PropheZine Newsletter #124 June 15, 2001 Bob Lally Publisher/Senior Editor Bob Ippolito Asst. Editor To Subscribe, Unsubscribe or Change email addresses see notice at the bottom of this newsletter. Disclaimer: PropheZine publishes articles by many authors and may not necessarily agree in total with each authors belief's (timing of the rapture, etc...) ====================================================== IN THIS ISSUE ----GREETING FROM BOB LALLY ----ARTICLES Berit Kjos: Problems with "The Prayer of Jabez" Dr. Charles Stanley: Our Unmet Needs Dr. J.R. Church: Trouble over the Temple Mount ----SUBMISSION GUIDELINES ----SUBSCRIBE and UNSUBSCRIBE ----PRIVACY NOTICE =================================================== GREETINGS FROM BOB LALLY =================================================== Hi Everyone: Please let me encourage you to visit the PropheZine Book Store. Dr. Stephen Yulish has written a wonderful novel - The Great Harpazo Deception. Please read the details and purchase the book at http://www.prophezine.com/bookstore Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem! Bob Lally and the staff of PropheZine bob@... ====================================================== The Problem with The Prayer of Jabez By: Berit Kjos http://www.crossroad.to/charts/church-statistics.html ====================================================== "Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, 'Oh that Thou would bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast [territory], and that Thine hand might be with me, and that Thou would keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me!' And God granted him that which he requested." 1 Chron 4:10 "...make the Jabez prayer for blessing part of the daily fabric of your life. To do that, I encourage you to follow unwaveringly the plan outlined here for the next thirty days. By the end of that time, you'll be noticing significant changes in your life.... Read the Jabez prayer every morning.... Reread this little book once each week during the next month...." The Prayer of Jabez, page 86. "I have an uncomfortable feeling about The Prayer of Jabez.... The Lord commented unfavorably on repetitious prayer. Please help me sort out my uncomfortable feeling about this 'movement'. Reading Dr. Dobson's 'most important letter he ever wrote' about Bruce Wilkinson's book and the effect it has had on future plans of FOTF is disconcerting. Is my concern misapplied?" Ramsay Devereux During an uneventful time in Israel's history, a faithful man named Jabez prayed a simple, straightforward prayer and gained the favor and blessings of God. Now, a small book has prompted millions of saints and seekers to memorize and repeat the same prayer daily. After three thousand years of obscurity, Jabez has found surprising favor with the world. So, what's the problem with promoting a Biblical prayer that God honored in His Word? After all, our Lord delights in the prayers of His saints -- all the daily thanks, praises and petitions that turn our hearts to Him in faith, worship and surrender. Using Bible verses as a basis for prayer and worship is a wonderful habit. Why be concerned? Because this book -- not Jabez' prayer -- promises rewards from God that God doesn't promise in the Bible. While author Bruce Wilkinson enriches the meaning of Jabez' prayer in the rest of his book, the first part (many readers go no further) seems to put the book into the unbiblical realm of the "name it claim it" movement. Consider the opening words: "Dear Reader, I want to teach you how to pray a daring prayer that God always answers. It is brief--only one sentence with four parts--and tucked away in the Bible, but I believe it contains the key to a life of extraordinary favor with God.... Thousands of believers who are applying its truths are seeing miracles happen on a regular basis. Will you join me for a personal exploration of Jabez? I hope you will!" Emphasis added Millions have joined his quest. Many have testified to miraculous answers which demonstrate God's love, mercy and intervention on behalf of those who seek Him. But these amazing interventions and anecdotal stories don't prove that God "always answers" this specific prayer. Nor do they verify that this Old Testament prayer by itself "contains the key" to extraordinary favor with God. Nor does the Bible suggest that we -- God's people -- have the authority or power to "put Jabez' [or any other] prayer to work," as Christianbook.com <http://www.christianbook.com/html/static/PrayerofJabez.html> suggests in its publicity statement below. Ponder its invitation to potential buyers: "Discover how to release the miraculous power of God in your life! ...See what God will do for you when you put Jabez' prayer to work!" It is hard to see how anyone could conclude that Jabez' prayer "works" better than the prayers of Moses, David, Elijah and Paul -- men used by God to liberate His people, slay giants, restore life to a dead boy and bring sight to the blind. The "miraculous power of God" demonstrated through their lives came, not because of the words they uttered, but because they had consecrated their lives to God, humbled themselves before Him, trusted in His provision for sin, and chose to seek and do His will with all their heart and without compromise. Therefore God forgave their sins, offered His strength in their weaknesses and -- through the Holy Spirit in them -- put prayers in their hearts that expressed His will. Because these men took time to know His Word and will, God "spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend." (Exodus 33:11) No less amazing, He called David "a man after My own heart, who will do all My will." (Acts 13:22) Unlike these friends of God who loved His Word and walked with Him, the church at the dawn of the new millennium tends to be Biblically illiterate. [Chart <http://www.crossroad.to/charts/church-statistics.html>] Many are too distracted by work, life's pressures and "the pleasures of the world" to open the Bible. But we all want His help, peace and blessings. In this cultural context, the "positive assurances" and marketing tactics behind Wilkerson's little book raise some searching questions: 1. Does the Bible justify using "the prayer of Jabez" as a formula for success? If so, why would Jesus give us the model prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 ("Our Father, who art in heaven....") rather than the prayer of Jabez? In the days of Jesus, rabbis would often use prayer outlines. Today, many faithful students of Biblical history believe that "the Lord's prayer" was such a prayer -- one that provided a pattern or outline for longer prayers. Then as now, its short parts were reminders that God would be pleased if we would include certain points in our quiet times with Him: Praise to our heavenly Father who hears and provides. Confession and cleansing as we bow before a holy God. Thanks for the goodness and glory of His Kingdom. Confidence in His perfect plan and readiness to yield to His will. Trust that our Provider will meet our needs each day. Faith that through the cross, we have forgiveness for every sin. Prayer for grace to forgive others and be filled with His love. Prayer for wisdom to recognize and resist any temptation or evil. Praise for His sovereignty, love and faithfulness to those who follow Him. See the last part of Heaven is Forever Though both prayers were pleasing to our Father, their differences are important. Jabez focused on Gods gifts. Jesus emphasized the Giver. Jabez prayer reflects the Old Testament context where God demonstrated His love by prospering His people. The Lords prayer reflects the New Testament understanding that -- because of the cross -- we share in the life, suffering, ministry and triumphs of Jesus Christ our Lord. Since the prayer of Jabez precedes the New Testament call to absolute commitment, it is acceptable to the world. Its sound good whether people serve God or self. Since it doesn't point to Christ or the cross, it carries no offense. It offers the same blessings to those who pursue a self-made image of God as to those who walk with Jesus. In a recent interview, George Barna, founder and president of the Barna Research Group, shared his concern: "One of the frightening things that we find in our research all the time is that even among the tens of millions of born again Christians, about half of them would say that when it comes to Christianity they are not absolutely committed to the faith. ...weve made it too easy to be part of the Christian church. I think that there is very little sense of privilege and awe and responsibility that comes along in our culture with the notion of being considered a disciple of Christ. It is like, Hey, I got my salvation taken care of, Ive got my membership card at my church. Now let me go to the country club and do my thing. The problem is that Christianity is not just about being a church member. It is about consistently trying to become more like Christ. It is about life transformation. "... small groups may be doing more to inhibit peoples spiritual growth than to facilitate that growth. Part of the reason is that, first of all, in most groups, you have an individual whos in charge of the group or leading the group who really doesnt know Scripture very well. So if theyre leading a discussion or trying to teach on things, more often than not, what you wind up with is heresy rather than Christian orthodoxy." Interview with George Barna, Part I. Its easy to distort our understanding of God in a culture that prompts people to interpret His Word according to a politically correct consensus rather than by the Bible itself. Its tempting to seek a feel-good god whose will and ways match human wants and illusions. But to assume that an imagined God will bless our lives and extend our sphere of influence, is presumptuous at best. "You thought that I was altogether like you," warned God. "But I will rebuke you...." [Psalm 50:21] 2. How can Mr. Wilkinson assure anonymous readers that God "always answers" this particular prayer in contrast to other prayers? The preface of the book implies that God not only answer this prayer, His answer is always "yes." That's a denial of some of the Bible's guidelines for answered prayer. For example, Psalm 66:18 tells us that "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear." And Proverbs 21:13 warns, "Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be heard." James 4:3-4 explains another reason for unanswered prayer: "You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?" God's will and guidelines overrule the desires and requests of those who don't know Him. Perhaps some people need to learn humility, surrender, obedience and faith based on Scriptures before they excel in "daring" prayers? For, throughout the Bible, God shows us that the state of a believer's heart is as -- if not more -- important than the particular words used. "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." (James 5:16). 3. Could a formula prayer raise false expectations of what God might do and therefore bring disappointment, doubt and disillusionment rather than faith and thankfulness? Bruce Wilkinson makes more staggering claims. "Join me for that transformation," he writes on page 91. "You will change your legacy and bring supernatural blessings wherever you go. God will release His miraculous power in your life now. And for all eternity, He will lavish on you His honor and delight." He will? In a chapter called "Welcome to God's Honor Roll," Wilkinson writes, "You don't reach the next level of blessing and stay there. You begin again -- Lord, bless me indeed! Lord, please enlarge...! And so on. As the cycle repeats itself, you'll find that you are steadily moving into wider spheres of blessing and influence, spiraling ever outward and upward into a larger life for God.... You will know beyond doubt that God has opened heaven's storehouses because you prayed." Wilkinson mentions the "mostly ordinary, easy-to-overlook people" listed in Hebrews 11 who won honor from God. But Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah and Moses hardly fit that description. Then he fails to mention the faithful men and women who received the opposite of honor and blessing in this world: "...others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented of whom the world was not worthy." Hebrews 11:35-38 God shows us that suffering -- not prosperity, power or influence -- is an essential part of our life in Christ. We cannot be one with Jesus without sharing His battles as well as triumphs. "For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake," wrote Paul to the Philippians (1:29) Jesus told us to "count the cost" of discipleship -- not the blessings of the world: "If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you.... for they do not know the one who sent me." (John 15:20-21) 4. Could an habitual prayer such as the prayer of Jabez, distract from hearing and praying according to God's will for the day? The Bible tells us that " we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us.... according to the will of God." (Romans 8:16-17) Remember, Jesus always prayed and served according to His Father's will and purpose on each occasion. If we give ourselves unreservedly to do the same, He will answer our prayer: "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." 1 John 5:14-15 5. Might some readers be seeking the power of prayer rather than the power of God? There's a significant difference between the two, and the former has always been far more alluring to human nature than the surrender and obedience involved in ongoing Biblical prayer. Most people would rather memorize and repeat a formula prayer that "works" than take time to seek to know the heart of God. It's easier to imagine "what Jesus would do" than actually study His Word and know His will -- then to submit will to His. Formula prayers dominate in pagan religions. Compare Mr. Wilkinson's preface and the Christianbook's publicity statement with the following quote from Medicine Buddha Sadhana, a small book given to thousands of people who attended a May 2001 a "Medicine Buddha Empowerment" workshop led by The Dalai Lama: "To recite the Medicine Buddha Mantra brings inconceivable merit. ... If you recite the mantra every day, the buddhas and bodhisattvas will always pay attention to you, and they will guide you. All your negative karmas will be pacified and you will never be born in the three lower realms.... and all your wishes are fulfilled." Sounds tempting, doesn't it? It appeals to human nature and its "felt needs." Who wouldn't want to recite a prayer or mantra that promises easy access to higher powers that will fulfill your dreams and satisfy your wants? But God knows that our finite dreams and human wishes fall far short of His wonderful plan for us. His rocky road to victory includes hardships and humiliations that rarely find a place in our hopes and prayers. Therefore, knowing the inclinations of our human nature, He shows us the way: "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done...." Matthew 6:7-9 The issue here is your motive -- your reason for repeating certain words. Do you believe that repetitions will add strength to a prayer? Then you may be trusting mere words more than your all-powerful, sovereign God. For instance, the customary words used to "put on the armor of God" could be little more than a "vain repetition" if you merely and mindlessly recite the familiar steps: "Now I gird my loins with truth... I put on the breastplate of righteousness... the sandals of peace..." There's no magic in those words alone. Instead they remind us to actively -- by faith -- "put on" Christ's truth (His Word), righteousness (includes confessing sins), peace, etc. But it's no "vain repetition" to pray through the steps listed in Ephesians 6:12-17 (see The Armor of God), giving Him thanks for each vital part and praising Him for the protection He offers you in Himself. For when you turn to Him in love, faith, humility and surrender -- "pouring out your heart" to your Father and King -- then He will surely hear and answer according to His perfect plan for your life. 6. Can we assume that a step toward victory in one battle will work the same way in another battle? For example, God told Joshua to march around Jericho 7 times. Victory involved obedience to those specific guidelines. They don't apply to other battles. A generation earlier, God had told his faithless people to enter the promised land. Fearing the giants in the land, they refused. God didn't give them another opportunity. But when they faced the consequences of their disobedience, they made a belated decision to do what he said. But it was too late. The grace that came with God's command, couldn't be applied at will. So they lost both the battle and their lives. (Numbers 13-14) 7. Is it Biblically accurate to expect that the evils that surround us not touch and "grieve" us? In Christ, we are "more than conquerors." But that doesn't mean escape from the wounds and griefs that today's warfare inflicts on God's soldiers. As long as we live in a fallen world and walk with Him, evil will touch us. But we won't bear its assaults alone. When we stand equipped with His truths and promises, He will lead us in His triumph -- a triumph that would look anything but triumphant to those who expect the world's peace and prosperity. See The Armor of God and prayerfully consider 2 Corinthians 4:7-10, "...we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body." If we are one with Jesus, we must set our hearts -- not on blessings in the world but on fellowship with our King -- as did Peter, James, Paul and countless other saints and martyrs who, through the ages, have relinquished earthly comforts and popularity for a far greater eternal treasure. Paul said it well, "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings.... "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.... One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus...." Philippians 3:7-14 ====================================================== Our Unmet Needs Dr. Charles Stanley http://www.intouch.org ====================================================== There is a good chance that you are facing a situation that seems beyond your control. You wonder how you will handle it. You have prayed and diligently sought Gods mind, but your need, at least from your perspective, has remained unmet. How do you handle shattered dreams? Or how do you redirect the desires that fill and overflow your heart emotions? Does God have an answer? Does He care when you hurt and struggle against the pressures of life? How should you handle times of spiritual silence when you feel as though He is standing at a distance and not going to answer your prayers according to your expectations? The best way to understand Gods mind and heart is by studying the principles found in His Word. Before you decide this will not work for you or your situation, take a few moments to read the story of Mary and Martha and Lazarus. Each of these people had definite needs. Lazarus needed a healing touch from God. He was deathly sick (John 11:1) and Jesus had the power to heal him. Mary and Martha had tremendous needs. How would they survive without Lazarus? Not only was he their brother, he also was their financial provider. He was the head of their household, and because they were not married, Lazarus took care of them. Jesus knew this. In fact, the Lord was their close friend and a frequent guest in their home, especially whenever He was in Jerusalem. Bethany, where Lazarus and his sisters lived, was not far from Jerusalem. Once Mary and Martha realized that the sickness of their brother could lead to death, it only seemed right to send for Jesus. They knew the power that God had given Him. Their appeal to the Lord was one of love and friendship. "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick" (John 11:3). The issue in this story is not one of healing. It is one of need and how God met that need. God has the power to heal every disease. The issue that confronts us in situations like this one is Gods will versus our will. We are taught to pray and ask God to meet our needs. But there is something deep within this process that God wants us to learn. We begin to understand just how committed He is to meeting our needs when we learn to accept His will as being perfect. We also must acknowledge that His timing is right just as His strength is sufficient and His love is eternal. Up until this point, Mary and Martha did not understand how deeply involved God was in their lives. More than likely, we have failed to understand this at times as well. However, Jesus was determined to demonstrate His intimate care for these women and for His friend, Lazarus. But first, Mary and Martha would have to wait. Their prayers, though synchronized with Gods will, would appear to go unanswered. Many times we chose the wrong way to respond to our unmet needs: Denial. We tell ourselves there is not a problem. While denial is an initial defense we use to protect us from the reality of deep tragedy, a prolonged period of denial is not healthy. We need to face reality with God, knowing that He has a solution for the problems we face. Avoidance. We distance ourselves from the problem in an attempt to protect ourselves from further pain. Avoidance works for a short span of time. We can see how God used it in the lives of His saints to provide short periods of rest. However, just like denial, avoidance prevents us from dealing with the problem. The solution is to seek God for wisdom and a precise way to handle our circumstances, even if this includes waiting for Him to lead us beyond this moment in time. We must be willing to wait for Gods best. Jumping ahead of Him only leads to more confusion. Projection. We use projection when we blame others. Mary and Martha were quick to tell Jesus, "If you had been here, my brother would not have died" (John 11:21). God is not unaware of our situations. He knows exactly what we are facing, and He knows how we will react. This is why it is crucial for us to turn to Him for wisdom and for the right response. We must accept responsibility for our lives and the problems we are facing. Lazaruss illness was a fact of life and not a form a punishment. God is not the author of disease or tragedy. However, He uses the circumstances of life to mold our lives. Lying. When we avoid telling the truth, we usually end up hurting others and ourselves. There is only one way to handle the trials of life and that is truthfully. This does not mean that we have to disclose all that we know or feel. God wants us to be careful with the words of our mouths. Lying and rationalization do not help solve the problem. These only hinder a final godly resolve. Giving in and giving up. Usually, when the trials of life come, we are faced with the temptation to quit. Discouragement is one of Satans favorite forms of attack. He believes that if he can discourage us, we will give up and turn away from Gods will or plan for our lives. Never give up! Trust God to the end, and you will see His goodness become a reality in your life. Conformity. Rather than stand for what we know is true, we conform to the situation. Our initiative and creativity drain away, and we sink into depression. Mary and Martha may have been tempted to fall into self-pity and doubt, but they did not yield to either of these. When Jesus arrived in Bethany, Martha met Him with these words, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You" (John 11:2122). How did the sisters deal with the fact that Jesus did not rush to their dying brothers side? We are not given their immediate response. However, we know that they were probably disappointed. After all, they loved their brother. Gods Sovereignty and Our Needs At some point Mary and Martha had to deal with the sovereignty of God. They had to come to a point where they accepted Gods will over their own wills. Each one of us will face this decision at some point in our lives. We may wonder why, on the surface of life, it appears that God has not met our needs. Yet deep inside we must know that God never leaves us hopeless. He has a plan and design for our lives that is well-fitted for every trial, sorrow, heartache, or problem we face. Jesus had predetermined that He would heal Lazarus, but He would do it in such a way that He would be glorified alone. He also would accomplish His will in the lives of Mary and Martha. They would come to a point of acceptance. How do you handle your unmet needs? Begin with prayer. Let your needs be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6) Prayer is a lifestyle, not just an activity in which you participate. Jesus taught His disciples to pray. When you feel overwhelmed by the circumstances of life, prayer is the one activity that changes the direction of your mind and heart. It places your focus on God who is the only source of hope and truth. Acknowledge your need and the burden that you are carrying. The old saints of the church would use an endearing phrase when they would talk about giving their problems to God in prayer. They would say, "Roll your burden over onto the Lord." This is your hope: Jesus never fails. His mercies are new every morning, and they are specifically designed to help you bear up under the pressure that comes from trial, tragedy, and sorrow. Claim Gods promises. When you are facing a difficult situation, train yourself to claim Gods promises. His Word is your greatest source of encouragement. Resist the temptation to run to several different people seeking verification for what He has required you to do. Faith is a strong anchor that holds you steady when emotional gale-force winds strike. Claiming Gods promises and remaining committed to the course He has given you is a powerful way to face any kind of tribulation or change. Seek Gods direction. You can do this through the study of His Word and through prayer. Ask Him to help you distinguish between the real need you have and what you perceive as a need. Many times you "think" you have a specific need when actually it is a desire. Many times, if God gave you what you "wanted," you would drift in your devotion to Him. Make sure that your motives are pure and God-centered and not self-centered. Also, pray that the Lord will show you exactly where you are missing His best. If there are walls that you have erected, you will not be able to accept His will easily for your life. Ask Him to tear down any walls that separate you from Him. Once you let go and allow Him to meet the needs of your life according to His timing and plan, you will discover His goodness and grace flowing into every area of your life. Be willing to wait. This is crucial. Mary and Martha had to wait. Their hope had faded. Their brother was dead. Jesus had not come when they sent for Him. But God had a grander purpose in mind than just meeting their expectations. He would demonstrate His power to bring new life to a dead man. What was the greater miracle: healing Lazarus or bringing him back to life after being dead for four days? Of course, we know was it his resurrection. This miracle also pointed to the future resurrection of Christ. God always has a greater good in mind. Many times our spiritual insight is very limited, but God sees all. He knows exactly what is transpiring on every spiritual level along with all that we are facing. He has a plan, and, if we are wise, we will wait for Him to reveal it to us. Thank God in advance for His provision. Positive confession is a powerful force in the life of a believer. This does not mean talking boastfully or claiming Gods deliverance apart from His expressed will for your life. Thanking God for His faithfulness and provision is an indication of our submission to His will and not our expectations. Seasons of life may not turn out the way we thought. We may struggle. Mary and Martha watched as their brother died. However, because we serve a risen Lord and Savior, we know that no matter what we face in this life, ultimately God will deliver us from all evil. He will bless us as we seek to know Him intimately. He will guard, protect, and lead us into a place of great blessing and hope. Have you trusted the Savior with your unmet needs or are you still focused on meeting your needs your way? Only God can completely meet your unmet needs. Trust Himgive Him your burden to carry and you will witness a tremendous miracle. He will resurrect your hope and give you the breath of new life. ====================================================== Trouble Over The Temple Mount Dr. J.R. Church http://www.prophecyinthenews.com ====================================================== Israel Asks UN to Control Holy Site: War has broken out in Israel! The fighting that started on Rosh HaShanah, September 29, has erupted in a "holy war" effort to destroy Israel. At the time of this writing, hundreds are dead and thousands are injured. The battleship USS Cole was damaged by Arab terrorists. If you have kept up with the nightly news, then you are familiar with the details. We have been expecting this Middle East powder keg to explode for several months. It seems to have started right on schedule. It all started on the first day of the seventh millennium in the Hebrew calendar. That is the time the prophets called the "day of the Lord." The current conflict may be the predicted prelude to the battle of Gog and Magog. Just prior to the outbreak, Israel asked the United Nations to assume sovereignty over the Temple Mount, hoping the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - Russia, China, France, Great Britain and the United States - would assume control over the Holy Site. The Palestinians rejected the idea of UN control, saying that the site needed to come under full Palestinian sovereignty. For several months, the Palestinians have been engaged in building projects on the Temple Mount. In June, after opening a large prayer hall for 3,500 Moslems in the underground Solomon's Stables area, the Palestinian leadership laid claim to their possession of the Temple Mount as being permanent and said that no Jews would be allowed to pray anywhere on the mount. Israel has been unsuccessful in getting the Palestinians to compromise on the issue of Temple Mount sovereignty. Yassir Arafat demanded that Israel relinquish all claims to their ancient Temple Site. The only way Israel could ever hope to establish Temple Worship on the mount would be if the UN could send troops to stand between the warring factions. Such a move seems to fit perfectly with several biblical prophecies about the Temple Mount being under the control of "Gentiles." In the book of Revelation, John is told that Gentiles will control the Temple Mount during the Tribulation Period: "And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. "But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months" (Rev. 11:1,2). The term "Gentiles," may refer to a plurality of nations, rather than just a single group of Islamic Palestinians. The current suggestion that the United Nations be given Temple Mount sovereignty seems to be in keeping with the prophecy. In light of recent claims made by the Palestinians, it seemed that Israel would be forever banned from the Temple Mount. We wondered how the Jews would ever be able to establish Temple liturgy if the Holy Site were turned over to a new Palestinian nation. However, if the UN were given custody of the area, the Security Council might try something Solomon once suggested and divide the "baby" right down the middle! Under such an arrangement, Israel might be given the northern half of the Temple Mount for the erection of a sanctuary, while the southern half - from the Mosque of Omar to the Al Aksa Mosque - be retained by the Moslems. Amos predicted that the future sanctuary would be a tent - the Tabernacle of David: "In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: "That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this" (Amos 9:11,12). This passage is quoted in Acts 15, giving an alternative translation - perhaps from the Septuagint or Greek translation of the verses: "After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: "That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things" (Acts 15:16,17). Instead of possessing the "remnant of Edom," as the Amos passage is translated, Peter refers to it as "the residue of men might seek after the Lord." It seems likely to me that the "remnant" refers to the Jews who have returned to their ancient land. Also, Amos spells the Hebrew term, translated as "Edom," the same as "Adam." The "remnant" may well be a reference to the Jews returning from their long exile among the nations. Secondly, the Amos passage mentions all the "heathen, which are called by my name," whereas, Peter translates it as "all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called." This appears to be a reference to Gentile Christianity. I know of no other Gentiles who bear the name of Christ. The prophet Isaiah noted that the future place of Jewish worship would be centered in the Tabernacle of David, rather than the Mosaic Tabernacle. He suggested that it will be set up on the Temple Mount, and that the Kingdom throne will be established in it: "And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness" (Isaiah 16:5). I cannot feature Jesus setting up His Kingdom and using the Mosaic Tabernacle. Christ represents Grace - the priesthood of the Abrahamic Covenant, and would never revert back to the Mosaic Law as symbolized by the Mosaic Tabernacle. It seems quite clear that the ancient tent used by David to house the Ark of the Covenant will be restored and used as a place of worship. It is there that the Antichrist will commit the "abomination of desolation" in the midst of the Tribulation Period. Jesus told the disciples: "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) "Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains" (Matt. 24:15,16). Jesus referred back to a passage originally given to Daniel by the angel Gabriel. Daniel was told that at the end of a series of sabbatical cycles, a final seven years would be observed. The Antichrist would first "confirm a covenant with many," then abrogate the covenant and commit the abomination of desolation: "And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate" (Dan. 9:27). Later, Daniel is told that the Antichrist will take control of the Temple Mount and establish his own palace there: "And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain" (Dan. 11:45). If Temple Mount sovereignty were turned over to the United Nations, it would be more likely that such a desecration could take place. Paul also spoke of this time when the Antichrist will take control of the sanctuary and declare himself to be the messiah: "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; "Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God" (II Thes. 2:3,4). This can only take place if a Jewish sanctuary is allowed to be constructed on the Temple Mount. Under present circumstances, Jews are not allowed on the Holy Site, but if the UN is given control, then a compromise may be forthcoming. Ezekiel Describes the Holy Site Ezekiel gives us the best description of the future Temple Site. He begins by referring to a tent or "tabernacle" being set up on the Temple Mount just prior to the invasion by Gog and Magog: "Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. "My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. "And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore" (Ezekiel 37:26-28). In the opening verses of chapter 38, Gog leads an invasion force against Israel. Perhaps the current war over Temple Mount sovereignty will eventually involve Syria and bring about the Russian invasion. As we have seen in recent days, it doesn't take much for the Palestinians to be enraged over Jews coming up to the Temple Mount. The battle of Gog and Magog will bring about great changes for the world. Upon their defeat, Israel will spend the next seven years burning the weapons. These "seven years" conform to the years of the Tribulation Period, the end of which will see the final conflict, followed by the birds eating the flesh of the slain upon the battlefield. Ezekiel takes us to the end of the seven years in chapters 40-48. He specifies the time as Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, and shows us what the Temple Mount will look like when the Messiah arrives in power and great glory. He opens his description with a vision of the sacred hill: "In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me thither. "In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south" (Ezekiel 40:1,2). If one looks to the south of the Temple Mount, there are the archeological excavations - the ruins of ancient Jerusalem. Ezekiel describes them as "the frame of a city on the south." All that stands today are what is left of the walls - just outlines framing where the buildings once stood in first-century Jerusalem. Next, Ezekiel comes to the Eastern Gate - not the gate that stood in his day, but the gate that actually stands today. Note the accurate description of today's gate - proving that Ezekiel was transported into the future to view the scene of today's Temple Mount: "Then came he unto the gate which looketh toward the east, and went up the stairs thereof, and measured the threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad; and the other threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad. "Then measured he the porch of the gate, eight cubits; and the posts thereof, two cubits; and the porch of the gate was inward" (Ezekiel 40:6,9). Note the panoramic picture of the Eastern Gate (page 4) and see the similarity with Ezekiel's description. The prophet saw two gates, each measuring about 10 feet, six inches, with the porch of the gate on the inside. He also describes the stairs shown to the right of the picture. Seven verses later, Ezekiel describes the narrow windows and little chambers: "And there were narrow windows to the little chambers, and to their posts within the gate round about, and likewise to the arches: and windows were round about inward" (Ezekiel 40:16). Then, Ezekiel describes the sanctuary as a tent or tabernacle: "Afterward he brought me to the temple, and measured the posts, six cubits broad on the one side, and six cubits broad on the other side, which was the breadth of the tabernacle" (Ezekiel 41:1). These measurements of the front of the tent do not conform to the Mosaic Tabernacle, which was ten cubits wide. This tent was 12 cubits wide, with a post in the middle. The Mosaic Tabernacle had five posts across its front. Therefore, it seems likely that Ezekiel could be describing the Tabernacle of David. Next, the prophet measures the courtyard of the sanctuary and notes that a wall has been constructed across the area to make a separation between the Jewish house of worship and a "profane place" located on one side of the Temple Mount: "He measured the south side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed. "He turned about to the west side, and measured five hundred reeds with the measuring reed. "He measured it by the four sides: it had a wall round about, five hundred reeds long, and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place" (Ezekiel 42:18-20). I am convinced that the Mosque of Omar is that "profane place" described by Ezekiel. Also called the Dome of the Rock, it will remain, along with the Al Aksa Mosque, at the end of the seven years - the very day when the Messiah returns in power and great glory. Carefully read the following lengthy description: "Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east: "And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory" (Ezk. 43:1,2). "And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east. "So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house. "And I heard him speaking unto me out of the house; and the man stood by me. "And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcasses of their kings in their high places. "In their setting of their threshold by my thresholds, and their post by my posts, and the wall between me and them, they have even defiled my holy name by their abominations that they have committed: wherefore I have consumed them in mine anger" (Ezekiel 43:4-8). Note several things about this passage. First, the Jewish sanctuary seems to be located directly west of the Eastern Gate. The glory will come across the Kedron Valley from the Mount of Olives, cross directly over the Eastern Gate and enter the house. Next, the Messiah speaks to Ezekiel and complains that the profane place still stands on the Temple Mount. Christ notes that their threshold stands next to His threshold with a wall built between them. Note also, that Christ says that they have been consumed in His anger. When Ezekiel asks why the Eastern Gate was closed, he was told that it will remain shut. It is shut today: "Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut. "Then said the LORD unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the LORD, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut" (Ezk. 44:1,2). Only a governing body like the United Nations can make the Temple Mount available for a Jewish presence. The government of Israel has never attempted to secure the area for Jewish worship. Religious Jews have had to content themselves with the outer wall on the west side of the hill. Nor is the Israeli government likely to try - not in the face of fierce Palestinian opposition. The call for United Nations control may well set the stage for the Tribulation events predicted in the Bible. ====================================================== SUBSCRIBE and UNSUBSCRIBE ====================================================== Please use the following web page to Subscribe, Unsubscribe and Change you email address for all of the lists PropheZine runs. http://www.prophezine.com/text/lists.html ====================================================== PRIVACY NOTICE ====================================================== Privacy Notice: PropheZine is a religious organization located in the state of New York in the U.S.A. Our policy has been and will always be to never sell, rent, or barter the names and/or information about those who contact our international ministry. All questions may be sent to bob@...