TWENTY
RECENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.
Some
encouragement as we steer our way through the ‘oceans’ of
news & ideas.
Throughout this article we will give links
to more complete answers to questions.
Please be sure to check
these out, especially the Bible references!
Why
we care about your questions - some explanations first…
Because
we are the people who write and post a range of articles for our web
site, we really DO have a genuine prayerful concern to actually make
a useful contribution to God’s people like you,
who are visiting our site, & not waste your time, or our efforts!
[See ‘About
Us’.]
We so much want you to be blessed!
What
we are trying to offer.
1.
Useful information about current events in the light of
the Bible – God’s Word.
2. Encouragement to those who
need encouragement in their faith, in hard times.
3.
Some insights of possible future developments, even warnings of
tribulation* -so we can be prepared for what God may ask of us,
as Believers in Yeshua/Jesus.
4. Invitations to find the
truth about a real relationship with God, through repentance and
faith in the death of the Son of God, Jesus, as our Sacrifice for
sin. Then to invite all Believers, to seek to stand true, also by
faith, in God’s power, making Jesus the LORD of our lives,
until Messiah comes!
5. An awareness of the
present suffering of many Believers and the reasons for this -
as the fulfillment of many prophecies about the increasing
wickedness/ wars & disasters in this ‘End time’ world
- tells us, there will be even more ahead*.
SO
many, (sometimes) confusing articles, web sites, books & films
are available now!
The
reality we see is, that there are just so many variations in the
messages one can hear, read or see via our modern technology, about
‘eschatology’, (End times) that it almost becomes
disheartening, to the point of ‘flagging it all away’.
This is especially if we think that, maybe we will not
escape from a terrible time of testing, as so many teachers are
saying? This is only one subject we address, but it is an
important one, as we are obviously in the minority, when so many
Bible Teachers believe in a ‘Pre-tribulation’, or
’Pre-wrath’, 2-part coming of the LORD Jesus, with 2
separate resurrection days some years apart…
We believe there is another message for us to consider?
This is the main focus of this web site –seeking, not to be ‘scare-mongers’ but to try to prepare people for a future of great tests, just like many of our Fellow Believers are already facing! We believe Yeshua/ Jesus was not asking us to “WATCH’ to be ‘entertained’ or in order to be experts on the events of the future. But by being prepared in the renewing of our minds, with the Holy Spirit’s help, we will be able to stay true even through suffering in tribulation -“to the End”.
With
the help of modern technology (web tracking methods) sometimes
supplied by Christian people, we can get an idea of the kind of
questions and search words people use to find our web site.
We use one called ‘Stat Counter’ free & very
useful.
This does not tell us anything about individual
people. But the broadest information; like, the country
people are in, what subject was being searched for; the
articles that were looked at and the approximate number of
articles a person looked at.
Sometimes we feel that people
have been directed by the ‘search engines’ to articles
that did not answer the question the person asked. So we want
to give you some extra help, to really find an answer to your
enquiry! Is that O.K. with you?
HERE ARE 20 RECENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.
(Often
there are many Scriptures giving answers to the questions
but
we give only a few very brief references here, to keep it simple.)
1. What part of the Bible tells of the End of the World?
a)
There will be an end to the wicked rule of mankind
under the Antichrist/ False Messiah as given in Revelation 19, and
great desolation of the Earth is described in Isaiah 13 & Isaiah
chapter 24, but this will not be end of this Earth, because we
believe when Man’s wicked rule ends & Yeshua/ Jesus comes
back He will remake it as a recreated world – like it
was at Creation! Isaiah 2: 1-5, & chapter 11 & 12 are some
descriptions of many. This is exciting!
[We don’t know how
long it would take – but probably less than 6 days!]
[See
‘The
False Messiah’
& ‘The
Messiah’s Kingdom’,
Part 1 & 2.]
b)
Later there will be an actual End to this physical Earth, at the
end of the 1000 reign of Yeshua, when it is replaced by a
New Heaven & Earth, described in Revelation 21 –22. These
will be totally different from this Earth, which will have
‘passed away’ completely. It will be so different it is
hard for us to imagine, inspite of Revelation 21 & 22, which
indicates it will be real – but spiritual & eternal
–lasting forever! Another fascinating, exciting study!
[See
‘Eternity
– Heaven on Earth’.]
2. Is the Second Coming (of Yeshua) mentioned in the Tanakh/ O.T?
Yes,
it is more than once, in places like Daniel 7: 13 & 14, &
Psalms 72, 93, & 97. Also Zechariah 14: from verse 3. (As
these were written before Yeshua’s first Coming it is easier
for us to study about Yeshua’s Return to Earth, with the extra
knowledge of the B’rit Chadashah/N.T.) But it is good to build
on the messages in the Tanakh – God’s special book - in
all subjects. Psalm 45 is about the Royal Son’s wedding day –
it could only be Yeshua’s. “In Your majesty, ride
forth victoriously…Your throne O God will last for ever &
ever, a scepter of justice will be the scepter of Your kingdom!”
[See ‘Jesus
Second Coming’.]
3.
Will all the Jews be ‘saved’/restored spiritually?
We
do take Romans 11: 26 very seriously, because of the way it comes in
this special letter to Gentile Christians in Rome, where previously
exiled Jewish Believers had been ordered to leave, but were now
returning to a predominantly Gentile congregation. [We are indebted
to Rev David Pawson, for this excellent explanation.]
From our
studies, Ezekiel 38 & 39 tells when the Sovereign God will
deliver Israel from an impossible situation, because they will
finally call out to God, (see Zechariah 12: 9 – 13: 2) in
repentance & trust and recognise Yeshua as the Face of God, by
His Holy Spirit being poured out on them. Ezekiel 39: 29 sums it up.
“I will no longer hide My Face (Yeshua) from them, for I
will pour out My Spirit on the house of Israel, declares the
Sovereign LORD.” Isn’t that wonderful!
But,
we believe they can only be saved when they “call on
the Name of the LORD (Yeshua)” in faith & repentance.
There is no other way! God does not save anyone except through their
faith in Him; NOT when they see Yeshua at His coming. (Yes,
God is so gracious to give some visions of Yeshua, to some Jewish
people, now.) Rabbi Sha’ul, (Paul) wrote, “if you
acknowledge publicly… that Yeshua is ADONAI ~ LORD & trust
in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be
delivered/ saved (spiritually).” Jewish NT- Romans 10.
Yeshua said in Matthew 23, “you will not see Me again
until you say ‘Blessed is He that comes in the Name of
ADONAI’.” (“Baruch ha ba B’Shem ADONAI”,
in Hebrew.)
[See ‘Israel’s
Glorious Future’]
4.
What nations of the world will be blessed by Israel?
This question could be based on the clear promise to Abraham, Genesis 12: 2 & 3.
a) ANY person, at anytime, anywhere, as an individual, who has repented of sin & accepted the Jewish Yeshua/Jesus’ life & death & resurrection by trusting is blessed! Therefore many millions of people have been blessed by the truth of the complete Jewish Bible containing the Judeo/Christian Faith.
b) The influence of these good laws on many societies - ‘legal rights’ have brought great blessings to the nations, (especially in the ‘West’), that use them. Also Jews have been involved in many great ‘inventions’ & scientific medical & other developments to enhance & bless the lives of people, everywhere.
c) A special answer is “we believe most nations” will be blessed in a special way, in the future, after Israel individually, but as a Nation, recognises & “calls on the Name of the LORD” as described in Romans 11 & Isaiah 19: 23 -25. We have several articles about this exciting question. [See ‘The Future of Israel’, (short version) & ‘Israel’s Glorious Future’, also the ‘Sequel to the Ezekiel War’ Part 2.]
d)
In Matthew 25: 31 –46 it tells of a division of ‘nations’
after Jesus Second Coming, between the people (‘sheep’)
that cared for ‘the brothers of Jesus’ (& will
be blessed) and (‘goats’) - those that did not care. We
actually suspect this has been fulfilled in several ways, but we
wonder if the Jewish Restored Nation will minister (perhaps through
144,000 Jewish ‘servant/social workers’) to persecuted
Gentiles in the Tribulation – but we do not know for
sure. (Revelation 7: 3 – 8, simply calls the 144,000 of Israel
‘servants’. They cannot be ‘evangelists’
in the Tribulation, after people have ‘taken the mark’
which will lock them into the worship of the False-messiah, so it
will be beforehand.) God has always wanted to bless the
world through Israel & we find it impossible to believe that God
will wait until after the Return of Yeshua to Earth. God will use
them greatly beforehand as Romans 11: 12 & 15 says! “Greater
riches” for the world! See Isaiah 60, & 66:19 –
21 – absolutely amazing verses of blessings here!
[See
‘The
Greatest Sign of Messiah’s Coming.’]
5.
Will people be able to become Believers in Jesus (converted)
after they have taken “the mark of the Beast”?
This
seems very unlikely, as the ‘mark’ is more
of a worship symbol than even a monetary system. Revelation 13: 15
–17. [See ‘The
Time of Tribulation’.]
[But
this is not what those who believe in a Pre-trib rapture believe
about those who have
been ‘left behind’ – they
are called ‘Tribulation saints’ but this teaching
suggests there
is a 2nd chance to accept Jesus, &
a second resurrection day for Believers - which is not so.]
There
is no Scriptural support for a second chance to become
Christians after God’s People/Bride/Body have been ‘caught
up’ to meet, Yeshua/Jesus as He returns once to Earth! We
believe in only one resurrection day for all Believers, and no
2nd chances to accept Jesus at any time after that. “Now
is the Day of Salvation.” Faith is not - ‘seeing’
- & ‘faith’ is absolutely essential to
have a relationship with the Loving LORD God! However there will
be a huge harvest just before the Antichrist takes over. See Joel
chapter 2, 1 – 27 is about ‘the Ezekiel War’, &
the result for Israel is in 28 – 32!
[See article on ‘Faith
–this mysterious thing we all need’]
6.
What is the difference between “the times of the
Gentiles”, in Luke 21: 24; and “The fullness (or
full number) of the Gentiles”, in Romans 11: 25?
We
believe the first (in Luke) was when Yeshua/ Jesus was
speaking of a political time of change that would come
to give the Jews the possession of the City of Jerusalem. Many
people believe this happened in 1967, but in a sense it is not quite
complete yet, but very soon Israel will be given the full
responsibility for this Covenant City.
The second
reference (in Romans) is to the full number of Gentile Believers
in Messiah Jesus, a spiritual time of completion –
here on Earth, & known only to God. It will also match with a
given time when all Jewish people – here on Earth - will have
finally realised Who Yeshua really is! That’s why it says, “and
so all Israel will be saved.” (Vs. 26.) This emphasises our
belief that every Jewish person alive at that time, (even though a
‘small remnant’ of maybe 20 million –as compared
with 360 million Arabs), will come to know Yeshua as Saviour &
their Messiah, before the Return of Yeshua to Earth.
[Please
see the full explanation in ‘The
Times of the Gentiles’.]
7.
When is Jesus Coming back?
No
one but GOD knows the actual date, but we will know it is
getting nearer as we watch for the signs. But it will be after
some time of Tribulation, followed by a short time of God’s
judgments, during which true Believing Jews & Gentiles will
be kept safe. We believe that NO one knows the “day or the
hour”. But while non-believers will have no idea what is
happening, (Matthew 24: 36 –39) yet godly, true Believers will
NOT be caught by surprise as they see the time getting nearer. 1
Thessalonians 5: 1 –11 says it well! “You are
not in the dark, so the Day would take you by surprise.”
[See
‘Messiah
Jesus is Coming Again’.]
8.
Is Islam the End Time Beast of Daniel 7 & Revelation 13?
No,
we do not believe so. We believe God will break the power of
fanatical Islam in ‘The Ezekiel War’, but that soon
after as a result of worldwide chaos, the real False-messiah will
emerge & head up the Beastly kingdom –also called
‘Babylon’. This will be supported by ‘a One
World Religion’ that will include many moderate Muslims,
carnal Christians & every other religious group in a
homogenous Satan worshipping group. Of course any powerful, cruel,
Satanic regime in history or in the world now, (like Islam) shows the
same cruel features, which, sadly will be even worse, when the
Antichrist emerges to set up his ‘Babylonian’, beastly
kingdom.
[See ‘The
False-messiah’,
& ‘The
Greatest Lie’.]
9.
Is America ‘Babylon’?
No,
we do not believe this. ‘Babylon’ will not be
one nation. It will be a total, global economic &
religious system – a new UNO -headed by a very powerful &
seemingly clever MAN – who will claim to be the messiah. He is
alive now - & could be gaining worldwide influence just as
some leaders are already doing. He will be backed by a worldwide,
humanistic, ‘religious inter-faith’, conservation minded
lobby group with a leader like the Dalai Lama. The
False-messiah will be supported by 10 ‘power-blocks’
like: Africa. Arabia, South America, Asia, China, India, Nth
America (Canada & USA) Russia, Europe & Oceania (Australia &
all Island nations in the Pacific.)
Each will have one ‘king’
or leader to become the ‘10 kings’ of Revelation 17. But
the world is becoming more ‘inter-dependant’, forming big
alliances, such as the G8, WTO, Multi-lateral financial &
cultural groups, and other efforts such as setting up non-national
‘initiatives’. Even the UNO have set up a special
organisation called ‘AOC’ = Alliance of Civilisations,
see www.unaoc.org
. See also, ‘Clinton Global Initiatives’,
www.clintonglobalinitiative.org
the ‘Organisation of Islamic Conference’, and other
groups, talking about ‘values’ & seemingly noble
humanitarian ideas – not only financially based world bodies.
[See ‘Daniel’s
Five End-time Kingdoms’
Part 2.]
10. Who is the
‘Restrainer’ of 2 Thess 2?
We
believe this is a very powerful Angel, as in many places in
the Bible, they are given very special assignments, as shown
in Daniel 12. Time-wise it is before the Tribulation that ‘the
Restrainer’ is removed in order to allow the ‘Lawless
one’ to take over. So we do not believe it will be the
Holy Spirit, because Jesus by the Holy Spirit will be in all true
Believers, even in the time of Tribulation. As Jesus said, “I
will be with you always, yes, even to the end of the Age.” This
is another reason out of many, why we do not believe in a
Pre-tribulation event/ Rapture. God by His Spirit will always
be omni-present – everywhere, always, with all of His
people by faith - Jews included! But by the increasing liberal
attitudes of even Christians there is less ‘restraint’ of
evil, as there is also an “increase of wickedness”.
[See
excellent article at:
www.lastdaysmystery.info/he_who_holds_back.html]
11.
How important is World Evangelism & will there be a great
End-time Harvest?
YES!
This is the exciting key to the Return of Yeshua/ Jesus! Joel chapter
2 will happen! It will partly be because of “all
Israel being saved” – all Jewish people finally
realising Who Yeshua is & turning to everyone they know around
the world, to tell them the Good news, also a huge harvest
of new Believers in Islamic nations of the M.E. Isaiah 19: 23
– 25. Yeshua/ Jesus said clearly in Matthew 24: 14, “This
Gospel… will be made known in all the world & then the
end will come.” It’s so important! [See ‘The
Greatest Sign of Messiah’s Coming’.]
12.
When will Believers in Jesus & non-Believers be resurrected
from the dead?
a)
There is only ONE resurrection Day for all Believers; it is at
the one & only Return of Jesus to Earth. “This is the
first resurrection,” Revelation 20: 5. We believe that it
will include all people since Seth, (see Hebrews 11) all Believers in
the Tanakh/O.T, right through to the ‘end of the Age’.
Anyone who has ‘believed’ and therefore
their ‘faith is reckoned to them as righteousness’,
like Abraham, or ‘the dying thief’, or people over
the last 2000 years.
b) Revelation 20, verses 7–15 tells
clearly of the time 1000 years later when another, ‘second
resurrection’ happens but only for non-Believers
and sadly they will die a second time. There is NO second chance to
become Believers by faith, because they will see Jesus their Judge &
know they have sinned & will die in the ‘second death.”
Some Scriptures suggest levels of punishment, but it is not
clear. It is clear from Romans 1:18 – 20 everyone knows what
is right, from creation, & their own consciences, & will
have no excuses on the Judgement day. However we agree with Abraham’s
statement in Genesis 18:25, “Shall not the Judge of all the
Earth do right?” All little children & intellectually
handicapped people from birth, will be saved & be where
Jesus is. Everyone else will have to answer to Him, one day.
[See
‘Messiah
Jesus is Coming Again’.]
13.
How much do we know about the future of Jerusalem, & the
3rd Temple?
There
is quite a lot about this in the Bible, which we comment on, in
different articles. Soon this will include notes on the ‘Two
Witnesses’ and other parts of Revelation. Revelation 11 and
Isaiah 62 are very specific & good chapters to read!
[Please
look for these up-coming articles! See next question.]
14.
Where can I read about End Time earthquakes & sky signs in
Israel?
We
give a summary of some of these. [See ‘Earthquakes
& Sky Signs in Jerusalem’.]
15.
Can we know Man’s true origin?
We
believe God made one man & one woman absolutely perfect
physically, mentally & spiritually on the 6th day of Creation.
Genesis 1: 26 –31. Can you imagine God making anything that was
not perfect in every way? Many Christian scientists believe God
created the world & people perfectly, less than 10,000 years ago.
Sin has caused a ‘decline’ in many people over the
centuries, but God can ‘restore’ those who believe in
Him, in this life, and even better at the Resurrection, “when
we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him!”
[But see
‘Comfort
for Sorrow’
Part 1.]
16. Will weapons
be made of ‘lignostone’ in a future war?
Yes,
we believe so. This is because after the ‘Ezekiel War’,
Israelis will ”go out & use the weapons for fuel &
burn them up…. For 7 years they will use them for fuel…
they will use the weapons for fuel…” Ezekiel 39: 9 &
10. In Ezekiel’s time, wood was the main source of burning for
cooking or warmth. (Oil was for lighting.) Present-day Israel is very
good at using solar heat for electricity but has to buy almost all
its other petroleum needs. But modern slow burning stoves, etc would
offer a lot of reduction of other fuel needs, so now that there is
this substance called ‘lignostone’ which is as hard as
steel, but being made from wood, (& would be less visible on
radar or from satellites), so it seems possible the Magog army would
use it for at least carrying other weapons. Their weapons could even
include modern kinds of ‘shields, bows & arrows’ as
Scripture clearly says. Refer to: the Ezekiel War
and do a web search on ‘lignostone’. See
www.roechling-plastics.com/english/ligno_werkstoff.htm.
17. Why does it say Jerusalem
will be called ‘Sodom’ & ‘Egypt’ in
Revelation 11:8?
We
like the NIV rendering about the two killed ‘prophetic
witnesses’, “their bodies will lie in the street of
the great City, which is figuratively called ‘Sodom &
Egypt’ where also their LORD was crucified.” It
is very clear this is during the time of the False-messiah’s
rule, who hates them & everything they stand for. So like all
people who hate the Lord Jesus, they use angry & blasphemous
words & names. So this does not mean Jerusalem has
become evil. We believe it will be a righteous City under the control
of newly Believing Jewish Leaders, who will rebuild the Temple &
worship God through Yeshua, for 3.5 years, as this chapter 11
describes. But it suits the jealous False-messiah (who gave them
permission to build the Temple), to then besmirch & blaspheme
God’s City, until finally he jealously decides to seat himself
in the Temple in Jerusalem with his statue, & proclaim ‘he
is god’, there. (2 Thess, 2: 4.) Evil people love to speak
badly about good organisations, people, etc.
[See ‘The
Great Lie’.]
18.
Will God provide a place of refuge & safety, on Earth, to Jews
& Gentile Believers in the Tribulation?
Yes,
we believe the whole Land of Israel, from the Euphrates river across
to the great (Mediterranean), Sea, and down to the ‘river of
Egypt’ as it says in Joshua 1: 4, etc, will be restored as a
safe place for all Jews alive at that time. In fact we believe
that because the False-messiah/A.C will be like Pharaoh he will
order all Jews to go to live in Israel. (Compare Revelation 12).
But some Gentile Believers will be able to go there too, as
Zechariah 8:23 says, though many others will die for their faith. It
is possible the area Israel will gain after ‘The Ezekiel War’,
will be even more, than originally promised, as it says in Isaiah
61:7, “ they will inherit a double portion in their Land.”
[See, ‘Times
of Tribulation & Wrath’
& ‘Sequel
to the Ezekiel War’.]
19.
Which nation will be the ‘Sheep nation’?
We
are not dogmatic about this but believe it is Israel.
Specifically, during the Tribulation, Israel will help persecuted
Gentile ‘brothers of Yeshua’ (perhaps by sending
out 144,000 Jewish “servants” as they are called
in Revelation 7), to be the actual ‘social workers’
on behalf of Israel. Later Israel will be divided from the rest of
the unbelieving world after the Return of Yeshua, as He sets up His
Earthly Kingdom. See Matthew 25: 31 –45. However God has used
the message & meaning of this story to encourage all
Christians in every place & every age to find ways of ministering
to both Jews & Gentiles, Believers or un-believers. We note that
it is ‘nations’ that are separated from other nations,
(Matthew 25:32) - perhaps not individuals. This is an example of
things we do not fully know or understand till they happen.
Christians have always been & are in the forefront of many rescue
and relief agencies as they should be.
20.
How can a Jewish person understand how Yeshua is God?
Only
by the help of the Ruach ha Kodesh. This is a very special question,
with a very special answer, for Jewish people, who repeat ‘The
Shema’, (from Deuteronomy 6: 4), every day. The affirmation in
Hebrew says: ”Shema, Isra’el; ADONAI Elohaynu ADONAI
Ehad”. In English it is: “Hear, O Israel, The
LORD, our God, The LORD is One.” For those who will accept
it –it is in fact an affirmation of the three-part nature of
their great eternal ‘ADONAI’ / LORD – (taken from
the Hebrew ‘YHWH’.)
The repetition of the three
names is significant, as is the use of the plural possessive form of
‘Elohim’ being ‘Elohaynu’- our God. It is
also noteworthy that the word ‘ehad’ for ‘one’,
can be at times & is used elsewhere in Scripture, for the concept
of a multiple number of people, (as in an army) but designated as
‘one’. As the Holy Spirit is responsible for ‘convicting
us of sin, and righteousness and judgement” we simply pray
still, that even more Jewish people will recognise that Yeshua is THE
FACE of God, as Yacov discovered at the place he called ‘Pin-iel’.
Genesis 32:30. Cp. John 14: 9.
“Whoever has seen Me has
seen the Father…” In the end, this is something no
one can understand with his or her mind, (as we would be equal
with God), so we must accept it by faith, alone!
[See ‘Who
is the Face of God?’]
We
trust these brief questions and answers have been a help to you.
We
do not claim to know all the answers, but do believe
God wants us
to ask & seek, most of all for Him, Himself and what He
can be to us!
Here
are some precious thoughts about our individual relationship to
God.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“The
love of my poor heart can be - to God’s beloved Son,
Something
He nowhere else has seen, and in no other, won!
“And His
dear love can be to me - my own, my very own;
Something He can
only be- to me – and me alone.”
(Author
unknown.)
We
are happy to answer other questions if you would like to contact
us,
g.o.fellowship@maxnet.co.nz