What's Happening in the Middle East?

Welcome to new readers, especially those who may have come only because of this weekend's message. As I explained in the beginning, it was pretty crazy of me to think that I could make sense out of the Middle East in a 30-minute sermon. At any rate, here's a little bit more of my research that didn't make the sermon cut:

1. Here's a listing of why I believe the Israelites are God's chosen people:

• They were chosen to receive, write down & preserve God’s Word
• They were to take the knowledge of how to know the true God to the nations.
• They were chosen as the race through whom the Son of God, the Redeemer of mankind, would be born.
• Physically, they are chosen as God’s nation. (Gen. 12:1-3)

For a fuller explanation of why we need to be standing with Israel, now and in the future, please check out Dr. Jack Hayford's column in the most recent issue of Ministries Today or his upcoming conference addressing this issue. You may also want to visit these websites for additional support: Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry; Christian Friends of Israel; or Christians United For Israel; and especially the Day to Pray that we will observe at CLC. As I mentioned in the message, most of us in America are quite naive about the wave of anti-Semitism that is growing around the world as well as the Biblical reasons we should be standing with Israel as a people. While I didn't have time to even mention it, you may also want to read Romans 11:11-24 for a fuller understanding of what God is doing with the Jewish people.

2. One of the more interesting discoveries I made recently (I'm not a prophet and I'm not saying that I agree with this - just that it is interesting to me) is the whole Islamic eschatology - i.e., the Muslim teaching from the Koran about endtimes. What I learned is that all Muslims - regardless of 'branch' such as Sunni or Shiite, etc. - have some common understanding and expectation that in the last days a Muslim 'messiah' will appear - the hidden Imam, or Al Mahdi.

According to Quran, Islam's holiest book, and Hadith, a collection of Islamic holy writings that supplement the Quran, a messianic figure will arise in the last days of history known as Al Mahdi. He, along with the 'Prophet Jesus,' will lead the Muslim believers to victory over the infidels (Christians/Jews)

• The word, Mahdi, means 'The Guided One.'
• According to Islam's holy writings, one day the entire world will be converted to Islam. Leading this revival will be the Mahdi, who will assume the role as the Islamic Messiah.
• Islamic tradition teaches that Jesus will return from heaven in the last days and follow the Mahdi into Jerusalem, where Jesus will deny he is the Son of God.
• Then, together the two will destroy the 'Cross' (Christianity) and kill the Jews who will be 'hiding behind rocks.' Afterwards Islamic justice will prevail and the world will submit to the rule of Mahdi, and Jesus.
• All branches of Islam teach re: Mahdi. All Muslims believe this!
• He will reign for around seven years, as co-ruler with Jesus (after which, an unspecified amount of time later, the last trumpet will sound and the final judgment will ensue)

There's a lot more, including some very specific descriptions of what the Mahdi will look like, etc. - but much of the rest is in dispute among the various branches of Islam. The facts that I've listed above are what they agree on. Interesting, to say the least, don't you think?

Here's a little more info about the current President of Iran and current news about Islamic jihad gaining steam in the world.

3. Here's the information I cited from Ezek. 36-39:

1. God warns that He will judge surrounding nations (all Muslim today) “who gave My land to themselves as a possession, with wholehearted joy and spiteful minds…” (Ezek 36:5)

2. God said He will restore Israel to the land He promised them even though they do not deserve it: “It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act … For I will take you from all the nations, gather you from all the lands, and bring you to your own land.” (Ezek 36:22, 24)

3. God predicts that Israel’s return will finally provoke a conflict that will end with the ‘war of Armageddon.’ The attackers will be led by a nation from Israel’s extreme north (Russia) that will lead a confederacy of surrounding nations and that chief among them will be Persia (modern Iran). (Ezek 38:1-6)

4. God promises that even though Israel will go through this holocaust, a believing remnant will be delivered and given all the covenants God unconditionally swore to them through their fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Ezek 39:21-29)

5. God promises this restored nation of Israel will never again be destroyed: They will live in the land of Israel where their ancestors lived, the land I gave my servant Jacob. They and their children and their grandchildren after them will live there forever, generation after generation. And my servant David will be their prince forever. (Ezek 37:25)

A good friend passed along this article from a talk by former CIA Director James Woolsey over 4 years ago and I also found it quite interesting.

Whew! I think that's enough for a while. Let me hear your comments and don't miss next weekend, "Does God Have a Plan for All Nations?"

Jerry