WE ARE PERIOUSLY CLOSE TO TOTAL WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST

I am not a Prophet but I do search the scriptures diligently allowing the Bible to interpret itself. I also try to keep informed about events taking place in the Middle East and World. The following is what I believe is going to begin to play out. This will be a process of a minimum of 7 years—maybe more.

I’d call this a short discussion of how things might occur. It is a sketch of the tribulation period. I am always trying to grasp the details but it is difficult to really predict a time line of events. These are things we should all be thinking about while praying for understanding.

 

The burden of the word of the Lord against Israel. Thus says the Lord, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him:  “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem.  And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it. Zechariah 12.1-4

At this moment Israel/Judah is fighting a war on three fronts: Hamas, Hezbollah, and in the background is Iran. Israel/Judah has decided to go all in an attempt to destroy their enemies. Yes, completely destroy their enemies. This is an Old Testament concept. I am merely pointing out this fact.

They are counting on America to come to their aid when Iran and other nations decide to strike. America is an Israelite Nation if you follow Two House.

America’s involvement would be the beginning of world war. The majority of the world will not support Israel while hoping for their defeat. The American neocons (warmongers), who are influencing the current regime, are pushing hard for war. They actually think America would win and bomb the Arab world into submission. This is not likely. Our military has been reworked by those who have been weakening America. It is not as strong or efficient as it once was.

Russia and China are backing Iran. Once this war starts don’t be surprised when China decides to attack Taiwan. Russia would in turn escalate the war in Ukraine and that could start a war with NATO in Europe. The world will be engulfed in flames, destruction, and death.

The Middle East is a complex situation which goes back 4,000 years—back to Jacob and Esau. It is now entering the final phase and time of sorrows prior to the return of Messiah Yeshuah. Before He returns there will be incredible suffering and war.

 In that day I will make the governors of Judah like a firepan in the woodpile, and like a fiery torch in the sheaves; they shall devour all the surrounding peoples on the right hand and on the left, but Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place—Jerusalem.

 “The Lord will save the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall not become greater than that of Judah.  In that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the one who is feeble among them in that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the Angel of the Lord before them.  It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. Zachariah 12.6 -9

These verses seem to predict an Israel victory but I believe it is more complicated and deeper than that. Israel is currently in a state of apostasy. They are politically looking to America to support them. They are not looking to the Lord their God. They are trusting in the flesh.

Most Israeli’s are not even religious. They are very secular.

In the Bible the prophets constantly warned Israel to look to Him for victory. They often relied on Egypt to support them. King Zedekiah looked to Egypt for support against Babylon (2 Kings 23.29-25.30). This did not work out well for him.

The Lord wanted them to rely on Him, not on political unions with other nations.

I see the same situation for Israel/Judah today. It appears to me that Israel will do terrific damage to their enemies but they will have their backs against the wall as their army is overwhelmed by the Arab armies surrounding them. Why else would they be crying out to Elohim?

This will lead to them crying out to Elohim:

I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning at Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.  And the land shall mourn, every family by itself: the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of Shimei by itself, and their wives by themselves; all the families that remain, every family by itself, and their wives by themselves. Zechariah 12.10-14

There will be a great mourning in Israel at this time as they come to the knowledge that Yeshuah is and was the Messiah. “They will look upon me whom they have pierced and mourn for him…” strongly suggests they will be about to perish and look up for their salvation.

This might be called an awakening or revival. It might be a process of months or years.

The question is how does this all play out in real time?  We know that Yahweh is going to save all Israel at that time but it may take years of tribulation after the coming war. That could be the time the Anti-Christ rises up and Israel/Judah and the world experience the great tribulation.

End time prophecy is not a pretty box with a ribbon tied around it. Many think they have all the answers on how this will play out. I know that Yah works on His time schedule and allows events to play out slowly. He waited over a hundred years to judge Israel through the captivity of Babylon. He gave them countless warnings through the prophets but it was many years before they ultimately fell to Babylon.

Zachariah 13 is just such a chapter. This chapter describes the most terrible time for Israel: “In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.

 “It shall be in that day,” says the Lord of hosts, “that I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, and they shall no longer be remembered. I will also cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to depart from the land. It shall come to pass that if anyone still prophesies, then his father and mother who begot him will say to him, ‘You shall not live, because you have spoken lies in the name of the Lord.’ And his father and mother who begot him shall thrust him through when he prophesies. Zechariah 13.1-3

The inhabitants of Jerusalem seem to be in deep repentance for their sins. They are being cleansed from their uncleanness and sins. They are suffering. The false prophets are being judged, false teaching and idols are being removed from their soul. They appear to be captives in their own land! Israel has become their “Ghetto.”

“Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, Against the Man who is My Companion,”Says the Lord of hosts. “Strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered; Then I will turn My hand against the little ones. And it shall come to pass in all the land, ”Says the Lord, “That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, But one-third shall be left in it:  I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; And each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God. ” Zachariah 13.7-9

This refining process is not a pleasant experience but Yahweh is preparing His people for the Millennial Kingdom thousand years. This is a sorrowful time.

Many think the “church” will be raptured out before all this occurs. Why would that be? The “church” is currently in apostasy and will need to be purged just as the nation of Israel/Judah will be purged.

All of these end time tribulations come upon us because we are doing it to ourselves. Yeshuah is coming for an assembly of those whom have been purged and tried like gold. That’s not the Christian “church” that is hiding today. This is an individual process within the Body of Christ. It is not organized religion—it’s ALL those who follow Him.

I’m not being judgmental. I’m going to be refined and purged along with everyone. It will be difficult but also very wonderful as He works to perfect us. He will be coming for a spotless assembly (Body).

Again, how all this exactly works out in real time most likely will surprise all of us. Don’t rely on the neat package of end time events that you’ve been fed all these years. It is going to be His way.

We can understand it will be difficult for us all but also very intimate. It’s you and Him.

Zechariah 14.1-5 explains the rest as we see another conflict in Jerusalem after what we saw in chapter 12

Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, And your spoil will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; The city shall be taken,The houses rifled, And the women ravished.
Half of the city shall go into captivity, But the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

Then the Lord will go forth And fight against those nations, As He fights in the day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east.
And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making a very large valley;
Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south.

 Then you shall flee through My mountain valley, For the mountain valley shall reach to Azal.Yes, you shall flee
As you fled from the earthquake In the days of Uzziah king of Judah.

This looks like the second coming! Israel/Judah has fought a great war in which they did great damage to their enemies but lost. They have been “taken captive” in the land, suffered, and repented. They have realized their uncleanness and sin as they have been refined in captivity in their own land. Then when it appears all has been lost the Messiah comes!

The rest of Zechariah 14 is describing the 1,000 year Millennial Reign.

In closing, if you believe in the Two House Judah (the Jews of the State of Israel) and Israel (Ephraim and Manasseh) these events will engulf the world and the people of God—Judah/Israel/Jews and Ephraim/Manasseh the progeny of the Lost Tribes of Israel scattered throughout the world for thousands of years.

Yahweh will be gathering all his people from the four corners of the earth during the tribulation period at His return.

Zachariah and the other prophets are our guide. Nobody, but nobody, including myself totally understands completely how the end of the age will play out. The Scriptures are our guide.

The Scriptures reveal there are Martyrs, some protected in hiding, traitors, and warriors speaking the Gospel on the front lines. It will be spiritual conflict of the highest degree. Yahweh is in control. May God bless and guide each of us during this time.

A great interview on the current Middle East War:

https://marketsanity.com/colonel-douglas-macgregor-what-concerns-me-right-now/