Victims and Violence

The Justification of Violence in our Culture

On one hand, we are told that violence solves nothing.

But on the other hand…

Survival of the fittest, anyone? Only the strong survive? Isn’t every child taught this doctrine in school (unless he is fortunate enough to be homeschooled by God-fearing parents)?

A violent “medical procedure,” in which a child is dismembered, can solve a world of problems for a pregnant teenage girl, can’t it?  The victim is sucked away and hidden from view, and the girl is told she made a choice to keep her life uncomplicated.

Television and movies indicate that violence does indeed solve a whole lot of problems. We are groomed to love the main character in the first half of the show, and to see him as a clear victim. By the time he uses violence to right all wrongs, we fully support whatever he does. Filming techniques can make violence appear incredibly cool. The bad guy is justly punished. (Justice is a biblical thing, but it’s a rare film that depicts people trusting God to bring about justice.) It’s just entertainment, right?

Anyone else see conflicting messages here?

When siblings squabble, parents sometimes correct them. But if a child is bullied, the parent tells him to stand up to the bully and fight back. We all have television memories of picked-on kids finally gathering the courage to punch someone square in the face. It felt so right, didn’t it, watching the bully fall? And the show ends in 30 minutes with smiling faces, leaving us to believe all is right in the world after someone stands up for himself. (The reality is quite different.)

Video games teach us how easy it is to kill. Just push a button.  Bodies fall, blood splatters, the game continues, points accrue, you feel (falsely) that you are winning at something. Stress and/or pleasure hormones are released in your body while you play. What a rush!  No wives are shown mourning, no fatherless children haunt your memories. And if you happen to die in the game, you have 14 lives left. If you use them up, there’s always the reset button. It’s just a game, right?

What does our government do when there is a perceived threat of violence from another country? It responds with even more violence and calls it national defense. Endless wars of terror are renamed The War on Terror. Those who carry out the violence are hailed as heroes. The many innocent victims are collateral damage, not people. If those two year-olds were really peaceful, they would have stopped the radicals (the radicals we helped create in many cases). Just war theory is merged with Scripture to produce the bastardized God and country theology.  Pre-emptive strikes are not off the table, because the end justifies the means. Torture?–Why not?

Are you getting the picture? We have been immersed in the justification of violence all our lives.  All you need is a victim and you have the justification of violence. And who in this earth full of sinners hasn’t been victimized?

Satanic Doctrine

War is a necessary evil, right? We must do evil that good may come, and choose the lesser of 2 evils? Hmmm. Where have I heard that before?–Ah, yes, in Luciferian doctrine. Ordo Ab Chao–“Order out of chaos.” Deus Meumque Jus–“God and MY RIGHT.” You won’t find these wicked doctrines in the Bible, friend. The god who lets you worship YOUR RIGHT is the devil. And by this he creates war upon war, both small scale (family feuds, gang wars, race wars) and large scale (between countries). Disciples of Jesus are people of peace, they love all men, they choose righteousness and reject evil. Their God is not the author of confusion (chaos), and their God empowers them to lay down their “rights” in self-denial.

Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy, and many do not realize they have been indoctrinated into his ways through public school, television, video games, and patriotism/war propaganda. Pastors who are not truly serving the Lord are corrupting the truth by mixing it with satan’s doctrines; lukewarm people who love their own lives eat it up. Such churches are apostate; their tables are covered with vomit rather than Bread. We must renew our minds in the Word of God to understand the Lord’s will, not trusting our souls to anyone, not even pastors or church people.

Opposing Kingdoms–The Clay Pyramid vs the Cubic City of Gold & Precious stones

Jesus’ kingdom is revolutionary. It is the opposite of the devil’s kingdom. And it has and will thoroughly destroy the devil’s kingdom.

Satan deceives and conquers the whole earth by making people victims and then encouraging them to fight for their perceived rights. As people step on and deceive one another to procure what they think they deserve, they become more and more like satan. Together they build the pyramid kingdom as depicted on the US dollar. The illuminated eye at the top represents Lucifer, that false angel of light, deceiving the whole world. The bricks just beneath the eye are the top rulers of the world, who crave power. They are answerable to the eye; and yes, those at the top know and admit they worship Lucifer. The bricks further down might be corporations and entities that also serve the powerful–such as Monsanto (perverting the food supply), Big Pharma (destroying bodies and minds through drugs), the entertainment industry (corrupting values) and the military industrial complex (making a few powerful people very rich and depopulating the world). The bricks on the bottom are the average Joes, searching for an elusive “peace” in various vices while trying to survive. Each person in this pyramid is a slave to his own sin and lust. As you climb up the levels, the people are more and more rich and powerful, having received “benefits” from satan in return for their doing his destroying and deceiving work. Note that pyramids are made of clay–the flesh of man–and this kingdom is built by fleshly men trying to save their lives in this world.  HOW GREAT WILL BE THE FALL OF THIS KINGDOM.

Jesus builds His kingdom as people come and lay down their lives, as living stones, upon the temple foundation He and the apostles/prophets have already laid (Eph. 2:19-22). This beautiful King, unlike Lucifer who elevates himself to exploit and sit atop others, has humbly laid down His life at the very bottom. Think about that–the eye at the top, vs the Corner Stone at the bottom. Do you understand this, friends? He laid down His life so that we could come and lay down on that solid foundation, finally finding rest in His humility (Matt. 11:28-30). There is no earthly king like Him, for earthly kings must rule by force.

Although it was not robbery to be equal with God, Jesus emptied Himself. In this redemptive act, He became the Chief Cornerstone upon which His temple kingdom would be built. The apostles and prophets, walked in His steps, in love for their King. A firm foundation was laid by their self-denial. As people are born again and translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of Light, they each come and lay down their lives. They become walls and pillars in the house of God. There is no stepping on one another in this kingdom, no deceiving others and being deceived, no fighting for rights. Instead there is speaking truth, refusing to align with wickedness, loving even enemies til it hurts, being faithful to the death, caring for the poor and needy, considering others better than themselves, washing one another’s feet. This kingdom is gloriously revealed in Revelation 21, made of precious stones and gold, gloriously illuminated throughout by God Himself. I encourage you to read that chapter. Those precious stones are the saints of God. They are not made of clay–as in the pyramid–because they are not carnal; their flesh has been crucified with Christ. They have been tested by fire, and their faith stood the test.  THIS KINGDOM WILL NEVER END.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil. 2:5-11)

Satan said, “I will ascend and I will rule.” (Isa. 14:13)

Jesus said, “I will make myself of no reputation, take the form of a servant, humble myself, and become obedient to the point of death–even the cross.”

Paul instructs, “Let this same mind be in you.” What mind?–The mind of the One who humbled Himself and let Himself suffer for others.

Peter said we are to endure grief and suffering wrongfully because we were called to follow the exact example of Jesus (I Pet. 2:19-23).

It seems all the witnesses in Scripture agree with Jesus, if most churches do not.

Which kingdom are you in? It’s not what you profess, but what you do, that determines which kingdom you are in. If you are participating in or condoning the ways of Lucifer, you are in his kingdom and are marked as his. Do not be deceived.

Legitimate Use of Force

There is a biblical place for the use of force–by earthly rulers–to restrain evil (Rom. 13:1-7). In general, earthly man rejects God’s law. Those who won’t be ruled by God must be ruled by SOMETHING. Worldly governmental authorities are therefore ordained by God, in His sovereignty, even those which behave unjustly. These authorities will be held accountable for how they used their power. They are to use it only to punish evil and encourage good. But alas, worldly authorities are but men, corruptible as other men. Power corrupts almost everyone. And this is why there are “bad cops” and “unjust judges” and criminals running for president. It is also why all the kingdoms of earth are doomed.

Christian Non-resistance

The disciple of Jesus does not support earthly revolution against wicked governments, because we are to submit to the authorities in every way unless/until they command us to disobey God (this does not mean we can’t testify that what they do is evil.) We are commanded to be peacemakers and to love our enemies. The disciple allows his pockets to be picked by heavy taxes, knowing his treasure is not laid up on the earth. He does not seek a position of power that will necessitate violence, knowing that he is called to another task–evangelizing the whole world and leading people out of satan’s doomed kingdoms into God’s everlasting kingdom. (This is hard for some to accept, yet the witness of the early church is that early Christians refused to be magistrates, soldiers, etc. In this way, they were able to keep themselves from the inevitable corruption found in these places.)

Note that Christians are not “pacifists” if defined as “passive in the face of evil.” They are warriors in the spirit, using spiritual weapons to overcome evil, just as Jesus taught them. As good soldiers, they endure hardship, but they are not destroyers of men’s souls.

Conclusion

As long as men believe themselves to be victims who deserve to pay back their enemies, the increase in violence everywhere will continue. Violence by the common man against authorities, police brutality, race wars, military occupations, revolutions, and more. The end will come “as in the days of Noah.” Remember the earth was filled with violence in those days (Gen. 6:11). Isn’t that what we are seeing now?

We have all been victimized, and honestly ARE BEING victimized daily by those who rule from the top levels of the pyramid. Yet the gospel allows no victim mentality— it creates victors who achieve victory not by destroying enemies, but by embracing the cross. If you are still a victim, you have not yet embraced the gospel that sets men free. When I look at the chaos in this world, I see that this gospel is THE ONLY WAY out of the chaos. Only individuals can find and take this way out; whole nations will never find it. Nations will continue on the path of destruction–do not follow them.

Satan slyly creates the world-wide chaos in order to bring about his remedy of totalitarian rule, because he seeks power to stamp out Christianity and win the battle against Christ. He can’t win, but may be deceived to the point that he thinks he can. The only way to keep your hands clean is to opt out of the world’s ways entirely, and truly walk in the faith and steps of Jesus. When you are de-programmed of satanic doctrine through faith in the Word of God, you will find that you are standing very much alone. You will be condemned by most professing Christians. Do it anyway.

When Jesus speaks peace to your heart, reminding you that He has overcome this world, you’ll find a peculiar and wonderful rest in believing Him. Threatenings will continue all around you, yet you will be secure because your life is hidden with Christ in God. You won’t need to overthrow anyone else because you will be elevated, as Paul wrote, to sit in heavenly places. (Eph. 2:6) Do not fear men who can only kill the body, but fear God. Or as Leonard Ravenhill said, “He who fears God fears no man.” This is the way out of victimhood and violence.  The person who is crucified with Christ cannot be made a victim regardless of his race, nationality, gender or station. Wash your mind from the doctrines of devils that encourage you to live and die by the sword, as beasts. Run from the devil’s kingdom and enter the kingdom of God, where only righteousness dwells!

Two Kingdoms

The following was written by my friend Steve Thomas, and is posted here with his permission.

The Bible Describes TWO KINGDOMS – We each belong, individually, to one, or the other:

1.) The Kingdom of Heaven & God (in and amongst the disciples of Jesus)
2.) The Power of Darkness (operating in the ‘children of disobedience’).
.
Many proponents of Christian Zionism & Messianic Judaism would have us believe the primary distinction on the earth, is between Israel and the nations – Jews and Gentiles – as it was under the Old Covenant. It seems many are living according to the terms of the former covenant still (which is a bit embarrassing if not fatal) as it has been displaced (by God!) – replaced with the New Covenant, 1984 years ago.)
.
Jesus came to lift humanity from the flesh (fallen & mortal) to the spirit (righteous & eternal in Christ). Opponents, some operating in an antichrist spirit, tend to demean anything that (as they say) ‘spiritualizes’ the physical. They complain when Christians ‘spiritualize the promises’. By this, it is usually meant, allegorizing, or making into an imaginary thing or an unreal thing. And normally, in a bid to defend the political / military / cultural restoration of Israel as the center-piece of God’s (alleged) intentions today.

But the work of God is done in the Spirit, by His Spirit, in union with the born again spirits of regenerated saints of God. God *is* a Spirit. Those who worship him must do so in Spirit and truth – not now in the mountain of Zion on earth, nor in the derelict & non-existent remains of the former stone temple. Flesh and blood will not inherit the Kingdom of God – but only those who have been born of the Spirit – born again in the image of the heavenly man – Jesus Christ, (not the earthy man – the ‘first Adam’).
.
The Apostle John described the antichrist spirit. Much is written and said about ‘the antichrist’, but in fact we have noticed there are only four references to antichrist/s in the entire Bible, in just three passages – all of them in the first two epistles of John. In a nutshell, the antichrist spirit works in tandem with human antichrists – basically anybody who denies the Deity and Lordship of Jesus Christ, or operates in another spirit contrary to the gospel and truth of Jesus.
.
Jesus knows those who are his – those who love him and talk with him, and draw off his wisdom, living in his Spirit, in communion with him in their regenerated spirits, in reverence for God. These are the ‘chosen people’ of God – his own children – those who walk now after the Spirit, not after the flesh – not according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience.
.
John the Baptist was very clear in his warnings to Israelites and Judeans, (and anyone who would listen) to not even say within themselves that they had Abraham as their father. The very thing that many today in the CZ / MJ movement are placing at *top priority* – John, the greatest prophet of the Old Covenant (according to Jesus) – told us effectively to not even THINK! – let alone to teach it as a central and primary doctrine, defining our fellowships according to this criteria – emblazoning it across our ministry materials.
.
Faith in Jesus is the only given way to God. The only way to be his child. It is the way of the CROSS – not the way of the blue & white HEXAGRAM!
.
It is said that God is displaying his power and glory in the nation of Israel today – that this nation is his chosen vessel to honor and sanctify his name. Whereas we do not single out Israel for particular opprobrium amongst other nations of this fallen world, and whereas we maintain a positive outlook towards her citizens – holding out the hand of friendship; There is no recognition (amongst CZ/MJ groups) that any application of such statements regarding her elevated position in the eyes of God, in the bible, pertains specifically to the former nation under the old covenant, leading up to Christ. Little or no recognition is in evidence that the planned SHIFT **from Judah to Christ** occurred at his first coming (Genesis 49:10) – and now unto HIM is the gathering of the people – all people.
.
Jesus said his kingdom is *not of this world* – not from here. (I think he meant it.) He said this in Jerusalem – in front of the Roman world power of the day and the gathered Jewish leaders seeking his demise – Almost his last and final statement before his death. Thus removing all grounds from the ones who seek to establish a power structure, or physical kingdom, on this earth, in the present age (- and certainly not in his name!).
.
Two kingdoms: We each either belong to Jesus, or to Satan. God, or the devil. The way to tell, is to ask somebody who is their Lord – their God. Who do they worship? Who/what do they live for? [and, what do they primarily focus on in conversation, private reading, viewing, conference attendance etc?] If they say Jesus Christ, (in public,) chances are they belong to the Kingdom of God (if they are living for God in the secret place as well – relying on the blood of Jesus for their eternal justification before our righteous God.)
.
But Israel, as a corporate secular entity, is no way even *remotely* in submission to Jesus Christ. Thus, sadly, she is (predominantly) under the power of darkness – satan – the devil – the god of this age – the spirit of antichrist. Of course the grace of God *is* towards her, and her citizens – grace upon grace – an open way to be restored to right standing for each and every one.
.
I have managed to identify just 2 Members of the Knesset in Israel who self-declare as Christian, out of a total of 120.

=> Basel Ghattas – an Arab Christian from Rameh
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basel_Ghattas
=> Hana Sweid, an Arab Christian from near Nazareth.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hana_Sweid
.
Whereas this is a good thing – being thankful for their presence – How is Israel, in truth, especially in it’s Jewish aspect, remotely the nation of God? With zero Christian Jewish presence (as far as I can tell – please correct and I will edit without hesitation).
.
Can we imagine the entire collective of Judah returning from exile in Babylon, in complete denial of the Lord who sent them to the nations to purge them of their sins, and humble them to bring them back to himself? (which did happen as described – in fact, this the given reason for the God-defined *biblical* Diaspora.)
.
What happened to the Israelites leaving Egypt? That entire generation (except faithful Joshua & Caleb) fell in the desert, in their negation of the work of God in their midst. What has changed? Why are Christian Zionists and Christian lovers of Israel not issuing forth clear & persistent warnings to the nation they love – to not fall after the same example of disbelief? As if it matters not a jot. Preferring instead to post anti-Arab propaganda, support for militarism, technology, and Israeli political prowess. Fawning over the marvellous Bibi Netanyahu, Lieberman & co. (like they are Zerubbabel, Ezra and Jeshua…. or Moses, Joshua and Caleb)
.
God is the same yesterday, today and forever. His calling and drawing of men is as it always was. If God would simply convert a nation en masse, would he not have done so at Pentecost? *The gospel* was given as the power of God unto salvation – then as now. There is no indication this will change between now and the day of the Lord, at his coming in power and glory to judge the world – the living and the resurrected dead.
.
I dare to say the Christian Zionist Israel-centred paradigm is flawed in far too many places to stand up. Nobody seems to be willing to come forward to hold a decent conversation to show the veracity and clarity of the biblical foundations of this belief system against even the most moderately presented questions. Try as we might, whenever we almost embarrassingly are duty bound to expose false claims, misapplications of prophecy, the clearly mistaken context of OT statements cut and pasted over today’s nation – the protagonists generally evaporate. Delete then block. The power of deception must be very strong, as doors are bolted, and barricades erected against the biblical truth, when it is laid out with genuine respect and care and friendship.

Steve Thomas. 17.12.14

Dispensational Zionism Prooftexts Examined Part 1: Ezekiel 34 & 36

I will be examining some Old Testament prooftexts often used to undergird blanket Christian support for the modern state of Israel today (regardless of the nation’s obedience or disobedience to God). If you haven’t read the introduction, you can read it here.

Ezekiel prophesied to Israel (and its surrounding nations) from about 593-571 BC while he himself was already captive in Babylon. Two of his contemporaries were Daniel and Jeremiah. The capture of Jerusalem occurred at Eze. 33:21. Prior to this point, Ezekiel primarily prophesied of destruction and judgment to his people (with some exceptions), but after this point (in chapter 34), he began to prophesy of hope and restoration.

Before we get into Eze. 34 & 36, I would like to note a previous passage which directly follows the capture of Jerusalem:

Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “Son of man, they who inhabit those ruins in the land of Israel are saying, ‘Abraham was only one, and he inherited the land. But we are many; the land has been given to us as a possession.’ “Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “You eat meat with blood, you lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood. Should you then possess the land? You rely on your sword, you commit abominations, and you defile one another’s wives. Should you then possess the land?”’ (33:23-26)

The inhabitants of Israel felt that the land was owed them due to their connection with Abraham, and the fact that it had been given to them by God in time past. (Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? The same idea persisted in New Testament times, and still persists today.) They trusted in their heritage, their numbers and their swords. But God rebuked them for this, and pointed out their sin as the reason they should NOT NOW possess the land. They would need to repent of their sins first, as outlined in the conditions of the covenant outlined in Deut. 30! Even though God was about to begin prophesying hope to the Israelites who would repent during exile, their present day condition kept them from being in covenant with God. This is important because God always deals with people in the present tense. God does not reward sinners who are now in sin, or covenant-breakers who have not repented, even if He knows they will repent in the future.

Now let’s look at some of the promises of Israel’s restoration after judgment, written by Ezekiel, to see if they refer to what we are seeing in the Middle East today. For the sake of space, I will insert links to the passages.

Ezekiel 34:11-31

Here God promises that He will seek for His sheep and gather them out of the countries to feed them on the mountains of Israel. He will establish one Shepherd over them, whom He calls “My Servant David.” This prophecy was historically fulfilled in the natural. First, God brought many humbled exiles back from Babylon during the times of Ezra and Nehemiah (approx. 458-445 BC), and reestablished His relationship with them. This enabled Jesus to arrive on the scene in Bethlehem at a later time in history (when the Jews were once again occupied and largely apostate). Jesus then announced Himself as the “Good Shepherd” and became the fulfillment of “My Servant David.” As the son of David, He assumed David’s throne (where He sits forever), and manifested Himself as the Shepherd/King of Israel. His earthly ministry was primarily to the House of natural Israel, with some notable exceptions (as it pleased the Lord to give the New Covenant gospel to the Jew first, then to the Gentiles who would be grafted in), and Acts 2 records a great influx of Jewish converts who were gathered into the “sheepfold” of Jesus, from all nations, on the Day of Pentecost. So this prophecy has nothing to do with the modern state of Israel. It was fulfilled!

Ezekiel 36

Here God promises that the nations that plundered Israel during her captivity will bear their shame, and Israel will once again be fruitful. He reminds the prophet that it was Israel’s sin that induced Him to scatter them throughout the nations, and that He was not bringing them back because they deserved it (even the repentant do not deserve blessing), but for His Name’s sake. Again, this was fulfilled historically during the times of Ezra and Nehemiah! The exiles came back repentant, and Neh. 9 records their repentance while wearing sackcloth. Neh. 13 details how the people listened to the law and obeyed it, Nehemiah rebuking their sins and cleansing them of “everything pagan.”

Ezra 6:21-22 states:

Then the children of Israel who had returned from the captivity ate together with all who had separated themselves from the filth of the nations of the land in order to seek the Lord God of Israel. And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy; for the Lord made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

Please note that the repentant Israelites at this time were succeeding because the Lord Himself was fighting for them. He was turning the heart of the pagan king to favor and help them. They were not trusting in military might. Their repentance was real, as they had “separated themselves from the filth of the nations in order to seek the Lord.” They were a meek (and weak) people inheriting the land not by might or power, but by God’s Spirit.

Later, when the prophet Ezra was bringing some families back from Babylon, he was ashamed to ask the pagan king for military protection on the way, for he had testified to him, “The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.” (8:22) Obviously, Ezra understood the promise of Israel’s restoration to be conditional! The people humbled themselves and fasted and prayed for God to protect them, and He did so. (When God is truly on your side, you don’t need an “iron dome”!)

Returning to Ezek. 36, let us look at some specific verses which are often misapplied to the modern state of Israel today:

‘Thus says the Lord God: “On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will also enable you to dwell in the cities, and the ruins shall be rebuilt. The desolate land shall be tilled instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass by. So they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.’ Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate. I, the Lord, have spoken it, and I will do it.” (36:33-36)

The misapplication generally sounds something like this: “The land of Israel was a desert while under the control of the Palestinians. Then once (modern) Israel came, it became like the garden of Eden again.” There is just one problem. This prophecy was already fulfilled in the days of Nehemiah and Ezra! It has nothing to do with the modern nation of Israel, which has been founded through theft and bloodshed (as most, if not all, modern nations are.)

Notice that God stated as a prerequisite to the desolate land becoming fruitful again, that He would “cleanse you from all your iniquities”! We have lots of evidence that in Ezra and Nehemiah’s day, the people were repentant and open to hearing/obeying the Word of the Lord. Thus God forgave their sins and blessed them in the land once again under the Old Covenant. We have absolutely no evidence at all that modern day Israel is in this repentant state which precedes being cleansed from iniquities.  In fact, many citizens of modern Israel are atheists, and most of those who believe in God deny Jesus Christ (so they do not have the Father either–I Jn. 2:23.) There are certainly individuals within her borders who know and love Messiah Jesus. This is in keeping with New Testament Scripture that confirms there will be a remnant of Jews saved, and Paul named himself as a prime example. But we have no New Testament Scripture saying the entire earthly nation or ethnic group will be saved. (In Romans 9 – 11 and elsewhere, Paul makes clear that there are 2 Israels, one after the flesh and one after the Spirit. Only the spiritual Israel, made up of Jews and grafted-in Gentiles, will be entirely saved by grace through faith. See here.)

In summary, when dispensational zionists offer proof-texts like these to claim that the modern state of Israel is a fulfillment of Bible prophecy (a claim that almost always leads to disobedience to the New Testament through fellowship with darkness, military involvement, etc.), we need to remember the following:

1. Deut. 30 outlines the conditions of re-inhabiting the land. Modern Israel has not met the conditions, so the promise cannot apply to them (even if the Old Covenant was still in effect.)

2. The prophecies of Ezekiel 34 & 36 were fulfilled in the natural during the times of Ezra and Nehemiah. The exiles of this time period met the conditions required to re-inhabit the land under the Old Covenant (repentance/obedience/faith in God).

3. The prophecies were fulfilled notwithstanding Israel, at that time, had no organized army!

4. Since that time, the Old Covenant has been replaced by the New Covenant (Heb. 8:13), which has better promises. There will never be a return to the Old Covenant, and those who attempt to return to it are under a curse. It is those who have faith in Jesus Christ who will be blessed with Abraham (Gal. 3:9-11) and counted as his children (Rom. 9:7-8; Jn. 8:39; Gal. 3:29).

God bless you as you study the Word and seek after God’s heart!

Named Israel, Named Sodom and Gomorrah

The name Israel seems to have several interrelated meanings, such as “May God prevail” and “He struggles with God” and “God rules” and “One who prevails with God” and “A prince with God.” It was given to Jacob after he struggled with the Angel of the Lord, was overcome by Him, and yet received the blessing of the Lord through perseverance. It became the name of a nation that was originally ruled by God until that nation decided it wanted earthly kings like other nations–a decision which God declared was a rejection of Him. Over a period of many years, individuals were “cut off from Israel” when they rejected His rule. They may not have always been forcibly and visibly evicted from the land, but God always knew who was His. Those who were truly His were the “Israel of God.” Those who were not truly His were merely the “Israel after the flesh.”

The blessing of Israel–and name change– comes to all those who struggle with God and learn to be mastered by Him. Many Gentiles were grafted into the true Vine of Israel (Jesus) under the Old Testament/Covenant. From the time Israel left Egypt with Egyptians in tow, to the saving of Rahab’s family in Jericho, to the grafting in of Ruth the Moabitess–by the time Christ walked the earth, there were already many “proselytes”–Gentile followers of the God of Israel. Though they were not native born, they were considered Israelites and Jews. The laws were the same for the native born or the “stranger,” and the stranger was considered one of God’s people unless he violated God’s covenant (Num. 15:30; Josh. 8:32-34). Strangers were to be well treated and accepted as “one born among you” (Lev. 19:33-34; Deut. 10:19). In fact, Israelites were to help strangers live among them if they desired to (Lev. 25:35), and anyone who perverted the justice due the stranger would be cursed (Deut. 27:19).

After Jesus’ death and resurrection, Paul and Barnabas eventually declared that most Jews had judged themselves unworthy of everlasting life, and that they would now turn their full attention to the Gentiles. This was not the first time Gentile branches were grafted into the Olive Tree, but it did throw open the door wider than ever before. Mobilized by the great commission and persecution, Jewish believers and their Gentile converts began to spread out and preach with great boldness the way into the Kingdom of God (God’s Israel). And the predominantly Jewish writers of the New Testament gave us many teachings that clear up the misconceptions many Jews had adopted and were teaching others–namely that their physical lineage to Abraham gave them special rights with God. They taught the spiritual nature of the Israel of God, the heavenly Jerusalem contrasted with the earthly, and how a true Jew has a circumcised heart.

Listen to what our brother John wrote:

He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. (Rev. 3:12)

Those who “overcome” (like Jacob/Israel) will become pillars in God’s temple, nevermore to leave it! And what name is written on them?–“New Jerusalem.”

But what about those who do not overcome? What about those of natural Israel who do not struggle with God and persevere through trial to receive the blessing of God?

Jeremiah spoke of natural Israel’s sin extensively.  I have just completed a study of Jeremiah 1-23, and the following is a quick survey of those chapters, showing what natural Israel looked like to God while in disobedience:

Israel’s sin was marked before God (2:22) and He had divorced them (3:8), but would remain married only to the remnant who would return to Him (3:14). They had perverted their way (3:21) and only repentance could save them (4:14). Should He not avenge Himself on such a nation as this (5:9, 29), in spite of their insistence that He never would? (5:12-13)

Were they not deceitful, greedy, and unconcerned with the needs of the fatherless and the needy? (5:25-31) Was this not a city to be punished, full of oppression and welling up with wickedness? (6:6-7) Didn’t they have uncircumcised ears, and didn’t they have no delight in God’s Word ?(6:10) Weren’t they given to covetousness (6:13) and unashamed of their sins (6:15)?

The Lord rejects them, declares the prophet! (6:30) Did they think they could steal, murder, commit adultery and worship false gods and then use God’s name, saying, “We are delivered to do all these abominations?” (7:9-10) Hadn’t God already shown He would punish a land where He put His name if the people were wicked? (6:12)

Wasn’t it obedience God wanted (7:23)? Yet this nation would not obey (7:28). They instead held fast to deceit (8:7). They claimed the law of God was with them while they, in fact, rejected God’s Word (8:8-9). “Peace, peace,” they cried, but how can there be peace to wicked people who aren’t even ashamed of their sins? (8:11-12)

The natural vine/fig tree is barren, and the things God gave them shall pass away from them! (8:13) God’s devouring horses of judgment would come to destroy them (8:14-16).

They were not valiant for truth (9:3) and refused to know God (9:6). God would scatter them among the nations and send a sword after them (9:16) in hopes that they would learn to mourn appropriately for their sin, and come to understand and know God in truth (8:20-24). For every uncircumcised heart will be punished, regardless of nationality! (9:25-26).

The inhabitants of the land would be thrown out (10:18), for those who don’t obey God’s covenant are CURSED not blessed (11:1-5). Without repentance and obedience, the olive tree would have branches broken off, and there would be DOOM pronounced on what God had planted (11:6-17–compare this to the olive tree teaching of Romans 11). God would fill them with drunkenness and destroy them (13:12-14), and no prayer, fasting, or offerings made for them would help (14:11-12). Because their hearts were determined to sin, they would lose the heritage God previously gave them! (17:1-4) All who forsake God will be ashamed (17:13).

Obedience would cause the city to remain forever (17:25) but disobedience would bring an unquenchable fire (17:27). For the Potter is sovereign, and His blessing on a nation is conditional and revocable (18:1-10). The people had made Israel “an alien place” and filled it with innocent blood (19:4-5), thus the vessel would be broken by the Potter (19:11). God Himself would fight against them (21:5) because of their sin (21:12-14). The “house” would become a desolation (22:5–fulfilled according to Jesus in Matt. 23:38 after the nation, as a whole, again rejected God).

Woe to those who build by unrighteousness and injustice (22:13); for truly knowing God is doing righteousness and justice, and caring for the poor and needy (22:15-16). God would pluck the unrepentant off and cast them out (22:24-26). Even the shepherds, prophets and priests were profane, and their wickedness was found “in God’s house” (23:1-11). The hands of evildoers are strengthened by them, so that none repent; ALL OF THEM ARE LIKE SODOM TO ME, AND HER INHABITANTS LIKE GOMORRAH (23:14).

I will stop here at this climax in Jer. 23:14, in which the prophet declares that what was supposed to be “Israel” is actually like Sodom and Gomorrah to God. Why? God calls it like He sees it, dear friends. Those who sin like the devil are “children of the devil”–not children of Abraham, nor children of God (John 8:41-44). Those who sin like Sodom and Gomorrah are like Sodom and Gomorrah to Him. Even if He has at one time placed His name on a person/place, He will destroy that person/place if obedience is not maintained. There is no racial once-saved-always-saved. There is no national once-saved-always-saved. There is no “once an Israelite, always an Israelite” if we are talking about the Israel of God. The land of God has always been able to vomit out transgressors, and always will be. There is no blessing once procured from the Potter that makes a vessel immune to His wrath, should that vessel later reject His authority. You can be “Israel” one day, and “Sodom” the next, if you turn away from the Living God.

The Old and New Testament prophets knew this and declared it to their countrymen, despite the hatred and persecution it brought upon them.

In light of this, what shall we think of the modern state of Israel, which is growing and maintaining its border with theft, lies, oppression, and bloodshed? Should we “bless” them? Should we defend what they do, or help them do it? Should we malign those who call for justice and righteousness, and silence those who expose their wicked works (as the prophets did)? Should we believe and profess that God is doing a great work there through guns and bombs and savagery? God forbid! The name of “Israel” is not for the wicked. The name of “the New Jerusalem” is not for thieves and murderers, but for overcomers who have learned to lay down their own lives for Jesus and His righteous kingdom (Rev. 3:12). Those of the synagogue of satan, who say they are Jews but are not, but lie–they are known by their works!! Even if your eschatology allows for an end-times revival of Jews, surely this group of evil-doers called “zionists” is NOT THAT, and must not ever receive the blessing of the saints so long as wicked works are done by them.

In closing, I want to draw your attention to Rev. 11:8–

And their dead bodies (the bodies of the two witnesses) will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

Now, which city is here called spiritually Sodom and Egypt? In which city was our Lord crucified? Was it not Jerusalem? And by what right does our brother John rename the earthly Jerusalem “Sodom and Egypt” spiritually? Think about that, friends. Often what the world accepts as a “holy place” is a hotbed of idolatry and the very seat of satan. The time is upon us that believers must worship God in Spirit and truth, not on this mountain or that mountain (Jn. 4:21-24).

May God help us to be faithful to the truth, and to continue in true righteousness as we abide in Jesus.

He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” him the people will curse; nations will abhor him. But those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them. (Prov. 24:24-25)

Be Strong and Do Exploits

And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.   And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.  (Dan. 11:32-33)

These passages appear to have been fulfilled by Antiochus Epiphanes, who took the kingdom of Syria in 175 BC by stealth and flatteries and proceeded to wage war against Egypt. After being routed by the Romans in his endeavors against Egypt, he took Judea and began to act out his hatred against the Jewish people and their covenant. Concerning this, Matthew Henry writes and directs us to the histories of the Maccabees–

He [Antiochus] had a rooted antipathy to the Jews’ religion: His heart was against the holy covenant, v. 28. And (v. 30) he had indignation against the holy covenant, that covenant of peculiarity by which the Jews were incorporated a people distinct from all other nations, and dignified above them. He hated the law of Moses and the worship of the true God, and was vexed at the privileges of the Jewish nation and the promises made to them…He carried on his malicious designs against the Jews by the assistance of some perfidious apostate Jews. He kept up intelligence with those that forsook the holy covenant (v. 30), some of the Jews that were false to their religion, and introduced the customs of the heathen, with whom they made a covenant. See the fulfilling of this, 1 Mac. 1:11-15 , where it is expressly said, concerning those renegado Jews, that they made themselves uncircumcised and forsook the holy covenant. We read (2 Mac. 4:9 ) of Jason, the brother of Onias the high priest, who by the appointment of Antiochus set up a school at Jerusalem, for the training up of youth in the fashions of the heathen; and (2 Mac. 4:23 , etc.) of Menelaus, who fell in with the interests of Antiochus, and was the man that helped him into Jerusalem, now in his last return from Egypt. We read much in the book of the Maccabees of the mischief done to the Jews by these treacherous men of their own nation, Jason and Menelaus, and their party. These upon all occasions he made use of. “Such as do wickedly against the covenant, such as throw up their religion, and comply with the heathen, he shall corrupt with flatteries, to harden them in their apostasy, and to make use of them as decoys to draw in others,’’ v. 32. Note, It is not strange if those who do not live up to their religion, but in their conversations do wickedly against the covenant, are easily corrupted by flatteries to quit their religion. Those that make shipwreck of a good conscience will soon make shipwreck of the faith.

This passage and this history still speaks today. It was written for our learning, that we too might have hope when we see evil prevailing against the people of God for a time (Rom. 15:4).  There are those who profess to know God, but in works deny Him (Titus 1:16), and these persecute the people of God as Cain persecuted Abel. They do wickedly against the covenant, forsaking the One whose blood was shed to save them, bringing reproach to His name though they sometimes pretend to honor Him.  These are easily corrupted by the flatteries of antichrist (John testifies that there are many antichrists already among us–I John 2:18), not enduring sound doctrine, but having itching ears for doctrines that suit their own particular lusts (2 Tim. 4:3-4).  How conveniently can satan and his children exploit these apostates, using them to hurt the faithful, with lies making the heart of the righteous sad by strengthening the hands of the wicked (Ezek. 13:22).  Even more, under strong delusion, they throw the faithful out of the churches, and even kill them, thinking they do God a service (John 16:2).  Brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death (Matt. 10:21).  Thus shall many people of God fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.

But he that endures to the end shall be saved. They endure the temptation to fall away, and hold fast to what they have, letting no man take their crown. They endure the onslaught of false doctrines and the mockery of false Christians, persevering in the truth.  They endure affliction with the people of God rather than enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season (Heb. 11:25.) They endure in faith, trusting that whatever happens to their nation, God has them in His sights;  they know they are worth more to Him than many sparrows.  They set their hearts thus:  that though there be no blessing in fruit or flock, yet they will joy in God’s great salvation (Hab. 3:17-18); and though God slay them, yet they will trust Him and maintain righteousness before Him (Job13:15). They that endure all things with patience possess their own souls (Luke 21:19).

These are the people who understand, and God shall be their strength, and they will do exploits. They shall not be corrupted by flatteries, but in humility and dependence before their God, they will be safe. While the world wonders after beastly kingdoms and their savage subjugations, these who understand will rest in hope, knowing that they belong to the unassailable Kingdom of God. They will be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing their labor is not in vain (I Cor. 15:58).  They will stand before governors and kings and deliver the message that God gives them.  Despite the threats of sword, flame, captivity and spoil, they shall instruct many by their words and deeds, wisely winning souls while there is yet time. And should they be plundered of their earthly goods, they understand that many of their brethren were likewise destitute, afflicted, tormented (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. (Heb. 11:3-38)  And should they be called upon to do the greatest exploit of all–that is, to love not their own lives to the death–they do so willingly, knowing that to live is Christ, but to die is gain;  and whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s (Rom. 14:8).

God bless you.

The King’s Meat and Wine

Before Daniel faced the lions’ den, and his three Hebrew friends faced the fiery furnace, they all faced and resisted the temptation of the king’s meat and wine.

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. (Dan. 1:8)

Have you ever wondered how you might handle intense persecution?  I suggest that we will be better equipped to handle such times if we live lives of consecrated devotion now, refusing to indulge ourselves in the king’s meat and wine right now.

What is the king’s meat and wine?

When these four young men found themselves captives in Babylon, a land of idol worshipers, King Nebuchadnezzar wanted them nourished with his own meat and wine for three years while they were being educated in the ways and culture of the Chaldeans.  Likewise, while we are strangers in a strange land, satan would like us to fill up with his “meat and wine” while he attempts to get us to forget our homeland, that is “the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God“– the “better…heavenly country” to which we look (Heb. 11:10, 16)

During our sojourn here, we will be faced with many spiritual battles. Daily we dine on spiritual food; the question is whose spiritual food?

Jesus said we must eat His flesh and drink His blood (partake of the Word of God) to have life, and such as do this dwell in Him (John 6:53-56). To dwell in Him is to abide in Him, as a branch must abide in the Vine to have life and produce fruit (John 15.) Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matt. 4:4) And if ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed, and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:31-32) This is the same God who said, “I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.”  (Psa. 81:10)

There is a table of God from which His sheep can expect a continual feast. He gives us green pastures, still waters, and a constant provision  even in the presence of our enemies (Psa. 23). But there is also a table of demons from which the devil, the god of this world, will tempt us to eat.

The things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.   Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.  (I Cor. 10:20-21)

Gentiles here is indicative of those outside the covenant of God, or unbelievers, for a true Jew is one who has had his heart circumcised (Rom. 2:29). What are the sacrifices of unbelievers or Gentiles? Ungodly conversations, un-edifying music, ungodly movies and television shows, and all manner of wicked entertainments and vain pastimes designed to fill us with the wrong “food.”  The children of the devil produce the fruits of the devil; these they lay upon the table of demons, essentially sacrificing to devils. We are naive if we think we can indulge in these sacrifices–even in the more “innocent” of these–and not be changed. Many Christians indulge themselves in “harmless” entertainments as a way of life, and by them become spiritually lazy and weak, gradually falling from their first love and becoming lukewarm in their affections for God.  Such are in the gravest of spiritual dangers. Should intense persecution come upon them in this state of self-indulgence, they would likely fall away entirely!

What made Daniel desire to eat only vegetables and water while he was in training in the king of Babylon’s house?  Although his life was in no immediate danger, there was much to seek the Lord about. His people had experienced great tragedy and overthrow due to their apostasy from the Lord.  I believe Daniel was choosing to deny himself the king’s meat and wine so that he could be as spiritually fit as possible for whatever trials lay ahead, not only to help himself but to help his people–who were very much on his heart, judging by the powerful petition he offered on their behalf (Dan. 9). The prayers of this righteous man were so  effective that an angel was dispatched from heaven to speak with him!  When the temptation to desist from his life of prayer became a choice between prayer and the lions’ den, he was ready. He had already denied his own flesh and set his face to seek the Lord, and had received strength from his communion with God to overcome even the fear of death.

Are we not in a similar situation as Daniel? Are we not watching gross apostasy spread through the church even now, taking people captive? Is now the time to indulge ourselves in fleeting pleasures, while there is so much to pray for, so much to seek God about?

Jesus warned His disciples that following Him would mean being hated by the world, certain tribulation, and possible death. But unless a seed goes into the ground and dies, it cannot produce life. The way up is down. The way to grow in power with God is to deny ourselves. In fact, if we don’t deny ourselves, take up our crosses daily and follow Him (He went all the way to death), we cannot be His disciples. We must through much tribulation enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). We must be ready to lose every other important relationship if necessary in order to be faithful to Christ. We must be willing to lose even our very lives, trusting our souls to our faithful Creator.

Thousands upon thousands of disciples have followed the Lord to the end, overcoming the devil by the blood of the Lamb, the word of their testimony, and by loving not their own lives to the death (Rev. 12:11).   Before these martyrs faced executioners, guillotines, and other terrors, they had no doubt first denied themselves the king’s meat and wine.  They had passed by the tables of demons that offered them pleasures galore, and ate instead at the table of God, even if it meant standing alone.  Like Moses, they refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;  choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;  esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt [the world]: for [they] had respect unto the recompence of the reward (Heb. 11:24-26).  

God bless you!

Judgment is Coming on America

Please take a moment to visit this precious fellow-saint’s blog. Truly, Wisdom is still crying out, but so few are listening.  Read, understand, and spread the message far and wide!  God bless you.

Today, as in the days of the early Church, Christians endure persecution on varying levels.  Whether we are hearing news of a precious Saint who was murdered for the cause of Christ, or seeing slurs and racism based upon our political views, we know that all who live godly in Christ WILL suffer persecution.  Yet we cry Wisdom and pray that sinners will repent of their wickedness and find salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

Recently, the state of New York passed a law sanctioning their approval and legalization of homosexual marriage. (Read More)

Desolation

Nations are made “desolate” because of

• Evil doings (Jer 44:22),
• Not listening to God’s word (Jer 22:5),
• Refusing to be instructed by God (Jer 6:8),
• Shedding innocent blood (Joel 3:19),
• Despising God’s judgments and statutes (Lev 26:43),
• Dwelling carelessly (Zeph 2:15),
• Violence (Eze 12:19),
• Trespass (Eze 15:8),
• Killing their babies (Eze 20:26),
• Rebellion against God (Hos 13:16),
• Evil doings reap a harvest of evil (Mic 7:13).

The church is made desolate because of

• Evil pastors (Jer 12:10),
• No man layeth it to heart (Jer 12:11).
• The fierceness of the oppressor and God’s fierce anger.  (Jer 25:38) (Oppressors are promised to the disobedient)
• God due to their wickedness & idolatry (Jer 44:3),
• Refusing to listen to God’s prophets (Jer 44:4-5),
• Refusing to humble themselves and repent of their sins even to this day (Jer 44:10),
• Committing abominations and evil which the Lord can no longer stand (Jer 44:22),
• Refusing to obey the voice of the Lord (Jer 44:23),
• Killing or persecuting God’s prophets and refusing to be gathered to Jesus (Matt 23:34-38).

From Daniel 9, the church is made desolate because of:

• Sin, iniquity, doing wickedly, rebellion, departing from God’s precepts and judgments (vs 5),
• Not listening to God’s prophets (vs 6),
• Trespassing against God (vs 7),
• Not obeying the voice of God or walking in His laws (vs 10),
• Departing from God (vs 11),
• God is faithful to confirm His words by bringing evil on those who disobey (vs 12),
• Not praying a prayer of repentance, turning from iniquity to understand God’s truth (vs 13),
• God is righteous, therefore brings evil upon the unrepentant and disobedient (vs 14).

“Therefore is the sanctuary desolate.” (17)

Individual’s “houses” can be made “desolate” also, according to Acts 1:20, concerning the apostle Judas who by transgression fell away.  In Matt 7:22-29, Jesus taught that it was the man who not only hears the Word but puts it into practice, whose “house” shall not be destroyed.  The “house” is the individual’s life, which shall only be preserved by the one who is careful to do the Word of God.

Compilation of DESOLATION Scriptures for Further Study (KJV)

Lev 26:31 “I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation…”

Lev 26:32 “I will bring the land into desolation and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it.”

Josh 8:28 “Joshua burnt Ai, and made it…even a desolation…”

2 Kin 22:19  “Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, when thou heardeest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and has rent thy clothes, and wept before me;  I also have heard thee, saith the Lord.”

2 Ch 30:7  “And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation…”

Psa 73:19  How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment!  they are utterly consumed with terrors.

Pro 1:27 “When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirl wind; and when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

Pro. 3:25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither o fthe desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.

Isa 10:3  And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far?  to whom will ye flee for help?  and where will ye leave your glory?

Isa 17:9  In that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch, which they left because of the children of Israel;  and there shall be desolation.

Isa 24:12  In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction.

Isa 47:11  Therefore shall evil com upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth:  and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off:  and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know.

Isa 51:19  These two things are come unto thee; who shall be sorry for thee?  desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword:  by whom shall I comfort thee?

Isa 64:10  They holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.

Jer 22:5  But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.

Jer 25:11  And this whol land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment;  and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

Jer 25:18  To wit, Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and the kings thereof, and the princes thereof, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, an hissing, and a curse; asit is this day;

Jer 34:22  “…and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation without an inhabitant.”

Jer 44:2  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel;  Ye have seen all the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, and upon all the cities of Judah;  and, behold, this day they are a desolation, and no man dwelleth therein,

Jer 44:22  So that the LORD could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which ye have committed;  therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without inhabitant as at this day.

Jer 49:13 “…Bozrah shall become a desolation…”

Jer 49:17  “…Edom shall be a desolation…”

Jer 49:33 “…Hazor shall be…a desolation…”

Jer 50:23  “How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken!  how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!”

Jer 51:29  And the land shall tremble and sorrow: for every purpose of the LORD shall be performed against Babylon, to make thaland of Babylon a desoation without an inhabitant.

Jer 51:43  Her cities are a desolation, a dry land, and a wilderness, a land wherein no man dwelleth, neither doth any son of man pass thereby.

Lam 3:47  Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction.

Eze 7:27  “…and the prince shall be clothed with desolation, and the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled:  I will do unto them after their way, and according to their deserts will I judge them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.”

Eze 23:33  Thou shalt be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, with the cup of astonishment and desolation…

Dan 8:13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?

Hos 12:1  ” Ephraim….daily increaseth lies and desolation…”

Joel 3:19  Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.

Micah 6:16  For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation…

Zeph 1:13  Therefore their goods shall become a booty, and their houses a desolation…

Zeph 1:15  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,

Zeph 2:4  For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashhelon a desolation…

Zeph 2:9  Therefore…surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah…a perpetual desolation…

Zeph 2:13  And he will…make Ninevah a desolation and dry like a wilderness

Zeph 2:14  …desolation shall be in the thresholds…

Zeph 2:15  This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how she is become a desolation…

Matt 12:25  And Jesus knew their thoughts and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation;  and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand [also Luke 11:17]

Matt 24:15  When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

Mark 13:14  But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation spoken by Daniel  the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:

Luke 21:20  And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

Compilation of DESOLATE Scriptures (not exhaustive)

Lev 26:22  I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number;  and you high ways shall be desolate.

Lev 26:33 And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land whall be desolate, and your cities waste.

Lev 26:43  The land…shall be left…desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity:  because, even because they despised my judgments, and because their soul abhorred my statutes.

Job 15:34  For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery.

Psa 34:21  Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

Isa 1:7  Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.

Isa 6:11  Then said I, Lord, how long?  And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land utterly desolate

Isa 13:9  Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.

Isa 24:6  Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.

Isa 27:10 Yet the defenced city shall be desolate….

Isa 59:10  We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night;  we are in desolate places as dead men.

Jer 2:12  Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.

Jer 4:7 …he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate…

Jer 4:27  For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate;  yet will I not make a full end.

Jer 6:8  Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.

Jer 9:11  And I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of dragons;  and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, wihout an inhabitant.

Jer 10:25  Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name:  for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.

Jer 12:10  Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.

Jer 12:11 They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate because no man layeth it to heart.

Jer 19:8  And I will make this city desolate…

Jer 25:38  He hath forsaken his covert (tabernacle), as the lion: for their land is desolate because of the fierceness of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger.

Jer 44:6  Wherefore my fury and mine anger was poured forth, and was kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they are wasted and desolate, as at this day.

Lam 1:4  The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to her solemn feasts:  all her gates are desolate:  her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.

Lam 1:16  for these things  weep;    mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me:  my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed.

Lam 4:5  They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets:  they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.

Lam 5:18  Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it.

Eze 6:4  And your altars shall be desolate, and your images shall be broken:  and I will cast down your slain men before your idols. (as a sacrifice?)

Ez 6:6  In all your dwellingplaces the cities shall be laid waste and the high places shall be desolate;  that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols may be broken and cease, and your images may be cut down, and your works may be abolished.

Eze 6:14  So I will stretch out my hand upon them, and make the land desolate…

Eze 12:19  …that her land may be desolate from all that is therein, because of the violence of all of them that dwell therein.

Eze 14:16  Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters;  they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate.

Eze 15:8  And I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord GOD.

Ez 20:26  And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD.

Ez 33:28  For I will lay the land most desolate, and the pomp of her strength shall cease;  and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate, that none shall pass through.

Ez 33:29  then shall they know that I am the LORD, when I have laid the land most desolate because of all their abominations which they have committed.

Ez  35:14  Thus saith the Lord GOD; When the whole earth rejoiceth, I will make thee desolate.

Ez 36:3 (enemies made Israel desolate…rest of chapter gives hope for future of repentant)

Dan 9:17  Now therefore O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake.

Dan 9:27  And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Dan 11:31  And arms shall stand (be employed, serve) on his part and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.

Dan 12:11  And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

Hos 13:16  Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God:….

Joel 1:18  …the flocks of sheep are made desolate.

Joel 2:3  A fire devoureth before them;  and behind them a flame burneth:  the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness;  yea, and nothing shall escape them.

Joel 3:19  …Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.

Amos 7:9  And the high places of Isaac shall be desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste…

Micah 1:7 …and all the idols thereof will I lay desolate…

Micah 6:13  Therefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, in making thee desolate because of thy sins.

Micah 7:13  Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings.

Matt. 23:38  Behold your house is left unto you desolate. (also Luke 13:35)

Acts 1:20 (speaking of Judas, quoting Psalms) …Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein…

Rev 17:16  And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. ( nations will hate the hypocritical religion, expose and destroy her.)

Rev 18:19  And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness!  for in one hour is she made desolate.