Biblical Times

As I have been listening to news reports of this war in the Middle East with my ears tuned into the Holy Spirit, several extraordinary things have been revealed to me.  And in this process I have become most grateful that much of the leadership of the United States of America seems to understand that this war is indeed a SPIRITUAL BATTLE.  It can simply be described as an intensifying of the war between the Holy One of Israel and His arch-enemy, Satan. In fact, in the past couple of days I have become more and more convinced that we are in Biblical times, as prophecies are being fulfilled.

First, my ear caught the voice of President Trump speaking to the NATO nations who would not come to help Israel and the U.S. regain control of the Strait of Hormuz. He chastised those with these words: "GO AND GET YOUR OWN OIL!" Did you hear it? I don't know about you, but I was immediately quickened to Matthew 25:9, the parable of the wise and foolish virgins. The five foolish virgins woke up from their slumber and realized they did not have enough oil in their lamps, so they cried out to the wise, "Give us some of your oil, our lamps are going out!" And the wise virgins replied, "No, there may not be enough oil for both us and you . GO BUY SOME FOR YOURSELVES!" 

It seemed such a stark and present-day reminder of the meaning of this parable. To me, the oil absolutely represents a relationship, a deep knowing of Yeshua/Jesus, our Savior. That would be the ONE THING I could not give you, even if you were desperate for it.  Each person must pursue and obtain that relationship with the Lord, that precious "oil" for himself or herself, before it is too late and He returns for His own and then shuts the door.  Remember the people trying to convince Yeshua that He should let them into His kingdom because of all the good works they had done? (Matthew 7:21-23).  He told them plainly, "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers."

This word knew refers to the Hebrew word yadah, which speaks of a very intimate knowing, as in Genesis 4:1: "Adam yadah his wife and she became pregnant and bore Cain." It is the very essence of knowing someone so intimately that you are one with them (as we are one with Christ).  I believe THIS is the oil! And so as I sought to apply this to Trump's warning to the NATO nations, I saw it biblically. Those nations were supposed to be in covenant with our nation, in an unbreakable treaty to defend one another, walking close together in times of peril. They have no more oil! They are looking out only for themselves, and so the admonishment was, "Go buy your own oil!"

Then this morning I listened in awe to the detailed description given by General Don Caine of the incredible rescue of the U.S.A.F. Weapons Officer.  General Caine described how this brave warrior scaled up a mountain 7000 feet high and hid himself in the crevice (cleft) of the rock! He was bleeding from his injuries, but for 48 hours he remained hidden, and when he did make contact with the C.I.A., his message had only three words: GOD IS GOOD! General Caine went on to say, "Our courageous warriors flew seven hours in the daylight to locate and rescue the downed pilot and then seven hours in the darkness to find and locate the weapons officer in the mountain, extracting him amid severe enemy fire." 
I took a deep breath. Seven hours for each soldier's rescue! One of them at seven thousand feet! The number seven in Hebrew means "complete" or "perfect." They were perfect and complete rescue missions, no doubt orchestrated, covered, and blessed by the King of the Universe! And the weapons officer remained hidden in the cleft of the rock, counting on, depending on, the God who is good and who saves His people!

Lastly, General Caine mentioned that two hundred airmen were sent out to find the one man who was trapped behind enemy lines.  Again I was overwhelmed with the beautiful biblical understanding from Matthew 18:12-13: "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?  And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off." 

Both stories exemplify Yeshua's deep concern and care for "the one" who was lost.  The Air Force creed says, "Not one will be left behind. We will come and find you and bring you home."  Yeshua says he is happier about the one who was lost and now is found than the many who are already safe in His care. He will find that one and bring him home.

I tell you, friends, this is a Biblical war and the pages of the Bible are coming alive to us! The most important thing for each of us is to be sure that we are spending much time in the Word of God, for this is how we come to truly know Him and get ready for His soon coming. Hide yourself in the cleft of the Rock - even as the LORD told Moses:
"When my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by."  (Exodus 33:22)