Israel's Forever Land!

Jeremiah 31:31-37

“The days are coming,” declares the LORD (YEHOVAH), when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them," declares the LORD (YEHOVAH)

“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD (YEHOVAH). “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the LORD (YEHOVAH),’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the LORD (YEHOVAH). “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

This is what the LORD (YEHOVAH) says, He who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night,who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— the LORD (YEHOVAH) Almighty is his name: “Only if these decrees vanish from my sight,” declares the LORD, “will Israel ever cease being a nation before me.”

This is what the LORD (YEHOVAH) says: “Only if the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth below be searched out will I reject all the descendants of Israel because of all they have done,” declares the LORD (YEHOVAH).

The land of Israel is not Palestine. It is Israel. YEHOVAH gave them their land when He brought them out of Egypt. It was formerly inhabited by heathen nations including Philistines (not Arabs, or Hagarites, or Ishmaelites, or Saracens: and not Muslims, who didn't even exist at that time) which God judged and displaced for their sins.

When YEHOVAH gave the Jews the land of Israel, He promised it to them forever.

In 70 AD the Romans and their legions destroyed the Jewish temple and took most of the Jewish survivors captive. The land was left mostly deserted except for a small number of poor Jews who remained amidst a sparse population of foreigners including some Arabs-- there were no Palestinians (ancient Philistines).

The name was changed to Palestine (a word derived from the word Philistine) to spite the Jews.

Many conquerors ruled in Jerusalem through the years but it was still the land of Israel. A remnant of Jews always lived there and YEHOVAH had promised to bring His people back to Israel at the appointed time. Many doubted that would happen, even among Christians, but God fulfilled His Word when He brought the modern nation of Israel back to life in 1948.

Many Jews started returning to Israel in the late 1800s. It was a very sparsely populated desert wasteland, as documented by Mark Twain and other visitors at the time. Even Jerusalem was in a state of neglect, but the Jews who returned started buying the land and working to restore it to productivity.

Following the holocaust many more Jews returned to Israel (limited by quotas under the British Mandate), and as they came, Arabs from surrounding nations started pouring into the country to find good paying jobs working for the Jews. It was similar to the Mexican workers illegally entering the USA today. There were no border fences so they just crossed the desert and the Jordan River (unhindered by quotas) and found jobs and took up residence among the growing Jewish population.

Later, when the Arab/Muslim nations attacked the new Jewish homeland in 1967, the Arabs who had come in for work (and had, at the most, a 150 year connection to the land) began to call themselves Palestinians and claimed ownership of the land from “time immemorial.”

Contrary to popular Palestinian refugee myths, Israel did not kick the Arabs out of Israel. It was the Muslim Arabs from surrounding nations who encouraged them to flee the conflicts in 1948 and 1967, promising them that they could return to their homes when Israel was wiped off the map. But, the Muslim Arabs lost the war, and that led to the original refugee problem which is nurtured and maintained to cause friction up to the present time. Muslim Arabs, not Jews, caused the problem and perpetuate it.

The proof about Israel’s treatment of Arabs lies in the fact that over a million Arabs live in modern Israel today with full rights as citizens and even have representation in the Knesset.

Many more could live there if they would recognize Israel’s right to exist and live in peace with the Jews.

As for the need for a ”Palestinian State.” As I mentioned earlier, there are no Palestinians. There are only modern Arabs calling themselves Palestinians so they can claim land that belongs to Israel. In addition, there is already a Palestinian State known as Jordon. It was created from the British Mandate land which would have been a part of modern Israel if the “Arab/Palestinians” hadn’t agitated for it. All so-called “Palestinians” are welcome there.

Look at the map provided and you can see that Jordan is comprised of 80-90% of the “Palestine” Mandate.

When the Ottoman Empire collapsed, the modern states of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Israel were created. Israel got a very small piece of the Middle Eastern pie to start with and the Muslims got the rest, but they have tried to take the Jews tiny land away from them since the very beginning.

Why does the world not know its history and understand the travesty going on in the Middle East today? Rather than looking at the map and seeing how tiny Israel is surrounded on all sides by a vast sea of Muslim countries who want to destroy her; the world looks at Israel through a magnifying glass and chastises her for refusing to give more of her tiny piece of the pie to those in Gaza and the West Bank who are trying to annihilate her! The PLO and Hamas are not the underdogs. They are a part of the vast Muslim sea which surrounds Israel! Please, take another look!

There will be some rough days ahead for this world because of the way Israel has been wronged. Anyone interested in the truth about the Palestinian question should read the Bible– especially if one has been exposed to the Quran.

Mohammad deceived his followers by using the Bible to gain credibility for his teaching. Then he twisted some scriptures and dismissed others to serve his own purposes. He lifted himself up as the greatest and final prophet and then he downgraded Jesus to a role inferior to himself.

For Islam to displace Israel in YEHOVAH's plan, Mohammad used a method similar to Satan's lie in Eden. He has led the Muslims to believe a lie that goes something like this:

"Has God said that land belongs to the Jews? Well, that's all changed now! They sinned and have been forsaken. Take their land! You can rule the world once you get Israel under your control! Go ahead! Trust me, you won't die!"

And, many unsuspecting souls have fallen for his deception. So tragic, for Islam will only lead to the destruction of its followers.

The real Bethlehem born, Jesus of Nazareth, revealed in the Bible as the Son of God is coming again, and He is coming to save Israel and all other believers who have chosen to trust in Him for eternal salvation.

Isaiah 41:8-14

But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend, I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you.

I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

“All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all.

For I am the LORD (YEHOVAH) your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Do not be afraid...little Israel, do not fear, for I myself will help you,” declares the LORD (YEHOVAH), your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

I have experienced God's faithfulness. When He tells me something, I know it will come to pass! His Word never fails. It always accomplishes its purpose.

Israel will be preserved without a doubt and her enemies will be destroyed. Wait for it!
You can trust Him to protect and preserve you too, if you will but turn to Him in faith, and accept His help and salvation provided through the sacrifice and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ!

Your word, LORD (YEHOVAH), is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; You established the earth, and it endures. Psalms 119:89-90 NIV

There is no ROCK like YEHOVAH! He is faithful and true!

For additional information see: From Time Immemorial by Joan Peters

Muslim Colonialism

Here's an article and a site I highly recommend.


Remembering Muslim Colonialism on September 11

God Makes the Unclean Clean!

This blog is a response to a Muslim's blog questioning why Christians believe it's alright to eat pork. We know Jews avoid pork because they live under the Old Testament law and Muslims avoid pork because it is forbidden to them in the Qur'an. So, why do Christians, who live by the Bible, which includes the Old Testament law, feel free to eat pork? This is hard for non-Christians to understand, so here's my explanation.

The Old Testament was a covenant God made with the Jews. It was a covenant based on living by laws and making animal sacrifices to cover for one’s sins from year to year. It was a covenant made by God to expire. Yes, that's right. It was never meant to be permanent! Before He gave the law to the Jews through Moses, God knew the law could not save people from their sin nature inherited from Adam. God also knew the law could not keep the Jews from living in sin. But, the law had a good purpose. The law was given to the Jews as a standard for right living. It was given to teach them that it was impossible to live a truly righteous life through human effort alone. God wanted them to look to Him and their coming redeemer, Jesus, for salvation.

The Old Testament law was multi-faceted. It included ceremonial instructions for the Priests, the Levites, and the religious practitioner to follow to properly worship a Holy God. It also included food and hygiene laws to protect the health of the congregation. And it laid down guidelines for moral living.

Of the three categories of laws, only the moral laws are as binding as gravity. They never change because they are rooted in God's Perfections. Ceremonial laws and health guidelines can be changed over time based on the current needs.

For example: Jews can’t fulfill the ceremonial instructions God gave them, such as animal sacrifices, without their Temple in Jerusalem. They have been without their Temple for almost 2000 years now. It was destroyed in 70 AD. And, they haven't been able to rebuild their temple since they became a modern nation in 1948 because Muslims (due to geo-political constraints on Israel) have retained control of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. God obviously knows the situation.

Another example is eating pork. This restriction is a health issue. Eating pork (barbeque sauce or not) can be a dangerous practice when pigs are raised in filthy conditions. Also, when pork isn't cooked properly it may pass harmful parasites to people. But, eating pork is not dangerous when pigs are raised in fairly clean conditions and the meat is properly cooked. God gave "the laws" He gave "when" He gave them for good reasons. So, pork was forbidden under the Old Covenant guidelines.

The New Testament reveals a New Covenant given by God to the Jews and Gentiles together. It is freely given to all who believe and enter into a covenant relationship with God based on, and guaranteed by, the sacrifice of His only Son, Jesus.

When Jesus died on the cross, He said, “It is finished.” What was He talking about? He was proclaiming that the power of death and hell was broken! They could no longer hold a sinner if that sinner claimed, by faith, his freedom from sin's death penalty through the blood of Jesus! Jesus had paid the full price for our redemption from sin!

The requirement of the law says, "Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin." Under that law, every sinner must pay for his sin with his life. He is doomed forever and can't help himself or anyone else-- for all have sinned and owe their lives as the penalty. The situation looks bleak indeed.

Yes, it looks bleak, but it was never hopeless. From eternity past, before creation, God had a plan! Jesus, the sinless Son of God would die in our place! If He'd been sinless, but a mere mortal man, He could only have died in the place of one sinner. But, because He is God, the value of His sacrificial death covered all sin for all time! Therefore, He is able to "save to the uttermost" all who put their trust in Him! Now, that's good news!

But, what does it mean to put your trust in Jesus? When one puts their trust in Jesus, by grace, He gives them a new heart which gives them the ability to live a righteous life apart from the law.

For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:14

They are born again in the Spirit of God and filled with His love. The past sins of a spiritually newborn Christian are cast into the sea of forgetfulness never to be remembered against them again! And, because mortals are not perfect, Jesus also continuously cleanses His followers from unrighteousness as they confess their sins. Praise God for His love and complete provision!

Many New Testament passages deal with concern for outward cleanliness which neglects the heart. Jesus sat down to eat with the Pharisees on one occasion without washing His hands to teach them about the importance of heart issues. They were indignant and it gave Him the opportunity to tell them about their “unwashed heart issues.”

On another occasion Jesus said, “It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.” Matt 15:11

As a good Jew, Peter tried to avoid contact with Gentiles, considering them unclean. In order to open his eyes to his need to change and accept all people, God gave him a vision. A sheet was lowered from heaven filled with all kinds of "unclean" (under the standards of the law) four footed animals, reptiles and birds and he heard a command, “Rise Peter, kill and eat.” Peter refused saying, “I’ve never eaten anything that is unclean.” He was shown the animals and given the command 3 times and then God said, “Don’t call anything unclean which God has made clean.” Finally, he believed and received the command.

After that Peter began to associate with Gentiles and to understand his freedom in Christ. And later, Paul gave more specific teachings about our freedom in Christ concerning eating meats and many other issues concerning the law.  He said, “The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith.” Gal:3:24

"our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." 2 Corinthians 3:5-7

After telling his disciples (in Matthew 5:20) "unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven."  Jesus warned his disciples to "beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees." (Matthew 16:6) They did not originally understand His meaning, so He clarified Himself, and they understood He referred to the tainted doctrine of those religious groups.

What was the problem with the doctrine of the Pharisees and the Sadducees? Their doctrines were legalistic and not based on a relationship with God. It was the "letter of the law" which "kills".

The Pharisees attempted to follow the laws they chose to follow meticulously (even setting stricter requirements than the law) and they focused on outward piety because they loved the praise of men! On the other hand, they felt free to replace some of God's commandments with the oral traditions of men. Their attempts at works righteousness looked good to men but displeased God. Why? Because they didn't love God and their neighbors! They thought their good works could save them so they didn't humble themselves before God and receive His provision of salvation through Jesus Christ.

The Sadducees were sceptics. They didn't believe in miracles or believe in the resurrection. They focused on the Torah and denied the oral tradition. For them, "an eye for an eye" was a literal punishment that should be carried out without mercy. Unlike God, they were big on law and low on mercy. So, they missed God's provision of mercy for themselves as they rejected Jesus Christ.

For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17
Just as you can wash your body and make it clean, God can wash your heart and cleanse you from unrighteousness. Yes, the unclean can become clean. Praise God for His marvelous, saving grace.  

Let me be clear. God cares more about the condition of your heart than about whether you eat pork or not. He doesn't want you stuck struggling with trivial details of the letter of the law. That will surely kill you. He wants you to turn to Him for new life and total salvation!

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13:14

How Majestic Is Our Lord!

     Psalm 8   

A psalm of David.

O Lord, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens.

From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise

because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him,

the son of man that you care for him?

You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings

and crowned him with glory and honor.

You made him ruler over the works of your hands;

you put everything under his feet:

all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field,

the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,

all that swim the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Since we live in a time when the value of human life is being degraded, this is a wonderful psalm to remind us that we are valued by God.

Our Majestic Heavenly Father, Who is Lord of all creation, created us with the specific purpose of sharing His glory and honor for eternity.

He created us to rule benevolently over all the creatures of the earth. This position reflects on a small scale His benevolent rule in the universe. He is our Father. We are to be like Him!

Don't allow the negative voices abroad in the land to discourage you concerning your place in God's plan.

Lift up your head today and know that the great God who created all things is mindful of you! He cares for you! He will never leave or forsake you!

He will silence your foes and the avenger as you lift up your praise to Him. In weakness you will be made strong and will be enabled to endure whatever you face triumphantly.

With David may we proclaim in joyous faith,

"O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your Name in all the earth."