Dear friends and readers,
Is the Middle East about to be plunged into yet another war of gargantuan proportions?
For quite some time now prophecy buffs have been speculating about Psalm 83 and whether or not it predicts an Imminent war between Israel and her immediate neighbors. You will be pleased to know that I absolutely have the answer. I don't know! But I do have suspicions.
There is compelling evidence to suggest that something big may be about to happen and yes, Psalm 83 could well be fulfilled in the near future. The problem is that no matter how hard we try to figure these things out, the only solid answers are still in heavenly places and we mere mortals will only find out when they come to pass. In fact we may not know the exact Biblical implications of any particular war until after the fact and all the evidence is in. Isn't it amazing how history only looks backwards?
I have read the writings of several authors, all of whom are well known, have written books or extensive articles, are well respected by their followers and most certainly have solid opinions. They also disagree with each other on many aspects of nearly any subject they happen to be addressing at the time. Not surprising, after all that is what humans do. Having been a pastor for many years I can personally certify that leadership within any kind of organization frequently cannot agree on the time of day let alone something important. There are never a shortage of opinions and every single one is the correct one.
My opinion regarding Psalm 83 will agree in part with several other writers and disagree on certain points as well. A much older and wiser man than I once told me that you can have an entire hat full of opinions and still not have enough to buy a cup of coffee. How true.
Three of the most prolific writers on this subject are Joel Rosenberg, Bill Salus and Joel Richardson. To name a few. I mention these guys so you can look them up for yourselves and fill your own hat with opinions. However one thing I recommend that you DON'T do, like so many others, is call any of them names because you might not agree with their findings.
Would anyone agree that name calling is probably not very Christian or dignified? Not to mention utterly lacking in grace, love and mercy.
Many Biblically prophetic events, like the Rapture (first and second Thessalonians), Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38-39), the destruction of Damascus (Isaiah 17) and the signing of a 7 year peace pact by the future antichrist (Daniel chapter 9) are fascinating. They are important and make for great coffee Klatch fodder. But for Christians, they are not salvation issues and should never ever separate believers from fellowship. In other words, we should be able to agree that it is OK to disagree about things like this.
I also have opinions and do not hesitate to express them but my primary goal is to inspire my readers to search the scriptures for themselves and to form their own opinions. So, I will tell you right up front that yes, I do believe that Psalm 83 could be predicting a soon coming war. No, I do not connect this war (if it happens) with Gog and Magog. Yes, something of this magnitude could involve the destruction of Damascus. No, this is not in anyway connected to the eventual war of Armageddon. Yes, a war of the magnitude spoken of by Asaph (the writer of Psalm 83 in about the 10th century B.C.) could lead to the signing of a 7 year peace pact between Israel and her neighbors. Yes, this war could have already happened in some past century but even so, that does not mean it could not happen again exactly as written.
One mans opinions, you are free to agree or disagree, "coulda, shoulda, woulda".
Remember that the ancient Psalms were written as songs. Asaph is clearly crying out to God and asking Him NOT to keep silent or to hold His peace. Asaph wants God to do something. And he wants God to MOVE " do not be still". Whatever Asaph is seeing in the future demands an immediate action from on High! In God's perfect timing of course.
Why? Because "Your enemies make a tumult" (Tumultuous event, revolt, agitation, disorderly commotion), and those who hate You have arisen, they have taken crafty counsel against your people (ISRAEL, the Jewish people), and consulted together against your sheltered ones (Psalm 91:4 "He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge"), They have said, "come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more."
Does this sound familiar to you?
The PLO, Hamas, Hezbollah, Elements within Syria and Lebanon, Al Qaeda, ISIS, Iran (ancient Persia) the Muslim Brotherhood and many other splinter groups identified with radical Islamic terror organizations have one and all declared that Israel must be destroyed.
NOTE: The Muslim Brotherhood is best associated with Egypt but Egypt is not listed by Asaph in Psalm 83. However the Brotherhood is active elsewhere in this world including sponsoring some of at least 10 anti Israel groups in the United States alone.
Psalm 83 goes on to identify several groups who are involved in this conflict. With a clearly stated goal to wipe out Israel; I am going to assign these ancient names to current locations within nations of the Middle East that I believe may be involved in this war against Israel. Other students of history and theologians concerned with Biblical prophecy may disagree with me and that is perfectly OK.
These are my picks for the current locations of these anti-Semitic peoples and groups who may be part of this confederacy. NOTE: This does not mean that entire specific Governments of nations will be involved but that the people involved in this future conflict may currently be living or headquartered within these Governmental jurisdictions.
These are the locations that many theologians believe may have become home to the ancients listed in Psalm 83.
THE TENTS OF EDOM could be from Southern Jordan.
THE ISHMAELITES could be from portions of both Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
MOAB could be from central Jordan
THE HAGRITES (Hagarenes) could be from North Eastern Jordan,
AMMON could be from North-West Jordan.
AMELEK could be from Southern Israel.
PHILISTIA could be Gaza.
THE INHABITANTS OF TYRE could be from Lebanon.
ASSYRIA could be peoples from Turkey (South -Eastern), Syria (North-Western), Iraq (North-Eastern).
THE CHILDREN OF LOT (AMON, EDOM) once again could be from parts of Jordan.
There is no way to definitely know where all these ancient people groups ended up but we do have a pretty good historical perspective to draw from. Reading the above list might lead one to think that Jordan as a country might attack Israel as part of the Psalm 83 confederacy. While I suppose that could be a possibility, I really do not think that is the case.
Many ancient people groups settled within the area known as the FERTILE CRESCENT. This is literally a huge crescent shaped swath of land that is moist and fertile in the midst of otherwise arid territory. It includes Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Nile Valley and Nile Delta plus Jordan. They settled there from antiquity past so they could raise crops and livestock. But remember that Jordan as a nation was not created until after WW 2 ( May 25, 1946) so no assumption can be made that Jordan as a country will be involved in the war of Psalm 83.
In determining these ancient people groups and where they are currently located there are at least two schools of thought. 1). Something called the "Geographical correlation method" which seeks to identify specific regions where particularly named people groups lived at the time the Psalm was written.
2). Another method is by which scholars attempt to track or trace the migrations, intermarriages and movements of people groups over vast centuries of time all the way back to Noah's flood and on ward including the breakup of people groups at the time God confused the languages at the tower of Babel.
Which of these methods will produce the most accurate representation of the nations and groups of people listed in Psalm 83? My personal preference is through Geographical correlation but past that, frankly your guess is as good as mine.
Of one thing I am absolutely certain; War in a big way is on the horizon in the Middle East and it could well entrap many nations in conflict that are ill prepared and equipped to fight a battle of this nature, let alone understand the reasons behind it all. Most nations of the region loathe Israel only slightly more than they loathe each other. If a war does not break out against Israel, it surely will between neighboring Muslim countries.
The two predominant opposing beliefs are between the Shia and the Sunni Muslims. Nations like Pakistan, Egypt, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia are mostly Sunni with Saudi Arabia practicing something called "WAHHABISM" which is a deadly enemy to all Shia's who come from places like Iraq, Bahrain, Azerbaijan and Iran.
Iran (ancient Persia) is predominantly Shia and is on the path of obtaining nuclear weapons. Their arch nemesis, predominantly Sunni Saudi Arabia is frankly more concerned about their safety at the hands of Iran than any worries they may harbor about Israel. It is estimated (but never admitted by Israel) that she has about 200 nuclear weapons and has since the 1950's. That means that Israel (MAY HAVE) all these nukes but everyone in the region knows that Israel has never once used them in the past 60 plus years. On the other hand Iran is openly threatening not only area wide but worldwide mass violence. Who do you think is more threatening to Saudi Arabia and other Middle East countries? Israel or Iran?
As near neighbors the sparks could fly at any moment between these Muslin nations. Another thing to consider; Along with other think tanks, the PEW Research Center estimates the following countries are vulnerable to take over by violent radical Islamic extremists. Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Tunisia. What a mess on the grand scale.
Another thing to remember is that all Muslims are not created equal. To be Muslim or adhere to the tenants of the Islamic faith is not inherited through blood line. Although certainly a powerful religious and cultural magnet, this belief system can be received by an individual or it can be rejected.
For example; Iranian Muslims are not only Shia but are also Persians, not Arabs. Turkish Muslims are Turks, not Arabs. Saudi Arabians are Arabs and have been centuries long bitter enemies of both Turks and Persians. They all have a very basic form of religion in common but in no way do their cultures cross over. This mix is nothing short of volatile.
If there is a prophesied war buried within the ancient paragraphs of Psalm 83, it would appear that the ground is currently being prepared for just such a battle. It is obvious that all the peoples spoken about in the Psalm are either in or closely surrounding Israel. Although political alliances can easily fracture, there are peace agreements currently in place between Israel and both Jordan and Egypt. No reasonable Government in that region wants see those peace agreements torn to shreds. That is why I think if there is to be a Psalm 83 war, it will not necessary involve entire countries but rather population groups from many countries who share in common the desire to destroy Israel.
There are several reasons that war could break out---to list only a few;
1). Escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran spilling over into a spontaneous conflict in which Israel suddenly becomes everyone's enemy.
2). Age old conflicts between Israel, Hezbollah and Hamas escalating into regional war. Both Hezbollah and Hamas are Sponsored by Iran.
3). The entire area could easily be pushed to the brink of war by outside influences from Russia, Syria, Turkey, Iran, various terror organizations and yes, even the United States and European nations.
4). The United Nations acts like children arguing over play dough. They have muddled, befuddled and fowled all the political waters of the Middle East. Continued actions by the Security Council could easily ignite the dry tinder of outright rampage, death and destruction on a Middle East scale only slightly less than the events leading up to WW 2.
5). More likely, the slightest move by the American Government to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Why would that become such a huge overnight threat to regional peace? Think of this; All three of the worlds largest religions consider Jerusalem to be sacred ground. Islam, Christianity and Judaism.
All three have centuries of history fighting (in many cases each other) over that one single city. The United States is currently Israel's best and the most powerful friend. But by moving the Embassy, the United States would be declaring to the entire world that they consider Jerusalem to be the undivided eternal capital of Israel.
And the fight is on.
For what it is worth that is my hat full of opinion. At this moment for whatever reason it may occur, I give the chances of another large scale war in the Middle East 80 percent during the next year.
I invite you to study up. Dig deep and form your own opinion. That is the whole idea of studying Biblical prophecy. To discover for yourself the hidden treasures within God's word. And it is also fun but remember that your discoveries may be fraught with potentially disastrous consequences.
Take the leap friends and enjoy.
God bless you all,
Pastor Rance.
Is the Middle East about to be plunged into yet another war of gargantuan proportions?
For quite some time now prophecy buffs have been speculating about Psalm 83 and whether or not it predicts an Imminent war between Israel and her immediate neighbors. You will be pleased to know that I absolutely have the answer. I don't know! But I do have suspicions.
There is compelling evidence to suggest that something big may be about to happen and yes, Psalm 83 could well be fulfilled in the near future. The problem is that no matter how hard we try to figure these things out, the only solid answers are still in heavenly places and we mere mortals will only find out when they come to pass. In fact we may not know the exact Biblical implications of any particular war until after the fact and all the evidence is in. Isn't it amazing how history only looks backwards?
I have read the writings of several authors, all of whom are well known, have written books or extensive articles, are well respected by their followers and most certainly have solid opinions. They also disagree with each other on many aspects of nearly any subject they happen to be addressing at the time. Not surprising, after all that is what humans do. Having been a pastor for many years I can personally certify that leadership within any kind of organization frequently cannot agree on the time of day let alone something important. There are never a shortage of opinions and every single one is the correct one.
My opinion regarding Psalm 83 will agree in part with several other writers and disagree on certain points as well. A much older and wiser man than I once told me that you can have an entire hat full of opinions and still not have enough to buy a cup of coffee. How true.
Three of the most prolific writers on this subject are Joel Rosenberg, Bill Salus and Joel Richardson. To name a few. I mention these guys so you can look them up for yourselves and fill your own hat with opinions. However one thing I recommend that you DON'T do, like so many others, is call any of them names because you might not agree with their findings.
Would anyone agree that name calling is probably not very Christian or dignified? Not to mention utterly lacking in grace, love and mercy.
Many Biblically prophetic events, like the Rapture (first and second Thessalonians), Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38-39), the destruction of Damascus (Isaiah 17) and the signing of a 7 year peace pact by the future antichrist (Daniel chapter 9) are fascinating. They are important and make for great coffee Klatch fodder. But for Christians, they are not salvation issues and should never ever separate believers from fellowship. In other words, we should be able to agree that it is OK to disagree about things like this.
I also have opinions and do not hesitate to express them but my primary goal is to inspire my readers to search the scriptures for themselves and to form their own opinions. So, I will tell you right up front that yes, I do believe that Psalm 83 could be predicting a soon coming war. No, I do not connect this war (if it happens) with Gog and Magog. Yes, something of this magnitude could involve the destruction of Damascus. No, this is not in anyway connected to the eventual war of Armageddon. Yes, a war of the magnitude spoken of by Asaph (the writer of Psalm 83 in about the 10th century B.C.) could lead to the signing of a 7 year peace pact between Israel and her neighbors. Yes, this war could have already happened in some past century but even so, that does not mean it could not happen again exactly as written.
One mans opinions, you are free to agree or disagree, "coulda, shoulda, woulda".
Remember that the ancient Psalms were written as songs. Asaph is clearly crying out to God and asking Him NOT to keep silent or to hold His peace. Asaph wants God to do something. And he wants God to MOVE " do not be still". Whatever Asaph is seeing in the future demands an immediate action from on High! In God's perfect timing of course.
Why? Because "Your enemies make a tumult" (Tumultuous event, revolt, agitation, disorderly commotion), and those who hate You have arisen, they have taken crafty counsel against your people (ISRAEL, the Jewish people), and consulted together against your sheltered ones (Psalm 91:4 "He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge"), They have said, "come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more."
Does this sound familiar to you?
The PLO, Hamas, Hezbollah, Elements within Syria and Lebanon, Al Qaeda, ISIS, Iran (ancient Persia) the Muslim Brotherhood and many other splinter groups identified with radical Islamic terror organizations have one and all declared that Israel must be destroyed.
NOTE: The Muslim Brotherhood is best associated with Egypt but Egypt is not listed by Asaph in Psalm 83. However the Brotherhood is active elsewhere in this world including sponsoring some of at least 10 anti Israel groups in the United States alone.
Psalm 83 goes on to identify several groups who are involved in this conflict. With a clearly stated goal to wipe out Israel; I am going to assign these ancient names to current locations within nations of the Middle East that I believe may be involved in this war against Israel. Other students of history and theologians concerned with Biblical prophecy may disagree with me and that is perfectly OK.
These are my picks for the current locations of these anti-Semitic peoples and groups who may be part of this confederacy. NOTE: This does not mean that entire specific Governments of nations will be involved but that the people involved in this future conflict may currently be living or headquartered within these Governmental jurisdictions.
These are the locations that many theologians believe may have become home to the ancients listed in Psalm 83.
THE TENTS OF EDOM could be from Southern Jordan.
THE ISHMAELITES could be from portions of both Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
MOAB could be from central Jordan
THE HAGRITES (Hagarenes) could be from North Eastern Jordan,
AMMON could be from North-West Jordan.
AMELEK could be from Southern Israel.
PHILISTIA could be Gaza.
THE INHABITANTS OF TYRE could be from Lebanon.
ASSYRIA could be peoples from Turkey (South -Eastern), Syria (North-Western), Iraq (North-Eastern).
THE CHILDREN OF LOT (AMON, EDOM) once again could be from parts of Jordan.
There is no way to definitely know where all these ancient people groups ended up but we do have a pretty good historical perspective to draw from. Reading the above list might lead one to think that Jordan as a country might attack Israel as part of the Psalm 83 confederacy. While I suppose that could be a possibility, I really do not think that is the case.
Many ancient people groups settled within the area known as the FERTILE CRESCENT. This is literally a huge crescent shaped swath of land that is moist and fertile in the midst of otherwise arid territory. It includes Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Nile Valley and Nile Delta plus Jordan. They settled there from antiquity past so they could raise crops and livestock. But remember that Jordan as a nation was not created until after WW 2 ( May 25, 1946) so no assumption can be made that Jordan as a country will be involved in the war of Psalm 83.
In determining these ancient people groups and where they are currently located there are at least two schools of thought. 1). Something called the "Geographical correlation method" which seeks to identify specific regions where particularly named people groups lived at the time the Psalm was written.
2). Another method is by which scholars attempt to track or trace the migrations, intermarriages and movements of people groups over vast centuries of time all the way back to Noah's flood and on ward including the breakup of people groups at the time God confused the languages at the tower of Babel.
Which of these methods will produce the most accurate representation of the nations and groups of people listed in Psalm 83? My personal preference is through Geographical correlation but past that, frankly your guess is as good as mine.
Of one thing I am absolutely certain; War in a big way is on the horizon in the Middle East and it could well entrap many nations in conflict that are ill prepared and equipped to fight a battle of this nature, let alone understand the reasons behind it all. Most nations of the region loathe Israel only slightly more than they loathe each other. If a war does not break out against Israel, it surely will between neighboring Muslim countries.
The two predominant opposing beliefs are between the Shia and the Sunni Muslims. Nations like Pakistan, Egypt, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia are mostly Sunni with Saudi Arabia practicing something called "WAHHABISM" which is a deadly enemy to all Shia's who come from places like Iraq, Bahrain, Azerbaijan and Iran.
Iran (ancient Persia) is predominantly Shia and is on the path of obtaining nuclear weapons. Their arch nemesis, predominantly Sunni Saudi Arabia is frankly more concerned about their safety at the hands of Iran than any worries they may harbor about Israel. It is estimated (but never admitted by Israel) that she has about 200 nuclear weapons and has since the 1950's. That means that Israel (MAY HAVE) all these nukes but everyone in the region knows that Israel has never once used them in the past 60 plus years. On the other hand Iran is openly threatening not only area wide but worldwide mass violence. Who do you think is more threatening to Saudi Arabia and other Middle East countries? Israel or Iran?
As near neighbors the sparks could fly at any moment between these Muslin nations. Another thing to consider; Along with other think tanks, the PEW Research Center estimates the following countries are vulnerable to take over by violent radical Islamic extremists. Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Tunisia. What a mess on the grand scale.
Another thing to remember is that all Muslims are not created equal. To be Muslim or adhere to the tenants of the Islamic faith is not inherited through blood line. Although certainly a powerful religious and cultural magnet, this belief system can be received by an individual or it can be rejected.
For example; Iranian Muslims are not only Shia but are also Persians, not Arabs. Turkish Muslims are Turks, not Arabs. Saudi Arabians are Arabs and have been centuries long bitter enemies of both Turks and Persians. They all have a very basic form of religion in common but in no way do their cultures cross over. This mix is nothing short of volatile.
If there is a prophesied war buried within the ancient paragraphs of Psalm 83, it would appear that the ground is currently being prepared for just such a battle. It is obvious that all the peoples spoken about in the Psalm are either in or closely surrounding Israel. Although political alliances can easily fracture, there are peace agreements currently in place between Israel and both Jordan and Egypt. No reasonable Government in that region wants see those peace agreements torn to shreds. That is why I think if there is to be a Psalm 83 war, it will not necessary involve entire countries but rather population groups from many countries who share in common the desire to destroy Israel.
There are several reasons that war could break out---to list only a few;
1). Escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran spilling over into a spontaneous conflict in which Israel suddenly becomes everyone's enemy.
2). Age old conflicts between Israel, Hezbollah and Hamas escalating into regional war. Both Hezbollah and Hamas are Sponsored by Iran.
3). The entire area could easily be pushed to the brink of war by outside influences from Russia, Syria, Turkey, Iran, various terror organizations and yes, even the United States and European nations.
4). The United Nations acts like children arguing over play dough. They have muddled, befuddled and fowled all the political waters of the Middle East. Continued actions by the Security Council could easily ignite the dry tinder of outright rampage, death and destruction on a Middle East scale only slightly less than the events leading up to WW 2.
5). More likely, the slightest move by the American Government to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Why would that become such a huge overnight threat to regional peace? Think of this; All three of the worlds largest religions consider Jerusalem to be sacred ground. Islam, Christianity and Judaism.
All three have centuries of history fighting (in many cases each other) over that one single city. The United States is currently Israel's best and the most powerful friend. But by moving the Embassy, the United States would be declaring to the entire world that they consider Jerusalem to be the undivided eternal capital of Israel.
And the fight is on.
For what it is worth that is my hat full of opinion. At this moment for whatever reason it may occur, I give the chances of another large scale war in the Middle East 80 percent during the next year.
I invite you to study up. Dig deep and form your own opinion. That is the whole idea of studying Biblical prophecy. To discover for yourself the hidden treasures within God's word. And it is also fun but remember that your discoveries may be fraught with potentially disastrous consequences.
Take the leap friends and enjoy.
God bless you all,
Pastor Rance.
