In the first three verses of Genesis 12, God gave Abraham some powerful promises. “Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you, I will curse; and in you, all the families of the earth shall be blessed.'” (ESV – all emphasis is mine)
Our Heavenly Father does not use words just to be heard. When He makes a covenant, He never goes back on His promises, as Scripture plainly states. After all, why would He? What would be His gain to do so? He is our one and only Triune God, Creator of the heavens and the earth.
Please note that whenever the Father says, “I Will,” it is His promise to do exactly what He says. Second, He cannot lie, as given in Numbers 23:10, 1 Samuel 15:29, Hebrews 6:8, and Titus 1:2. Also, His covenants are forever.
Genesis 17:4-8; “Behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be called “Abram,” but your name shall be “Abraham,” for I made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and your offspring after you, throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your offspring after you. And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of Canaan for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”
Today, the ancient land of Canaan would include Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan and southern portions of Syria and Lebanon. Eventually, the Jewish people will once again have all the land promised by the Father. Today, however, they are accused of being “occupiers” by the surrounding Arab nations and radical terrorist groups.
Abraham’s name, as given above, means “The Father of Many Nations,” and his wife Sarai became Sarah, the “Mother of Nations” (Genesis 17:15). For those who know Bible history, Abraham had two sons, Ishmael and Isaac. Ishmael was born through an Egyptian servant, Hagar, and Isaac was born by Sarah. Ishmael’s offspring today would be the Arab tribes of the world, while Isaac’s offspring are the Jewish people.
When Israel became a Sovereign Nation once again after almost 2,000 years, the United States was the first country to recognize it. On May 14, 1948, Harry S. Truman recognized the new State of Israel just moments after its founding. In his memoirs, he stated humanitarian concern was the primary reason for him to justify that decision. He stated he had sympathy for the Jewish people because of all they had suffered during the holocaust. From that time until just the past couple of years, the U.S. has had a commitment of friendship with Israel.
As of late, that attitude has been changing, and not for the better. Our current so-called leaders are showing a trend toward antisemitism as never before. There was a deadly attack on October 7, 2023, on Israel that is almost identical to what is described in Zechariah 14. The only difference is that the attack will be on Jerusalem just before the introduction of the antichrist.
In the current atrocity, the attack by the terrorist group “Hamas” and even the citizens of Gaza was unprecedented since Israel declared their Sovereignty in 1948. There have been many incidents of trying to eliminate Israel, but none were as violent as the current event.
Israel’s response has been to seek revenge and to eliminate Hamas as a threat to them, and they have responded by going after them in Gaza and Rafah. A reasonable person might think that Israel would be totally justified because of the nature of the attack and the sheer violence that was placed on its people.
It should be noted that Israel has tried to warn civilians in the path to leave the area to avoid unnecessary casualties. The terrorists have been fighting from schools, hospitals, and citizen homes with total disregard for any innocent lives. They actually use the citizens as shields to carry out their destructive deeds.
One might believe that the U.S. would totally back Israel in its quest. After all, numerous American lives were also lost in that horrible attack by Hamas and Gaza citizens.
However, our government’s attitude is that Israel should stop their “aggression” and allow Hamas to “negotiate” peace. If Israel were to pull out of that area, Hamas would only regroup and continue even stronger attacks in that region. The absolute elimination of all Jews is the goal of all the radical terrorists.
As we witness all that is happening, one thing becomes apparent: Bible prophecy is being completed with total accuracy. The signs of the end of this age, as given by Jesus in Matthew 24 and Luke 21, along with Paul’s message in 2 Timothy 3, are all here right now.
Anyone professing to be a Christian is being labeled as a “Hater’ just as the Savior said would happen in John 15:18. In John 15:23, Jesus plainly states, “Whoever hates Me hates My Father also.” This message is throughout the New Testament. To have the Father, Jesus must be accepted. There is no way to have one without the other.
For those who are saying there are many ways to Heaven, John 14:6 and Acts 4:12 dispels this. Our Heavenly Father sent a most valuable part of Himself to this sin-filled earth to be our sinless blood sacrifice in order that we could have a true pathway to eternal life.
Anyone who rejects Jesus or tweaks the importance of the free gift He provided at Calvary will not be received by the Father. All who call on the name of the Lord for Salvation will be saved (Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21, and Romans 10:13).
Paul states in 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness.”
Peter adds in 2 Peter 1:20-21, “knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
Satan and his demons are pulling out all the stops. He knows his time is drawing short, and ultimately, he and his followers will be cast into the lake of fire created especially for them (Matthew 25:41).
Anyone who has not received and accepted Jesus as their Savior would do well to consider this soon. As given in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-53, an event will take place to keep all true believers from the wrath, also known as the tribulation.
We do not know the day or hour the Rapture will occur, but Jesus said in Luke 21:28, “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your Redemption is drawing near.”
Tomorrow is not promised to us. Jesus said in Matthew 24:36 that we do not know the day or hour. In Matthew 24:42, He states, “Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.”
One more thought: anyone who may believe they will have time when the Trumpet of God sounds, and there is a shout from an archangel to call out to be saved, 1 Corinthians 15:52 states that it will happen in the “twinkling of an eye.” That isn’t even enough time to take a breath, much less call out to be saved. And, yes, God can accomplish the Rapture in that short of a period of time.
To be on this earth when the seven-year tribulation starts will be to go into the worst period of time this world has ever experienced. Romans 3:10, 3:23, and 6:23 tell us we’re all sinners. Romans 10:9-13 gives the path to Salvation, and 1 John 1:8-10 the means of being forgiven when we sin after we have been called out to be saved.
Our Heavenly Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit do not wish for any of us to fail. He is ready to receive your call to be forgiven and ask that Jesus be your forever Savior. He will force no one, yet He will turn no one away who truly calls. No one has sinned so greatly that the pure blood of Jesus can’t reach them. The unforgivable sin is to pass from this earth without Jesus as your Savior.
Call out today. There’s always room for one more to be in the flock of our Greatest Shepherd ever.
Maranatha – Come, Lord Jesus!
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