ISRAEL IN VICTORY

“Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and bucklers, the bows and arrows, the javelins and spears; and they will make fires with them for seven years” (Ezek. 39:9 NKJV).

In our verse, Ezekiel is prophesying about some of Israel’s post-war experiences after Armageddon. The prophecy speaks of folk in Israel, freedom in Israel, and fire in Israel.

Folk in Israel - “Those who dwell in the cities of Israel.” The “those” here refers to the Jews. Nations have tried to drive Israel out of the land, but they will survive. After the battle of Armageddon, Jews will thrive in Israel. They will survive and dwell in the land of Palestine!

Freedom in Israel - “Those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out.” Armageddon will mean destruction for the enemies of the Jews, but freedom for the Israelites. When the Lord Jesus Christ becomes Israel’s conqueror and king, the Israelites will be in the land, and will have the freedom of going forth from their dwellings places in peace.

Fire in Israel - “They will make fires with them for seven years.” After the battle of Armageddon, Israel will be occupied with burning the implements of the war for seven years. And this begs the question - how can you burn these implements of war when they are made of mostly? The answer: lignostone. Lignostone is made of wood and chemicals, and was invented in Holland. It is a material which is stronger and tougher than steel. But unlike metal, this product will burn in a furnace like coal. One advantage of lignostone is that it is not detectable like metal. Weapons which zero in on metal objects to destroy them will not be able to do this with lignostone. Yet these weapons will not be a problem for Israel in the battle of Armageddon. God will be fighting for Israel, and they will burn these weapons for seven years after the war. This is what the Word of God says.

(Adapted from Analytical Biblical Expositor)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“Our God is not an impotent God with one arm; but as He is slow to anger, so is He great in power!”

Abraham Wright (1946 – )

American Pastor, Teacher and Evangelist

Word Study

Elders

In Titus 1:5 we read, “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you!” (NKJV).

Elders is the Greek word presbuteros (πρεσβύτερος = pres-boo'-ter-os). It refers to an older man, ancestor, elder, presbyter. In classic Greek presbuteros denotes an older man and always possesses a positive element of respect and honor. In the Septuagint presbuteros referred to someone who was aged, and in Israel, were part of the political decision-making process. In the New Testament, presbuteros or elders is a general term that referred to those who are also called “bishops / overseers” (1 Tim. 3:1). Further, the fact that the titles elder, pastor, and overseer all describe the same person is made clear by the use of all three words to describe the same men in Acts 20:17, 28. Christian maturity is a primary qualification for “elders.”

“Fear Nots” Found in the Bible

“Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not” (Num. 14:9 KJV).

Did You Know…

The Lake of Fire was created for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41).

Bible Quiz

According to 1 Kings 15, only once did David not obey the Lord. What was the sin that David committed?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz: What does Solomon tell the slothful/lazy person to look to as an example and be wise? The ant (Prov. 6:6-8).

Names For God Found in the Bible

“KEEPER”

"The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand” (Psalm 121:5 NKJV).

1. Meaning – KEEPER there means to exercise great care and refers to God who has undertaken to be our protector.

2. Insights – The Lord is the Keeper of the community, over which He watches with un-slumbering care. His presence is protection and shelter for His people. Our KEEPER is not only on the throne looking down on us, but He is at our side to shield us from all harm. This does not mean that believers never face difficulty. The things that God permits to happen to us in His will may hurt us but they will not harm us.

Did You Know...Christian History

Karolina Wilhelmina Sandell-Berg was born October 3, 1832 in Froderyd, Sweden. She was a Swedish poet and hymn writer.

Sandell greatly loved and admired her father. Being a frail youngster, she generally preferred to be with him in his study rather than outdoors with friends. When Sandell was just 12 years of age, she had an experience that greatly shaped her entire life. At an early age she had been stricken with a partial paralysis that confined her to bed much of the time. Though the physicians considered her chance for a complete recovery hopeless, her parents always believed that God would in time make her well again.

One Sunday morning, while her parents were in church, Sandell began reading the Bible and praying earnestly. When her parents returned, they were amazed to find her dressed and walking freely. After this experience of physical healing, Sandell began writing verses expressing her gratitude and love for God. At the age of 16, Sandell published her first book of spiritual poetry.

At the age of 26, Sandell accompanied her father on a boat trip across Lake Vattern. During the trip, her father fell overboard and drowned. Although Sandell had written many hymn texts prior to this tragic experience, now more than ever poetic thoughts began to flow from her broken heart. Her hymns influenced the revival that swept across Scandinavia after l850. She grew up to become Sweden’ most celebrated author of Gospel hymns, and wrote so many that she is often called the “Fanny Crosby of Sweden.”

Further, the words of Sandell’s hymns were all the more popular because of the simple, beautiful melodies written for them, especially those of Oscar Ahnfelt who played his guitar and sang her hymns throughout Scandinavia. Sandell once said that Ahnfeld sang her songs “into the hearts of the people.” Even Jenny Lind, the world-famous concert vocalist, visited factories and sang Sandell’s beautiful hymns. Sandell’s voice spoke more than 650 hymns from a heart filled with love for her Savior. Two of her hymns that are widely known throughout the Christian world are “Children of the Heavenly Father” and “Day by Day.” Immigrants from Sweden, Denmark, and Norway brought her hymns with them as they came here to North America.

In 1892, Sandell became ill with typhoid fever. She died in 1903 at the age of seventy and was buried at Solna Church in greater Stockholm.

A Little Humor

The Sunday school teacher was just finishing a lesson on honesty. “Do you know where children go if they don’t put their money in the collection plate?” the teacher asked. “Yes ma’am,” a boy blurted out. “They go to the movies.”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Few are willing to deny that they are sinners, but few are willing to admit they are sinning!”