Dr. Mike Murphy
Sir Isaac Newton once said, “About the time of the end, in all probability, a body of men will be raised up who will turn their attention to the prophecies, and insist upon their literal interpretation in the midst of much clamour and oppositions.” We watch today as men and women boldly proclaim what this world, and way too often this Church, do not wish to hear. They profess a reality that can only be found in God’s Word, and a truth that can only be found in His reality. His Word tells us that He will bless those who bless His people and He will curse those who curse His people(Genesis 12:1-3). History shows us the truth of that statement, and as we discussed in the part one, His coming judgment shows us the reality of just how true those words will one day ring. The second coming of Christ has, is, and will always be connected to the nation of Israel. That is not just a truthful and realistic statement, but one as literal as Sir Isaac Newton said would once be proclaimed. As the Lord looks at this world, He does so with a watch in both hands. And if we were to look closely, we would see the time on both of those watches are set on Israeli time. His first watch stopped the very second the Messiah was cut off(Daniel 9:26). His second watch, He keeps close to His vest, and it is only for His eyes to see. It is made up of the souls of those who have called on the name of Christ, and been washed by His blood. It is a watch that ticks away, counting down the seconds until the glorious moment He shall appear in the clouds to call home those that believe. As the countdown on that watch ends, the ticking of the first watch will again begin. For seven years that watch will again tick away, until the Lord himself will place His foot squarely on this earth, saving His people, and judging the actions of every nation. But through it all, one thing remains consistent, both watches are on Israeli time. We now live in a day when that second watch is ticking fervently. And as we look to the clouds, and anticipate the approaching season, we fail to see that the hunters are already gathering. The anticipation of the hunt is beginning to overwhelm them, and they now look to begin this hunt before the season officially begins. The truth shows us, the hunters are not willing to wait for the start of the season. And the reality of the day tells us, the nations of this world are already calling out the hunters. All around this world today, we can see that the hunters are gathering their stride, increasing in number. Most do not realize, but the most persecuted people in this world today are now Christians. Each year, over two hundred million Christians face persecution. In the vast majority of the nations of this world today, Christians are persecuted daily for their faith. Eighty percent of all persecution in the world today is directed at Christians. The numbers show us that the hunters are not just looking to target His people, but also those who call on His name. The trophy rooms of the hunters are quickly being filled with both, and by all signs, their ammo is far from running short. And with this we must remember, the hunting season has not officially started, the worst and most deadly of days is still to come. So if the Lord has both watches in hand, and the hunters are already out because they see the hunting season rapidly approaching, when will this season officially begin? To answer this we need look no farther than the words of the prophets and the words of Christ. In Genesis 1:14, the Lord proclaimed, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years”. The Hebrew word we see used in this verse for the word “sign”, is the word “oth”, and it means “a remembrance, a warning, a token of proof”. We see from this that the Lord gave us the seasons for more than just the days, but as a remembrance of all He has told us. As a warning of all He has shown us would one day come. And as a token of proof, helping us to show those around us that His Word will be fulfilled. In Psalm 2, David writes the words God gave him of such a season. He speaks of a time when the nations of this world will rise up against the Lord, and His Anointed One. A day when Christ will overturn the evil that has rose from these nations, and shall rule this world from His throne in Zion(Israel). With each word of the prophets, and with all that Christ told us. Israel is the sign that will help us to remember, to warn us, and as a token of proof that this season is quickly approaching. Many in the Church today look at Israel, and look at His chosen people, and tell us they are an issue for a day that has already passed. They will tell you that His focus today has shifted to the Church, no longer on Israel. But God’s Word tells us something completely different. It tells us that Israel has never left His thought, and will never be forgotten(Romans 11:15-24). The season that we see approaching reminds us of the promises that God gave us about Israel, warns us of what Israel and this world will soon face And as Israel stands before us as a nation again today, offers us a token of proof that every word He gave us will be fulfilled. Israel is not a sign, Israel is the sign! And it is just as strong of a sign today as it was at the very moment He created the watches He holds in each of His hands! When Christ spoke of this coming season, He gave us an incredible passage about that day. ”Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.”(Matthew 24:32-35). Christ told us that to recognize the coming of that day we needed to look to the trees! Throughout the Word of God, Israel is referred to as the fig tree, the same as Christ did in the words quoted above. Hosea 9:10 tells us, “When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert; when I saw your fathers, it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree.” From Joel(Joel 1:7, 2:21-25) to Jeremiah(Jeremiah 24:3), the fig tree is representative of Israel and the chosen people, and was taught as so to every Jewish boy and girl at the time Christ walked this earth. When speaking of the Last Days, and of the coming season, it was by no surprise that Christ would use the fig tree as an example in His parable. It was quickly recognized of what Christ was speaking when He used the words, and those same words should be just as recognizable to each of us today. The fig tree was not only the symbol of Israel, it was at the very heart of Israel. The fig tree was as much a part of Israel as Israel was the fig tree. And if we look closely, I believe the fig tree has always been at the heart of God’s Word and His plan. Remember back to the garden of Eden, and remember the actions of Adam and Eve as they realized they had sinned. When their eyes were opened to their shame, they sewed together fig leaves to cover themselves(Genesis 3:7). Years later, from the fig tree(Israel) would come another covering of their sins. Would come One who would offer a permanent covering of their sins, and who would make their sins no more When we look at the fig tree, we soon recognize that it is different from all other trees. The foliage and the fruit of the tree act differently from all the other trees we see in a garden. The fruit of a fig tree will generally begin to appear before its’ leaves do, and because the fruit of the fig tree is green, it blends in with the leaves until the time it is almost ripe. The fig tree is one of the last trees to bear its’ leaves each spring. When you see the leaf of the fig tree, it is a tale-tell sign that summer is ready to begin. The presence of a fruitful fig tree was seen as a symbol of prosperity, and a symbol of blessing throughout the land of Israel. A fig tree that was decaying, or not putting forth fruit, was also seen as a symbol, one of coming judgment and of rejection. It is for this reason that we saw Christ curse the fig tree(Matthew 11:12-25). As Christ cursed the fig tree, we would soon watch the nation of Israel disappear from this earth for almost two thousand years. But although the fig tree was cursed because it was not producing fruit, the roots of that tree did not die. We have watched, in this generation, that fig tree bloom again. Israel is again a thriving nation in our presence, just as the words of Christ told us it would be so many years ago. As we look at that fig tree today, we see it’s fruit blooming, and we see it bearing its’ leaves. And if we look closely at the fig tree, it becomes obvious to see, that summer is near. The season is upon us. This is a season that will be like no other, one unlike any this world has ever seen. A day when Esau will look to take back his birthright, and will hunt down Jacob as he never has before. A day when the hunters will smear their faces in a blood that will cause the Heavens to weep, but a blood that will bring a smirky smile to the faces of Satan and his demons. A day the world will no longer wish to just ignore or just send away those that are called His chosen people, and those that call on His name. It will be a day when they will look to replace our suitcases with our coffins. A day this world may long for, but a day they will long after regret. A day this world may bring in with screams, but a day that will end with a glorious shout. A day this world may see as the beginning of the end, but will actually be the end of the beginning.
As I stand here today, I think back on the words the Lord once spoke to Rebekah, and to the struggle she felt in her womb so many years ago. A struggle that has not yet finished. A struggle that her oldest child is just not ready to give up. A struggle that the hunters are right now preparing their weapons for.
May the Lord keep you from the midst of that struggle.
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