How Big is your Picture?
A Question For Charles
“TWO WEEKS TWO AGO I offered an answer to a question many have posed. I offered what I believe to be a reasonable interpretation for a possible prophetic timing of the soon-to-come war between the United States and Iran. These two weeks have not altered my opinion. If anything, the prophetic window for war with Iran appears more imminent this week than last! Wise persons will read the articles I am linking here: Iran in 2013: Three Possible Crises by Mark N. Katz, Special to CNN, December 17, 2012, and a more recent release, a WorldNetDaily Exclusive, Iran’s Nuclear Bomb Program Complete by Reza Kahlili, January 8, 2013.
Today I want to go further out on that limb, prayerfully without offense to my readers. There are other interpretations of apocalyptic prophecy that I have held close through the years. Why? Because they are freighted with potent socio-economic, socio-political and toxic religious implications! As with my earlier comments, I should offer a disclaimer:
MY DISCLAIMER:
Though the events of my life have brought me through 71 years without required military service, I do not want anyone to reason that I attempted to dodge military service — had Uncle Sam called, I would have been there!
I am a sincerely patriotic, red-blooded American. Two of my younger brothers served honorably in the Army during the Viet Nam conflict. Two uncles on my father’s side served in the Army during WWII, one became a career officer. Three uncles on my mother’s side served honorably in the Marine Corps during WWII and afterward. One uncle, John, served on Guadalcanal and served afterward as a career Marine officer. At 21 years of age, Uncle Alfred, a 3rd Division Marine Corps tank commander on Iwo Jima, was machine gunned to death attempting to escape with his crew from their burning tank.
I offer this background because some of the things I am going to share could be read and interpreted by some as un-patriotic or un-American — nothing could be further from the truth. I thank God for our U. S. Military, our established police order and the freedoms they have purchased for me and my family! Because of certain things taking place in America today, I fear for the future of these cherished, blood-bought freedoms. If I believed for one moment that something I could personally say or do would turn my wonderful country around and spare her/us from an all-but-sealed fate, I would pay any price.
I must begin with Scripture:
“To everything [this includes people and nations] there is a season and a time . . . that which hath been is now; and that which is to be has already been;”
“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
– Ecclesiastics 3:1, 15; Ephesians 5:15, 16. KJV
With many years of focused study in Bible prophecies describing ‘the end-times,’ I am persuaded the United States of America will, in the immediate future, play a major role in the fulfillment of end-of-the-world, “time-of-the-end” prophecy
No, this does not alter my decades-long position regarding the focus of prophetic Scripture. With a Bible held high, I have addressed thousands with these words:
“This is a Jewish book; written by Jews, to Jews, about Jews and for Jews! If there is another nation (people) mentioned in historical or prophetic Scripture, it is because they have had in the past, have in the present or will in the future have an impact upon the city of Jerusalem, including the land and the people associated with it. The city of Jerusalem, including the land of historic Israel and the Jewish people, has been the focal point of historical Scripture. I believe Jerusalem, the people and land associated with it presently are today and will tomorrow be the primary focus of end-time prophecy.”
I believe the United States of America occupies a leading role in apocalyptic prophecy because our Nation has, in modern times, chosen to become an ally of modern Israel. As such, we have tied the fate of our Nation, including our citizens, our wealth and the might of our Military to that troubled piece of land today called Israel and Palestine. We have placed ourselves in Jerusalem’s line of fire! Like it or not, understand it or not, we are standing between the proverbial, prophetic Hatfields and McCoys!
Regarding Jerusalem, here is the prophetic picture:
“The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about,when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces,though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.”
– Zechariah 12:1-3. KJV
No, I am not anti-Semitic, anti-Israel or any such thing. Biblically I support Isaac and his offspring. I do not indulge in political correctness. Because I believe in the truthfulness of Scripture and prophecy, my views are colored. I cannot sympathize with those who
“have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.“
– Daniel 11: 30. KJV.
I propose to demonstrate through reason and Scripture that ancient Babylon prophetically foreshadows the United States of America in apocalyptic prophecy!
To preface my next study, I challenge my readers to read my Commentary, What About Prophecy? 3 times through:
What About Prophecy? by Charles Wheeling
As I attempt to decode end-of-time prophecy, I do not believe that I am necessarily correct or that my views and my views alone guarantee anyone Salvation, including myself.
My sincere wish is to stir the thinking of others, prayerfully without bringing too many pots to boil.
So here goes . . .
In Genesis 3:15, the Lord promised Adam and Eve a Saviour, unto Salvation. Though the promise was made to them, Adam and Eve did not live long enough to receive the fulfillment of that promise. If your understanding in Scripture is, that Adam and Eve are dead and not yet in Heaven, as some might believe, then even until this day, the promise made in person to them, has never been fulfilled.
In Genesis 6:8, 9, “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord . . . Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.” In Hebrews 11:7, “Noah . . . prepared an ark to the saving of his house.” Just how ‘saved’ were Noah and his house? Noah, his wife, his sons and their wives are all dead and gone. Continuing in the same verse 7, “Noah . . . became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” The Scripture says Noah was an ‘heir.’ He was to inherit something; but Noah is dead and gone and I cannot but conclude that Noah has yet to receive his inheritance.
God moved Abraham, and moved Abraham, and moved Abraham. God promised Abraham, and promised Abraham, and promised Abraham. But Abraham is dead and gone. Did Abraham ever receive “all the north, south, east and west” lands he was promised? In his lifetime did he produce offspring, “more numerous than the stars in the heavens?” There is no room for debate here, not if Scripture is to be received in plain English:
“These all died . . . not having received THE PROMISES.“ Hebrews 11:13. And again,
“These all, having received a good report through faith, received not THE PROMISE.” Vs. 39.
The same promises, with non-fulfillment, were given to Isaac and Jacob and, and, and . . .
God interrupted Moses’ retirement, telling him that “he was elected by Heaven to lead the posterity of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob from Egyptian bondage to the Promise Land.” But Moses never got there! Neither did all those folk leaving Egypt, believing that promise. If I reason correctly in Scripture, the OT exodus was not The Exodus!
And what glorious promises the Baptist preached! But John never lived to see The Day he promised! John is dead and gone.
Then there were Jesus’ promises — do you recall any of them?
“I will come again, and receive you (then living Disciples) unto myself.”
“A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye (then living Disciples) shall see me.”
“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you (then living Disciples) the kingdom.”
You must agree, those men to whom Jesus promised “a little while,” are dead and gone for 2,000 years!
As for those “then living” Disciples:
“He (Jesus) sent them to preach the kingdom (of God is at hand).”
And of course, Paul’s promise:
“We which are alive and remain shall be caught up . . . .”
But those Apostles and those to whom they preached are all dead and gone — 2,000 years gone!
Have you caught the drift yet?
Not a single grand promise from Heaven, save the “Innocent Lamb” coming of “the Son of Promise” has been met — NOT YET!
These unmet promises just keep coming. The last living of the Twelve — John, exiled on Patmos, with a command from Heaven, assured us:
“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy . . . for the time is at hand.”
And again,”BEHOLD, I come quickly.”
And again,”SURELY I come quickly.”
Doubtless, there are those who will judge these comments irreverent and likely judge my conclusions incorrect. But my thoughts and comments are not intended to be irreverent, far from it.
If you have followed my comments without too much discomfort, then you will grasp the larger context of Scripture and conclude with me these observations are sound:
“Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”
– I Corinthians 10:11.
“For whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
Romans 15:4.
Hopefully you have concluded that I have not “wrested the Scriptures.” If so, then you will conclude with me that the “Garden promise” is still A Garden Promise; that the flood was not The Deluge; that the “sufferings” of Job were not Job’s Sufferings; that the wanderings of Abraham still produce Wanderers; that the plagues upon Egypt and Pharaoh were not The Plagues; that the OT exodus was not The Exodus; that “the promise land” was not The Promised Land; that Joshua was not JOSHUA; that Passover in Egypt was not yet PASSOVER; that Pentecost was not yet The Promised Baptism of Fire and the multiplied promises of the coming kingdom are still-to-come Promises!
A God of love will not leave any generation without hope. We should see more clearly that God’s promises are PROMISE PROPHECIES!
If you agree and if you see, then you will understand that “Jezebel” was not JEZEBEL and “the tower of Babel” was not The Tower of Babel . . .