Did you notice one of the latest headlines from the New York Times,

Russia and Turkey Vow to Repair Ties as West Watches Nervously

MOSCOW — Against a backdrop of rising tensions between Turkey and the West, Presidents Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey pledged on Tuesday to repair relations after nine months of open antagonism.

You can read the rest of the article just by giving it a google, but for believers and for Israel the headline alone would have caused one to stop and investigate. What? Turkey and Russia cooperating? Who would have thunk it! Then...

When you team that news with the additional headline:

Putin encourages Iran to join Russia-led Eurasian alliance

Russia Sends Bombers to Syria Using Base in Iran

By NEIL MacFARQUHAR and DAVID E. SANGER AUG. 16, 2016

...It appears that the events of the recent days in the Middle East are indeed conforming to the prophecies we have in Ezekiel 38-39. The prophecies we have recorded for us in Ezekiel are chronological, with Ezekiel 38 falling somewhere between the prophecy recorded in Chapters 36-37 (which describe the re-birth of the nation of Israel, 1948) and Chapters 40-48 (which are descriptive of the Millennium).

The coming war against Israel which is described in Ezekiel 38 can be narrowed in time frame to somewhere between 1948 and the beginning of the Great Tribulation. Ezekiel prophesied that God would use this battle against His people to turn His people back to Him and complete the return of all of the Jews back to Israel, never to leave again. For God will intervene against this coalition and destroy them and win the victory.

When this battle occurs we will see a coalition that includes Russia, Iran, and Turkey. It appears this coalition is coming together right before our eyes, with Iran constantly and consistently threatening to invade and destroy Israel. They boast that they can destroy Israel in eight minutes. (Yes, we do seem to be making it possible and even easier for them to produce nuclear weapons). And all of this appears to be happening while some in this new Eurasian alliance are striving to convince the world that Israel is safe and not at risk.

While they are saying, " Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 1 Thessalonians 5:3 (NASB77)

Some scholars believe this battle against Israel will occur right before the rapture of the church. Some say it will happen during the transition between the rapture of the church and the beginning of the Great Tribulation. Others believe it will happen at the end of the Great Tribulation or somewhere in between the beginning of the Great Tribulation and the end of the Great Tribulation. As for myself, I see this event happening right before the rapture of the Church or right after the rapture of the church.

According to the Scripture no one can know the day or the hour of the coming of the Lord for certain.

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. Matthew 24:36 (NASB77)

The same Scripture tells us that we should be aware of what is happening all around us.

But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 (NASB77)

Could the rapture of the church be upon us? I’ve never been one for setting seasons and expectations but teaming these events with the prophecy of Isaiah 17 (the destruction of Damascus, Syria), (we see that happening right now) and the change of tone in Saudi Arabia towards Israel, headlined recently in the Israeli Times, which reports of the Saudi’s seeing a need to fight against anti-Semitism, in a change of attitude towards Israel, August 18, 2016. (On a side note, usually, when the media starts to emphasize a topic geared towards the general population it is in preparation for what is going to flow from the government of Saudi Arabia).

When you add the possibility of the fulfilling of Ezekiel 38:13 which records the protest of the Saudi’s to the battle of the coalition against Israel and the protesting of the taking of a “spoil”, which is the motive behind the Coalition led war...

“Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all its villages, will say to you, 'Have you come to capture spoil? Have you assembled your company to seize plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to capture great spoil?'"' Ezekiel 38:13 (NASB77)

...well...there is a lot going on in the Middle East right now that has been given to us prophetically in the Word of God.

What does that mean for us? Get Ready...you are saved, right? If not, this would be the time to change that. Stay alert...keep our eyes on Jerusalem. Let’s not be surprised. Stay focused. We don’t live for this world. We live in this world for the Lord God and His glory. Stay excited. It’s going to happen someday...and we’re one day closer for sure. Stay motivated. Do the best you can in all that you do...for the Lord. Stay spot on. Love God and Love People. Share and live the gospel at every opportunity, by word and by deed. Stay assured. Everything is going to be OKAY, God is in control. Stay informed. Read the Bible...and you just might want to note what God is doing in the world...and pray...Maranatha.

Sometimes, there’s more to headlines than meets the eye. This is one of those times and there will be more to follow.

By Pastor Ralph Sawyer

Received this e-mail the other day and thought it was pretty “fleek”.

Hey Pastor –

I wanted to share an interesting incident with you. I’m sending this on behalf of my son, Dakota… he took a political science college course this summer that deals with World Politics. One morning, a few weeks back, the class launched into a discussion on religion’s place in politics - about which nearly everyone seemed to have varying opinions. Eventually, Christianity’s involvement in Government came up – to which the professor stated: “Jesus was never involved in government issues…”

At that point, Dakota’s ears perked up. He was thinking, “Did I really just hear her say that? We JUST had a sermon on that.” With that, he raised his hand and began explaining the organizational approach Rome took to “governing” the countries under their rule and the role of the local leaders. He went into the Sanhedrin, Sadducees and Pharisees. He made the points about Jesus’ involvement with these groups and His role in clarifying God’s Law and its applications in leading His people. As he went on, the professor eventually began to give ground. Dakota could feel the class turning to listen intently to the exchange. It wasn’t argumentative or sarcastic and, at one point when another student attempted to divert the conversation to another topic, the professor prevented it and asked Dakota to continue.

Dakota went through nearly every facet of the sermon. As he was later relaying the encounter to me, I was a little taken aback because Dakota was bringing up points that I had heard, but hadn’t retained top-of-mind. He had absorbed them, however, and apparently unleashed them all on his professor and her class. In the end, his professor conceded that she would look more into what Dakota had stated and think it through. Again, there was no arguing or anger in the discussion, rather a mere exchange of fact vs. opinion.

Anyways, he and I both got a kick out of watching God in action. It was nice that we had the moment to discuss how really outstanding it is to look back and see what God had planned for in advance. He had the right person in the right place at the right time – prepared with the right information. All it took was a little observation and the courage to go ahead and speak up. Dakota asked that I relay the story to you.

Jason and Dakota

You know, that’s pretty encouraging and uplifting. To see God preparing a young student for the right place and right time to spread the right message. Good stuff. Just what I needed to hear. That’s one of the reasons why we read the Bible and that’s why we ask the Lord to give us an awareness of what He wants us to say and to do, wherever we might be. Dakota actually applied what He learned from the Bible to his life. I would have never made that specific application suggestion in a sermon. No, he was ready to apply it to his life, as the Lord wanted.

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,Ephesians 4:15 (ESV)

One of the challenges we face in our day to day living as Christians is sharing with others a Godly perspective. It’s easy to be intimidated into silence and not speak what we know to be true. The world on the other hand is not afraid of sharing their worldviews which touch on every area of life from the least important to the most important; what’s life all about, what is sex all about, marriage, how should it be defined..., even the presidential elections. The attempt to control human thinking has been a constant goal of the evil one throughout history. Satan has always been the father of lies and he knows that the way to make the world a mess is to confuse human thinking. Have you noticed the world is a “hot” mess at the moment? The attempts at this mind control are found in movies, music, business, media, and yes, even sensitivity classes that are mandated to be attended by the “uneducated” (Godly) having been sentenced by godless judges whenever you hold to the Biblical position of marriage. (Can anyone say George Orwell’s 1984.) And of course we find this conflict often in the educational system; especially in the classroom. Sometimes it’s intentional...sometimes it’s not, sometimes it is with the bully whip, sometimes it’s subtle. Sometimes it’s a big deal topic, sometimes it’s not. Sometimes it presents a whale of an opportunity to bring the focus on Jesus and what the Bible says. That’s what happened with Dakota!. It was an opportunity that he seized, and he did it with a humble spirit and confident inner strength that comes from the Lord. But it should be acknowledged that it will always remain a constant challenge for the Christian to step forward and speak.

It takes a love for God and a love for people. It takes knowing what God thinks and what He says through Bible study and prayer and then to step forward and share it with others who may not hold to that position at that moment. And did I happen to mention to do it with love and humility? Opening the door for dialogue and a change in thinking is a noble and Godly goal in a public setting. We are, whether we like it or not, engaged in a battle for the mind as a disciple of Christ. We know our life mission includes being the salt and the light in the world. We are the ones who are to be bold and loving as we impact the world for good, for God. It’s an exciting way to live...even “spices” up Political Science. It can “spice” up your life as well.

And, to be honest, as a side note... it’s pretty “snatched” that someone remembers something from a sermon. :)

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Matthew 5:13-15 (ESV)

By Pastor Ralph Sawyer