The Apple of God’s Eye:: By Nathele Graham

Published on: by RR10 Category:General Articles, Nathele Graham

Israel was, is, and always will be the apple of God’s eye. As Christians, we should love the Jewish people and pray for Israel. Why? Simply put, God says we should. Scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit, and we can trust what God says.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteous: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

We have Scripture, both the Old Testament and the New Testament, to guide us in our living. The Old Testament was fulfilled by Jesus, but the Old Testament was not negated. So, when we read prophecy passages, we can be certain they will be fulfilled just as Scripture says. When we read passages in which God tells of His love for Israel, we need to take note and love Israel, too.

“Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name: if those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever” (Jeremiah 31:35-36).

God will never stop loving Israel, and its existence as a nation is secure.

There is a very evil belief among many Christians that says that Christians have replaced Israel in God’s heart. That is a teaching straight from Satan. Christians are a separate group of believers. In the beginning, there were only people with no separate national or ethnic identity. Sin separates us from God, who loves all of His creation. To solve the sin problem, God began to teach humans what constitutes sin. He called Abraham, gave him the promised land which we call Israel, forever, and set in motion the steps to reconciliation.

It was through Abraham’s son Isaac that the promise would be fulfilled. Moses led the Israelites out of Egyptian captivity and was given the law. This law governed Israel for years and kept them separate from Gentiles, who were mostly ungodly pagans; it taught the ways of God.

“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster” (Galatians 3:24-25).

This is a truth that many people don’t understand. Christ came to fulfill the law, not to destroy it. The Ten Commandments are still the moral guidance we should follow. When we fail to live up to God’s standards, we no longer have to offer a blood sacrifice to cover our sin. Jesus Christ was the blood sacrifice to take our sin away. Does that mean we no longer sin? Of course, we sin, and we always will while living on this side of Heaven.

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (1 John 1:8-10).

Some feel you have to confess to a priest or other clergy, but Christians only need to confess to Christ. No human can take your sin away.

Having said all of that, where does that leave Israel? Did Jesus die for their sins? Absolutely. The salvation of all people is available to everyone through Jesus Christ.

“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:27-29).

That’s a blessing. By faith in Jesus, Gentiles become Abraham’s seed, just as the Jewish people can be saved by grace through faith in Jesus. Salvation isn’t an automatic thing. First, you have to realize you are a sinner and that no animal sacrifice can take sin away.

“For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goat should take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4).

Only the blood of Jesus will take away sin completely. “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10).

In order to obtain eternal life, you have to personally accept Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for your salvation. This goes for every ethnic group on earth.

There is no other way to find eternal life but through Jesus Christ. Allah cannot save you; Buddha cannot bring salvation, nor can Mormonism. I could keep going through a long list of cults and false teachings, but I will simply quote Jesus.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

There is no other way. Salvation is a free gift of God, but like all gifts, you have to accept it. You cannot be a Christian simply because your parents are Christians. You might have an easier time understanding your need for salvation through Jesus, but you have to accept His free gift for yourself.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9).

Nobody can make that confession for you.

So, where does that leave the Jewish people? They have promises from God that He hasn’t turned away from them. Just as promised, the Messiah was born of a virgin in Bethlehem. Jesus was Jewish, but as foretold in prophecy, He was rejected by the very people who should have recognized Him as their Messiah. It’s important to pay attention to prophecy. Because they rejected Him, salvation was opened to Gentiles, but the Jewish people were blinded and didn’t accept Him.

“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins” (Romans 11:25-27).

If anybody tries to convince you that God no longer sees Israel as the apple of His eye, they are wrong. Eventually, all of Israel will recognize Jesus as the Messiah, but they will face horrendous troubles to bring them to the truth. The Tribulation will be what brings them to recognize Jesus as their Messiah. When that happens, Jesus will return and end their battle with the evil that is even now working in this fallen world. That won’t happen until the “fulness of the Gentiles” has been accomplished. What is that? It’s a number of people who accept Jesus Christ for salvation. What is the number? Only God knows.

When people set a date for the Rapture, don’t believe them. Usually, they try to tie the Rapture to a Jewish Feast Day. Scripture clearly says that nobody knows the day, and they forget that it’s a number that needs to be reached, not a particular day. Of course, the number could happen on a Jewish Feast, but Christians need to witness to the lost. That’s the only way to help fulfill the time of the Gentiles and bring the Rapture.

Remember to pray for Israel. As the rockets take aim at that precious nation and the bombs drop on them, they need prayer. I have an App on my phone called Red Alert. An alarm goes off every time a rocket is fired at Israel or enemy aircraft enter Israeli air space. When the alarm sounds, I stop and pray for God’s protection over the apple of His eye. I pray that the bombs go off course and that the navigation fails on the airplanes. Scripture urges us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, God’s city and the Jewish capital.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).

Don’t pray for land division, but pray for peace. Remember, God told Abraham, “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:3).

That truth is as true today as it was when it was given.

Bless Israel, and don’t curse the apple of God’s eye.

God bless you all

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

Recommended prophecy sites:

www.raptureready.com

www.prophecyupdate.com

www.raptureforums.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

If you would like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).

 

Not An Isolated Incident :: By Daymond Duck

Published on: by RR10 Category:Daymond Duck, General Articles

On Oct. 7, 2024, one year after Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel, Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) reported that the Jewish Institute for National Security of America released a letter signed by 85 retired U.S. generals and admirals that says:

  • The war that the Iranian axis launched a year ago is not just a war against Israel, nor is it being fought only in the Middle East.
  • There should be no daylight between our two countries (Israel and the U.S.).
  • The United States should fully stand by Israel, including supplying it expeditiously with the critical weaponry it needs to fight this common battle against the Iranian axis.
  • 7 is not an isolated incident but one front in a much larger global civilizational struggle.
  • There should be no ceasefire until Israel’s operations have succeeded in creating the conditions necessary for its citizens to return to their homes to live in peace and security.
  • So, too, should the United States arm and assist Israel as it responds to Iran’s latest attack against it.

It seems to me that a letter signed by 85 retired U.S. generals and admirals who believe that the national security of America is at stake should not go unnoticed.

According to them (and I agree), the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel was not an isolated incident or just an attack on Israel; it is part of a much larger global struggle (my note: part of an effort by radical Islamic terrorists to create a one-world government and religion under a Shiite Muslim ruler).

(My opinion: Israel – the so-called Little Satan – is not just fighting for its existence. It is fighting for the existence of the U.S. – the so-called Great Satan – and the rest of the world.)

(My opinion: Every nation on earth will soon lose their national sovereignty, but not to Iran or a Shiite Muslim ruler.)

Here are some recent reports that seem to indicate that the end of the age is close.

One, on Oct. 8, 2024, Ynetnews.com reported that a member of one of the hostage families said we are still living in unprecedented times:

  • Nearly 100,000 Israelis are still evacuated from their homes, particularly in the north, where the situation is concerning, living in temporary accommodation. Their lives are still in flux, and their futures are uncertain. Our reservists, still fighting or stationed far from home, endure the strain of extended separation from their homes and loved ones.
  • The atrocities committed by the terrorists last year on Oct. 7 defy imagination. The human rights violations from that day alone encompass a terrifying spectrum: sexual violence, torture, and the burning of people of all ages.
  • The Chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court is accusing Israel of deliberately starving or killing civilians in the Gaza Strip.
  • The UN Special Rapporteur is blaming Israel.
  • The UN General Assembly refuses to condemn Hamas for anything.

(My opinion: Iran financed the Hamas and Hezbollah attacks on Israel, but the corrupt UN is blaming it on Israel.)

TWO, on Oct. 10, 2024, it was reported that the Biden administration asked Saudi Arabia to assure Iran that the U.S. will not join an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear sites.

Three, on Oct. 11, 2024, Israel National News reported that:

  • Iran warned Israel that it will attack Israel’s civilian infrastructure if Israel retaliates for the 180 missiles that Iran recently fired at Israel.
  • Iran has warned Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar that Iran will retaliate against them if they allow U.S. or Israeli planes to use their airspace or bases in their countries to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities or oil wells.
  • The Arab nations have notified the U.S. that they do not want the U.S. to use their airspace or planes that are on bases in their nations.
  • Biden opposes an Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, and he prefers that Israel will choose targets other than Iran’s oil fields.

(More: On Oct. 13, 2024, World Israel News reported that there are many terrorist sympathizers in the Biben administration, and Israel is hesitant to provide the U.S. with details of its planned retaliation over concern that Biden or some of his people will sabotage Israel’s operation by leaking Israel’s plans to Iran. It is something that Obama’s people did when he was president.)

(More: On Oct. 14, 2024, it was reported that the U.S. is deploying THAAD – Terminal High Altitude Area Defense – missiles to Israel and up to 100 U.S. troops to man them.)

More: On Oct. 15, 2024, it was reported that Israeli Prime Min. Netanyahu told Pres. Biden that Israel is prepared to refrain from striking Iran’s nuclear facilities, oil and natural gas reserves, and infrastructure, focusing instead on military targets because the White House intends to deploy THAAD missiles to Israel.)

Four, concerning Israel retaliating on Iran: on Oct. 12, 2024, it was reported that:

  • Iran is experiencing a massive cyber-attack, especially on its nuclear facilities.
  • Almost all of Iran’s government forces, including the judiciary, legislature and executive, have suffered severe cyber-attacks and information theft.
  • Iran’s nuclear facilities, along with nearly all branches of government, have faced heavy cyberattacks, resulting in stolen information.

Five, concerning Russia, Iran, and the implications for the Battle of Gog and Magog: on Oct. 11, 2024, Russian Pres. Putin said, “Moscow continues to place a high priority on cooperation with Tehran and wishes to create a new world order in which the West and Israel no longer have a dominant position in global affairs.”

Notice that Putin said this on the same day that Israel is pondering a retaliation attack on Iran.

(My opinion: There will soon be a New World Order, but it will be dominated by the Antichrist, not Russia and Iran. The militaries of Russia and Iran will be destroyed by God on the mountains of Israel.)

Six, concerning the Battle of Gog and Magog (Russia, Iran, Turkey, and others attacking Israel in the latter days and latter years) and the destruction of Damascus in one night: following an Israeli attack on a Hezbollah leader in Damascus on Oct. 12, 2024, Turkey’s Pres. Erdogan said, “It is essential that Russia, Iran, and Syria take more effective measures against this situation, which poses the greatest threat to Syria’s territorial integrity.”

(My opinion: Some excellent prophecy teachers believe the Battle of Gog and Magog will be after the Antichrist confirms the covenant that begins the Tribulation Period. Others, including myself, think it could be before the Tribulation Period. Other than the latter years and latter days, we don’t know when the Battle of Gog and Magog will take place, but Russia’s growing relationship with Iran and Erdogan’s frequent threats to Israel seem to indicate that it is close.

(More: regardless of who is right or who is wrong about whether the Battle of Gog and Magog is before or during the Tribulation Period, it will happen when God puts a hook in Gog’s jaws and drags Russia, Iran, Turkey, and the others onto the mountains of Israel.)

Seven, concerning anti-Semitism, the decline of America, deceit, and Jerusalem being a cup of trembling and a burdensome stone for the entire world: on Oct. 11, 2024, it was reported that a CBS internal memo told journalists not to refer to Jerusalem as part of Israel.)

The U.S. Congress recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital 29 years ago (1995), but these CBS officials think they can overrule Congress.

Media Bias is a real threat to Democracy.

Eight, concerning the decline of America: on Oct. 13, 2024, the U.S. sent a 5-page letter to Israel with a lengthy list of demands that Israel must meet in the next 30 days, or the U.S. will enforce an arms embargo against Israel.

Among other things, America’s demands include:

  • No policy of forced evacuation from northern to Southern Gaza (Israel is trying to evacuate citizens to keep them from getting killed or injured).
  • More humanitarian aid must be allowed into Gaza (Hamas steals a lot of the aid, and some of the trucks are smuggling in weapons to Hamas).
  • Israel must halt its actions against the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) that Israel has shut down because some of these UN employees took part in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel (raped women, killed Jews, burned people at stakes, took hostages, etc.).

There is more, but the bottom line is that the U.S. is threatening to stop the sale of weapons to Israel (Israel needs some of these to defend itself).

(My opinion: God oversees Israel, so threatening Israel or trying to replace God is a bad mistake.)

(Question: What happened to the ramp that the U.S. military built for ships to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza? Answer: Waves of rough water destroyed it.)

Nine, concerning the spread of pestilences at the end of the age: on Oct. 11, 2024, it was reported that a UN World Health Organization (WHO) report says some of the known side effects of Pfizer’s BioNTech vaccine are monkeypox, smallpox, and cow pox.

Have you got that?

Officials, employers, and others were forcing people to be vaccinated, and one of the vaccines was causing deadly diseases to emerge and spread.

(My opinion: Citizens need to realize that there are people in high places who believe there are too many people on earth.)

Ten, concerning deceit, when Israeli forces captured a village in southern Lebanon, they said every house in the village was a Hezbollah terror base.

All the people were troops masquerading as citizens (wearing civilian clothes).

Every house contained weapons and military supplies.

It was a military base disguised as a village (barracks disguised as houses, etc.).

Eleven, concerning world government: on Oct. 16, 2024, the Washington Examiner reported that former Pres. Trump told Glen Beck that the U.S. is being run by a committee of people, not Pres. Biden or Vice-Pres. Harris.

Trump believes Biden has been overthrown and America has been taken over by “nasty” and “fascist” leaders.

(Note: Trump didn’t say it, but I have received many e-mails from readers that think that former Pres. Obama is involved.)

Here is my daily update on the Israel-Hamas war.

Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024 (Day 370): The three hundred and fifteenth day of the resumed war. Day 148 of the attack on Rafah.

  • An Arab terrorist stabbed 6 people in Israel (2 were critically wounded).

Friday, Oct. 11, 2024 (Day 371) The three hundred and sixteenth day of the resumed war. Day 149 of the attack on Rafah.

  • Yom Kippur (the Jewish Day of Atonement) will begin at 6 pm tonight, but Israeli troops will keep fighting.
  • More than 120 rockets were fired at Israel in the first few hours of the holiday.
  • Israel said its troops will keep attacking Hezbollah until the terrorists are no longer near Israel’s border with Lebanon.
  • Israel ordered Palestinians to evacuate several areas in northern Gaza to avoid being injured or killed when Israel attacks, but Hamas was preventing many from leaving.

Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 (Day 372) The three hundred and seventeenth day of the resumed war. Day 150 of the attack on Rafah.

  • Captured minutes from Hamas meetings reveal that Hamas tried to get Iran and Hezbollah to join their Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
  • Israel ordered residents of 22 Lebanese villages to evacuate and go north before Israeli troops go in to deal with Hezbollah terrorists.
  • Israel ordered health workers and medical teams in Lebanon to stop using ambulances because Hezbollah uses ambulances to transport troops and weapons.
  • Hezbollah fired 320 rockets, mortars, and drones at Israel.

Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024 (Day 373) The three hundred and eighteenth day of the resumed war. Day 151 of the attack on Rafah.

  • Hezbollah fired more than 115 rockets into Israel.
  • Israel keeps urging the UN to withdraw its peacekeeping troops from Lebanon, and the UN is refusing to do it. Hezbollah is firing rockets from locations in Lebanon into Israel, and Israel is planning to attack them.
  • A Hezbollah drone struck a community in northern Israel and wounded 60 people (3 critically).
  • Israel has decided to destroy Hezbollah’s drone production, maintenance, and operation forces and facilities.

Monday, Oct. 14, 2024 (Day 374) The three hundred and nineteenth day of the resumed war. Day 152 of the attack on Rafah.

  • Israel released audio of a conversation between a representative of the Israeli military and a civilian in Gaza who reported that Hamas is beating residents who try to evacuate northern Gaza.
  • Israel killed another Hezbollah commander.
  • Israel has discovered about 700 Hezbollah weapons depots in southern Lebanon (some weapons from Russia and China) and items supplied by the United States Agency for International Development and the United Nations World Food Program. As it was in Gaza, it is in Lebanon: Aid from the U.S. and UN is being confiscated by terrorists who are trying to destroy Israel.
  • Netanyahu said, “We will continue to hit Hezbollah mercilessly in all parts of Lebanon – also in Beirut.”
  • The UN Security Council called for the full implementation of Resolution 1701, which set the ceasefire terms that ended the Second Lebanon War.

Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024 (Day 375) The three hundred and twentieth day of the resumed war. Day 153 of the attack on Rafah.

  • A Hezbollah terrorist that Israel captured in a tunnel told Israeli interrogators that many Hezbollah terrorists were paid to fight, and they got afraid and abandoned their posts when Israel killed Nasrallah.
  • Israeli jets bombed an underground weapons cache in Beirut, Lebanon.
  • Israel assassinated 2 Palestinian terrorists, arrested 20, and seized weapons.
  • Israel captured a Hamas terror cell that recently botched a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv and was planning more.
  • The U.S. has suspended all hostage negotiations until after the upcoming presidential election.

FYI: God does not send anyone to Hell (all of us are born with a sin nature and destined to go to Hell because we sin), but God has provided a way (Jesus) for everyone to go to Heaven (and He is the only way to get there; John 14:6).

Finally, are you Rapture Ready?

If you want to be rapture ready and go to heaven, you must be born again (John 3:3). God loves you, and if you have not done so, sincerely admit that you are a sinner; believe that Jesus is the virgin-born, sinless Son of God who died for the sins of the world, was buried, and raised from the dead; ask Him to forgive your sins, cleanse you, come into your heart and be your Saviour; then tell someone that you have done this.

duck_daymond@yahoo.com