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ARE WE THERE YET?. THE BIBLICAL ‘LAST DAYS’: A LOOK AT TODAY’S WORLD. ARE WE THERE YET???. Three truths from Jesus: (1) Jesus said that ( Matt. 16:2-3 ) the signs of the times can be discerned by people.
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ARE WE THERE YET? THE BIBLICAL ‘LAST DAYS’: A LOOK AT TODAY’S WORLD
ARE WE THERE YET??? • Three truths from Jesus: (1) Jesus said that (Matt. 16:2-3) the signs of the times can be discerned by people. (2) Jesus said that (Matt. 24:32-36) exact days & hours for the end times cannot be known. (3) Jesus said that (Matt. 23:39) Israel’s spiritual restoration back to the Lord is the requirement for Jesus’ 2nd Coming to this earth.
ISRAEL RESTORATION: EZEKIEL 34-39 (1) WHO WILL DO IT? • God Himself will restore Israel -“I will” used 65-70 times in Ezekiel 34-39 (2) WHY WILL IT BE DONE? • Because God’s name is at stake - He made covenant commitments to Israel that He must and will keep. 36:22; 39:25 (3) WHEN WILL IT BE DONE? • At the end of times. 38:8, 16; 34:28-29; 36:15; 37:25
ISRAEL RESTORATION: EZEKIEL 34-39 (4) HOW WILL IT TAKE PLACE? • Ezekiel says that Israel’s restoration is in two parts.36:22-27 • FIRST, Israel will be physicallyrestored back to their land. • SECOND, Israel will be spiritually restored back to the Lord God. PHYSICALLY RESTORED TO THE LAND SPIRITUALLY RESTORED TO THE LORD THEIR GOD
THE PICTURE OF ISRAEL’S RESTORATION: THE VISION OF THE DRY BONES • God’s question and Ezekiel’s reply. 37:1-4 • Ezekiel proclaims God’s Word.37:7-10 • The amazing PHYSICAL RESTORATION! • All will observe this restoration. (noisy) • The restoration will be a process. (first, bones; then sinew and skin) • The images =“Valley” (“grave”) = nations of the earth.“Dry Bones” = the nation of Israel. “Breath/wind”= Spirit of God
TWO-FOLD RESTORATION OF ISRAEL • #2 SPIRITUAL RESTORATION---Back to the Lord -It comes AFTER the physical restoration of Israel. (The breath/Spirit enters Israel). -Israel is “saved” and brought into the New Covenant (Rom. 11:25-27; Matt. 23:39; 24:8-9; Daniel 9:24) -Israel will “know the Lord” (37:14) (5) WHAT WILL BRING ISRAEL BACK TO THE LORD SPIRITUALLY??? • A key element in Israel’s spiritual awakening is a coming battle. (39:22) • The battle is described in Ezekiel 38-39.
ISRAEL’S SPIRITUAL RESTORATION: The Gog/Magog Battle – 38:1-39:29 • GOG = The title of the leader of the nation located far north of Israel. • THE NATIONS INVOLVED (Note Genesis 10) • MAGOG = Russia (These were called “Scythians” by the Greeks). Settled in central Asia: southern Russia/Ukraine and present day Islamic nations. • ROSH = Modern day Russia. • MESHECH = Ancient tribes settling in modern day Turkey. • TUBAL = Ancient tribes settling in modern day Turkey. • PERSIA = IRAN • ETHIOPIA = Sudan/Ethiopia • PUT = Libya/Algeria/Tunisia/Somalia • GOMER = Turkey • BETH-TOGARMAH = Asia Minor and Central Asia • MANY PEOPLES = Other Islamic states and ???
RUSSIA ISLAMIC NATIONS TURKEY IRAN ALGERIA ISRAEL LYBIA ETHIOPIA
“Peace and Safety”— 1 Thess. 5:3 WHEN? RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH Days or Months 7 YEARS OF TRIBULATION GOG/ MAGOG ISRAEL’S PHYSICAL RESTORATION ISRAEL’S SPIRITUAL RESTORATION BONES/FLESH/SINEW/SKIN BREATH/SPIRIT ARE WE HERE YET???