It Never Had to Be

 As we hear the news everyday about what is happening in Israel, and terrorist groups determined to rid the world of the country of Israel, we often ask ourselves "WHY".  We look thru history, the destruction of  Jerusalem in 70AD by Titus, the disbursal all over the world of Jews.  We see the Spanish Inquisition,  Hitlers Holocaust, and others! We have to wonder.  Is it just bad luck?  Or is there more to it? There is definitely a pattern of evil.  Satan wants to rid the earth of Gods chosen people... some of the scriptures that come to mind are Jesus trial in front of Pontius Pilate.  Mk 15:6-14, Lk 23:13-25, Jn 18:39-40, but most poignant of all is the account in the Gospel of Matt.

 Matthew 27:20-25 (KJV)

²⁰  But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
²¹  The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.
²²  Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him,  washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to Let him be crucified.
²³  And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
²⁴  When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
²⁵  Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. 

 Has Israel called a curse upon themselves for the past 2000 years? Israel still has to go through Daniels 70th week. Dan 9:24-27, Jacobs Trouble. Jer. 30:7

The Holy Spirit gave Patti a poem. It was on her lips this morning when she woke up.  It's called "Oh Jerusalem"

Oh Jerusalem!

Oh Jerusalem, your waters are troubled once again. Your rejection comes with a price. Oh Jerusalem, return to the altar so that you might live twice.

Oh Jerusalem, your land is holy.  It was given to you by God.  Christ once calmed your waters and walked upon your sea.  He calmed the storm.  Jerusalem, accept his divine offer, for there is total safety in His loving and powerful arms.

Oh Jerusalem, your Messiah is not coming, He already is here.  He still calls to you from the wilderness.  He is waiting for you to hear.  His love for you is precious, it was meant for you alone.  Oh Jerusalem, you turned from him and found yourself far from home.

Please dear Jerusalem, yours is the one true and holy God, and He has called you His own since the beginning of time.  He brought you the Messiah you prayed for, but your rejection finds you alone.  Rejection keeps you unsettled even though He: restored your home.

Oh Jerusalem, your Messiah stands with the Father as you amass once again for war.  Never peace, never rest, no true allies approach your shore.  This was never meant to be, oh Zion!  You were meant to prosper and do well-but because of your rejection, you are poised once again on the brink of hell!

But Jerusalem, take heart for he you sent away has truly never been lost.  Know that you will be scattered once again and forced to flee.  Satan will drive you and into Jordan you will flee lest you forever will cease to be.

But look up oh Zion, for your redemption returns from on high.  From east to west with a trumpet and a shout, all will look to the sky.  They will witness your Messiah.  And those of us that accepted Him first will return with Him and his mighty warring angels to form his Holy Army, in order to set you eternally free.  

Weep for now oh Jerusalem, for none of this had to be!

As we get closer to the coming of Christ, we can understand more in depth what is happening to the home of Gods People.

Church at Pergamos

In the 2nd Chapter of Revelation, we have the letters to the Churches.  Many teachers and preachers just zip on past the letters to the churches and go right to the time after the churches. (Rev 4:1) But I feel these letters are very important to see what the church will be like in the end times.  

The Church at Pergamos is a prime example.  Of the praise and admonishment it receives in Revelation 2:14-17 (KJV)

¹⁴  But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
¹⁵  So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
¹⁶  Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
¹⁷  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

I'd like to mention first off verse 15, the doctrine of the Nicolaitans.  Most of us know the Roman Church hierarchy is set up this way, priests, bishops, archbishops, cardinals, etc.  Jesus hates this.

Even some protestant denominations also have their bishops.  TD Jakes stands out as one person calling himself a bishop. Jimmy Swaggart in his book "The Prophesies and Symbols of Revelation" on page 20, states that these individuals were followers of Nicolas of Antioch (Acts 6:5).  This man is supposed to have given his name to a group in the early church who sought to work out a compromise with paganism, to enable Christians to take part without embarrassment in some of the social and religious activities of the close-knit society in which they found themselves.  The Lord told this church to "Repent; or else" (Rev.2;16)."

The Doctrine of Balaam answered on this link: What is the doctrine of Balaam? |  https://www.gotquestions.org/doctrine-of-Balaam.html.

In a nut shell, King Balak of Moab offered Balaam money to curse Israel.  Balaam leads a campaign of seduction against them.  

Other scriptures describing the wickedness of this doctrine:

2 Peter 2:15 (KJV)
¹⁵  Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

Jude 1:10-11 (KJV)
¹⁰  But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
¹¹  Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. 

There is a Lutheran Church in Edina, a suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Martin Luther would be rolling in his grave if he knew what was happening in some of these churches.  This church, led by  Pastor Anna Helgen and written by Rev. Rachel-Small Stokes recite what she calls the "Sparkle Creed".  This was a Facebook post, I didn't make it up.

I believe in the non-binary God whose pronouns are plural.

I believe in Jesus Christ, their child, who wore a fabulous tunic and had two dads, and who saw everyone as a sibling child of God.

I believe in the rainbow Spirit, who shatters our image of one white light and refracts it into a rainbow of gorgeous diversity.

I believe in the church of everyday saints, as numerous, creative and resilient as patches on the AIDS quilt, whose feet are grounded in mud and whose eyes gaze at the stars in Wonder.

I believe in the calling to each of us, that love is love is love, so beloved, let us love.

I believe, glorious God.  Help my unbelief. 

I have no words to describe this... Have a great week...... Dave