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“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:19-20

Romans 3:9-26

The entire human race, apart from Jesus Christ, is in a completely ruined condition. The opening verse of our text sets forth this very conclusion, “they are all under sin”. The verses that follow expose the awful condition of the lost person and catalogs his evil condition.

Romans 3:9-26 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

First The ruined condition of the lost person:

1. He is dirty. (verse 10) “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:“

Since he is not righteous, in the eyes of God, he is an unclean person. All the lost are in this condition.

Isa 1:4-6 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

The description that is given in these verses describe a person with the disease of leprosy. A leper's skin can rot away with open running sores. But the condition being described is not one of outside skin, but the inside unclean state of the lost person's heart. It is the same type of description that Jesus Christ gave of the religious but very lost Pharisees.

Mat 23:27-28 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

2. He is darkened. (verse 11) “There is none that understandeth”

The lost man is also called “the natural man” in God's word. 1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. The things of God's spiritual realm can only be properly understood by a person that has received a spiritual birth from God. John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

3. He is dislocated. (verse 12) “They are all gone out of the way”

Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. God created man to walk in fellowship with him. But when Adam sinned, he chose his own way to live his life.

One of the descriptions used concerning Christians was “the way”. Act 9:2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. Act 18:25-26 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. 26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

4. He is depraved (verse 12) “there is none that doeth good, no, not one”

This does not mean that a lost person never does any real good in life, but it does mean that he cannot do any good works to earn a right standing with God. Eph 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Tit 3:5-6 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

Even a saved person cannot effectively serve God by the energy of the flesh. Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

5. He is dangerous. (verses 13-14) “Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongue have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:“

This is a description of one that even his speech is poisoned. This is one of the reasons the world is filled with such damaging speech.

6. He is destructive. (verses 15-16) “Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways:“

All the misery and heartaches we experience in this world is because of sinners. The description in verse 15 is certainly fitting, “their feet are swift to shed blood” Think of all the wars, even just the wars in this age and the lives being lost even at this time.

7. He is defeated (verse 17) “And the way of peace have they not known”

There is no hope of mankind ushering in peace in our sin plagued world. Real peace will occur only when Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, comes and establishes his kingdom on earth. Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

What a glorious event it was when Jesus Christ was born. Luk 2:13-14 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

8. He is defiant (verse 18) “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

This is one of the reasons why the lost human race continues in an evil pathway. They imagine they will never have to give an account for their behavior. But, sadly for them, a day of accounting will come but it will be too late for them to repent. Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

9. He is totally deficient. (verse 23) “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

To “come short of the glory of God” means the lost person completely comes short of the holiness of God, therefore, he is unable to stand in the presence of God.

10. He is doomed.

Rev 20:13-15 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The lost person has no hope of being right with God in and of himself. He will be cast into the lake of fire, to be forever separated from God. What a bleak picture is painted of the sinner and his sin.

UNLESS

Unless there is hope with God! And, praise God, there is hope with God!

BUT NOW

Rom 3:21-22 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

What a wonderful prospect there is now for the poor lost sinner. God has intervened on his behalf and righteousness can now be his. Hallelujah! Notice this also in verse 22, it is available “unto all and upon all them that believe”.

SECOND The restored state of the saved person:

1. He is saved by grace alone (verse 24) “Being justified freely by his grace”

Salvation comes to the lost sinner only by God's grace, God's favor. Eph 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. This means the sinner has no merit at all with God. But, God, in his loving mercy, has chosen to extend favor to a lost sinner and pay his sin debt on his behalf.

2. He is saved by grace alone through faith alone (verse 22) “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ”

The only thing a lost sinner can do is come to God in humble faith through Jesus Christ.

3. He is saved by grace alone through faith alone in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ alone (verse 25) “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;”

Jesus Christ's shed blood is God's propitiation. This means that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins is that which satisfies God's sense of justice for our sins. God is a just God and cannot just overlook our sins. But Jesus died on our behalf and in our place for our sins and God is now propitiated, that is God is now satisfied that our sin debt has been paid in full by Jesus Christ. In fact, God is so satisfied that our sin debt is paid that he perfects us forever through Jesus Christ.

Heb 10:10-14 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Praise God, what a sacrifice, what a Savior, what forgiveness, what perfection! Amen!

4. He is redeemed (verse 24) “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:“

Jesus Christ has purchased us unto himself out of the slave market of sin. 1Co 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

5. He is washed clean from his sins (verse 25) “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;”

The “remission of sins” means that the sins of the sinner have been removed. Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

Praise God, my sins are gone for surely I am that vile one but the pure blood of Jesus Christ has washed me clean. I am no longer dirty. Thank you Lord Jesus.

6. He is righteous (verse 25) “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;”

The sinner has had his sins placed on Jesus Christ and has had the righteousness of God placed on him. 2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

7. He is justified before God by God himself (verse 24) “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:“

Exploring Romans, John Phillips, page 68: “Because of man's ruined condition, salvation is based on a remarkable principle. We are to be “justified freely by his grace”. Notice the words “justified,” “freely” and “grace,” for they summarize the principle whereby God meets ruined man in all his need. Justification is here the legal and formal acquittal from guilt by God as Judge, and the pronouncement of the believing sinner as righteous in his sight. The verb is in the present continuous tense and thus indicates a constant process of justification in the succession of those who believe and are justified.”

Yes, the believing sinner has been taken to God's court and declared to be without blame before God in Jesus Christ. He is now no longer guilty of sin in God's eyes.

Yes, it is true. A poor lost and ruined sinner can be fully restored to our loving heavenly Father. Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

If you are unsaved, turn in faith to God and ask him to save you. Ask him right now!

Rom 10:8-13 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Email D. Lavell Lee

Ezekiel 36:16-38, 37:1-14

Ezekiel 37:1-2 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, And caused me to pass by them round about: and behold there were very many in the open valley; and lo, they were very dry.

Today is September 25, 2009. I have been studying for several days in making preparations to write messages concerning the nation of Israel. On today's Fox Net News it says “New world order at G-20 summit.” Yes things are changing at a rapid pace! During this UN summit, on September 23, 2009, President Obama spoke and during his speech he made prominent mention of the nation of Israel and the middle east peace process. Israel is in the news daily. There is little wonder about that. This world system is against God, therefore, this world system is against Israel as a nation and Christians as a people because both belong to God. Hear the words of Jesus Christ our Lord. John 15:18-20 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep your's also. But God is for his people and God will win and his people will be blessed to share God's victory and live with him forever. Our text is dated 587 BC, having been written some 2,596 years ago. How wonderfully reassuring it is to sit here just at this moment and know that the words spoken at that time have now at this time been fulfilled. Let us rejoice together as we visit over this passage of Scripture.

FIRST Israel is God's nation: Gen. 12:1-4 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. Exodus 3:6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob…. The nation of Israel originated in the mind of almighty God. Her purpose as a nation is stated at her very origin as stated in our above text. “and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” Through her Jesus came into the world. Matt. 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Through Jesus salvation is given to all who believe. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. From Genesis 12 through the rest of the Old Testament, the history of the ups and downs of Abraham's offspring is followed. Through all of Israel's history, the hand of God is with them and his hand is still with them today.

SECOND The sins of Israel led to their captivity: Ezekiel 36:16-18 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings: their way was before me as the uncleanness of a removed woman. Wherefore I poured my fury upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land, and for their idols wherewith they had polluted it: Israel was to be a holy people living their lives in obedience unto their God. God placed them in the land of Egypt and over a period of 400 years nurtured them until they became a great multitude of people. After he brought them out of Egypt, he gave them his law to live by. Exodus through Deuteronomy contain these laws. In giving instruction to them through Moses God warned them of ultimate dispersion among other nations if they persisted in sin. Deuteronomy 28:63-66 And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to posses it. And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone. And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind: And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee,; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life.

THIRD Israel was buried among other nations just as God stated in Deuteronomy 28 above: God dispersed them because of their continued sins. Ezekiel 36:19 And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them. But there is a remarkable thing about Israel. They always maintained their identity, even through hundreds of years while among many nations.

FOURTH The vision of the buried nation of Israel: EZEKIEL 37:1-2 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo they were very dry. First, Notice “they were very dry” indicating that they had been there a very long time. In fact, it had been hundreds of years. Second, “The valley was full of them” “there were very many in the open valley” Though oppressed and suppressed the buried nation proliferated and survived. Third, Notice in Ezekiel 37:11 behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. They considered themselves beyond help and they had lost hope. Simply stated, they had lost faith in their ancient God, they had forgotten his promises of his own faithfulness to them. But God's faithfulness rests in his own word, he would not fail them.

FIFTH The restoration of Israel back into their ancient land: God had great plans for Israel, plans that began to be executed through Abraham and have spanned the ages since Abraham, plans that continue in place even now and reach into the eternal future ages. The plans of God will not be successfully hindered. Ezekiel 37:4-6 and 11-14 Again he said unto me, Prophsey upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. ——Then he said unto me, these bones are the whole house of Israel : behold they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD. Notice carefully that the restoration of Israel is by the direct action of God. The emphasis in these passages of Scripture is placed upon Divine intervention. Notice another thing, God also places great stress upon calling Israel his people. So it was that God placed a longing in the hearts of many Jews for a return to their ancient land. Out of this longing the Zionist movement was born, nurtured, planned, and eventually brought to full fruition. On May 14, 1948, the nation of Israel was again established in their ancient land. Their neighboring nations were poised on their borders and immediately tried to stomp out the little new born fledgling nation, but they failed because God was on Israel's side. Several battles against Israel have since ensued but there they remain until now.

FOUR PRINCIPLES FROM THESE PASSAGES OF SCRITPURE: One, The word of God is true. God said and he did it. Two, The will of God is certain. God's word is an expression of his will. Three, The hand of God is powerful. What he promises, he has the power to execute. Four, The way of God is wise. He does things in his own way and in his own time. AN ALARM IS NOW IN PLACE We know our time is short to accomplish the Kingdom work. Careful Bible students understand that the return of Israel to their ancient land is a sure indication that the return of Jesus Christ our Lord is very near, even at the door. Even so, come Lord Jesus.

Are you ready for his return? If not, turn to him right now and ask him to save you.

Email D. Lavell Lee

Ezekiel 38 and 39

Ezekiel 38:9 Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou and all thy bands, and many people with thee.

September 28, 2009, Fox Net News headline, “Iran ups the ante”, Iran says it test-fires the longest range missiles in its arsenal, capable of carrying a warhead and striking Israel, U.S. Bases in the mideast, and parts of Europe.” September 27, 2009, Picayune Item by Dr. Stanley Watson, syndicated columnist, cites Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's view that “there was no Holocaust,” and “Israel must be wiped off the map.” He further sets forth Ahmadinejad's view that he has been chosen by Allah to prepare the way for the return of the 12th imam. The Shiites believe the 12th imam called Mahdi, will return and rule a just world in which Islam will be universally embraced. It is easy to conclude from the above quotes that Israel has bitter enemies. Christians know that Jesus Christ will eventually rule upon this earth. Christians also know that there will come a time when the “Man of Sin”, the Antichrist, will have great influence upon this earth. Just exactly how our text fits into end time events might very well be debated. But let us be sure of one thing, this particular invasion of Israel has not yet happened but it will surely happen for here God's word says so.

FIRST The originating force of this invasion Ezekiel 38:4 And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: Ezekiel 38:16 And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.

Bible believers understand that Israel is back in their ancient land just like God said they would be. But Israel as a nation has yet to accept Jesus Christ the Lord as their great Redeemer and Messiah. They spent many sorrowful years in dispersion among other nations because of their ultimate rejection of Jesus Christ during his first advent over 2,000 years ago. Hear the sad words of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 23:37-39 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Israel will indeed eventually say “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” God will allow great pressure to be brought against them until only he can rescue them. Rescue them he will, and repent they will!

SECOND The underlying purpose of this invasion-Gods glory Ezekiel 38:23 Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD. Ezekiel 39:7 So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.

Could anything be more plainly stated? God's powerful intervention will be of such a nature that secular Israel will come to recognize him as their true God and turn to him. The whole world will have the opportunity to see that there really is a God in Heaven and turn to him. But will they? Sad to say that succeeding events demonstrate that that will not be the case but overwhelming evidence will be there and the world will not have an excuse. But there is also the possibility that many will see and believe in God. Surely the Churches will understand and possibly a great revival will break out among the churches and millions of lost souls could be saved. Let us pray that will be the case. We know that we desperately need revival.

THIRD The coalition of invading nations Ezekiel 38:1-6 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.

Many scholars identify Magog as the nation of Russia. Although there are many believers in Russia, the nation is atheistic in practice and sympathetic toward these other listed nations, even selling them arms. Persia is present day Iran, having changed their name from Persia to Iran in 1935. The other nations listed are aligned with Magog and Persia or are at least sympathetic with them.The coalition is so great in number that they are described as being “like a cloud to cover the land”. They will seem to be a overwhelming force and were it not for God they would be. Their geographical locations place them as completely surrounding the small nation of Israel.

FOURTH The time marks of this invasion. There are at least three time indicators. Ezekiel 38:8 After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. Ezekiel 38:16 And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.

Notice that this invasion takes place in the “latter years” and “in the latter days”. It is clearly stated that the time frame is after the regathering of Israel. “thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people”

Ezekiel 38:11 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates.

It will come at a time that Israel will seem to finally have some rest from their enemies. Coming to grips with the time frame of this invasion is assuredly debatable. But what is not debatable is whether or not this event will happen. It is here clearly set forth in God's word in such a concise manner that leaves no room for doubt. In this writers view, this event is not the same as the final Armageddon conflict. But having said that, I can see where this event might very well set the stage for further events that will eventually lead to the final show down of the world verses God. It might set the world stage for the “Man of Sin” to emerge. Even in the face of such upheavals brought on by Divine intervention in this Gog invasion, there remains a world system that is against God. This world system is hardhearted in their spiritual darkness and will not give up their rebellion against God. I see several differences between this invasion and the final world rebellion event.

1. In the Armageddon battle, the Antichrist will be the leading personality, Revelation 19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army, setting his armies directly against Jesus Christ.

Revelations 19:11-16 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which where in heaven followed him upon white horses clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouthed goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

In the Gog battle Gog will be the leader of a named coalition, Ezekiel 38:1-6, setting themselves against Israel.

2. In the Armageddon battle the Antichrist desperately tries to prevent the invading Jesus Christ from destroying him and establishing his own rule on this earth. In the Gog battle the invading coalition is trying to gain control of Israel and her land.

3. In the Armageddon battle all nations of the world are involved.

Zechariah 14:1-4 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

In the Gog battle specific nations are named.

4. In the Armageddon battle Jesus Christ wins and cast the beast and false prophet into a lake of fire and Satan is bound in the bottomless pit for a thousand years.

Revelation 19:20-21 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. Revelation 20:1-3 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

In the Gog battle God defeats them and they fall upon the mountains of Israel with Israel spending much time cleaning up the ravages of this defeat. Ezekiel 39:1-12

In addition to the above mentioned considerations, close attention should be given to the fact of the non mention of the Antichrist in these two chapters of Ezekiel. Daniels dealings with the end times clearly includes the Antichrist which puts Daniel and Armageddon in line with each other. Some writers place Ezekiel 38 and 39 in line with Revelation 4:3-4. But clearly the Antichrist is in place in Revelation 6:3-4 and Gog does not seem to be the Antichrist. Finally, in trying to mark the time frame of this invasion, let us remember well the words of our Lord:

Matthew 24:3-8 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Let it be clearly understood that Jesus was speaking of end times and the verses here quoted set forth awful times ahead. Let it further be clearly seen the these times come before the great events of Daniel as set forth in Matthew 24:15-31 for in verse 6 above quoted Jesus said “but the end is not yet”. Ezekiel 38 and 39 might very well fall into verses 6 and 7 of Matthew 24:3-8 above quoted.

FIFTH The intent of the invading nations Ezekiel 38:12 To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.

The intent is to take direct control of Israel and her resources and neutralize her power in the mideast.

SIXTH The devastating defeat of the invaders Ezekiel 38:18-23 And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face. For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall down, and every wall shall fall to the ground. And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every mans sword shall be against his brother. And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood: and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD

(1) There will be a great shaking and mountains falling This suggests earthquakes. (2) There will be confusion, verse 21 suggest that they will harm each other. (3) There will be destructive weather conditions, verse 22. (4) There will be great loss of lives, Ezekiel 39:2 And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:

The threatening language of the mideast suggest that this great war might very well come soon. This means that the return of Jesus Christ is near. If your are not saved, turn to Jesus Christ now and ask him to save you.

Email D. Lavell Lee

Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Zachariah 13:1 In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.

In previous messages I have written about Israel's restoration as a nation as set forth in Ezekiel chs. 36 and 37 and a future invasion of Israel as set forth in Ezekiel chs. 38 and 39. Israel is now back in her ancient land but she has not yet acknowledged the Lord Jesus as her promised Messiah (Christ). But soon that will change because her regathering from among the nations into her land has as its purpose for her to be in place when Jesus Christ returns to reveal himself to her as her rescuing and redeeming Saviour and Lord. In Zechariah ch. 4 Zerubbabel was assured he would finish the rebuilding of the fallen walls of Jerusalem with shouts of grace in giving God the glory for the rebuilt wall even in the face of much opposition. Zechariah 4:7 Who art thou, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. Even so, God's grace will bring Israel to accept Jesus Christ as her Saviour. That time is near, very near. Amen! Even so come, Lord Jesus!

FIRST The time frame of this glorious event Zech. 12:10 “And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced”. More will be said about this phrase in point 7 but for the present it is clear that the nation of Israel will actually see Jesus Christ so this places this event to occur after the return of Jesus to this earth.

SECOND The day of the LORD will be the initiating process to bring the proud nation of Israel to her knees Zech. 14:1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. The term “day of the LORD” is repeated in many Old Testament passages. Isa. 2:12, Jer. 46:10, Joel 3:14, Amos 5:18, Obad. 15, Zeph. 1:14 This time frame is also stated in other terminnology in many Old Testament passages. c/p Jer. 30:7 This is the time frame that the Lord Jesus Christ will begin to pour out his wrath on this God rejecting world and will culminate with his eventual return to this earth to subdue it and reign over it. Rev. 6:12-17 It is specifically this event from which the saved of the Lord Jesus Christ are promised to be delivered. I Thess. 4:13-18, 5:1-11 Israel will eventually repent.

THIRD The LORD will gather all nations against Israel Zech. 14:2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Rev. 16:13-16 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. Among the awful events coming upon this earth in the end time will be the coalition of all nations gathering against Israel in an attempt to totally destroy her. At this present time the little nation of Israel has very few allies in the world.

FOURTH Israel will suffer great damage from these nations Zech. 14:2 It appears this conflict will rage for a while based on the above stated damage that will be incurred.

FIFTH The LORD Jesus Christ will appear from heaven and directly intervene on behalf of Israel Zech. 14:3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. Rev. 19:11-19 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. What a great day that will be for Israel and for the whole world. This refers to the Lord's return from heaven to earth. The Lord's saints who have been previously called up to be with him will be coming back to the earth with him as the Lord returns to subdue his enemies.

SIXTH The Lord Jesus will defeat and destroy Satan and all nations that have gathered against Israel Zech. 12:9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. Rev. 19:20-21 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. Rev. 20:1-3 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

SEVENTH Divine illumination will be granted to Israel Zech. 12:10-14 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart; The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart.

A great truth is understood here. Spiritual darkness is something very real. Isa. 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. This passage of scripture was fulfilled when Jesus came to the earth in his first advent. Matt. 4:16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. Jesus Christ himself is the spiritual light. John 1:4-5 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Jesus Christ, the great spiritual light, did come unto them but they rejected him. John 1:11-12 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: The reason was they loved darkness. JOHN 3:19-20 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest their deeds should be reproved.

They had opportunity to accept him and follow him but they refused to do so. John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. He warned them about their fleeting opportunity yet still they did not follow him. John 12:35 Then said Jesus unto them, yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. John 12:39-40 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. They had opportunity to accept him as their king but instead chose Caesar. John 19:14-15 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour:and he unto saith the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. They had opportunity to follow him step by step and day by day, but refused to do so.

Hosea records the sad outcome for Israel. Hosea 5:15 I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early. Therefore they were left in in spiritual darkness. Ro. 11:25-26 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: But our text in Zechariah 12:10 reveals God's wonderful grace that is come to Israel. Zech. 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace. God in his graciousness will open their spiritual eyes and they will come to correct spiritual understanding concerning Jesus Christ. Amen!

EIGHTH Great sorrowful repentance will be experienced by Israel Zech. 12:10-14 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart; The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart; all the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart. II Cor. 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. When Israel comes to realization that they crucified their very own Lord and Saviour they will mourn in deep sorrow and truly repent and turn to Jesus Christ for forgiveness and salvation.

NINTH Wonderful cleansing from sin will be given to them and God's great salvation will become theirs to enjoy Zech. 13:1 In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. Ro. 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: Isa. 66:8 Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. Jesus Christ will wash them from their sins by his own blood. Rev. 1:5 Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.

Just as Israel's sin of old pierced him so did also the sin of all of us pierce him. God has been gracious to all of us and placed the sin of each one of us upon Jesus Christ. Isa. 53:3-6 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Thank you Lord for you have been so good to us. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Thank you Lord, for your wondrous salvation which you have given to me.

If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, will you, just now, also repent in great sorrow over your sins and turn to Jesus and ask him to save you? Ro. 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Email D. Lavell Lee

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