Jihad

The Truth About Islam: Jihad

By Dr. David R. Reagan

www.worldviewtimes.com

From its inception, Islam has been committed to what it calls jihad - a word meaning holy war. The duty of Muslims is to subjugate or destroy "infidels" - the term the Koran uses for all non-believers.

In the Muslim viewpoint, the world is divided into two regions - those areas controlled by Islam, called Dar al-Islam (meaning the House of Islam) and those called Dar al-Harb (the House of War). The Koran commands Muslims to fight non-Muslims until they exterminate all other religions, leaving Islam as the one and only religion in the world (Suras 2:193 and 8:39). Muhammad is quoted in the Hadith as saying,

"I have been ordered to fight with the people until they say, none has the right to be worshiped but Allah" (Hadith 4:196).

Regarding terror, Allah orders Muslims to terrorize non-Muslims on his behalf:

"Strike terror (into the hearts of ) the enemies of Allah and your enemies" (Sura 8:60).

Allah then assures his followers that he will assist them:

"I will instill terror into the hearts of unbelievers. Smite them above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them. It is not you who slay them, it is Allah" (Sura 8:12, 17).

Concerning jihad, the Koran guarantees Paradise to those who fight for Allah (Sura 4:74).1 It promises instant Paradise for those who die in battle (Suras 9:111 and 47:5-6). Dying for Allah is presented as better than living:

"And if you are killed or die in the Way of Allah, forgiveness and mercy from Allah are far better than all that others may amass [of worldly wealth]" (Sura 3:157).

Martyrs are promised a sensual and luxurious life in Paradise (Sura 52:17-22). According to Al-Ghazzali, one of Islam's greatest teachers, when a martyr reaches Paradise, he "will marry 500 companions, 4,000 virgins, and 8,000 divorced women."2 Commenting on this statement, Randall Price, biblical teacher and Middle East expert, observed that the Islamic Paradise is "just the kind of place that adolescent, unmarried men, isolated through their lives from the opposite sex by rigid cultural standards, would die for.3

Islamic Sermons

The murderous imperialistic nature of Islam is clearly revealed in the sermons delivered weekly throughout the Muslim world. Consider the following excerpt from a sermon by Sheikh Ibrahim Madhi that was broadcast live over Palestinian television on June 8, 2001. Referring to a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv that had killed 21 Israeli teenagers the week before, he praised the terrorists:4

"Blessings to whoever waged jihad for the sake of Allah. Blessings to whoever raided for the sake of Allah. Blessings to whoever put a belt of explosives on his body, or on his son's body, and plunged into the midst of the Jews, crying, 'Allahu Akbar!' Praise to Allah!"

Then he expressed the imperialistic aims of Islam by issuing warnings to nations that would be "erased:"

"Allah is almighty... We must prepare the ground for the army of Allah that is coming according to [divine] predestination. We must prepare a foothold for them. Allah is willing for this unjust state of Israel to be erased. The unjust state, the United States, will be erased. The unjust state, Britain, will be erased."

A similar sermon was delivered the previous year on October 13, 2000, by Dr. Ahmad Abu Halabiya.5 It too was carried live on Palestinian television. He proclaimed that the true terrorists are the Jews "who must be butchered and killed, as Allah the Almighty has said." He called for Muslims to have no mercy on the Jews:

"Fight them wherever you are. Wherever you meet them, kill them,... and kill those Americans who are like them - who stand by them."

As an incentive to carry out these murderous exhortations, the cleric added:

"O brothers in belief, the beautiful bride has a costly price and dowry... Our bride is Paradise. O brothers in belief... the cost of the dowry of this bride... is that we fight in the path of Allah, and kill and be killed."

Keep in mind that these are quotes from sermons! Can you imagine a Jewish rabbi or a Christian minister urging their congregations to go out and kill a Muslim for God?

Fundamentalist Goals

The Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran was the modern day Islamic spokesman who revived Muhammad's vision of world conquest. He taught that the re-establishment of Israel was a Satanic miracle allowed by Allah because of the lukewarmness of the Muslim masses. He called for a renewal of true Islam to accomplish three purposes:6

To overthrow the "secular" rulers of Islamic countries (like Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt), just as he had done in Iran.

To take back the land of Palestine for Allah, exterminating Israel in the process.

To conquer the rest of the world for Allah.

Notice the first priority was the transformation of secular Islamic countries into religious states ruled by the Koran. Then would come Israel and the world.

In a proclamation made by Osama bin Laden in 1998, he listed the same goals and prioritized them in the same order.7 He then identified the United States as the prime obstacle to the achievement of these goals. Accordingly, he called on Muslims everywhere "to comply with Allah's order to kill the Americans and plunder their money wherever and whenever they find it."

It is important to note that the eradication of Israel is not the top priority. Nor is Israel viewed as the major obstacle to world conquest. I emphasize this because many Americans are saying that the key to winning the war against terrorism is to dump Israel. More and more, on radio talk shows, I hear people saying, "Let's cut Israel loose. Let the Arabs have it. Then they will leave us alone."

That is utter nonsense. Israel is not the cause of Islamic terrorism toward the West. If Israel were to disappear tomorrow, Fundamentalist Islam would still be determined to destroy America as part of its plan to take the world for Allah. And if we were to abandon Israel, the Muslim world would interpret it as an act of cowardice, proving our word is meaningless and that we truly are, as they say, "a depraved society devoid of values." Our abandonment of Israel would only whet their appetite. Islamic Fundamentalism cannot be appeased. It must be defeated.

Notes

Ney Rieber, "The Truth about Jihad," an article on the Internet at http://www.bible.ca/islam/islam-kills-jihad.htm.

Randall Price, "Islam and the Middle East Conflict," an undated and unpublished article, page 10.

Ibid.

Ibid., page 8.

"The Palestinians in Their Own Words: Palestinian Quote Sheet #50, 16 October, 2000," a document on the Internet at www.iris.org.il.Lambert.

Sheikh Usamah bin-Muhammad bin-Laden, "Text of Fatwah Urging Jihad Against Americans," published by Al-Quds al-Arabi on February 23, 1998. Posted on the Internet at http://www.ict.org.il/.

What about Islam?

The Truth About Islam: Answers

By Dr. David R. Reagan

I want to conclude by answering the questions we began with:

Q) Are Muslims the spiritual brothers and sisters of Christians and Jews?
A) No, they have been deceived by a Satanic, false religion.

Q) Do we all worship the same God?
A) Absolutely not. The god of Islam is a false god. He is really Satan in disguise.

Q) Are the Islamic holy scriptures, known as the Koran, inspired by God?
A) Not the God of the Bible. The Islamic scriptures are a jumbled mess of contradictory statements that are unscientific, unhistorical, and unbiblical.

Q) Is Islam another path to God by which one can obtain eternal life?
A) No! Muslims reject Jesus as Messiah and deny His atoning sacrifice. Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me" (John 14:6).

Q) Are the Islamic Fundamentalists representative of true Islam, or have they hijacked a peace-loving religion?
A) There is no doubt they represent the true heart of Islam. Islam is a cultural, intolerant, militant and imperialistic religion of the sword.

Q) Is our war really a political one against terrorism, or is it a spiritual one against a demonic religion known as Islam?
A) Based upon the evidence I have presented from the Koran and from history, I think the answer is obvious. We are not engaged in a war against terrorism. Terrorism is a means, not the source of the struggle. Terrorism is a tool of those waging the war. To say this is a war against terrorism is equivalent to saying World War II was a war against U-Boats, V2 Rockets and Kamikaze planes. No, World War II was a war against Fascism. The current war is one against Islamic Fundamentalism.

But even more substantive, it is a spiritual war against the forces of Satan.

Obstacles to the Gospel

Jesus is about to return. The Bible says He will not return until the Gospel is preached to all the world (Matthew 24:14). There have been two major obstacles to the preaching of the Gospel — Communism and Islam, both religions of Satan. Communism collapsed and the former Communist countries are now open to the Gospel. The final barrier to be overcome is Islam.

For ten years now Evangelical Christians have been praying for the "10/40 Window" — that area of the world between the 10th and 40th latitudes where hundreds of millions are enslaved to the spiritual darkness of Islam.¹ The prayers have been effective. Countless numbers have been exposed to the Gospel in various surreptitious ways, and many have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, knowing that to do so may well mean death.

Satan is enraged over these incursions into his territory. He is equally upset over the re-establishment of Israel. He can read the signs of the times, and he knows his time is short before Jesus breaks from the heavens in glory. But Satan is self-deceived, and he continues to believe he can thwart the purposes of God. He has therefore aroused and empowered Islam to make one last attempt to conquer the world.

Islam is destined to lose this battle, for the Word of God says that he who lives by the sword will die by the sword (Matthew 26:52).

I believe Islam will ultimately experience another defeat so overwhelming and so humiliating that the eyes of millions of Muslims will be opened to the fact that Allah is a false god. At that point their hearts will be opened to the true God — a God of lovingkindness who came to this earth and died for the sins of Mankind.

Isaiah was given a vision of this day in Isaiah 19 where it was revealed to him that one day during the Millennial reign of Jesus, Egypt, Assyria, and Israel will all be united in worshiping the one and only true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

A Call to Prayer

Let us pray for our leaders, that they will be able to discern the spiritual nature of the war we are engaged in.

Let us pray for the leaders of Israel, that they will turn to God for their protection and stop seeking it through America and through trying to appease an enemy whose goal is to annihilate them.

Let us pray for the Islamic world, that Muslims everywhere will have their hearts opened to the Gospel.

And let us daily cry out from the depths of our hearts, "Maranatha!" Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Witness your faith in response to the attack!

Notes

1. For more information about the 10/40 Window prayer effort, see http://www.1040window.org/.

Desperate Sheep

Desperate Sheep Without a Shepherd
By Jan Markell

The "New Age Movement" (NAM) has been around since the days of literal Babylon. It gained new strength in the late 1800s and even more in the 1960s, which was the "Age of Aquarius." While all participants are not occultists, they all do love the supernatural and experiential. They have many "gods." And they believe the delusion that mankind is getting better and better. Because they believe such a myriad of ideas, some call these misguided seekers "cosmic soup."

In the 1980s, I gave seminars on this "new spirituality," which it has been renamed in the 21st century. I studied it then and knew it almost as well as those who were enjoying their altered states of consciousness. Thankfully, I wasn't.

In more recent years, the cause has been furthered by the woman who never met a false teaching she didn't love --Oprah Winfrey. She has paraded one guru after another on her many platforms and made most of them wildly successful.

In 1982, I chuckled at who I thought was just another deluded crackpot, Benjamin Crème, who was taking out full-page ads in multiple newspapers announcing the soon-arrival of Lord Maitraya. This superhero was to come on the scene for the benefit of all religions and belief-systems. He was to be the new "messiah." And while these deceived followers of mystical enlightenment fully believed he could save the world, I wondered if he was just a fantasy in the esoteric minds of Crème -- a John the Baptist type -- and many NAM idealistic dreamers.

But now 25 years later, TV commercials are airing about Lord Maitraya! Why was I a doubter? One such commercial can be found here. As a matter of fact, Benjamin Crème and references to Maitraya are found all over the Internet's favorite pastime, YouTube. In the minds of Maitraya's followers, he is just over the horizon ready to appear in his mystical, Eastern glory. Another is here.

Once again we see the foundation for the one-world religious system forming. As Chuck Missler said on my radio program this past weekend (February 28), to be posted late Monday, the apparitions of Mary, which are all over the world now, will be a uniter of religions because so many respect her, including Islam. We carry both a book and a DVD of this found here. The Vatican, in fact, may become the infrastructure for the one-world religion.

Clearly this "New Age Movement" or "new spirituality" will play a prominent role in the global religion. The antichrist will allow the "false prophet" to have a lying-signs-and- wonders party for 3 ½ years and that's it. From then on, only "Mr. Fix-it" can have all the glory. Only the "man-with-a-plan" will have the spotlight after that.

In my study for my seminars some years ago, I learned quickly that almost all who are a part of the cults and false religious systems are like sheep without a shepherd. They are desperate, primed for deception, jumping from one costly therapy, seminar, technique, or group, all seeking the ever-illusive "higher self" and the "god within."

They would see themselves as "spiritual" people. They even refer to "the christ within" but it is a counter-christ. They may be shocked when they stand before the Lord and He says to them, "Not everyone who calls out to me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who do the will of my Father in Heaven will enter" (Matthew 7:21-23).

While there is time, share the gospel with them. Some have a Christian background and have twisted the terms you and I know. They will say they believe in God but it is the "god within." They will flaunt their "Christ consciousness."

This is just more end-time deception and delusion but souls are involved so don't write these people off without offering them new life! You are not responsible for their decision. And if you see the Lord Maitraya commercial on TV, use it as a reminder to pray without ceasing for the deception that abounds today.

It is also a reminder of the many "false christs" the Bible predicts for the last days. Whether or not there is any credibility in Creme and Maitraya really isn't the point. The point is that many are looking for false saviors today.

To better understand the delusion going on today, visit my Web site category of "Spiritual Deception."

RADIO: Along with the Chuck Missler hour from February 28, hear Mike Gendron talk about the marks of a false teacher posted to "Radio Archives" late Monday, March 2. For podcasting information, go here. We air in multiple cities and on Sirius Satellite. Guests next weekend on live radio include Gary Kah and RFID chip watchdog Katherine Albrecht. We are live out of Minneapolis/St. Paul on AM980 KKMS, Saturday 9 to 11 AM CST with a rebroadcast Sunday, 12 Noon to 2 PM. You can "listen live" at www.kkms.com (when audio-streaming is working.)

Note to our Central Iowa audience out of Praise 940 KPSZ, we have left your area over issues with the management.

Prophecy conference we recommend: Red River Bible & Prophecy Conference. Details are found here.

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Awaiting His return,

Jan Markell


Website: www.olivetreeviews.org

Europe and Biblical Prophecy

Has Europe already been conquered by Islam?

Nathan Jones

www.lamblion.com

"All is not well in the old world. There is a tremendous danger looming, and it is very difficult to be optimistic. We might be in the final stages of the Islamization of Europe. This not only is a clear and present danger to the future of Europe itself, it is a threat to America and the sheer survival of the West. The danger I see looming is the scenario of America as the last man standing. The United States is the last bastion of Western civilization, facing an Islamic Europe. In a generation or two, the US will ask itself: who lost Europe?"

The quote is from Geert Wilders, a Dutch lawmaker from the Netherlands, which he made in a speech at the Hudson Institute in New York on September 25, 2008. Wilders' speech addressed the situation on the ground in Europe, the nature of Islam and a video he produced called Fitna.

Mr. Wilders' speech and video, while not specifically about Bible prophecy, brings to light many prophetic end-time events that students of Bible prophecy can easily recognize.

The Controversial Fitna

The 17-minute video Wilders made addresses the same warning as his speech—the rapid Islamization of Europe. The video uses only quotes from the Koran and Muslim teachers, news stories and scenes from Islamic events as proof that Europe is quickly becoming Eurasia.

Like a modern-day Paul Revere, Mr. Wilders has been allowed in Israel and the United States to call out his warnings of the impending Islamic takeover. But, in his own European Union, Wilders' cry goes ignored by its leaders and raged at by liberal and Islamic groups. He's even been denied entry into Great Britain, following the lead of Indonesia.

Mr. Wilders' own Dutch government first attempted to prosecute him under Dutch anti-hate speech laws in June 2008, but failed. Again on January 21, 2009, his own court system ordered prosecutors to try him for hate speech, which if convicted, will land Wilders 16 months in jail and a fine of around $12,800. Court costs alone could eliminate his People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, which is most likely the intended tactic of silencing Wilders and eliminating his party's influence.

Wilders' Prophetic Warning—to Europe

If there's any proof that the Netherlands and the European Union in general have already been taken over by Islam, the silencing of a warning by one of their own parliamentarians and the condemnation by European Union leaders are proof that the will to survive has truly been lost in much of Europe.

Fitna merely uses the Koran, news stories and Islam's own practices to make people aware of what Islam's intentions and rule would be like. And yet, European leaders have chosen to appease Islam and attempt to silence Mr. Wilders' warning. Since appeasement always leads to subjugation by a totalitarian ideology, shouldn't Europe soon be conquered by Islam?

I don't think one particular European will remain compliant about Islamic takeover for very long. The Antichrist makes his scene like a peaceful, appeasing "dove" (Rev. 6:2), but once in control of this native of "the people who destroy the Temple" (Dan. 9:26)—the Romans—conquers with a warrior's spirit (Rev. 6:4). Clearly he will have taken Fitna's warning to heart.

What will this leader who believers in Christ call the "Antichrist" use to remove the threat of the Islamic takeover of Europe? Opportunity.

The Book of Daniel foretells the last Gentile world empire will be a confederation of nations (Dan. 2:41-43) that will arise out of the old Roman Empire (Dan. 7:7-8). And out of that confederation, the Antichrist will arise, using the revived Roman Empire as his base to conquer the world (Dan. 7:8, 23-25).

Half of the Roman Empire has quickly been reborn in the form of the European Union. The other half needed to complete the revival of the Roman Empire lies throughout a variety of Muslim nations from North Africa east around the Mediterranean Sea. Europe has been in negotiations with these countries in an attempt to create an economic union called the Mediterranean Union.

The battles of Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38 & 39 makes the scenario of a Mediterranean Union highly unlikely, though. With the Islamic nations crushed by Israel and God, the leader from the European Union wouldn't need a Mediterranean Union. Islamic morale will have been shattered and religious dissolution over the existence of Allah will have set in. The European ruler would only have to make a treaty with the only nation left in the Middle East—Israel—which he does in Daniel 9:27, and just walk right into the already defeated Islamic nations and subjugate them. Once the revived Roman Empire is consolidated, the Antichrist will bring world war upon the rest of the world, eliminating any vestiges of rivaling totalitarianism like Islam and forcing the nations of the world into subjugation to his empire (Dan. 8:24; Rev. 6:2-8). He'll have to contend with the other absolute ideologies like Judaism and Tribulation believers of Christ, which he does (Rev. 6:9-11; 7:9-14). But overall, the world will be his to force to obey a new religion unknown to his fathers—the worship of himself (Dan. 11:38; 2 Thes. 2:4).

The Antichrist's final Gentile empire will be short-lived, though, for it will be utterly defeated by the return of the Messiah who will "set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed" (Daniel 2:44).

Islam Culture

The Truth About Islam: Culture

By Dr. David R. Reagan

www.worldviewtimes.com

Islam is a cultural religion that deifies 7th Century Arabian culture.

Westerners tend to view religion as something intensely personal and private, and not as a cultural phenomenon. For example, Christianity is "supra-cultural" in that it allows people to live, dress and eat in accordance with the culture in which they exist. This is not so with Islam. In Islam there is no "secular realm" that is free of religion. Islam regulates every aspect of life to the point that religion, politics, and culture are inseparable. Islam is thus fueled by a subtle form of racism in which 7th Century Arab culture is to be imposed upon all other cultures.

Here are some examples of the cultural nature of Islam:

Political Structure - The tribalism of 7th Century Arabia is the political structure sanctioned by the Koran. The chief has absolute authority. There is no concept of civil rights. This principle is reflected today in the reality that all Islamic countries are ruled by dictators, and civil liberties, like freedom of speech and religion, do not exist.

Prayer - A Muslim is required to pray five times a day toward Mecca. This is a symbol of the underlying cultural imperialism that lies at the heart of Islam. Think of it - what if all Russian Orthodox throughout the world were required to pray toward Moscow? Or, if all Roman Catholics were required to face Rome when they prayed? What if Evangelical Christians were required to pray toward Jerusalem? Such requirements would imply a cultural attachment to the focal point of prayer.

Pilgrimage - A Muslim is required, despite the hardship and cost, to make a pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia once in his lifetime. Again, what if all Christians were required to go to Rome once in their lifetimes?

Dietary Laws - The only foods allowable are those that were acceptable in 7th Century Arabia.

Women - What an illiterate, nomadic tribeswoman wore in the desert in 7th Century Arabia is what is mandated for Muslim women today. The plight of women in Islamic countries today is despicable. They can be kept prisoners in their homes. They cannot appear in public without a covering. They are usually denied the right to vote. They are often denied anything more than a rudimentary education. In strict Islamic countries, women are generally treated as sub-human.2 Sura 4:34 says, "Men are the managers of the affairs of women... Those women who are rebellious - admonish them, banish them to their couches, and beat them."

Punishment - Cruel and unusual punishment is practiced throughout the Islamic world. Incarceration without due process is common. Punishments often include torture, the cutting off of body parts (hands, ears and tongues), the gouging out of eyes, beheading, and public flogging - all representative of 7th Century Arabian culture. The Koran specifically commands that those who disobey Allah are to be tortured (Sura 8:12-14).

Time magazine recently presented a chilling summary of the cultural nature of Islam as it is evidenced in the "moderate" Islamic nation of Saudi Arabia:3 "Despite the modernization that took place after the discovery of oil reserves in 1938, Saudi Arabia remains a land where rigid religious and traditional values are strictly enforced. Cinemas and discos are outlawed; men and women are separated in banks, schools, and fast-food restaurants; women must wear veils and are forbidden to drive. Public decency police known as muttawa comb shopping malls searching for women whose loose scarves reveal a curl of hair and forcing store owners to shut during prayer times. Unforgiving Saudi justice is on view after the main prayer every Friday, when a swordsman beheads blindfolded murderers, sorcerers, drug smugglers, and other criminals in Riyadh's 'Chop-chop Square.'"

Notes

There is an outstanding discussion of the cultural nature of Islam in the book by Robert Morey entitled, The Islamic Invasion (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 1992). See in particular pages 19-32.

Abdullah Al Araby, "Incredible Teachings of Muhammed," on the Internet at http://www.islamreview.com/. This is the website of a ministry called The Pen vs. The Sword. It contains many excellent articles about the true nature of Islam.

Scott Macleod, "Inside Saudi Arabia," Time, October 15, 2001, p. 62.

Babylon

Future of Babylon project commenced - Written by Chris Perver - www.prophecynews.co.uk

The World Monuments Fund has launched an ambitious plan to rebuild the ruins of Babylon in the hope that the ancient capital will become a prime destination for tourists. Officials hope that the project, entitled The Future of Babylon, could one day become as popular a tourist attraction as the Pyramids in Egypt or Petra in Jordan. Prior to the invasion of Iraq and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, the dictator had been rebuilding the ruins of the ancient city, with the goal of restoring the former glory of the Persian empire. Saddam Hussein saw himself as the descendant of King Nebuchadnezzar, who constructed the magnificent hanging gardens, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Nebuchadnezzar had is name stamped on every seventh brick, while Saddam Hussein had his name imprinted on every third brick, hoping to outdo the extravagance of the historic monarch. Following his removal from power in the Iraq war, the United Nations began pouring millions of dollars into the restoration of the city. The United States have also been spending a massive amount of money on the reconstruction of Iraq, securing over 100 acres of real estate to build one of the largest embassies in the world. The new US embassy in Iraq will cover an area six times larger than that of the United Nations headquarters in New York. It will employ 5000 staff and will be totally self-contained, with its own water, electricity and sewage facilities. It seems that even if international forces withdraw from Iraq, the Gulf state will remain at the forefront of American foreign policy for the foreseeable future.

Quote: ""The Future of Babylon" project launched last month seeks to "map the current conditions of Babylon and develop a master plan for its conservation, study and tourism," the WMF says. "We don't know how long it will take to reopen to tourists," said Mariam Omran Musa, head of a government inspection team based at the site. "It depends on funds. I hope that Babylon can be reborn in a better image."

When you look at the history of the region, it easy to understand how tourism could play a significant role in the rebuilding of Iraq. The region is mentioned more times in the Scriptures than virtually any other country, under names such as Assyria, Babylon and Mesopotamia. The garden of Eden is thought by some to have been located in Iraq, if the names of the rivers described in the book of Genesis are anything to go by. The tower of Babel was built in Iraq. Abraham came from Ur of the Chaldees, which was in Iraq. Jonah was sent by God to preach in Nineveh, which was once a major city in Iraq. Daniel was taken captive to Babylon, the capital city of the ancient kingdom. And Babylon is one of the first major empires mentioned in Bible prophecy. In the Scriptures Babylon could be thought of as being symbolic of man's best efforts to achieve greatness without God. King Nebuchadnezzar once proclaimed, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?", Daniel 4:30. In testament to God's judgment on the pride of man, King Nebuchadnezzar lost his mind and was removed as ruler of Babylon for a period of seven years, until he understood that it is God that rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to Whomsoever He will (Daniel 4:25). Nebuchadnezzar then repented of his sin and was restored to his kingdom. I believe he is in heaven today. There is another 'great Babylon' mentioned in the Scriptures. The book of Revelation mentions a city by the name of Babylon. There are differing opinions as to the identity of this city. Some believe it could be symbolic of a major commercial centre such as New York. Some say it could refer to a capital of the religious world such as the Vatican. Others say there is no reason why it could not refer to a future time when the actual city of Babylon will be rebuilt and will become both the commercial and religious centers of the world. Which interpretation you choose doesn't really matter. For whatever form 'Babylon the great' takes in this world today, the outcome will be the same. It is going to come crashing down. Just like in King Nebuchadnezzar's day, seven years of judgement are going to come upon this world. The question is, what are you going to do? Will you respond like Nebuchadnezzar did, and break off your sins by righteousness through trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation (Daniel 4:27)? Or will you respond like Belshazzar did, and continue on in your sins and perish in the overthrow of the city (Daniel 5:30)? Only you can make that choice. Trust in Jesus Christ for salvation today.

Revelation 18:9-10

And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

Millenium Temple

The Coming Temple

Most people believe a new Jewish Temple would require destruction of the Dome of the Rock. What does the Bible say?

A Bible Study by Jack Kelley

According to Prophecies in Daniel 9:27, Matt 24:15 and 2 Thes 2:4, a Temple will exist in Israel at the beginning of the Great Tribulation. This is confirmed by Revelation 11:1 which describes John measuring a Temple during the Tribulation. Its location is the “Holy City.” Chapter 11 also introduces the 2 witnesses who preach in the “Great City” and are ultimately killed there, their bodies left lying in the street. The Great City is identified as the place where the Lord was crucified: Jerusalem. But is Jerusalem also the Holy City?

According to Zechariah 14:6-9 on the day of the Lord’s return an earthquake will split the Mt. of Olives in two along an East-West line that creates a great valley through the center of Jerusalem. Immediately a river will fill the valley creating a waterway from the Mediterranean to the Dead Sea. If the Lord returns to the same area of the Mt. of Olives from which He left, as suggested by Acts 1:11, the earthquake creating this East-West valley will destroy the current Temple mount and anything that may be standing upon it.

Ezekiel 47:1-12 describes a great river flowing from under the south side of the Temple and then eastward to the Dead Sea during a period of time that most scholars believe has not occurred yet. Revelation 22:1-2 confirms this. If as it appears, Ezekiel, Zechariah, and Revelation all describe the same river, then an interesting scenario begins to emerge.

This scenario requires a Temple to be present on the day the Lord returns, but since the current Temple mount will have been destroyed by the earthquake mentioned above, this Temple must be somewhere else. Since the river originates under the Temple and flows from its south side before heading East and West, the Temple must be north of the newly created river valley.

Where Are The 12 Tribes?

Plotting the land grants for the 12 tribes given in the 48th chapter of Ezekiel on a map of Israel places the precincts of the Holy City somewhat north of the current City of Jerusalem. This new location is the ancient City of Shiloh, where the Tabernacle stood for nearly 400 years after the Israelites first conquered the Land. This is the Holy City and its name is Jehovah Shammah according to the last verse in Ezekiel. The Hebrew translates as “the LORD is here.”

If accurate, this location would meet all the requirements for the Temple mentioned in the above references. The current Temple Mount in Jerusalem would not.

According to Ezekiel 44:6-9, this Temple will have been defiled in a way never seen in history, therefore at a time yet future to us. A foreigner un-circumsized in heart (neither Christian) and flesh (nor Jewish) will have been given charge of the sanctuary while offering sacrifices. If we understand the chronology of Ezekiel, this event will have taken place after both the 1948 re-gathering prophesied in 36-37 and the national wake-up call prophesied in 38-39 but before the Millennial Kingdom begins. The only event we know of that fits that chronology is the Great Tribulation. This is confirmed by Paul’s prophecy of 2 Thes. 2:4 where the anti christ sets himself up in the Temple proclaiming himself to be god.

Here then is a rough outline of events. Following Israel’s return to God after the battle of Ezekiel 38-39, the Jewish people will re-establish their covenant (old not new) with Him. This will require a return to Levitical practices and so a Temple will be built. This is the Temple spoken of by Daniel and Revelation. Following instructions given by Ezekiel and needing to avoid the enormous problems a Jerusalem Temple would create in the Moslem world, this Temple will be located north of Jerusalem in Shiloh. It will be defiled in the middle of the last 7 years as outlined in Daniel 9:24-27, Ezekiel 44:6-9, Matt 24:15 and 2 Thes 2:4 kicking off the Great Tribulation, but will be cleansed by living water that begins flowing on the day the Lord returns (Zech 14:8). This temple will be used during the Millennium to memorialize the Lord’s work at the cross and provide the perspective for children born during the Kingdom Age to choose salvation just as you and I have had the perspective of the Lord’s Supper in making our choice. Remember, He said, “Do this in memory of Me until I come.” Acts 15:14-16 confirms that after the Lord has chosen a people from among the gentiles for Himself (the church) He will return and re-build David’s fallen Tabernacle (the Temple). This is the Millennial Temple so vividly described in Ezekiel 40-48.

The New Jerusalem

The Ezekiel passage also solves the Jerusalem / New Jerusalem problem. For as long as I’ve been studying these things, there has been debate over the issue of the New Jerusalem. Some wonder how the Lord could permit redeemed believers and non- believing natural humans to co-exist in the Millennium. (The rotten apple spoiling the barrel theory) Others wonder how a city with a foot print 1400 miles square and tall could be located in Israel when the whole country won’t be that big.

Carefully examining Rev 21 and 22, we notice that John never actually says the city arrives on earth. We are only told he sees it coming down out of heaven, prepared as a bride. (Not that the city IS the bride, but that as with a bride on her wedding day, no effort has been spared to make it look its absolute best.)

I don’t believe the city ever rests on the Earth’s surface, but rather orbits in the proximity of Earth, like a satellite or perhaps another moon.

Also comparing the descriptions of New Jerusalem with Jehovah Shammah we see some similarities but enough differences to refute the notion that John and Ezekiel described the same place. Compare the following:

New Jerusalem (All verses from Rev.)	Jehovah Shammah (All verses from Ezekiel)
12 gates named after Israel (21:12)	12 gates named after Israel (48:30)
12 foundations named after Apostles (21:14)	Foundation not described
1400 miles square and tall (21:16)	One mile square (48:30)
Coming Down from heaven (21:2)	Located in Israel on Earth (40:2)
No Temple … God and the Lamb are its Temple (21:22)	Temple just north of the city (40:2)
No sin; nothing impure will ever enter (21:27)	Daily sin offerings in the Temple (45:13-15,17)
No more death (21:4)	Still death (44:25 also Isa 65:20)
No natural beings … only the perfected (21:27)	Natural Beings (46:16)

With the differentiation of these two Holy Cities, the apparent conflict between Jewish and Christian eschatology is resolved. Israel was promised that one day GOD would come to Earth to dwell among them forever, while the Church is promised that Jesus will come to take us to heaven to live with Him there. Both promises come true.

Since Ezekiel specifically quoted the Lord’s promise to dwell among the Israelites forever (43:7) and then described the new Holy City, while Jesus promised to return for the Church to take us to be with Him (John 14:1-3), they must have been talking about two different destinations. They were. Heaven is the New Jerusalem where we will dwell with the Lord forever, while the Holy City on Earth is Jehovah Shammah where God will dwell in the midst of His people Israel forever.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com