What Does the Gaza Flotilla Shootout Mean?

Headlines around the world are decrying the Israeli boarding and seizing of a flotilla of ships heading for the port of Gaza with thousands of tons of supplies. At least nine people were killed and dozens injured in the boarding. Anger in that region is ratcheting higher.

Why is the Middle East continually a center of conflict? The biblical prophet Zechariah foretold 2,500 years ago God's warning that "I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all the nations of the earth are gathered against it" (Zechariah 12:3). When he recorded those words, the city had been destroyed and almost abandoned. Much has changed since then, but through the centuries Jerusalem, and the entire Middle East, has been the center of conflict many times.

The events of the past few days are likely leading down the path to this prophetic announcement reaching its final fulfillment. While the flotilla of five ships was billed as a humanitarian effort, the entire story of motives and purpose is less clear. But clearly the event will escalate the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

Blockade of Hamas

First, a little background information. Israel and Egypt imposed a blockade on Gaza after the Islamic militant group Hamas seized the territory by force three years ago. The blockade's purpose is to prevent terrorist weapons, especially Iranian-made rockets, from reaching Gaza where they could be used against Israeli citizens. Weapons have been discovered several times hidden in "humanitarian aid" containers.

Israel has intercepted and inspected vessels bound for Gaza many times since then, allowing cleared vessels to proceed to the Gaza port or dock at Ashdod so their cargo could be delivered by land. As this flotilla was leaving Cyprus, Israel offered to transfer the shipments to Gaza after unloading and inspection at Ashdod. But this time was to be different.

Relief effort or publicity stunt?

The flotilla was organized by various groups including the Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation, which Israel describes as a radical Islamic organization. It was outlawed by Israel in 2008 for allegedly being a major global fundraiser for Hamas. On board the largest vessel were over 600 passengers, including known militants. Also along were 25 European parliament members. Television crews and cameras were set up on deck and ready to roll, along with a live Internet feed. It was obviously organized ahead of time for worldwide publicity.

As Israeli soldiers were rappelling onto the ship's deck at 2 a.m., they were attacked by groups of men with knives and clubs. Shots were also fired, although there are conflicting reports as to which side fired first. As the violence subsided, video and photos of the injured were already circulating on Twitter and YouTube. A chorus of politicians in Europe decried the intervention, and demonstrations began almost instantly in several cities.

As George Friedman of Stratfor Global Intelligence concluded, "The flotilla achieved its strategic mission. It got Israel to take violent action against it. In doing so, Israel ran into its own fist."

Focus of end-time controversy

The conflict over the land called Israel or Palestine is being played out on the world stage. Regardless of how anyone may feel about who may be right or wrong on the issue, any honest observer will admit that the entire world is being drawn into this small historic crossroads. No other place on earth is the focus of so much controversy or heated emotion. This latest event is just one more bit of evidence that God's words in the book of Zechariah were right.

Turkey at the Crossroads

Following rebuffs from both the United States and Germany, could NATO's second biggest military power turn toward the east?

The vote was close and had taken almost a century, but when the House Foreign Affairs Committee in Washington D.C. declared by a single-vote majority (23 votes to 22) that Turkey's mass killing of Armenians in 1915 was "an act of genocide," Turkey was quick to recall its ambassador in protest.

It's difficult to understand Turkey's sensitivity on the subject. The killings were in the middle of World War I and were actually perpetrated by the predecessor of the Turkish Republic, the Ottoman Empire. It would be similar to blaming the United States for an act committed during colonial times before the country even existed.

Nobody denies the killings took place. The question is whether it was a natural consequence of the war or a deliberate attempt to wipe out an ethnic group. The official position of the Turkish government is that the historians should decide, not the politicians.

While most Americans remain unaware of the vote, the Turkish people were deeply offended by it. I know that because I was in Turkey just two weeks later.

During my visit over the last two weeks of March, the German chancellor also rebuffed Turkey. The Turkish press proclaimed that Turks felt insulted by the German leader's visit and her announced rejection of Turkish attempts to join the European Union (EU).

Turkey has the second biggest military in NATO, and the country has even closer ties with EU nations, especially Germany. (Many EU members are also in NATO.)

Travelling around Turkey, it is clear that every business will accept euros, but few will take U.S. dollars. Many prices are in both Turkish lira and euros, with the euro worth two lira (the dollar is worth approximately 1.5 Turkish lira). Even pay toilet facilities will take euros as well as lira.

Our tour guide told us that Germans comprise the biggest single group of tourists, with the Russians coming in second. The British are third. Americans didn't even make the short list. It's surprising, since Turkey is full of biblical sites that should be of great interest to American Christian groups. In biblical times, the area known as Asia Minor was the center of missionary work by the early apostles.

Although the name Turkey does not appear in the Bible, the geographical area that Turkey inhabits is featured prominently in both the Old and New Testaments. It was a part of the Persian Empire until Alexander the Great's conquests in the fourth century B.C. Then Turkey was a part of the biblical "king of the North" that Daniel prophesied about in the sixth century B.C.

You can read about the king of the North and the king of the South in Daniel 11. Of particular note is the fact that the "king of the North" features in biblical prophecy "at the time of the end" (Daniel 11:40).

Relations with the EU

At the famous UNESCO World Heritage site of Hierapolis, the ruins of an ancient Roman city and spa, German was being spoken all around us.

A century ago there were close ties between Germany and Turkey's predecessor, the Ottoman Empire. During World War I, the two powers were allies. When Germany was defeated and its empire crumbled, the Ottomans soon followed.

Today's Middle East is the result, a radical carving up of the Ottoman Empire that has led to a number of wars throughout the region, including all the conflicts between the Jews and Palestinians and the two recent wars against Iraq. World peace is constantly threatened by the precarious balance of power in the Middle East.

Once again, Germany and Turkey are close. There are over 3 million Turks in Germany. Whereas Germany wants them to assimilate, the politicians in Turkey are calling for separate schools to preserve their Turkish culture and their Islamic religious identity. It's a classic clash of cultures.

The Turkish Daily News and Economic Review of March 29 quoted Chancellor Merkel as saying: "These Turks have been living in Germany for three or four generations. We want them to integrate." The Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made the following comment on the same issue: "I think it is an improper approach for a German chancellor. She doesn't accept the opening of Turkish high schools."

The newspaper commented further: "The European leader has rejected the idea of opening Turkish high schools in Germany and recently reiterated her intention to pursue a ‘privileged partnership' with Turkey as an alternative to its full membership in the EU."

EU concern about Turkish membership is due primarily to a simple fact—that 50 percent of Turks are under the age of 30. The country also has an official unemployment rate of 14 percent. EU membership would enable millions of Turks, both unemployed and those seeking higher salaries and better benefits under European social umbrellas, to spread out across Europe. Europeans, already concerned about the Islamization of their nations, are naturally concerned.

Turkey reaches out to neighbors

Faced with what's been interpreted as a massive rejection, Turkey is looking to build closer ties with its Middle Eastern neighbors. In the same day's newspaper a headline declared: "PM Backs Arab League's Iran Offer."

The subhead read: "Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Turkey strongly supports Arab League Secretary General's proposal on establishment of a regional dialogue mechanism that includes Iran and Turkey—both non-Arab nations. The proposal could undermine US-Israeli efforts to isolate Tehran amid concerns that its nuclear program aims to develop atomic weapons."

A month earlier, before the House committee's vote against Turkey, the country might have acted differently.

Moves toward closer ties with the 22-member Arab League and radical Islamist Iran are a direct consequence of the U.S. and EU's rejection of Turkey.

"Along with Germany, France is also a vocal opponent of Turkey's EU aspirations. The two EU heavyweights believe that a vast, relatively poor country with a mainly Muslim population of 71 million has no place in Europe" ("A Summit Defined by Growing Tension," Daily News and Economic Review, March 29, p. 5).

The Turkish prime minister declared France's position as "illogical." He also described Merkel's rejection of separate schools for Turks as "hatred," language that will only inflame the situation between Turkey and the two most powerful EU member nations.

Although Turkey became a secular country with the declaration of a republic in 1923, the nation is currently governed by a radical Islamist party that frequently clashes with the military. Although it's been three decades since the military directly intervened in Turkish politics, some Western nations still express concern about the fragility of Turkish democracy.

First-time visitors like myself are amazed at how free the country is and its similarities with the West. Turkey is very much "Islam lite," a country where it's easy to see local people drinking alcohol in bars and restaurants and dressing in a more liberal way than would be possible in many Mideast countries.

Our guide told us that about 50 percent of Turks are religious, defined as going to the mosque on a regular basis. Officially 99 percent of the country is Muslim. A small number of Orthodox Christians still live there, descendants of those who once ruled the area when it was the Byzantine Empire. There is also a small Jewish community.

Until this year Turkey was a good friend of Israel, but recently there have been strains in the relationship. The future remains uncertain, as is the future relationship between Turkey and its Western allies.

It is important for the West to remember that Turkey matters. A look at a map will show you how strategically located the country is. The realization that it has the second biggest military force in NATO emphasizes its importance to the Atlantic alliance. If growing alienation from the West leads to growing Islamization of the country, it will be a serious blow to the Western democracies.

At the crossroads

Turkey has always been at the crossroads of Asia and Europe. Only 3 percent of the country is in Europe, while the remaining 97 percent is in Asia. Right now, it's at a crossroads where it must decide its own future.

The country is also in a very sensitive region of the world that is the primary focus of Bible prophecy—the Middle East. Jesus Christ showed that Jerusalem would be the main focal point when He said: "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near" (Luke 21:20). Interestingly, Jerusalem was ruled by Turkey a century ago. It had been a part of the Ottoman Empire for four centuries.

Turkey today shares borders with Lebanon and Syria, two of Israel's neighbors. Each of these countries is quite small, smaller than the state of South Dakota.

Over two millennia ago, the kings of the North and South fought repeatedly over the territory of what was then Judah, the ancient nation of the Jews. The two dynasties were the successor states to Alexander's Greek Empire. Daniel 11 contains a detailed prophecy from the sixth century B.C. that was largely fulfilled in the second century before Christ. However, it was not fulfilled in its entirety.

Verses 40-41 of the chapter shows that the final part of the prophecy is still future:

"At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. He shall also enter the Glorious [Holy] Land, and many countries shall be overthrown."

The country now known as Turkey will be involved in these end-time events.

The Decline and Fall of Nations: A Prophetic Perspective

Ancient Babylon fell in one night after having been "weighed in the balance and found wanting." Can modern empires fall just as quickly? History and the Bible provide an answer.

Harvard historian Niall Ferguson, writing in the March/April 2010 issue of Foreign Affairs magazine, presents an analysis of how empires can quickly collapse into chaos. Rather than a slow decline over centuries, Ferguson shows that many large nations of the past were gone in a few short years. They were seemingly strong and viable and faded virtually overnight.

Conventional wisdom presents the economic challenges to America's global dominance as long-term threats. Demographics alone will increase the debt to unmanageable proportions.

Citing long-term predictions of China overtaking America in economic size and output by 2027 or 2040, Ferguson asks, "What if history is not cyclical and slow moving but arrhythmic—at times almost stationary, but also capable of accelerating suddenly, like a sports car? What if collapse does not arrive over a number of centuries but comes suddenly, like a thief in the night?" ("Complexity and Collapse," p. 22).

A thief in the night? Sounds biblical! "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" (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3).

What the Bible says about the end-time events culminating in the Day of the Lord applies to the sudden collapse of powerful nations and empires throughout history. Ferguson looks at the collapse of the Soviet Union over a short period of five years, from the time Mikhail Gorbachev became general secretary of the Soviet Communist Party. Although the CIA overestimated the size of the Soviet economy, they did have nuclear superiority over the United States. It looked as if the Soviet Union would be around to challenge America for many years to come.

"Yet less than five years after Gorbachev took power, the Soviet imperium in central and Eastern Europe had fallen apart, followed by the Soviet Union itself in 1991. If ever an empire fell off a cliff—rather than gently declining—it was the one founded by Lenin" (ibid., p. 30).

Ferguson's thesis is that empires are large, complex systems that can be turned upside down in short order by the insertion of even one event that is more than the system can handle. Lack of confidence in a nation's future, even while it is strong, can be such an event. When other nations lose confidence in the sustainability of an economic model, events can be set in motion to quickly change the balance of power.

Other smaller, seemingly insignificant events can trigger a chain reaction leading to world upheaval. The assassination of Austrian Archduke Ferdinand in June 1914 was the fuse that lit the powder keg of World War I. No one saw it at the time, but events quickly got out of control and conflict started.

Recent economic crisis

We have the recent example of how the complex world economy went from boom to bust when a lot of Americans began defaulting on something called "subprime loans." Because thousands of large financial institutions were set up to depend on the performance of those loans, they suddenly found themselves insolvent or quite near the brink. The reverberation brought down large Wall Street financial houses and had repercussions across Europe and Asia.

The world financial system came near meltdown one week in September 2008. The global economy is still recovering. It is an object lesson in how quickly events, even small events, can happen and turn the world upside down.

Ferguson concludes by observing that "empires behave like all complex adaptive systems. They function in apparent equilibrium for some unknowable period. And then, quite abruptly, they collapse... It is sudden" (ibid., p. 32).

What Ferguson and other historians miss in their studies is what can be called the missing dimension in world affairs. That missing dimension is the hand of God in the rise and fall of great nations and empires.

The Bible is a chronicle of ancient nations that rose and fell according to His plan and purpose. Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome—all are mentioned in the narrative. All played key roles in working with the nation of Israel and the Church founded by Jesus Christ. Even today, the lessons of empires embedded in the Bible apply as we watch the modern world move toward what Christ said would be the end of the age.

Babylon

The prophetic book of Daniel lists Babylon as the first in a line of empires that would impact the world from the time of the fall of Jerusalem to the end of the age. Daniel found himself at the seat of the empire dealing with a succession of rulers beginning with Nebuchadnezzar. While explaining the king's dream, the prophet says that God "removes kings and raises up kings" (Daniel 2:21).

Here is the first principle to understand about world affairs. God determines the course of nations. He can set up or remove a leader when He wills. That doesn't mean He is involved in every small nation's affairs when it does not impact the course of His plan. The nations may "rage" and the rulers "take counsel together" (Psalm 2:1-2), but unless their actions are in accord with the counsel of God, in the end they will pass from the world scene.

Babylon found itself in this position on the night when a subsequent ruler, Belshazzar, "made a great feast" (Daniel 5:1). This event occurred as the Persian armies massed outside the city gates. During the banquet the fingers of a man's hand appeared and wrote on the wall of the king's palace (verse 5). King Belshazzar was troubled at the sight and asked for anyone to interpret what the writing said. Word came that Daniel was the only one who could possibly interpret the handwriting, so he was brought into the banquet room.

Daniel gave a brief history of Nebuchadnezzar's experience with God, including a reminder that "the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses" (Daniel 5:21).

Daniel's interpretation of the handwriting highlights another fundamental dimension in world affairs. The message on the wall was, "God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it...you have been...found wanting;...your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians" (Daniel 5:26-27). It is God who judges the time an empire lives and when its time is over. A key is when the nation and its people are "found wanting." In other terms, this is speaking of sin, breaking God's laws and not acknowledging the God of creation.

Babylon worshipped gods who neither saw, heard nor knew. They did not acknowledge the "God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways" (verse 23). Their problem was the same as virtually all other great nations that rose and fell through time: They did not worship the true God. They practiced what the Bible calls idolatry, worshipping as God that which is not God. The problem is still with us today.

That night Belshazzar was killed and the Persians entered Babylon. As a power, Babylon ended—absorbed into the Persian kingdom. It was over, like a thief in the night.

Modern Babylon to fall

But Babylon has a long story within the Bible. When we go to the book of Revelation, we see a modern version of this ancient system dominating the world scene. Revelation 17 shows a woman sitting on a scarlet beast with a name on her forehead saying, "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH" (verse 5).

This system, a combination of religion and politics, controls the world for a brief but significant time prior to the coming of Jesus Christ. The world will be lulled into a sense of peace and security by this system that will come together in the guise of safety and security.

While this system will impact the entire world, there are signs it will be weak in its foundation. Again, size will make it a complex system. Many nations, ethnicities, cultures and languages will be in play. Technology, by itself a complicated and tenuous structure, will tether together the diversity of the world. It will be an unstable mixture that will quickly unravel.

Revelation 17:16 shows the "beast" turning on the woman and eating her flesh. Revelation 18:8 says, "Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her... For in one hour your judgment has come" (Revelation 18:8, 10, emphasis added).

Once again, judgment comes quickly—unexpectedly. Whether it is days or months is unclear, but it will likely not be much longer given the time frame of prophecy in this period. Like ancient Babylon falling in one night, we see that sudden change can come upon a nation even as life appears to be normal.

Christ's warning

Jesus Christ said people would be going about a normal life and caught unaware of the momentous changes occurring. "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth" (Luke 21:34-35).

Once again, we see the warning that events can occur "like a thief in the night." What Niall Ferguson noted in his article about the decline and fall of nations finds support in Scripture. But there is a difference. Ferguson and most modern historians focus on demographics and economic factors. They miss the spiritual dimension of God as we have noted in the Bible.

To ignore and deny the hand of God in history is to miss the real meaning of history and current world events. It is to deny God, and that is what is at the heart of any decline and fall.

The problem of idolatry

Nebuchadnezzar had to learn this lesson the hard way. He looked at the kingdom he established and thought it was all done by his wisdom and cunning. Like any despot in history, he was pretty high on himself; and when he surveyed the splendor of Babylon in a pride-filled boast, he came face to face with reality. God figuratively grabbed him by the pants and made him face reality.

He went mad for seven years. His mental state made him a prisoner in his body with no ability to act or think rationally. And then, just as suddenly, he returned to normal and resumed his position in the kingdom. He learned a lesson—that God's control of leaders and nations is the critical factor in world affairs. The last few verses of Daniel 4, where this part of the story is told, form a final word on the reign of Nebuchadnezzar.

The words of the prophets, including Jesus Christ, teach us the critical lesson needed to understand why nations can suddenly collapse when all the signs say otherwise. Whether it was God's chosen people, Israel, or another empire, when a people fail to acknowledge God and lapse into idolatry, putting themselves first, they set out on a road to collapse. It may take several generations, but it is inevitable. The fall can take a few decades or only a few years. But when God's time is ready, nothing can turn it back.

This is why the present state of affairs in America and its role in the world is so critical. Since the end of World War II, America has been the defender of what has been called the "free world." Its nuclear shield protected Europe during the Cold War, allowing its economies to rebuild. The U.S. Navy has kept the sea lanes of the world open to commerce. Its armies have combated terrorism, responded to genocide and been a deterrent to rogue nations like North Korea and Iran.

America's rising debt will one day cause it to retreat from this historic role as a global protector. When that day happens, it will signal a change, perhaps a collapse, in its role as a superpower. What follows will likely be quick and sudden, "like a thief in the night."

When the day comes that America and the English-speaking peoples relinquish their historic and biblically based role in the modern world, the world will be a different place. Only then, as one historian notes, will the world mourn the passing of a decent and noble people.

God loves you with an everlasting love

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails....” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Love God. The first and greatest commandment, Jesus Christ taught us, is to love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and soul and strength.

What does it mean to love God? The ancient Greeks had three words for love — agape, philio, and eros. Agape meant to love someone purely; to wish them the highest good; to always act in a manner that is best for someone; to love with no conditions. This is the way we are to love God.

How can we love God? We can give Him our hearts and our lives. We can think of what will please Him. We can tell Him we love Him. We can listen to Him and pay attention to Him. We can honor His Son Jesus Christ. We can sing worship and praise songs to God. We can love members of His family and love those who He loves — which is everyone!

When you truly love someone, you want what is best for them. God’s will is that no-one will perish, but that all will come to have eternal life. So one way to love God is to reach out to others in the love of Jesus Christ.

So, this week, let us pray and

1. Tell God we love Him!

2. Sing songs of praise to Him

3. Ask God that people all around the world would come to know Him and love Him

God loves you with an everlasting love. He loves us with His love, which is pure and never-ending. Let us thank Him together for His great love for us!

May God bless you.

Redeeming The Time

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil Ephesians 5:15-16

We are to walk circumspectly. The word “circumspectly” means diligently or carefully. Walking circumspectly can be illustrated by the way a cat walks upon a building’s high garden walls which are surmounted with pieces of broken glass to prevent break-ins. The cat would ponder very carefully where it puts its paw, almost with a contemplative air, so that it does not touch the broken glass lest it should be wounded. If a cat takes this much care about where it places its paws, how much more should we walk circumspectly and take great care to ensure that we place our feet on the path of righteousness.

If we are not careful with our spiritual walk, we can become wounded by the contamination of sin, just as the cat could be wounded by the shards of glass on top of the wall. Paul says that we need to redeem the time, because the days are evil. This is a truth that should govern our lives. There is a battle for the time that we have been allotted here on earth. The devil provides all kinds of distractions that are carefully designed to steal from us the precious commodity called time. Once we have lived a day, we can never get it back.

Every person on earth has 24 hours a day, 168 hours a week and 365 days a year. An average person may only live 29,200 days. Yet why is it that some people can make such valuable use of their time while others don’t accomplish anything in the same amount of time? Those who make wise use of their time are the ones who prosper in life. Moses says in Psalm 90:12, “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” We need to number or count our days so that we use them wisely, for none of us knows how long we will live.

Paul tells us to redeem (or to get back from the devil’s grasp) our God-given privilege of deciding minute by minute what we are going to do within the life span accorded us. As Christians, there are untold opportunities each day to serve the Lord. Let us make the most of our opportunities and our time.

Five Steps To Miracles

“O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” 2 Chronicles 20:12

King Jehoshaphat was facing the greatest threat to his reign. His enemies—the Moabites, the Ammonites and the Syrians—had come to crush his kingdom. He came to a place where he just didn’t know what else to do in the natural. So by faith, he turned to God for His supernatural intervention. Jehoshaphat took five steps that turned an imminent defeat into an opulent victory. We need to do the same whenever we are faced with a crisis.

Step #1: Set your heart to seek the Lord (2 Chr. 20:3-4). Jehoshaphat and all the people of Judah set their hearts to seek after God. As he prayed, Jehoshaphat did three things: (a) He reminded himself who God is (20:6). (b) He also reminded himself what God has done (20:7). (c) He then asked God to do it again (20:12). If you learn to pray this way, you can have faith for any miracle!

Step #2: Focus on the promise, not the problem. Jehoshaphat said, “God, our eyes are upon You” (20:12). No matter what you are hit with in life, learn to focus on the promises in God’s Word, never the problem. Confess the promises of God’s Word to yourself: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” “Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world!” “No weapon formed against me shall prosper!”

Step #3: Stand before the Lord. Ephesians 6:13 says, “And having done all, to stand.” When you have done every thing you can, just trust the Lord.

Step #4: Wait for the Holy Spirit (2 Chr. 20:14). The Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel and he prophesied aloud: “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s … You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you” (20:15, 17).

Step #5: Begin to praise God in advance (20:22). When the enemies came against Jehoshaphat and his kingdom, the people of Judah unleashed the weapons of their warfare—they started to boldly praise God. Praise is the language of faith. And that day, angels were dispatched to destroy all the enemies that came against Jehoshaphat. Instead of destruction, God brought Jehoshaphat to the Valley of Berachah (blessing) and it took Judah three full days to gather up all the spoils of war.

For Heaven's Sake?

Many believe they will spend eternity with God in heaven after death. But is this idea biblically true? Plan to be challenged!

What is the most important teaching of Jesus Christ? Some say by faith in Him you can be saved and spend eternity with God in heaven. Now it might surprise you to find that going to heaven when you die is not what Jesus taught. What was the central teaching of Jesus Christ? What did He go about preaching? Was it the Kingdom of Heaven? Many religions disagree on what they feel is significant. But what does the Bible say is the heart and core of Jesus Christ's message. Stay tune to Beyond Today as we analyze the idea, "For Heaven's Sake".

Are you a Christian? About one billion people profess Christianity. Of course Christians trace their beliefs to the teachings of Jesus Christ yet many Christians are not aware of Jesus central teaching.

If someone were to ask you what is the focal point of Jesus message? How would you answer?

Many would say the most important teaching is believing in Jesus and going to heaven when you die. This was shown in the study done a few years ago that found that 89% believe in heaven and of those 85% believe they'll personally go there. That's what I was taught when I was young and perhaps you were too. But is it possible that popular beliefs, even church doctrine don't agree with the Bible and Jesus real teaching?

Now it may surprise you the major subject of Jesus Christ teaching was not heaven. The heart and core of His teaching was the Gospel of The Kingdom. That's the good news! The Gospel that the Kingdom of God would be established right here on this earth.

Historian, Michael Grant, put it this way, "Every thought and saying of Jesus was directed and subordinated to one single thing, the realization of the Kingdom of God upon the Earth and this one phrase, the Kingdom of God sums up His whole ministry and His whole life's work." Now imagine that.

You might think, wait a second; could all these churches be wrong? Why haven't I heard more about the Kingdom of God in my church?

Well let's go to the source. Well let's notice what the Bible says in order to check out what the facts really are. The Bible makes it clear Jesus overriding theme was the good news of the Kingdom of God. His very own words are recorded for us so we can know His intent. Notice what it says in

Luke 4:43 but He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent."

And you know that's exactly what Jesus did, He did that specifically. You flip over a couple of chapters to

Luke 8:1 Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God.

Well do you need some good news? How much have you heard about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God? What is it?

Since Jesus spoke about it everywhere He went, shouldn't you know about it? And as a Christian you don't want to be uninformed about His most important teaching.

This message, the message of the Kingdom was central to the teaching of Jesus Christ right from the very start. From the beginning of the New Testament all the way to Revelation, God's Kingdom is mentioned scores of times.

In fact, notice this quote about the Kingdom of God. "The word Kingdom is found 55 times in Matthew, 25 times in Mark, 46 times in Luke and 5 times in John. The phrase the Kingdom of God and equivalent expressions occur about 80 times." So these statistics show the great importance of the concept in the teaching of Jesus. There can therefore be little doubt that the phrase, the Kingdom God, expresses the main theme of His teaching.

So when you look at the facts, is there any doubt that the Kingdom of God is the core teaching of Jesus Christ? Now what does it mean, what exactly is this Kingdom and when and where for that matter will it be established.

Jesus disciples knew when Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of God he wasn't talking about going to heaven. So what is a Kingdom?

Now that word Kingdom may not be one that we think much about, we don't use that term all that much but let's step back and consider it. Now imagine for yourself any country, you know what is it that makes a nation a country or a Kingdom? Well there's four components, there's a ruler or parliament or a government, we have laws, we have subjects and we have territory. So when Jesus spoke about the Kingdom of God He was talking about a very real, literal government, a structured, organized administration under His very own authority. Jesus Christ, He is where we start, He's the ruler. Now we can verify that, we can turn to our Bible. Look at...

Revelation 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!"

And so we see Jesus and the disciples as well understood that the term Kingdom of God meant that God's government would be established on earth, led and administered by Jesus Christ Himself. Now what about that second component, the government and laws? The government and laws will be the government and laws of God. Notice what it says in Isaiah 2:2 now the book of Isaiah we have the prophet discussing this very concept of the Kingdom of God. Notice what he says...

Isaiah 2:2 Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the LORD's house Shall be established on the top of the mountains,

In fact when you that word mountains in the Bible it often represents nations and governments and so he's talking specifically about that right here. And it says...

And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it.

Isaiah 2:3 Many people shall come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Now if we move to that third component, the subjects and the territory, who will that be? Well it will be the people and the nations of the earth. Daniel 7:14 tells us that very fact and it reminds us in

Daniel 7:14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.

You see Jesus taught that the time is coming for change. Now it's not the kind of change the politicians talk about. It is nothing less than a sweeping, overpowering change in the entire world order. The Kingdom of God will rule over the entire earth.

Now if you are like me you didn't hear much about the Kingdom of God. Like me you may have been taught your entire life that when you die you go to heaven.

But what really happens to us after we die, where are our loved ones who have passed on? Will we ever see them again? You see most believe when they die they will go to heaven but this is what the Bible really teaches. Is that what it is?

You see we want to help you with the answer to that question and we have a free booklet for you today. That free booklet is called Heaven and Hell, What Does the Bible Really Teach? In this booklet we examine the evidence. In fact you might be surprised that the Bible reveals some astounding truths about the mystery of life beyond the grave. This booklet will help you understand the truth so request your free copy today. You can click or you can call toll free 1-888-886-8632 that's 1-888-886-8632 or go online to BeyondToday.tv. Is it possible that what you thought was the truth is not actually what Jesus Himself taught? It does matter what you believe so request your free copy today, you can click on line at BeyondToday.tv to download it, read it online or order your free copy of Heaven or Hell, What does the Bible Really Teach? Now call us, it's a free call even 1-888-886-8632 that's 1-888-886-8632 or go online to BeyondToday.tv. Now you can also follow us on Twitter or join us on our Facebook fan page.

So as we think about it we've already seen that heaven wasn't one of Jesus talking points and no wonder when you consider the shocking statement in John 3:13, it says

John 3:13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.

You see these words were written decades after Jesus died and ascended to heaven and well after many of His followers have died but here we're still told that no one other than Jesus Himself had gone to heaven.

You see the fact is Jesus key talking point was the Kingdom of God, that coming Kingdom was clearly the theme of His entire ministry.

Now one thing you may be familiar with, you've probably heard of the Sermon on the Mount. It is probably one of the most quotable teachings of Jesus. It's the one that says blessed are, blessed are the ones who mourn, blessed are the meek, the merciful, blessed are the peacemakers. You may be familiar with them.

Now do you know what Jesus emphasized in that lesson? He pointed His followers toward the Kingdom. Let's notice it, He began His message in Matthew 5 so if you turn over to the book of Matthew, in Matthew 5:3 He singles out the poor, the poor in spirit, notice what it says in...

Mathew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The He goes on in...

Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Now you might think, "Aha, I knew Jesus taught about heaven!" Now ok wait a second, what is the Kingdom of Heaven?

Is the Kingdom of Heaven different from the Kingdom of God? Ok how can we know?

Well first let's step back for a moment and let's ask ourselves how many books in the Bible contain the phrase "Kingdom of Heaven"? Just one, just one, that expression is only found right here in the book of Matthew.

So as we begin it's important to realize that the book of Matthew, it's very similar to the books of Mark, Luke and John. These very first four books of the New Testament describe the life and teachings of Jesus Christ from His birth to the crucifixion. So these four students, these four followers, the disciples of Jesus describe many of the same events from different perspectives.

Now what about that term, the Kingdom of Heaven, that is only used in right here in the book of Matthew? This is interesting, let's notice this, we wouldn't want to misunderstand what Matthew meant and he didn't want us to misunderstand, so he uses the terms Kingdom of Heaven and Kingdom of God, interchangeably. Let's notice that Matthew 19 just a few chapters from where we began in Matthew 5, Matthew 19:23 notice what Matthew records for us.

Matthew 19:23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 19:24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

You see there those two phrases and they appear right together and what does that tell us? It show's that they are identical terms. In fact we can also show that they mean exactly the same thing by comparing these passages from other books of the Bible. Remember

Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Now if we flip over to the book of Luke and check out that same scenario in the book of that's Luke 6:20 here we find that same concept and it is said just a little differently in the book of Luke

Luke 6:20 Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: "Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God.

Now doesn't that make it obvious? Those two phrases mean exactly the same thing.

Now you might ask well why did Matthew use that term then why didn't he just always use the term the Kingdom of God.

Well the Wycliffe Bible dictionary explains that Matthew was a Jew writing to his own race and he respected their custom of using the name of God as little as possible. And therefore he spoke of the Kingdom of Heaven. Now the New Bible Dictionary agrees, it says this, "The use of the Kingdom of Heaven in Matthew is certainly due to the tendency in Judaism to avoid the direct use of the name of God so in any case, no distinction in sense is to be assumed between the two expressions."

So what can we conclude? The Kingdom of Heaven doesn't mean the Kingdom is in heaven but that it is of heaven, it is of God who is Himself in heaven at this time.

So Matthew makes it very clear that this Kingdom wasn't going to be like the Roman Empire and its emperor or any other kingdom at that time. He understood that it was a kingdom to come.

Of course we know the Jews missed the fact that Jesus came first to die for man's sins and then He would return again to established that very Kingdom. In fact you've probably prayed for that Kingdom. Jesus taught that we should pray, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth. Now these aren't just idle words, there is a Kingdom yet to come from God to this Earth. In fact there is a famous prophecy in Isaiah 9:6 you are probably familiar with it because it is often times read at Christmas time. But the important aspect of this passage describes something much more than just Jesus birth. Notice

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder.

A little further down

Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end

You see, this is that world changing Kingdom that Jesus spoke of, that's the one that's yet to come. You see when Jesus preached about the Kingdom of God, He was continuing that same message of the Old Testament prophets. So there's no doubt that was what Jesus was referring to, He referred to it often, unmistakably that He would return to the Earth and establish the Kingdom that those prophets were foretelling.

Now most Christians believe that Jesus came as a babe in the manger but most don't realize that He is coming back to earth and He's coming back in a far different way.

The first time He proclaimed the good news of the Kingdom of God, the second time He will come as it's all powerful ruling King to establish the Kingdom and the government of God over the entire Earth. Now this is good news! That's what Jesus came to announce, this was the heart, this was the core of His message. So throughout the Bible scripture after scripture describes Jesus return and the establishment of the Kingdom of God. Jesus Himself said, "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness".

Now there is so much more to discuss on this topic so up next we're going to talk with the Beyond Today panel. But first I have a special free offer for you today; it's the Good News magazine. This magazine contains important articles on how to make sense of today's confusing world news. It will help you to understand what the Bible teaches about the most vital questions concerning your life, marriage, family, why it's important to have a relationship with your Creator. It will help you comprehend God's amazing plan for humanity and for you personally. That's why you need your free subscription to the Good News magazine; it will help you with answers. Call toll free 1-888-886-8632 that's 1-888-886-8632 you can also visit us on the web at BeyondToday.tv. You can watch dozens of Beyond Today programs and you can catch up on our weekly Beyond Today commentaries as well. So go on line to BeyondToday.tv or call 1-888-886-8632. Get your free subscription now. The Good News not only examines world events in light of the Bible but it will also help you in your everyday life. So get your free subscription today. Now don't forget to follow us on Twitter and join our Facebook fan page as well.