27 June 2000

The Approaching Battle for Jerusalem and
the War of Gog and Magog

Copy of a Newsletter published by The Temple Mount Faithful
(an Orthodox Jewish organization, Jerusalem, Israel)

As we have previously stated in this news-letter, Israel is now living in
the most critical time in her history. On the one hand Israel is in the
midst of her godly end-time redemption while on the other hand she is in the
midst of the political and violent attacks of he Arab enemies in the Middle
East together with their backing of many Islamic nations as well as their
supporters all over the world led by the UN and the President of the United
States, Bill Clinton.

Using the false and evil Oslo so-called "Peace" agreements, they cut off
piece after piece from the body of the land of Israel andgive them to the
foreign "Palestinian Authority" which grows like a cancer in the midst of
the body of the Holy Land of Israel. These agreements were signed by the
weak and secular government of Israel under the pressure of the above
powers. Now these powers are putting pressure on Israel to give away more
parts of the land and the main pressure is now on Jerusalem, the capital of
the G-d and people of Israel.

The former terrorist and murderer, Yasser Arafat, has stated that there will
never be peace and that he will renew the Intifada, the battle against
Israel, unless Israel agrees to give him Jerusalem as the capital of a
"Palestinian" state and give up her sovereignty over Jerusalem. More than
this, he is demanding all the area of Judea, Samaria and Gaza to be
immediately given to him and that he will declare a "Palestinian" state in
those areas with Jerusalem as its capital which he knows that the UN and all
the nations will recognise.

The agents of Arafat on the Temple Mount are now in the midst of an
intensive, violent campaign to destroy and remove all the remains of the
First and Second Temples and to change the identity of the Temple Mount into
an Islamic site. They realise that, whether they want it or not, the Third
Temple is going to be built on the Temple Mount as a major event in G-d's
end-time prophetic plans. By this barbaric violence against the G-d and
people of Israel they try to prevent this even through such a terrible
revolt and violence against G-d and His holy house.

In a speech which Arafat gave in Ramallah (the Biblical city of the Hill of
G-d, Givat Elohim, and was a Jewish city settled by Jews but occupied by the
Arabs in 630 CE) he stated that he is ready for a war and that he is not
afraid of the Israeli tanks and aircraft. The same threats of war are coming
closer and closer to Israel from the north from the Hisb'allah terrorist
organisation in Lebanon which has stated that their battle will not stop
until they have occupied Jerusalem. The same spirit of war is coming form
Syria, Iraq, Iran and Egypt, all these enemies of Israel who are preparing
their weapons including nuclear, biological and chemical warheads and who
are preparing their forces to destroy Israel. The UN and the European Union
have stated on more than one occasion and made resolutions that Jerusalem is
not the capital of Israel but occupied territory and that Israel should
withdraw from Judea, Samaria, Gaza and the Golan Heights.

All of this brings Israelis to the conclusion that the time is very critical
and that the prophecies of the prophet Ezekiel about the War of Gog and
Magog against Israel and Zechariah's and other prophets' prophecies about
the war of all the nations against the land of Israel and Jerusalem are soon
to be fulfilled. Never since the foundation of the State of Israel in 1948
has Israel felt that the black clouds of this terrible war were so close to
Jerusalem. This war will not be a simple war and Israel will pay a high
price because of the sinful weakness over her leadership. Zechariah states
that half of the population of Jerusalem will go into exile. However, the
Israelis, after great disappointment in the behaviour of their leadership,
are coming closer to the G-d of Israel and understanding that they can only
trust in their One Father, the G-d of Israel, Who saved has repeatedly saved
them over the last 4000 years and Who will save them again now from all
those powers and nations who will attack them and that He will severely
judge all their enemies as He promised in His Word. "Son of man, set your
face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal,
and prophesy against him, And say, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am
against you, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal; ... After many
days you shall be called upon; in the latter years you shall come against
the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered from many
peoples, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste; but
it is brought out from the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.
You shall ascend and come like a storm, you shall be like a cloud to cover
the land, you, and all your bands, and many people with you. ... And you
shall come up against my people of Israel, like a cloud to cover the land;
it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring you against my land, that
the nations may know me, when I shall be sanctified in you, O Gog, before
their eyes. ... And it shall come to pass on that day, when Gog shall come
against the land of Israel, says the Lord God, that my fury shall be roused.
For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that
day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; ... And I will
contend with him by pestilence and by blood; and I will rain down upon him,
and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, a torrential
rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus will I magnify myself,
and sanctify myself; and I will make myself known in the eyes of many
nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord. ... You shall fall upon the
mountains of Israel, you, and all your bands, and the peoples that are with
you; I will give you to the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts
of the field to be devoured. ... And I will send a fire on Magog, and among
those who dwellsecurely in the islands; and they shall know that I am the
Lord. And I will make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel;
and I will not let them profane my holy name any more; and the nations shall
know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel." (Ezekiel
38:2,3,8,9,16,18,19,22,23; 39:4,6,7)
"For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city
shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women raped; and half of the
city shall go into exile, and the remnant of the people shall not be cut off
from the city. Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those
nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. ... Behold, I will make
Jerusalem a cup of reeling to all the people around, and it shall also be
against Judah in the siege against Jerusalem. And on that day I will make
Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all the peoples; all who burden themselves
with it shall be grievously hurt. And all the peoples of the earth shall be
gathered together against it. ... And the Lord shall be king over all the
earth; on that day the Lord shall be one, and his name one. All the land
shall be changed like the Arabah from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem; and
she shall be lifted up, and remain in her place, from the Gate of Benjamin
to the place of the first gate, to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of
Hananeel to the king's wine presses. ... And men shall dwell in it, and
there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall dwell secure."
(Zechariah 14:2,3;12:2,3,6,9; 14:9,11)

The prophet Zechariah states that the weapons (the nuclear, chemical and
biological weapons) used against Israel will backfire and will hurt the
enemies of Israel and not Israel: "And this shall be the plague with which
the Lord will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem; Their
flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes
shall consume away in their sockets, and their tongue shall consume away in
their mouth. And it shall come to pass on that day, that a great panic from
the Lord shall be among them; and they shall lay hold everyone on the hand
of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his
neighbour." (Zechariah 14:12,13)

We know that the coming time will not be an easy time in Israel. This will
be the climax of all the end-time troubles which Israelthrough which Israel
is now passing. Israel must trust in G-d and be strong and, together with
the G-d of Israel, we will overcome these terrible events. The G-d of Israel
is determined to accomplish the redemption of Israel and all the universe
and nothing can or will prevent Him.

The Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement and all the others in
Israel who are with the G-d of Israel and who are in His army to serve and
fight with all their devotion and dedication for Him and His end-time plans
are ready to face these events and their challenges as they have been up to
this time. We do not fear the enemies of the G-d and people of Israel but
only G-d and we trust and love Him and we shall continue to serve Him and
His prophetic plans with all the strength which He gave us.

We warn all the enemies of Israel and their allies all over the world that
G-d will severely judge and punish them because of their violence and there
battles to destroy Israel.

To all the wonderful friends of Israel all over the world who decided to be
with the G-d and people of Israel at this great and critical time we send
our sincerest thanks and love and the deep appreciation of the G-d and
people of Israel. Exactly as the prophets prophesied, you will be redeemed
together with the people of Israel whom you love and support with such
devotion. It is so good to know that, together with the G-d of Israel, we
have righteous friends and brothers and sisters like you who have placed
themselves together with Israel at a time when it is so needed. You are an
important sign, example and a great hope for this prophetic, godly time in
which we are now living. Continue to be strong with the G-d and people of
Israel and the G-d of Israel and the Universe will continue to bless you
richly.

The Temple Mount Faithful

11.29.01    War of Gog and Magog

Below is how "The Cutting Edge" described what is going on...

Joel 3:1
"For behold, in those days and at that time when I shall reverse the captivity and restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem …"

Stop right there for a moment -- think of modern history -- we know exactly when God restored Israel back to her land, do we not? He restored the fortunes of Israel on May 14, 1948. Therefore, you can write this note in your Bible margins next to this verse: " Fulfilled May 14, 1948".

Now, let us continue with this incredible prophecy:

"I will gather all nations and will bring them down into the Valley of Jehosaphat, and there will I deal with and execute judgment upon them for their treatment of My people, and of My heritage Israel."

Therefore, we should expect to see God's judgment repeatedly falling upon the enemies of Israel immediately following her rebirth as a nation. And we see exactly that!  Since one of God's most common type of judgment is war, we are not surprised to see war break out within hours of Israel's announcement of statehood on May 14, 1948. Israel's Arab neighbors immediately attacked from all sides; even though Israel was terribly outgunned and outmanned, God gave her the type of military victory which we see again and again in the Old Testament. This first war reminded me of the war in which Gideon was given the victory over 132,000 enemy army, even though he had only 300 men! God gave Gideon the victory even though he was outnumbered 440 to 1. Israel's 1948 victory over the combined Arab armies should have sent the message to an unbelieving world that God was back in the business of protecting Israel in the same manner in which He protected her in the Old Testament.

Since then, wars were fought in 1956, 1967, 1973, and 1982. The outnumbered Israelites won each of those wars, but each time permanent peace eluded them, as their Arab enemies became ever more implacable and hateful.

Let us return to Joel 3:7b, as God warns the enemies of the Jew:

Joel 3:7b
"… I will return your deed of retaliation upon your own head." The Palestinians should carefully bear this warning in mind, even as they are attacking, killing, and mutilating scores of Jews in an effort to annihilate them man, woman, and child. In fact, God is addressing the Arab directly here, as verses 3-6 of this chapter clearly indicate.

Now, God turns His attention to the whole world during these End Times, after Israel has come back to her land. In verse 9, we read:

"Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare War! Stir up the mighty men! Let all the men of war draw near, let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weak say, 'I am strong, a warrior'! " [Parallel Bible, KJV/Amplified Bible Commentary]

Notice that this prophecy is an exact reversal of the prophecy relating to the end of all war, as Yahshua begins His Millennial Reign. In Isaiah 2:4, we see that Messiah will put an end to war.

 "... they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."

But, in the era immediately after Israel is restored back to her land, we see the prophecy of war, of every nation coming systematically into the Valley of Jehoshaphat [generic term for Middle East] for God's judgment of war.

"Let the nations bestir themselves and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat for there will I sit to judge all the nations round about. Put in the sickle, for the vintage harvest is ripe; come down and tread the grapes for the winepress is full; the vats overflow, for the wickedness of the peoples is great. Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the Day of the Lord is near in the Valley of Decision!"

Then, in Zechariah 12, we see God foretelling a very special plan for His city, Jerusalem. Beginning in verse 1, we see God foretell an oracle, or judgment for Israel, as He begins to prepare her for the return of Yahshua the Messiah. In verse 2, God says:

"Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup or bowl of reeling to all the peoples round about, and in the siege against Jerusalem, there will also be a siege against Judah [Israel]. And in that day, I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all peoples: all who lift it or burden themselves with it shall be sorely wounded. And all the nations of the earth shall come and gather against it."

Finally, in verse 9, God says:

"… I will make it my aim to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem."

Thus, anyone who fights against Jerusalem is really fighting against the God of Israel, of the Holy Bible, against Yahshua the Messiah Himself!  But, God will allow matters to seemingly get out of hand against Israel, so that, when He stretches forth His hand to deliver Israel, He will get the glory.

Thus it is that we see, in Daniel 12;1, that things get so bad, Michael the Archangel, and Protector of Israel, has to "stand up" in Heaven and go forth to fight for Israel.

Unless you have been living on another planet in these days, you know that all-out war seems to be breaking out between Israel and the Palestinians, with the rest of the Arab world expressing willingness to come to the aid of the Palestinians. Could this be the spark for the kind of global judgment of which God speaks in Joel 3? Yes, it is, and we know this because of Obadiah 15-18. Turn your Bibles there.

The first 14 verses of this one-chapter book have already been fulfilled; but, in verse 15, God leaps all the way to the very End of the Age.

"For the Day of the Lord is near upon all the nations." 

With this reference to the Day of the Lord, we see that this prophecy is yet to be fulfilled, and when it is fulfilled, it will be done so at the End of the Age. Conversely, when we see the stage being uniquely prepared for its fulfillment, we can know that this is one more sign that the world is indeed, in the End of all things.

God then pronounces 100% annihilation of a people from Edom whom God calls the House of Esau. The modern-day descendents of the House of Esau were the Palestinians, led by Arafat. However, their home was in Edom, and more Palestinians live there than within Israel.

Suddenly, the terrible accuracy of today's Daily News hit me right between the eyes!  I could see the stage being set for an all-out war between the Palestinians of Yassir Arafat and Israel, a war that will result in the complete annihilation of the Palestinians. Finally, God revealed in verse 18 that this war will erupt out of Israel and will burn the House of Esau to "stubble", so that they would be destroyed as if they had never existed.