Wars and Rumors of War

Matthew 24:6-8 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.

(Emphasis added.)

Joel 3:9-12, 16 Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare for war! Wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near, Let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears; Let the weak say, I am strong. Assemble and come, all you nations, and gather together all around. Cause Your mighty ones to go down there, O Lord. Let the nations be wakened, and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations… The Lord also will roar from Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; the heavens and earth will shake; but the Lord will be a shelter for His people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

I believe we are in the last days that these scriptures speak about. I don't know how long this period will last but we are at least in the beginning of the last chapter of the book of this age. Truly the number of armed conflicts raging all around the world is staggering and the potential for major conflict is present as well. Russia (Ukraine), China (South China Sea, Taiwan), Iran and ??? I am not giving you a prophetic word in that the Lord has not specifically spoken to me about a soon coming war involving Israel. He has done that before - a year before the First Gulf War. He clearly told me: "A war is coming, do not pray against it, I am in it. Pray for the remnant. Pray for Israel not to respond and to stand and see the salvation of the Lord." The Americans also didn't want us to get involved and so they sent us their best anti-plane missile to protect us from the Scuds. I was called up to active duty in the IDF a couple of days before January's annual International Prayer Conference in Jerusalem 1991. My company's task as a rescue unit was to be the first into a chemical warfare environment. This meant that during the first month of the war I was outside watching the sky, ready to respond if a Scud rocket landed in the Jerusalem area. Those American missiles were truly worthless. I would see the Patriots going one way and the Scuds another. I wanted to pray, "Attack! Smash the Iraqis!" but the Lord reminded me how He had told me to pray. We suffered 39 Scud attacks and had a total of 2 people killed and 230 injured as a direct result of the rockets. The total number of deaths and serious injuries in Israel from the 39 rockets was less than that caused by one average rocket impact in London during WWII or in Tehran during the Iran-Iraq war. One Scud hit a U.S. military barracks in Saudi Arabia killing 28 and injuring 98. The Lord's arm was not short and His word was true. I wish I could say that the Lord has told me Israel will not be attacked with a nuclear weapon, but I can't! At the same time, while He hasn't told me we will be nuked, the potential for that happening is certainly there.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

He has brought us home to save us not to destroy us. We cannot say that about any other nation. But we also can't say we will be spared from an attack. In our 67 years as a reborn nation we have fought six wars, three actions in Gaza and suffered innumerable terror attacks. 23,320 Israelis have been killed in battle or terror attacks since 1860 (the first Aliyah), when Jewish settlers first moved outside the walls of Jerusalem. In the past year 67 were killed during Operation Protective Edge in Gaza and a number also died from terror attacks. God is bringing His word to pass and it also involves flesh and blood. I am writing about biblical principles and also what I see as the true state of the natural world. It really is not only Israel which is in great danger but the whole world, which refuses to learn the lessons of history. If you have heard this before from me and from IFI's Friday Prayer Points it is because Iran and its bomb remain an existential threat to Israel and the world. We will continue to pray, warn and teach on it until either the Lord tells us "It is done" or we see that it is done. Despite international sanctions Iran continues to pour billions into the development of both their nuclear weapons and Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM). Iran does not need ICBMs to attack anywhere in the Middle East or Southern Europe. They already have the missiles to do that. And no one builds an ICBM to put a conventional warhead on it - it is for nuclear bombs alone. The Americans insist that these missiles have nothing to do with the nuclear negotiations. According to Obama the Iranian chants of "Death to America" and "Annihilate Israel" have nothing to do with the negotiations either. It will be a very grave error to ignore the words of the Iranians, just as the world ignored the words of Hitler at the cost of 60 million lives in WWII. When Chamberlain came back from Munich, Churchill said to him, "You had a choice: dishonor or war. You chose dishonor and you will have war." I believe the same should be said to Barak Obama. The difference being that I believe Chamberlain thought he was doing the best for Britain, while I believe Obama knows he is giving Iran the bomb and with it the opportunity for Islam to rule the world. What does the Word have to say? We talk much about peace and tranquility. You all know that shalom (שלום) is the Hebrew word for peace. The Hebrew language is based on 3- letter 'root' words. Shalom (שלום) comes from the root word shalem: (שלם), meaning fullness, completeness, wholeness. Another word from that same root word is shulam (שולם),: meaning paid in full! Yeshua paid the full price for us on the cross and we need to walk in the full counsel of God: Genesis to Revelation. God is a God of love but that is not all He is!

Exodus 15:3 The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is His name.

Isaiah 42:13 The LORD shall go forth like a mighty man; He shall stir up His zeal like a man of war. He shall cry out, yes, shout aloud; He shall prevail against His enemies.

Psalm 24:8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.

Hebrews 13 Tells us that He is the same yesterday, today and Forever. Is God really the same, yesterday, today and forever? Do we really believe that? Or do we only believe it when it's convenient and "nice"? I believe He is still a man of war today.

Revelation 19:11-16 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Revelation 19:19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.

When Yeshua returns it will not be as the Lamb of God but as the Warrior King to take vengeance and execute judgment on the enemies of God and of His people. This is not just a spiritual battle it is a physical one as well! The P5+1's appeasement of Iran, led by Obama and Kerry can only lead to war and a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. The war might not happen right away, though the arms race will. Reports are already circulating that Saudi Arabia will buy some nukes from Pakistan. Iran might wait to get economically and militarily stronger when the sanctions are lifted - but I believe war is inevitable. War will come sooner if Prime Minister Netanyahu is true to his word that Israel will not allow Iran to get the bomb. Unless the Lord intervenes personally I believe that the only way to stop the Iranian bomb is for Israel to destroy their nuclear facilities. America, who could do the job much easier and quicker, will not do it as long as Obama is President and by the time he leaves office it may very well be too late. Some say that that an Israeli attack will only put Iran back 1, 2, 5 or maybe 10 years and that is not enough. It may not be ideal, but if we have to attack Iran every so often in order to survive, then that's what we will need to do. We would also have to deal with Hezbollah in Lebanon and maybe Hamas in Gaza and both Assad and ISIS in Syria. As terrible as a war will be it is certainly a better option than allowing Iran to have nuclear bombs. I believe that if they have the bomb they will either use it themselves or pass it on to one of their proxy terror groups. Destroying Iran's nuclear project might even bring some real stability to the Middle East. The P5+1 are acting totally irrationally. They know that Iran is the number one state sponsor of terrorism worldwide. Iran is the nation that is actively involved in trying to gain control of Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen. And yet these deluded world powers are ready to believe that Iran will keep its word with them! I believe that Obama knows what he is doing. I think the rest of the world is blinded by the prospect of all the money that could be made if they were free to trade with Iran. Even before the sanctions are lifted, the planes flying to Tehran are filled to capacity with businessmen getting their foot in Iran's door.

1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

We also need to recognize that at times war is an instrument of God's judgment.

Joel 3:1-2 For behold, in those days and at that time, when I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land.

The Iranian leadership doesn't just want to scatter the people of Israel and divide His land. They want to annihilate Israel - total destruction! What does the Lord say about Iran? (Elam is ancient Persia.)

Jeremiah 49:35, 37 Thus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the foremost of their might…For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies and before those who seek their life. I will bring disaster upon them, My fierce anger, says the Lord; And I will send the sword after them until I have consumed them.

How might He do that?

Jeremiah 51:19-20 The portion of Jacob is not like them, for He is the maker of all things; and Israel is the tribe of His inheritance. The Lord of hosts is His name. You are My battle-ax and weapons of war: for with you I will break the nation in pieces; with you I will destroy kingdoms…

Such a war could bring back the Arabs' fear of the Jews and of the God of the Jews and could even lead to a temporary and false peace. I believe it will also set many Arab people free from the delusion of Islam, and create an open door for the gospel. Millions of Christians are fervently praying for the Moslems to be saved. God is going to honor those prayers but perhaps the process will not be quite the way most of us think. Could many Moslem hearts and minds be opened to the gospel through the defeat of their nations by little Israel? Why am I bothering you will these very unpleasant things?

1 Thessalonians 5:1-5 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, Peace and safety! then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake dyou as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.

While these scriptures specifically speak of the "Day of the Lord" I believe here is a principle that must also be applied to what is happening in the world today. We need to watch and pray! To pray in the spirit we need to hear from God. To pray also with the understanding we need to watch and clearly discern what is going on in the world. We are citizens of both the Kingdom of God and of our nations. In the Kingdom of God our vehicle of intercession is prayer. In our nations it is prayer for and petition to our governments. Many of you receiving this letter are from P5+1 nations. Your leaders are telling you that this agreement with Iran will remove the nuclear threat and give you "Peace and safety!" Do you believe that? I know it is pushing the boundaries of our faith to pray that at least one of these nations: USA, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany will not agree to the coming deal with Iran. Will those of you who are citizens of these countries demand that your governments would not sign any agreement with Iran that will not totally stop all aspects of their nuclear project - the centrifuges, the plutonium reactor, the enriched uranium, the ICBM's, the bomb building technology? Can you do it? Will you do it? Will you pray for the Government of Israel to be faithful to its word that it will not allow Iran to get the bomb even if it means war? During World War II at the Bible College of Wales, Rees Howells and his people prayed that Germany would be drawn into the Soviet Union because they knew it would mean Germany's defeat. They also understood that it would cost millions of lives on both sides. They had received a mandate from God and they prayed. Later they prayed for Rommel to not be able to conquer Alexandria and Cairo because that was the gateway to Palestine. They also understood that it was related to the restoration of Israel and the salvation of the Jewish people. From "Rees Howells Intercessor", by Norman Grubb, page 266: "God now began to turn the prayers of the College in yet another direction. With the Nazis marching through Yugoslavia and Greece and capturing Crete, and with the menace of Rommel and the Italians growing in North Africa, prayer began to be centered on the Bible Lands." This was really one of the main burdens of prayer at the College because, long before, God had revealed to them that this was not just a European war, but that through it "in the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God" the Jews would return to Palestine, the gospel go out to every creature, and the Savior be able to return. Thus as soon as the Bible Lands seemed in danger of invasion, God turned their prayer in that direction. "I am sure," said Mr. Howells, "the enemy will never touch Palestine, Syria and Iraq." The area of greatest immediate danger was North Africa. With the appearance of Rommel and the German armored divisions there, the menace to Egypt became grave; and if Egypt fell, the door was wide open to Palestine. Again we remember those dark days when Rommel had driven back our armies and was almost knocking on the gates of Alexandria. "Unless God will intervene on behalf of Palestine," said Mr. Howells on July 4, 1942, "there will be no safety there for the Jews. These Bible Lands must be protected, because it is to these lands the Savior will come back. If I had the choice today, I would say to God, 'Take all I have, but preserve Palestine.'" Rees Howells knew that the Lord will be returning to the Mount of Olives - to Jerusalem. He knew the Jewish people would be coming home and that the nation of Israel would be reborn. Yet he did not rest satisfied in his knowledge of these things. He and his team labored in prayer until he could say their prayers were completed. Will you do the same? Will you watch and pray? Will you say, as Rees Howells did (I have changed Palestine to Israel): "Unless God will intervene on behalf of Israel, there will be no safety there for the Jews. These Bible Lands must be protected, because it is to these lands the Savior will come back. If I had the choice today, I would say to God, 'Take all I have, but preserve ISRAEL.'"

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26

Eliyahu Ben-Haim, Jerusalem 27 May, 2015