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
|