War!  We Love It?

                                                                      Dan baxley

                                             www.yahshuaservant.com

Everyone is concerned about the war in Iraq and Afganistan, right? Really? Not really?  If the American people really hated it wouldn't they (we) be pressuring our leaders to put an end to the madness -- not by premature withdrawal but by the ultimate sacrifice -- sacrifice we witness from past history of the American people -- putting evil against humanity back in its hole, back into the abyss where it belongs.  But today the American people seem more concerned with "Health Care" and "gay rights" and "abortion", and personal comforts.  We go along as if noting is happening.  Now we have kids going into battle with hardly a memory about what the Satan inspired Islamic Jihadist did on 9/11.  

How we forget: 

1968 -- a young Muslim male shots and kills Robert Kennedy.

1972 -- Munich, Olympic athletes taken hostage -- murdered by young adult Muslims. 

1979 -- U.S. Embassy of Iran taken hostage -- Muslim youths and other haters.

1983 -- U.S. Marine barracks in Beruit, Lebanon -- Muslim youth.

1985 -- Cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked and a 70 year old, American passenger was murdered and thrown overboard in his wheelchair by.

1985 -- TWA flight 847 was hijacked at Athens , and a US Navy diver trying to rescue passengers was murdered by

1988 --  Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed.  

1993 --  World Trade Center car (truck) bombed -- Muslim cell headed by the "blind Imam".

1998 --  US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed -- Muslim extremist.

2001 -- 9/11

  These dates only represent a small portion of what the Isamic terrorist have been up to but it illustarates the point, a pattern of continuing violence.  We can ignore it, and have been, really, and it will continue. 

  The level of concern demonstrated by the American people during WWI and WWII is far and away greater than what Americans demonstrate today.  Our fathers and mothers sacrificed collectively to destroy and stop the evil of the German Nazis and the Japanese in their efforts to rule the world.  Make no mistake, this is the same goal of Islam, to rule the world.  The Germans and Italians had a vision -- perfect humans ruling inferior humans (kind of like some politicians), condemning everyone and anyone not willing to go along, to the edge of the sword.   

  We have politicians saying things and conducting themselves in conduct that in times past would have warranted charges of treason, but today?  If the United States, as a united people, would stand up and decide the war with the Islamic terrorist is over it would be over.  If the United States, as a united people, would be willing to sacrifice the way our fathers, grand fathers, and grand mothers sacrificed the Islam terrror would be ended just as an end to the Nazi terrorist of World War II ended, in less than 5 years. 

 The "war" with the Islamic terrorist should be over, but it is not, year after year, we witness the carnage of these religious people of hate.  It seems we like war - it is never ending.  If we back away, as a people, they follow us (the evil, wether, Islam, or Nazis, or some other evil) and if we strick back we win butg not quite.  Holding back and not totally commiting we drag this war out.  Until we commit and pay the price in money, material and yes, lives, these illogical, preverted, religious murderers will continue to come after us and after our friends.  So, from the way we are acting, as a people, I would think we love war, we don't want to see it end, you would think.    

  And before anyone writes in to inform me that the Nazi threat, while not as visible, is not finished, let me say, I agree.  There are still Nazis and still many more with the same ideologue basee on hatred for the Jew, the Israelites.  Those of the Muslim world are religious fanatics of Islam siding with the Nazi ambition of destroying all of Israel, all Jews.  I know this but the American people seem oblivious to the connection between such evil since we stomped the Nazis back into their rat holes they are not that visible but live on in parts of Europe and in the hearts of those serious in the tradtions of Islam.  Still, it was with a united effort the USA put a stop to new religion of the Nazis now havign found a new home in the religion of Islam.
  Why is it we have not done the same with this "terrroist" threat from the Islamic community?  It the enemy really that hidden?  In what we preceive as hatred of war we do everything possible to encourage.  Yes, it seems we like war more than we hate it.  It is interesting to note, the death toll of our troops is a small precentage of the toll paid for peace in Europe and the Pacific.  Maybe that is what holds us back, the seemingly sensless waste of human life.  I agree with this -- war is a waste of humanity.  Wishing evil away will not make evil go away.  There must be another answer, there has to be -- there seems to be no end in sight.

  I read somewhere that there has been almost four hundred wars since the Messiah was crucified, not counting skirmishes between tribal people and not counting gang wars of big cities like New York and LA and not counting internal strife in countries like Italy, Russia and China (civil wars?).  Wars, more wars and rumors of wars, will it ever end?

  "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to that you are not alarmed.  Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.  Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  All these are the beginning of birth pains."  Matthew 24:6-7 NIV

  This often quoted scripture is to many a key to establishing the time of the end. Pointing to the great number of wars and rumors of wars they say we must be in the "endtime".  But, please notice what the Messiah  really says, "...but the end is still to come", what do you think He means by, "...still to come"?  I think He means just what He said, that the "end is still to come".  He also makes further clarification by saying that it is only the "beginning of birth pains", not the "end".  Why can't we read what is written?  Why can't we hear what He has been saying for the last two thousand years?  What part of "still to come" don't we understand?  Many a master of bible prophet hang their hats on these verses as a sign we are living in the "end of days", the "end times".  Certainly we are closer but, my friends, when the things spoken of are finished and we truly enter into the "end of days" believers will not be casually discussing the matter at a cocktail party, camp meeting, or even a Prophecy Conference.  No, the reality of events we are told about in the Book of Revelation will cause some to seek death, others will fall dead from pure fright -- we only think we don't like war but when things are finished mankind will really know how to hate war and how to hate hate.  When? Well, we know we are closer, everyday we are closer but before anything as monumental as His return will occur there will be a GREAT QUAKE of worldwide proportions -- the whole earth will be shaken, mountains moved out of place (Revelation 6:12) .

  Only the Father knows when that will be.  If you had asked many of the first century believers they would have told you that He was due to return at anytime and many would have pointed to the destruction of the Temple by the Romans as proof.  Even some of the Apostles felt the "end of days" might happen within their life time -- preaching thye were living in the "last days" .  You can see this in their writings as they traveled from one assembly of believers to another (Hebrews 1:2, 1 Cor 10:11).  Close to the end of their lives a sadness is heard in their writings and an encouragement to the believers to hang tight, to be ready for the long haul.  I doubt anyone, including the Apostles, ever dreamed more than two thousand years would pass and still no triumphant return.

  Some will accuse me of saying that He delays His coming and they would be partly right, but not as we on earth see a time-delay.  The accusation, however, would be aimed at putting me in the realm of unbelievers -- the end-time scoffers -- asking where is the promise of His coming. Demonstrating their lack of knowledge in the scriptures as to the identity of the end-time scoffers.  Yes, our Father does delay, but not as we count delay (2Pet 3:9).  For example -- if something is delayed then there must be a set time, a time believers of the first century thought was to happen, otherwise why is it an issue, as Peter remarks?  Certainly there is a time, and it is not delayed but rather a time of patients -- not ours, but His.  Our Heavenly Father has a set time and it is not being delayed, as He counts time, He are right on schdule, we are right on schedule.  The suggestion of a delay could only have been an issue if the first century believers thought they were living in the end-time.  

  Revelation 10:6 And he (an angel of YHWH)  swore by Him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, earth and all that is in it, and the sea and that is in it, and said, "There will be no more delay!". 

  You see, my friends, there is a suggestion of delay, not by our time but by His.  He has set a time and He has and will determine its end and when that happens this world will be turned upside down -- it will truly appear as if the earth has come to an end.  Believers, however, will know in their spirit that this is only the time of YaHshua's wrath, prior to His return (Rev 6:17). 

  At His coming every eye will see Him but not every eye will understand His sign in the heavens nor  will their ears interpret the sound of the "trumpet".  As the sun moves from east to west and is visible to all on earth so will His coming be (Mat 24:27).  The world will see a bright, blinding light heading for earth and think it a sun ready to collide into the earth wiping out the whole of humanity -- the prophecied DOOM of science.  The deafening sound of the "trumpet blast" will be heard as the Heavens appear to collapse.

  Matthew 24:27  For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. KJV  (Strongs #796 - lightning; by analogy.  glare, lightning, bright shining.)

  "For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the son of man.  NIV

  "For as lightning lights up the entire sky, so will it be when the Son of man comes"  NLT

This "lightning" has all the attributes of an approaching sun, star, or some cosmic object approaching earth in a bright, glaring light that lights up the sky.  When you put this together with the next verse below, also concerning His coming, you should see that the term "sun" would a good replacement the the term "lighting" as a visual picture of the actual coming event, as the "sun" appears to move from east to west.

  Revelation 1:7 Look, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced Him; and all the people of the earth will mourn because of Him. NIV

  If the term "lightning" works better for you than "sun" in visualizing the return of our Lord then so be it.  What I'm  thinking is that a comet approaching earth might fit this imagery even better. -- a comet of such immense size as to cause men to think this is truly "the end" -- hiding in the rocks and caves hoping for a quick death (Revelation 6:15-17).

  What matters is that He is coming and when He does come do you suppose He will ask you about your political opinions?  He is coming to establish the Kingdom (government) of God, His Father, on this earth.  Its headquarters will be in the state of Israel.  Not the Israel we see today, but the greater Israel, from river to river, as promised to Abraham (Genesis 15:18 and Genesis 28:4 - passing to Jacob, that is the children of Israel).

  Too many Christians are concerned with taking back the world, or the government of men, becoming politically motivated and not concerned enough about preparing for the coming Kingdom of the Living God.  YaHshua posed an interesting question dealing with the time of His return.  Perhaps we should read it and think about what He is saying -- what is He saying?