Say What?

They'd been caught between the sheets. A woman and her lover. The Bible doesn't say whether either one of them was married, but never mind. She had broken the Jewish Law. The Scribes and Pharisees had every intention of making her an example before the One some were calling God's Messiah. But, how interesting that she was alone; her lover wasn't there.

And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?" (John 8:3-5)

Interesting question. The long-beards wore their best smirk. The scattered crowd looked puzzled but alert. After all, this Jewish rabbi from Nazareth was someone special -- "the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." (Matthew 7:28,29) Some even believed He was the Son of God. "What's He going to say?" they wondered.

The question before Him would test the truth. Old Testament Law, given by God Himself, commanded that a man or woman committing adultery be stoned for their offense. Yet the Jews hadn't practiced this punishment for centuries, nor would the Romans permit them to even now. But if Jesus were truly God He would have to be consistent with Himself, wouldn't He? Before this crowd He'd have to order the woman stoned.

This, of course, would have grave consequences. The Pharisees would whine that Jesus was trying to usurp the authority of the Roman government. Or even worse, that He was pretending that He was God Himself. Either way they thought they had Him. Until He bent down and wrote in the sand.

"He who is without sin feel free to throw the first stone", Jesus said as He looked up. Then He waited. No one moved. There were a few awkward glances here and there, but not a soul bent down to grab a rock. He bent down and wrote again. This time the Jewish authorities were completely humiliated, and began to shuffle home one by one.

What Jesus wrote, we don't know. I'm guessing it had something to do with "specks" and "planks". But whatever it was my Upside Down God turned the tables on them. He didn't deny that the Law was correct about the woman's punishment; in fact, He affirmed it by challenging them to start throwing stones -- and by doing so He affirmed His own authority and divinity. But because He knew their hearts He knew where to probe, and their consciences got the best of them. They went home with their tails between their legs. And instead of this incident diminishing Christ's growing stature, it increased it, maybe even ten-fold. "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." Luke 2:52

The Scribes and Pharisees tried to outwit God. A big mistake. God knows us too well for us to pull the wool over His eyes.

Just when you think you've boxed Him and put Him in a corner, He'll surprise you with something new. I'm guessing that the most surprised was the adulterous woman herself. "Woman, where are your accusers?" Jesus asked. "Has no one condemned you?"

"No one, Lord" the woman answered.

"Neither do I condemn you. Now go and sin no more!"

"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:17-19)

Welcome

Have you been on the same road as me? Full of expectations, but always surprised by God? This seems to be the way He operates, isn't it? One day He meets your expectations, the next day it's all upside down.

That's how the disciples on the Road to Emmaus felt after the crucifixion. Like every other Jew in Jesus' time, they believed that God's Messiah would overturn their fortunes. But instead of throwing out the Romans, He'd thrown out the Temple merchants instead. Rather than starting a Jewish insurrection after His Triumphal Entry, He meekly bowed His head to the whips and thorns.

I'm going to explore this Upside Down God on this blog. And as we examine His history with man down through the years we're going to discover that this Almighty One thinks at a different level. But we'll also discover that it all works together for our good, and for His glory.

I hope you'll join me for the journey!

Russia's New Czar?

Putin believes that it is his destiny to resurrect Russia's
evil empire and re-assert its strength and goals across the planet. In a landmark book entitled First Person three of Russia's leading journalists -- Nataliya Gevorkyan, Natalya Timakova, and Andrei Kolesnikov -- record interviews with the new czar that unveil his ambitions.

On his mission in life: "My historical mission is to stop the collapse of the USSR....consolidate the armed forces, the Interior Ministry, and the FSB (the new KGB)."

On his style: "Everyone says I'm harsh, even brutal. Only one thing works.....go on the offensive. You must hit first, and hit so hard that your opponent will not rise to his feet."

On his power grab: "From the very beginning Russia was created as a supercentralized state. That's practically laid down in its genetic code...and mentality of its people.....the monarch doesn't have to worry about whether or not he will be elected, or about petty political interests, or about how to influence the electorate. He can think about the destiny of the people and not become distracted with trivialities."

On his favorite leader: "Napolean Bonaparte"

On his rise to President: "In the Kremlin.....nobody controls me here. I control everybody else."

On his critics: "To hell with them."

Some rather scary attitudes from a man who is quietly going around the Middle East gathering up allies to attack Israel with.

Ezekiel's prophecy continues to unfold before our eyes.

Dividing Jerusalem

The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.

That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.
Zephaniah 1:14-16

Are we any closer to the end? Without question! World events keep unfolding at breakneck speed. And the "fenced cities", which Israel has recently developed, will be decimated by invading forces -- notably a Russian/Iranian alliance (Ezekiel 34,35)

And now Prime Minister Olmert is speaking of dividing Jerusalem permanently, even allowing it to be renamed. Is this not a fulfillment of Zechariah's prophecy in 14:2? This reference supports the idea of a "shared" city between Muslims and Jews -- something which Olmert says is necessary to create peace.

Check this article for a better description of what's going on.

Ahmadinejad's Dream

Ahmadinejad's pathos comes from a deep-seated religious belief that he has been destined by Allah to pave the way for the "coming" Mahdi -- the Islamic Messiah.

"All streams of Islam believe in a divine saviour, known as the Mahdi, who will appear at the End of Days. His return will be preceded by cosmic chaos, war and bloodshed. After a cataclysmic confrontation with evil and darkness, the Mahdi will lead the world to universal peace for seven years. " (Anton LaGuardia: "Divine Mission Driving Iran's New Leader, January 14, 2006)

Ahmadinejad believes in the prophetic outline of the Twelfth Imam (the Mahdi), the righteous descendant of Mohammad. He has reportedly publicly stated that he believes that the Mahdi is only two years away from his return, and that creating chaos in the Middle East will hasten the Imam's return. He believes that the Mahdi will appear when the entire globe is in chaos, which explains his state-sponsored support of Islamic terrorism around the globe.

His apocalyptic view is so strongly ingrained that he has fired all of Iran's most experienced diplomats and replaced them with fellow zealots (www.newsmax.com/archive/article/2006/2/8/154740.shtml) Using the same tactics as Adolf Hitler, Ahmadinejad also uses security agents to squash his opposition.

On November 16, 2005, in a speech in Tehran to senior clerics, Mr. Ahmadinejad said that the primary mission of his regime was to "pave the path for the glorious reappearance of the Imam Mahdi". (Kenneth Timmerman, "Countdown to Crisis: The Coming Nuclear Showdown With Iran", 2006, Three Rivers Press, p. 325)

Ezekiel 38 and 39 speak of an alliance between Rosh and Persia just before Christ returns. There's no doubt that Persia is Iran. They changed their name from Persia to Iran in 1935. There is also little doubt that Rosh speaks of Russia.

The alliance of nations seems to be forming right before our eyes.

The Rise Of Iran

As we watch the events of the Middle East unfold, it's easy to see the hand of Jehovah God in all of this. He is setting the stage for the return of His Son, Jesus Christ.

"No authority exists except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." (Romans 13:1)

That includes our "friend", Mr. Ahmadinejad. We must keep our eyes on this man and his country. As they move ever closer to the possession of nuclear weaponry, our world edges closer and closer to Armageddon and the return of Christ.

Here's what may happen:

1. After years of this fiasco in Iraq, America will be in no mood to confront this man once they have a Democrat in the White House next year. That will leave few countries to oppose him.

2. Once acquired, the nuclear weapons will give Iran an opportunity to hold the Middle East and its oil hostage. They will set the world's economic agenda. It may be very hard to buy or sell without compliance to the regime.

3. Ahmadinejad has publicly supported the Islamic Jihad and the destruction of Israel. He has also spoken of his desire to dominate Europe.

4. European leaders will negotiate with this man. Islam will be given greater power than it has ever known. Ahmadinejad will strike a treaty with Israel, which he will hold for 3.5 years. Then he will break the treaty, and seek to dominate everything. Just look in this man's eyes. He's insane! I can see this man insisting that he be worshipped as God somewhere down the road.

But we'll see. I could be dead wrong. But, oh I hope I'm right. Because I am longing for the Rapture and the Millennial Rule of Christ.

Why We Hate Israel!

It is no accident that the nations hate Israel with such loathsome passion. God has ordained it!

"Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of burden to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall happen in that day 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 nations of the earth are gathered against it. In that day," says the LORD, "I will strike every horse with confusion, and its rider with madness; I will open My eyes on the house of Judah, and will strike every horse of the peoples with blindness. And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, 'The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in the LORD of hosts, their God.' In that day I will make the governors of Judah like a firepan in the woodpile, and like a fiery torch in the sheaves; they shall devour all the surrounding peoples on the right hand and on the left, but Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place--Jerusalem." (Zech 12:2-6)

Even though Israel owns a piece of land that is about the same size as New Jersey, nations all around the world are perplexed by their "occupation" of this little property. Almost half of the United Nations resolutions in the past 60 years have concerned Israel. Newspaper stories everywhere feature her as front page news, and many governments world-wide would love to snuff this little community of Jews out.

Why all this fuss and concern?

Because God has ordained it!

The rebirth of Israel in 1948 was a miracle all by itself. In Ezekiel 37 God has the prophet look over a valley of dry bones (which signified a dead and exiled nation). "Can these bones live?" Jehovah asked. "O Lord, only Thou knowest", the prophet replied. Yet God told Ezekiel to watch as He miraculously raised these bones to life. "So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stoop up upon their feet, an exceeding great army." (37:10)

In 1948 Israel triumphed over six well-armed Arab nations, using little more than a voluntary army of unskilled farmers and scholars, inadequate weapons, a few jeeps, and two small airplanes. Yet Jehovah God miraculously intervened to allow this weak little band of conscipts to defeat her enemies against incredible odds.

Today, Israel has the world's third most powerful air force, and possesses more tanks than any other nation in the world except Russia and America. The Israeli Defence Forces have rewritten the miliatry manuals on how to fight a war, and with the exception of the recent Lebanon fiasco, have been unbeatable.......and the Arab nations know it.

"Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord: it is not for your sake that I am about to act, but for My Holy Name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went.......THEN THE NATIONS WILL KNOW THAT I ALONE AM GOD, WHEN I PROVE MYSELF HOLY AMONG YOU IN THEIR SIGHT. For I will take you from the nations, gather you together from all the lands, and bring you into your own land. Then the nations that are left round about you will know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted that which was desolate. I, THE LORD, HAVE SPOKEN AND WILL DO IT." (Ezekiel 36:22-36)

Hmmmmm.

So much for the "strength" of allah.