When my heart fills up, then I have to write.  And my heart is full right now.  Especially concerning Israel.  Gena's latest comment got me going, concerning the article she linked me to.

 

I don't talk about it a lot here, but Israel is always on my heart.

 

As homeschoolers, do you talk to your children about biblical prophecy, and Israel?  Because -- there are many facets to God selecting out a people to be His own -- and one of those purposes is for a sign to the nations that HE is the ONE TRUE GOD.  In choosing a people to work through, He was being INCLUSIVE rather than EXCLUSIVE.  He would work through a people, thus showing Himself unto the nations.  It was an act of his mercy that all might have the opportunity to see the glory of the One True God.  Understanding Israel is one of the keys to proving God's Word, and having our faith be solid rather than leap in the dark.

 

Check this out, from HERE:

 

 Israel is the major topic of the Bible. The word “Israel” occurs 2,565 times in 2,293 verses.  More than enough prophecies have already been fulfilled in Israel’s unique history to prove that “the God of Israel” (203 times) is the true God. In Zechariah 12:2-3, He declares:

Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

 

This is an amazing prophecy not only that Jerusalem, which was then in ruins, would become a burden to the whole world, but that all of Israel’s neighbors would be united against her. They have fought one another in the past. Yet today, for the first time in history, “all the people round about” are united by Islam to destroy Israel.

 

Very interesting, isn't it?  Sometimes people want to know, "Where is the United States mentioned in the bible?"  Well there it is.  In the above verse in Zechariah.  All people of the earth will gather against Jerusalem.

 

The United States??  But aren't we Israel's best friend?  I know that other people have different ideas about how things will play out, but this is how I see it.  We are living right at the end of the age.  All players are on stage.  People all around are moving into position  -- I am still astounded that more land was given over to the Arabs as Israel pulled out of the Gaza strip.  Would Sharon have allowed that if he had known Hamas was about to win the elections.  With enemies all around that seek Israel's destruction ... moving right in and among Israel ... we are practically at that moment. 

 

The United States, I believe, will be involved in rising up against Israel -- which, up to this point, all nations have never risen up against Israel.  I believe in a Pre-Trib rapture.  I believe that as Christians are taken up, and out of the picture -- at that point all hell will break loose upon the earth.  It will look good at first, with that false peace that will come.  Ecumenisism is really leading us to this point -- all paths lead to God, tolerance, I'm OK, Your OK.  That will set us up to allow a ONE WORLD RELIGION.  Only true Christians -- His bride -- would protest this, at this point.  But they won't be here.  They (WE!) will be enjoying the wedding feast (7 years -- to copy the Jewish wedding feast).  The bridegroom will come for His bride like a thief in the night (again, this copies the Jewish wedding).

 

How close are we?  Dave Hunt wrote a book about that.  One day, at Word of Life Family Campground, where he is a regular speaker, I asked him if I could take a picture of him with my boys.  I said "One day they will read your books, and I will love to show them this picture."  He sort of moaned, "Oh, I really do not believe we will be around THAT LONG ..."

 

If you do not believe in a pre-trib rapture, or that the U.S. could ever rise up against Israel -- then you must at least agree that Israel is, indeed, a main focus in the world today ... and that it is a cup of trembling round about to the nations.  The peace of the whole world depends upon Israel.

 

Isn't that just incredible, that it was prophesied oh, so long ago ... and that Israel could even exist today as a nation?  A miracle.  And it is so, so tiny.  Little Israel.  Why not Russia?  Why not China?  Why is the WHOLE WORLD so focused on ISRAEL???

 

Because God chose this nation years ago to be His sign to the world that HE is real, (get it? is real ... Is-rael) that He exalts His WORD above HIS NAME.  Everything that has ever been prophesied about Israel has come to pass -- and as God has been faithful in the past, he will so continue to be faithful to His Word.  He can do NO DIFFERENT, because He is Who He is, and HIS WORD IS TRUE.

 

Homeschoolers ... CURRENT EVENTS.  Keep your eye on what's happening in Israel.  What's going on in the Middle East.  What's in the bible.  It's all tied in.

 

The church of today ... where it's at ... it's tied in too.  "Don't make people feel too bad about their sin ... don't sing about the blood of Christ ..."  Just read Jeremiah 23, and how God felt about the false prophets NOT SHOUTING THE WARNING.  We're there again, here and now.

 

Here's the last days church:

 

Jeremiah 23:16, 17  Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. They say continually to those who despise the word of the LORD, 'It shall be well with you'; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, 'No disaster shall come upon you.'"

 

and this:  (emphasis mine)

 

Jeremiah 23:31- 33  Behold, I am against the prophets, declares the LORD, who use their tongues and declare, 'declares the LORD.' Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, declares the LORD, and who tell them and lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or charge them. So they do not profit this people at all, declares the LORD. "When one of this people, or a prophet or a priest asks you, 'What is the burden of the LORD?' you shall say to them, 'You are the burden, and I will cast you off, declares the LORD.'

 

Finally I want to say ... as homeschoolers we have the incredible opportunity to teach these things to our children.  No day in history has been like the day we live in now.  It is time to be aware of what is going on ... In the world, with Israel, biblical prophecy, and what's happening in today's seeker friendly, purpose driven church.

 

Whew.  I'm done.  For now.