ISRAEL PROPHESIED TO CONTROL MID-EAST
By Rev. Ted Pike
It's not just Lebanon and Gaza being pounded by the Zionist military
machine. The West is also being hit. Daily, Zionist media bombards
western democracies with its propaganda. Their underlying message:
Since Syria and Iran empower terrorist attempts to destroy Israel,
why not take out Syria and Iran? Why not make the whole Middle East
safe for America and Israel by invading and subduing these two last
bastions of Arab resistance?
After all, Zionist media argues, America already invests heavily
in Afghanistan and Iraq. Subduing the entire Middle East under the
enlightened sovereignty of a "Pax Americanus" would finally
solve the Israeli-Arab problem, bringing Mid-East peace at last.
Coming "Peace and Safety"
Could the Middle East become so safe for Israel that no one would
dare resist her?
The Bible says it will happen.
In Ezekiel 38 and 39 the prophet foresees an astonishing scene.
The dispersed Jewish nation, forbidden by God to return to His holy
land except in national obedience to Christ, has nevertheless done
just that. In the “last days,” she has been "gathered
from many nations" (Ezek. 39:8) and dwells so safely she needs
no defenses. She thrives “at rest…securely…without
walls and having no bars or gates" (39:11). The Israeli military
has so subdued the Arab world that "no one makes them afraid" (39:26).
In fact, no one in the whole world threatens Israel.
Is God smiling on Israel in this future time? Hardly. Ezekiel sees
Israel living in peace yet so wicked God hides His face from her
(39:23)! She is "unclean…polluting the land" (Ezek.
39:23, 24, 29). She is “acting treacherously against God” (Ezek.
39:23, 26), “profaning His name” (39:7) “unclean
and transgressing” (39:24).
This vision sounds very like the bloody Israel of today, a nation
founded on ethnic cleansing and violent oppression. 1
What Ezekiel's Vision Means to Us
How does Ezekiel's vision relate to the present turmoil in Lebanon,
Gaza, and Iraq? First, it is a stunning description of what has already
partially happened in the Mid-East over the past century. A Christ-rejecting
nation established itself in God's holy land in defiance of His demand
for obedience. This anti-Christ, predominantly secular Judaic system,
now the world's fourth strongest military superpower, is rising to
dominate the entire Middle East, strengthening its unbiblical foothold
in a land consecrated to faith.
Assisting such dominion, America has become Israel’s tool
to subdue Arab opposition. Christian evangelicals should warn the
world of the approach of an anti-Christ Jewish system. Instead, they
subsidize and defend the US-Israel military machine that is even
now poised to add Lebanon, Syria, and Iran to its sphere of control.
Scripture prophesies Christians will be terribly persecuted by
a one world government, headed by a Jewish anti-Christ ruling from
Jerusalem. 2 Yet, far from dreading the day when Israel will wickedly
dwell in peace and safety, evangelical leaders do all they can to
hasten it. This week prominent Pentecostal televangelist John Hagee
calls for military strikes against Iran. 3
Massive Deception
Why are evangelicals so deceived?
Christ warned that in the last days deception would be so pervasive
that even God's elect, if possible, would be led astray (Mark 13:22).
Christian evangelicals have swallowed more than a century of unbiblical
teaching in favor of Israel and Judaism. From the red states to the
White House, evangelicals perpetually give Israel a green light to
dominate the Middle East. Today, it seems no Zionist atrocity can
shake their conviction that Israel, the "apple of God's eye," deserves
their unblinking support.
This blind approval will only end when the forces of international
Zionism finish exploiting Christian military, moral, and spiritual
naivety; then Zionism's true nature will emerge as it subdues and
persecutes the Christian church that brought it to power. Crushing
Christianity has been the hidden goal of Talmudic Judaism since the
Christian church was born. 4
Face the Forbidden Truth
What is to be done? As a starter, evangelicals should honestly
read Ezekiel 38 and 39, two chapters that powerfully predict the
rise of a bloodthirsty and anti-Christ State of Israel. To read these
chapters honestly, Christians must surrender their own desires for
socially rewarded beliefs, desiring truth first. They must seek the
enlightenment of the Bible's author, the Spirit of Christ. And they
must shelve the twisted interpretations of Israel-firsters like Hal
Lindsey, Tim LaHaye, and John Hagee. These phony interpretations
ignore many key Bible prophecies in Ezekiel 38 and 39 in order to
maintain Israel-first theology.
Led by their blinded guides, most evangelicals believe Ezekiel
predicts Israel dwelling in peace in the Mid-East as the object of
divine blessing. They say the Lord Himself restrains Israel's enemies
from coming against her.
Like the message of the false prophets to wicked Israel in the
Old Testament, this interpretation portrays Israel as largely undeserving
of judgment or “great tribulation.” Regathered by God’s
command, Israel is seen as nonthreatening to the world or Christians.
She remains highly favored by God, divinely protected from harm or
invasion by anti-Christ.
This view encourages evangelicals toward even greater support of
Israel: Since the state of Israel exists today by divine decree,
Christian nations of the west should do all they can to remove the
Arab threat and hasten Israel’s “peace and safety.” It
also blackens the name of God by saying His approval is bestowed
on a nation responsible for unspeakable evil. Does God bless the
Israel who rejected His sovereignty, brutally dispossessed the Palestinians,
and this summer alone has bombed fleeing villagers, viciously attacked
Lebanon and killed scores of innocent Arab civilians? Is the gentle
Jesus who said, "They who take up the sword shall die by the
sword," (Matt. 26:52) really the God of War, rejoicing in military
air strikes against the innocent civilians of Lebanon today, and
Syria and Iran tomorrow?
The Truth about Ezekiel 38 and 39
If you read straightforwardly the text of Ezekiel 38 and 39, you
find a very different message. These chapters clearly say:
God is very angry with the Israel of today and tomorrow. Ezekiel
sees the Jews in the latter days occupying Palestine in wickedness,
having used violence and deceit to subdue opposition worldwide. The
anti-Christ, or “Beast”, has co-ruled the world as Israel’s
false messiah, carrying the mother of harlots, Israel on his back
(Rev 17,18). He nevertheless lusts after her global riches. Why share
it when you can have it all? He invades Israel with his confederate
armies. He overruns Israel, giving the Jews “into the hand
of their enemies” and “into exile” (39:23). This
third great exile of the Jews from their Promised Land fulfills God’s
law that wicked Israel must be expelled from the land dedicated to
obedience. Even though God subsequently judges anti-Christ and the
nations from heaven in the battle of Armageddon, the anti-Christ
and his armies including the whole Arab world are God’s tool
to judge the most evil and oppressive system to ever burden this
planet.
It is only after Christ’s descent from heaven and judgment
on the nations that a remnant of surviving Jews are empowered to
believe in Him (Ezek. 39:22) and are led by His grace from exile.
In the first spiritually lawful entry into Palestine in over 2,500
years, Christ leads this remnant into the ancient Promised Land where
they live righteously under His rule for one thousand years.
Correct interpretation of Ezekiel 38 and 39 propels us to a terrifying
conclusion. In a world of political and military strife and competition,
no nation rises to a place of world impregnability without having
first ruthlessly subdued its rivals. This can only be done through
the most overwhelming ideological, political, economic, media, and
military power.
Today we see evil Jewish leaders wielding this kind of diversified
influence, not only in the Middle East but through control of governments,
finance and media throughout the world.
Facing the Consequences
Christian evangelicals, whom will you believe -- best-selling Biblical "experts" who
become multimillionaires because they tell Jews and Christians what
they want to hear?
Or will you believe a Book which cares only for the whole truth
-- the Bible?
Look again then, Israel-first evangelicals into the dreadful warning
of Ezekiel. Read these chapters and tremble. Be aghast at how you
and your fathers have empowered and blessed a system incredibly monstrous
in its intent to destroy you, your children, and Christian civilization.
And yet, having mourned, have the faith and courage to take a bold,
undreamt-of step of faith. Side with God. These Scriptures show us
He is angry at apostate, imperial Israel.
Be angry also -- and speak out!
Endnotes:
1 See my video documentaries, "Why the Mid-East Bleeds" and "Christianity
and Zionism: Unholy Alliance," available at www.truthtellers.org.
2 Many Biblical warnings of coming persecution of Christians at the
hands of apostate Judaism are found in my book, Israel: Our Duty,
Our Dilemma, also available at www.truthtellers.org.
3 "Rev. John Hagee Will Call on Bush Today for a Preemptive
Strike on Iran," Washington Times, July 20, 2006.
4 Both the Babylonian Talmud and Zohar, or "Kabala," contain
numerous expressions of ambition to eventually destroy Gentile and
Christian power. For such documentation, see my video, "The
Other Israel," available at www.truthtellers.org.
