Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.  For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle: and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and the half of the city shall go forth into captivity and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.  Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle.    Zechariah 14:1-3 
[Also read Luke 21:24-28]

The Middle East Conflict now taking place has many people feeing deeply concerned.  Someone shared with me a telephone call they received from a person somewhat disturbed.  I will say this, I don't know if this conflict is the war we read about in the Bible, but I won't say it is not.  I won't say this is the beginning of World War III, but I won't say it is not.  I will not stand up here in the pulpit and tell you I have all the answers, because I don't.  I believe there is something more important we need to focus on.  It is not whether there is going to be a full-blown nuclear war in the Middle East, but how do you stand with God.  If someone dropped a bomb on Pleasant Run Baptist Church this morning and everyone was killed, how would we stand before God?  Some of us would be saved individuals going to a better place, while others would be lost forever.

I don't want to give you a bad news sermon today.  Rather I want to give you a sermon of courage, child of God.  I want you to find strength in the Lord no matter how this conflict turns out.  Being on the Winner's side means being on the side of those who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The book of Zachariah says: "There will be all nations gathered against Jerusalem, then there will be the day of the Lord."  The day of the Lord, which the prophets speak of, is a future event that's going to take place -- the coming of the Lord.  You need to know that Jesus is certainly coming back.  The Bible says, "In an hour that no man knoweth not ..."  Even Jesus Himself doesn't know the hour.  God will tell His Son to "go get My children."  Then in that hour He will step out unannounced and the world will see Him.  Jesus is certainly coming back for His bride.

What happens in the Middle East people might say points toward the end of time as we know it.  I'm not going to preach that today, but the Bible does tell us to "watch for the signs."  There will be a day when all nations gather against Jerusalem, and in that day Jerusalem will be Ground Zero.  Everything will focus on what happens there in that small area.  It is important that you watch Israel.  Always pay attention to what is happening there.  In Luke 21:9 God says: "But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified; for these things must come to pass, but the end is not by and by." [Commotions -- that could be my house; yours, too.]  "Be not terrified."  Wow!  They're having war but don't be terrified for these things must first come to pass.  As far back as history goes , nations have been having wars.  I guess it is the same as saying "They've always been 'duking it out'."

Luke 21:10-12 says: "Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  Great earthquakes in divers places, famines, fearful sights, great signs shall there be from Heaven.  Before these things, they shall lay their hand on you, and persecute you and deliver you up to the synagogues and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers in my name's sake."  There have been more earthquakes in the past ten years than any other time in history.  We are living in the times that Luke spoke of right now.  You need to know that. 

You need to know also that somewhere in the world right now someone is being arrested because they secretly worship the Lord Jesus Christ.  There is coming a time when Christians around the globe will face persecution; if not you then your children or grandchildren.  How will you answer your adversary?  There is only one way to answer and that is "Yes" to Jesus and "No" to the world.  "And ye shall be hated among all men for My name's sake."  But there will not be one hair on your head harmed.  Even they shoot me, I will not perish because I'm secure in Jesus.  People may kill my body, but they cannot touch my soul.

All the Middle East countries hate Israel.  [They hate American, too; by the way.]  We are one of the few nations to lay claim to being a friend to Israel.  Why should we stay a friend to Israel?  In Genesis 12:3 is the account of God making His covenant promise to Abraham, the Father to Israel.  The verse says: "I will bless them that bless thee; curse them that curseth thee."  If America is a friend of Israel God will bless America.  That is what the Scripture says, not what Jr Fields says.

There is going to be a day when all the nations will march against Jerusalem.  Then the desolation begins.  I don't want to be around when God pours out His wrath.  Luke 21: 24: "And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive onto all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled."  This could be the time when Revelation speaks of seven years as the time of uncertainty -- the times of two three and one half year periods and then the tribulation.  I believe the church will be gone.  I believe Jesus will rapture His church out before this period.  I don't believe Jesus will let His children go through that torment.

The Bible says to watch for the signs.  I say, "Watch Jerusalem."  We don't know the hour.  The wars and rumors of war -- we are there already.  pestilence and famines -- we are there already.  We are living in those days; if we only knew how close then every church would be filled to running over this morning.  Jesus Christ is coming back!  Did you hear me?  I said, "Jesus Christ is coming back."  I'm excited about that!  When you see these things coming to pass, look up.

Luke 21:27-28: " And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up and lift your heads for your redemption draweth nigh."

RU Ready?

Bro. Jr Fields........July 23, 2006.

Sermon edited by Mary King

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