WARS & THREATS OF WARS
We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or be used for a sermon group discussion.
Sermon Title: WARS & THREATS OF WARS
Main Scripture: Matthew 24:1-8
If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week, consider reading the provided scripture to catch everyone up!
Summary:
I’m pausing our series in Acts to shepherd and help us discern the times in which we are living. The war in Israel has gotten the world’s attention. No matter where you stand on last-day events you can’t get away from the mentions of Israel and the surrounding nations in end times prophecy. Does war in Israel have End-Time connections? Absolutely. To what extent are we in those prophecies, we don’t know right now. Let’s look at what scripture says…
Notes:
Scripture: Matthew 24:1-8 NLT
“What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?”
Don’t panic or don’t be alarmed.
The end won’t follow immediately
All this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.
Wars and threats of wars are a sign of the end times.
According to the Uppsala Conflict Data Program, conflicts causing at least 1,000 deaths in one calendar year are considered wars. The program has recorded 282 wars between 1946 and 2019. However, considering the past 2000 years, the number of wars would be much higher. Add WW1 and WW2, the Ukraine War, and the War in Israel the number is 286 wars.
Three reasons to discern this war
If the conflict were an isolated event between Hamas and Israel it would be like the many conflicts before. But because wickedness, apostasy, weather events, the rapid spread of information, the countries coming against Israel, and even the plans to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem have all increased, it makes this war stand out all the more.
2nd: The regathering of Jews to Israel in 1948. For hundreds of years, the chosen nation of God was dispersed and has not lived peacefully in their homeland. But scripture prophesied numerous times of a regathering of the Jews back to Israel:
For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land (Ezekiel 36:24).
“I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them.” (Amos 9:14–15)
(Also see Jeremiah 32:37; Isaiah 43:5–6; Deuteronomy 30:1-10)
We believe these prophecies were fulfilled when the Jews were brought back to their land in 1948 after the atrocities of the holocaust during WW2.
Now that they are back in the land, end-time prophecies can be fulfilled
Third: The activity in the Middle East region is very similar to the end-time prophecy when nations surround Israel for war.
Gog of Magog in Ezekiel 38-39
Read Ezekiel 38:1-16
Gog is a title for the ruler of Magog, but is not a personal name.
Magog is believed to be people from the far north; scholars believe is Russia.
Meshech and Tubal = Turkey/Russia. Some believe these to be parts of Russia.
Persia = Iran. Iran has been heavily involved and against the Jews for many years.
Scholars consider Cush is the nation of northern Sudan.
Put is Libya and possibly includes Algeria and Tunisia because the ancient borders extended west beyond modern Libya.
Gomer’s descendants inhabit the west-central region of Turkey, joining with Meshech and Tubal. Beth-Togarmah literally means “house of Togarmah,” who is identified as a son of Gomer in the table of nations (Genesis 10:3). This is another participant located in Turkey. -Les Crawford, FOI.org
Yemen is not mentioned but has been sending ballistic missiles.
“In total, the invading armies include Russia and Turkey from the north, Sudan/Libya (possibly including Algeria and Tunisia) from the south and west, and Iran from the east. Consequently, sometime in the future, an enormous military force will surround Israel, which is far beyond its capacity to defeat. God alone can deliver them from annihilation, which Ezekiel reveals He does (38:17–23; 39:1–6).” Les Crawford, FOI.org
There are a variety of views of the above locations but Biblically they are are around the Middle East region, except for the far north terriority of Russia which is no doubt believed to be Magog.
Right now, it hasn’t gotten to the level of Ezekiel 38 yet, but things have certainly been building and escalating. We can’t put our finger on exactly if what we are seeing today is the very early signs of Ezekiel 38. This is why I call this discerning the times. What I am showing you though is Biblical prophecy speaks of an alliance of nations that surround Israel and many of these players are involved right now. I’m showing you signs, not trying to interpret the timing but the two views of Ezekiel 38-39 fulfillment are pre-trib or after the Millenial reign. Here’s why, there needs to be relative peace before this war takes place. If it is pre-trib, this conflict right now would need to escalate into many nations attacking (which it hasn’t yet) but it would set the stage for the antichrist to come on the scene and have a solution for peace, ushering in the tribulation period. The traditional view has been that Ezekiel 38-39 takes place after the Millennial Reign of Christ and where Gog and Magog are mentioned in Revelation 20:1-7. This wouldn’t happen for a while. Again, what we do see now affirms prophecy about a geo-political conflict against Israel. The good news is that God is aware, involved, and saves Israel for His glory to be known.
BEHIND THE VIEL: the spiritual war behind the physical war
Ephesians 6:12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
The Birth of This Conflict
The real birth of this conflict began in the garden with Satan coming against God.
Satan’s rebellion takes all types of forms and expressions such as deception, lies, counterfeit, proud obstacles, all types of immorality, and violence.
Satan deceived Adam and Eve. Sin and Satan deceived Cain. Cain was a rebellious man who rejected God’s plan, ignored God’s warnings, and received God’s judgment. 1 John 3:12 - We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother…
In Genesis 12:1-9 God chose Abram to bring forth a new nation of people, promised them the land of Canaan (Israel - Deut. 1:6-8; Josh. 1:3-4), and promised to be their God (Gen. 17:8). This is the Abrahamic Covenant that God has never failed and never will fail to fulfill. They were not chosen by merit or for being better than all other nations (Deut. 9:1-6). This covenant and promise was an act of grace for God’s glory to go throughout the world through these people. Abraham’s nation would bless all nations because from them would come the redeemer and savior of mankind to offer eternal life for all people. God’s promises included protection, blessings, and curses. God would never stop being their God but they had to obey and trust God in order to possess and keep the land. God’s promises also include ultimately saving His people in the end days (Rom. 11:26; Jer. 31:33-34) and building the new Jerusalem (Rev. 21). When God chose Abraham to make a nation he dearly loves out of His lineage and appropriate land for them to call their own it became a battle for the devil.
The Land - Genesis 15:18-21
The Lineage - Genesis 17:17-22
Interesting fact, Abraham wasn’t a Jew, he was a gentile living in Ur of the Chaldeans. In fact, the Jewish nation or Israel was not yet considered a nation of people yet, there had to be descendants first and they would have to grow. And grow they did but while in slavery in Egypt. https://www.gotquestions.org/Abraham-Jew-Gentile.html
Genesis 16 - Hagar sleeps with Abraham and Ishmael is born, the wrench in the plan.
Genesis 17:17-22 The covenant wasn’t established with Ishmael but with Isaac
Genesis 21 Tension and conflict in the household so Hagar and Ishmael are sent away
Bible historians trace Arab nations from Ishmael’s line. Islam is the predominant religion of Arab nations. There are national, geo-political, and religious roots fueling this conflict. Both people groups believe the center of the world is in Israel. Both claim rights to the land and the holy site in Jerusalem. Both claim allegiance to their one Lord.
Who is Hamas?
Sunni Islamist terrorist organization that operates as the de facto leader of the Gaza Strip. Founded in 1988 during the First Intifada as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas set two long-term goals, articulated in its charter: the end of the Jewish state and the creation of an Islamic state from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. Its more immediate goal is the “liberation of Palestine” and the “return” of the Palestinian people. They are also funded and trained by Iran and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. -ajc.com
Hamas in Arabic means Zeal. Zeal: great passion or enthusiasm for a cause.
Genesis 6:11 says, 11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. The scripture is originally in Hebrew and the Hebrew word for violence is Hamas. To the terrorists they are practicing zeal, but to the Jews they are practicing violence.
We unequivocally condemn these attacks on Israel. As Christians, we pray for the salvation of all people and want that for Jews and Palestinians. Our hearts are broken over the loss of life on both sides and we pray God’s Biblical solution comes forth for this region.
How should we proceed?
Keep watch with faith eyes not just physical eyes. We live by faith, even more than signs. Do not get swept up in the hateful narratives. Discern what’s happening Biblically and spiritually.
Do not panic or be alarmed. Jesus is on the throne. God is sovereign and overseeing what is happening with his purpose and plans in mind.
Keep meditating on the promises of God’s Word and keep your faith in Jesus strong.
Pray for Hamas to release the prisoners and surrender so there won’t be any more bloodshed.
Pray for the salvation of all people, especially the Jews and Palestinians.
Invite people to church. More people are open and asking questions than ever before.
Ephesians 5:15-17 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
Discussion:
What did God use in this sermon to speak to your heart or situation?
What part of the scripture stuck out to you and why?
What parts of this sermon were helpful in keeping a Biblical perspective on the war in the Middle East?
What does Pastor Ryan mean by the spiritual conflict behind the physical conflict?
What were some ways we should proceed according to the sermon and especially Jesus in Matthew 24:1-8?
What other notes did you highlight or write down that you would like to share?
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Pray Together
We hope you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!