Trumpet Sounds
 Issue 79               Spring 2006



Loving greetings in the name of our risen Lord.  As we go to press we are enjoying in the Exeter area a series of ten meetings ‘Just 10’ led by evangelist J John on the Ten Commandments.  Thousands are gathering to hear this thrilling message: the event is supported by a remarkable unity among local churches of most denominations, and at last Wednesday’s meeting [2 May] 147 people responded to the appeal, either as new converts or as recommitments.  It is wonderful to be in a company of over 4 000 in a huge marquee.  This should give eloquent answer to those who believe that the Old Testament is irrelevant to life in the 21st Century.

Articles
A sure and certain hope
A change of perspective required?
Chance meeting with the Assistant Secretary General
‘Antichrist – Islam’s awaited Messiah’ by Joel Richardson
Gathering War Clouds
The practice of the presence of God
The restoration of Israel


A sure and certain hope     [KK]
I recently attended a funeral that began with the announcement that this was to be a humanist funeral: a very bleak half hour followed, which concentrated on our friend’s distinguished past but had nothing to say about the future.  His daughter read Eccles 3:1-8 but apart from this there was no spiritual element in the occasion.  I was reminded of Philip Larkin’s hopeless reflection at the prospect of his own death

…the total emptiness forever,
The sure extinction that we travel to
And shall be lost in always.
Not to be here,
Not to be anywhere,
And soon; nothing more terrible, nothing more true.

Contrast this with the triumphant words that open a Christian funeral ‘I am the resurrection…’  Or as Paul puts it succinctly it in 1 Cor 15 ‘if Christ be not raised your faith is futile.’  In other words if the resurrection is not a fact, we are wasting our time.

Peter’s confident assurance ‘Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,’ 1 Peter 1:3-4 is based on a remarkable meeting with the risen Lord.  This is alluded to in 1 Cor 15:5 ‘and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.’  In those politically incorrect days, the testimony of the women [Matt 28:9] or of Mary Magdalene [John 20:16] was invalid in a court of law.  Peter when alerted to the disappearance of the Lord from the tomb ‘.arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.’ Luke 24:12

We do not know where he spent the day, but we can say with confidence where he was in the evening.  In late afternoon of that first Easter day two disciples were walking dejectedly to Emmaus, a village about seven miles from Jerusalem.  It is a powerful point of evidence that the news of the disappearance of Jesus’ body was greeted with scepticism and disbelief by His disciples – they didn’t expect Him to rise from the dead, in spite of the fact that on the three occasions on which He had predicted His death He also predicted His resurrection.  Jesus joins them unknowingly, and after rebuking their slowness of heart to believe ‘all that the prophets have spoken’ He gives them a bible study in which he expounds to them in all the scriptures [the Old Testament] ‘the things concerning Himself’.  Their hearts burning at the revelation, they invite the Stranger to join them and He is revealed to them as He broke the bread – when presumably they saw the wounds in His hands.  At once they return the seven miles to Jerusalem with their news, but before they have the opportunity to share their news they are told - ‘The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!’’ Luke 24:34

At this point they had not seen the risen Lord: but they had seen Peter, who had.  The striking change in one who must have been devastated by the Lord’s death convinced all present to see him.  The most powerful evidence for the fact of the resurrection, now as then, is the change produced in those who have met Him.

We have supplementary evidence in John 20:24-29.  Thomas was absent on the first evening.  For a week he must have exasperated his colleagues: he did not doubt [a doubter vacillates between two or more opinions] - he steadfastly refused to believe.  This stubbornness parallels two other references to Thomas: in John 11:16  ‘Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with Him.’  and his reply to Jesus in John 14:5 ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?’.  When the Lord appears to Thomas eight days later he is immediately convinced and exclaims ‘My Lord and My God’.  The Lord issues a mild rebuke: ‘blessed are those who have not seen but believe all the same’ [Knox trans.]

We all have particular features of the Easter story that are especially convincing to us.  For Graham Greene the Catholic novelist it is the lovely detail in John 20:4 ‘and the other disciple outran Peter’.  Such a detail could not have been made up: it has the authentic ring of reality, as does the whole of the Emmaus story.

The importance of the resurrection is vital in confirming Jesus’ claim to be the Son of God.  This title underpinned the whole of His teaching.  He was not just a great prophet [Islam], a moral teacher [Bernard Shaw] or ‘a good bloke, like every other good bloke’ [quoted in the video ‘Who is this Jesus?’].

At the beginning of His ministry when Jesus in John 2:18-19 is asked for a sign, He tells the Jews that He would rise from the dead.  This was to be the validation of His life and ministry, and would confirm His right to the title Son of God, elsewhere born witness to by the angel Gabriel to Mary, [Luke 1:35], by Nathaniel [John 1:49], by demon spirits [Matt 8:29, Mark 3:11, Luke 4:41] by Peter at Caesarea Philippi [Matt 16:16], by Martha [John 11:27], by the centurion at the cross [Matt 27:64], and, of course, by Jesus Himself [John 5:25; 9:35; 10:36].  John towards the end of his gospel writes ‘but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.’  [John 20:31]. 

Paul writes in Romans 1:4 that Jesus was ‘declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.’  The resurrection of Jesus guarantees that one day we shall enjoy eternal life too [John 6:40].



A change of perspective required?    [PW]                   
In recent years there has been a very beneficial move to reconnect the church with its Jewish roots.  An appreciation that a knowledge of the cultural background of the writers of scripture will enrich our understanding of the whole.  Should this Jewish understanding be applied to prophecy?

In this country much of the accepted interpretation of the prophetic scriptures results from an Anglo Saxon view of the world.  Therefore, to present an alternative point of view, part of ‘The Seven Empires’ by Hanoch Ben Keshet is quoted below:


The Regional Scope of End-time Prophecies Middle Eastern Empires - Not the Entire Globe
‘To fathom biblical prophecy we must remember the original setting long ago. Some modern teachers of prophecy warn of an insidious one-world government, a global ‘Big Brother’ which will control all things just before the end of this age.  It is supposed to be the final human empire before the Kingdom of God is established on earth.  But while there are organizations seeking global unity, we must admit that the ‘world’ of prophetic writers did not extend across the face of the globe.  The Middle East and Mediterranean basin was their scope.

‘On top of that, the prophets of the Bible were rooted in a Judeo/Israelite background. This means prophecy has a special relationship with the nation Israel.  Every family of man around the globe ought to seek God's mercy, but the Bible's outline of conditions prior to God's Kingdom must be assessed in the Middle East, not the entire planet. Prophecies in Daniel illustrate this localized perspective.  Compare the Babylonian Empire in Part One with Daniel 2:37-38; ‘You, O king (Nebuchadnezzar), are a king of kings.  For the God of Heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory; and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all - you are this head of gold.’ (Italics added)

‘Nebuchadnezzar is credited with astonishing authority yet he did not have global rule.  Competing kingdoms surrounded his. (Note that the dream, and Daniel's interpretation occurred many years before the Babylonians conquered Egypt).  This passage is Daniel's speech to an absolute ruler, the first to destroy Jerusalem and the Temple of God.  This excruciating calamity for the Jewish people could only be explained if Nebuchadnezzar had special sanction by God.  Later Middle Eastern kingdoms were described similarly in other books of the Bible.  Compare the Medo-Persian Empire of 530 BCE with Ezra 1:2; ‘Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia: 'All the kingdoms of the earth has the Lord God of Heaven given me...'‘ (Italics added) So biblical rulers, who even by today's standards controlled vast empires, did not command the entire globe, even if their ancient boasts sound like it to the modern ear. Daniel 2 tells of empires which would follow Nebuchadnezzar's, including the Greek Empire of Alexander the Great. Compare with Daniel 2:39; ‘...Then another, a third kingdom of brass, which shall rule over all the earth.’ (Italics added)  From the Hebrew perspective a ruler over ‘all the earth’ or ‘all the kingdoms of the earth’ had authority over the Middle East, not every continent.  The Greek New Testament paints the same picture. Compare with Luke 2:1; ‘And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.’ (Italics added)

‘Only subjects of Rome came to register to pay taxes, the rest of the world, which included Rome's arch enemy, the Middle Eastern Parthian civilization, ignored Caesar's decree.  So again we see that the biblical writer's ‘world’ was limited. It did not include Tokyo, Los Angeles, Cape Town, Hong Kong or New York. Rather, it spoke of current civilizations which dominated the Holy Land.  This means one must keep a Middle Eastern perspective in mind when reading biblical prophecies of ‘all’ nations, whether they are submitted to the final, prophetic dictatorship, or whether they are those nations gathered for the final prophetic battle.


Final Evil Empire
‘Indeed, the book of Revelation, a Semitic composition full of Jewish imagery, and the last one included in the Bible by disciples of Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah, was penned only decades after Luke wrote of Caesar's decree, fourteen centuries before the New World was discovered.  The book of Revelation must be evaluated in the same Middle Eastern light.  The tyrant of Revelation 13:1-8, called ‘the Beast,’ whom ‘all the earth’ wonders after and who has ‘authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation,’ who is worshiped by ‘all who dwell on the earth’ will not be the sole ruler over the entire globe.  If this dictator, who is also known as the final anti-Christ, were only to rule a realm the size and location of the ancient Babylonian Empire, then, Scripturally speaking, he could fulfil this prophecy completely.  The rest of the planet would not be directly involved.  Thus, contrary to popular teaching, we should not assume the entire world must be under one man's control before God's Kingdom will arrive.

The Entire World Stands Warned
‘But this does not mean other people around the world are exempt from biblical warnings. Everyone needs to turn their heart to the living God.  There are indications that the distinctive events foretold will have indirect effects around the world.  The specific warning is given to the Middle East. But as it is said, ‘A word to the wise is sufficient.’  The rest of the world must realize these strong admonitions set God's standard for all mankind. God will bless all who seek Him, no matter where they are from.  He will judge all who despise Him, just as He promised the world of the Middle East.’

Ben Keshet is a messianic Jew living in Jerusalem. The Seven Empires is an e-atlas that reviews the history of the Middle East and seven crucial Biblical prophecies.  It draws the conclusion that Israel and the world of Islam take leading roles in end-time events, not a Revived Roman Empire.  The full work is available on the Internet at: http://www.ben-keshet.com


Comment: While agreeing with Ben Keshet that the Antichrist’s empire does not necessarily cover the whole world.  It should be noted that each of the successive empires covered a larger geographic area than the preceding one.  At its greatest extent Islam dominated a large part of Asia, North Africa and Southern Europe. I believe that the final empire of the Antichrist will be more extensive than the former empires and will include the whole of Europe.  It is possible that the some parts of the world will be outside the direct rule of the Antichrist. Jesus said that the gospel is to be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations. In the same passage He also said that Christians would be persecuted and hated by all nations. Even outside the Antichrist’s rule the rejection of the gospel will be universal, bringing down God’s wrath.

‘Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and cast insults at you, and spurn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets’. Luke 6: 22



Chance meeting with the Assistant Secretary General    [PW]

In March my youngest son Matthew had an unexpected chance to speak to the Assistant General Secretary of the United Nations.  Following up what has been written in Trumpet Sounds Matthew asked about President Ahamdinejad.  The Assistant General Secretary said that prior to Ahamdinejad’s speech to the United Nations he and the German ambassador had tried to persuade him to moderate the tone of the speech.  Ahamdinejad had refused.  The Assistant General Secretary was somewhat dismissive of Ahamdinejad considering him inexperienced in the world of international politics.

In the last Trumpet Sounds we quoted Charles Coulson; ‘Once you rule religion a private matter, and declare all religions alike, no one in this country could understand the dimensions of a great religious struggle.  No one understood the clash of civilizations or the evil of Islamo-fascism.  We didn’t even have the language to describe religious beliefs anymore.  Destruction was inevitable.’  The comments Matthew relayed to me following this meeting confirmed the truth of this quotation.

In the terms of western politics the Assistant General Secretary considered Ahmadinejad as raw, inexperienced and naïve.  But Ahmadinejad is not following the rules of western politics. He is involved in a religious crusade to bring the world into submission to Allah.  The first step of this crusade is to unite Islam behind the leader who is soon to appear. Our politicians who believe that democracy is the answer to all the worlds’ problems struggle to grasp the power of religious ideology.  They have dismissed God from His place of sovereignty over this world.  Therefore how can they either understand or counter the power of demonic forces intent on bringing destruction.



‘Antichrist – Islam’s awaited Messiah’ by Joel Richardson    [PW]

In the last edition of Trumpet Sounds I wrote that this book is a must read for all Christians.  Copies of the book are now available through Trumpet Sounds.

One reader found the book ‘pretty scary’ in parts’ and asked ‘do you believe that what, Joel Richardson has written, will take place in the future?’

I do believe that Islam will become the final Antichrist kingdom for many of the reasons that are set out in Joel's book.  That is why I am recommending it.  I don't necessarily agree with every detail in the book but broadly I think that he is right. What he has written in many ways reflects views that the Lord led me to some time ago.

The importance of this book lies in it not being speculation about what may happen in the future but a hard look at what is happening now.  If we are nearing the period when end time prophecy is to be fulfilled then without question it is Islam that will be the main player in its fulfilment.  The only alternative is for Islam to be humiliated and destroyed opening the way for another revived empire to dominate the lands of the Middle East and become the kingdom of the Antichrist.

The book outlines Muslim eschatology, mainly Shiite, and draws parallels with what scripture teaches about the end times.  As many are now aware, due to the efforts of President Ahmadinejad, Shiites are looking for the coming of the Mahdi. Joel’s book gives an insight into what Muslims expect the Mahdi to achieve when he comes. There are striking similarities between Islamic beliefs about the coming of the Mahdi and scriptural teaching about the Antichrist.  These similarities lead to the conclusion that Islam is the ground that Satan has prepared to bring forth his messiah.

Some object that Islam is not capable of rising to world domination.  That reminds me of a story recounted by Lawrence of Arabia.  He tells of a time when an Arab was extolling the wonderful things that would follow Independence.  Pointing to his sick camel the Arab said that of course there would be free veterinary services.  While he continued to recount the benefits the camel died.  Such stories led the British Government to conclude that the Arabs could never be trusted to govern themselves and therefore they should become a Dominion with the British Empire.  The objection ignores the fact that for 500 years the Ottoman Empire was the most powerful empire in the world advancing into the heart of Europe.  It also ignores the demonic nature of the events that are soon to take place.

Another objection is that Islam forbids the worship of a man or idol.  Joel Richardson more fully answers this objection but the brief answer I would give is as follows:

Islam is Satanic in its origins and the Antichrist will be Satan incarnate.  If the Antichrist comes from outside Islam, Satan will have created a situation in which the one whom he wants the whole world to worship is immediately rejected by one fifth of the world’s population who follow a religion he created.  The problem is compounded by this religion forming the majority population of the geographical area in which end time prophecy is fulfilled.

If, instead, a charismatic leader arises from within Islam, who unites Islam and advances the cause of Allah throughout the world Muslims will be carried along by the euphoria of the coming of one who fulfils their dreams.  When the time comes for him to require the world to worship him, how many Muslims will draw back and say that he is an impostor?  We should pray that some will and that through this they will come to Christ.  My observations of Islam lead to the conclusion that the majority will not reject him. Islam is the religion of deceit and lies.  They will find a way of both saying that they are true to their religion and giving worship to the beast.  Muslims deny that they worship Mohammed, but to the outsider it seems that their actions are not much short of worship.

Towards the end of the book Joel lists 22 areas in which Islamic beliefs and scriptural prophecies regarding the Antichrist converge.  It is a compelling argument that at least warrants prayerful consideration.  I recommend that this book be read by all who seek an understanding of the times in which we live.

The author has generously made copies available at cost. Therefore as a special offer to readers of Trumpet Sounds, while stocks last, copies of ‘Antichrist – Islam’s awaited Messiah’ can be purchased for £6.50 each including p&p.  If you would like a copy, send a cheque made out to Philip Wren with your name and address and the number of copies required to my address at the end of this newsletter.


Gathering War Clouds [PW]

In his April 2006 Israel News Review, David Dolan warns that Israeli officials are increasingly worried over growing signs that a new full-scale Middle East war may be drawing near instigated by Iran with backing from Syria, the Lebanese Hezbollah militia, Al Qaida and the Palestinian Hamas.  Such a war would spark an international economic crisis.

In an article published in the Sunday Telegraph, Amir Taheri predicts that we are in for a long slow war.  He recounts how Ahmadinejad boasts that the hidden Imam gave him the presidency for a single task: provoking a ‘clash of civilisations’ in which the Muslim world, led by Iran, takes on the ‘infidel’ West, led by the United States, and defeats it in a slow but prolonged contest.

Ahmadinejad’s strategic guru, Hassan Abassi, sees President George W Bush as an aberration, an exception to a rule under which all American presidents since Truman, when faced with serious setbacks abroad, have ‘run away’. Iran’s current strategy, therefore, is to wait Bush out.  And that, by ‘divine coincidence’, corresponds to the time Iran needs to develop its nuclear arsenal, thus matching the only advantage that the infidel enjoys.

Later in the article Taheri notes that Ahmadinejad has reactivated Iran’s network of Shia organisations in Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Yemen, while resuming contact with Sunni fundamentalist groups in Turkey, Egypt, Algeria and Morocco.  From childhood, Shia boys are told to cultivate two qualities.  The first is entezar, the capacity patiently to wait for the Imam to return.  The second is taajil, the actions needed to hasten the return.  For the Imam’s return will coincide with an apocalyptic battle between the forces of evil and righteousness, with evil ultimately routed.  If the infidel loses its nuclear advantage, it could be worn down in a long, low-intensity war at the end of which surrender to Islam would appear the least bad of options.

Although the crisis may be delayed by 3 or 4 years, it is brewing and will bring devastating consequences. God is preparing Islam to bring His judgement on the West.  Judgement is sent to bring repentance.  For there to be repentance there needs to be people with insight who can bring understanding to many.  Are we ready?



The practice of the presence of God [KK]
I have been reminded of this classic by Brother Lawrence [1614-91] by a brother in Christ.  It contains much spiritual wisdom and encouragement.

Of his occupation in the monastic kitchens he writes: The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clutter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquillity as if I were on my knees at the blessed sacrament.

When he failed in his duty to God’ he only confessed his fault, saying to God ‘I shall never do otherwise if you leave me to myself. You must hinder my falling, and mend what is amiss’. After this he gave himself no further uneasiness about it.


The restoration of Israel  
 
“I imagine that you cannot read the Bible without seeing clearly that there is to be an actual restoration of the Children of Israel . . . For when the Jews are restored, the fullness of the Gentiles shall be gathered in; and as soon as they return, then Jesus will come upon Mount Zion with his ancients gloriously, and the halcyon days of the millennium shall then dawn; we shall then know every man to be a brother and a friend; Christ shall rule with universal sway.”                                                         C.H.Spurgeon

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