.

And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also or Lord was crucified.

And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and a half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves:”. Rev. 11:7-9

Who are the two witnesses in the Book of Revelation?

In Revelation 11:3-12 is a description of two individuals who will help accomplish God’s work during the tribulation: “I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth” (v.3).  Nowhere does the Bible identify these two witnesses by name, although people through the years have speculated.

The two witnesses in Revelation will have miraculous powers to accompany their message (Rev. 11:6) and no one will be able to stop them in their work (v. 5). At the end of their ministry, when they have said all they need to say, the beast will kill them and the wicked world will rejoice, allowing the bodies of the fallen prophets to lie in the streets (v. 7-10). Three and a half days later, however, God’s two witnesses will resurrected and in full view of their enemies, ascend to Heaven. (v. 11-12)

The Bible does not name the two witnesses, but most people believe it is Elijah and Enoch, because they are the only two men that never died. Moses could possibly be one of them as well.

CONCLUSION:

Israel is mentioned over 2200 times and Jerusalem over 800 times in the Bible. 

Could it be that the Lord is telling us that this is just the CALM BEFORE THE STORM? Could it be the fact that 90 nations accepted the invitation to participate in the Peace March for the Feast of Tabernacles in March of 2023, with many nations being anti-Jewish to perhaps mislead their intentions on October 6?

Zechariah chapters 11 to 14 tell us very clearly that all nations that come against Israel at The Battle of Armageddon will be defeated by the Lord.  Zechariah 14:1-4 tells us that in this day those who have accepted Christ return to the earth for the 1000 year period, when the feet of Jesus touches the Mount of Olives, which will split in two and the 1000 year reign will begin with those who have believed in Jesus. WHAT A DAY THAT WILL BE.

Final Thought: The decision where you will spend Eternity is made while we are living on earth. Think about that.

Shalom

Barry Borthistle