Why Are The Nations Perturbed?

WHY ARE THE NATIONS PERTURBED?

7/24/2018

The title of this article was taken from verse 1 of the Concordant Literal Version.  For some odd reason, this is one of my favorite verses.  It currently has much impact describing the state of the world, particularly the USA, Europe, and the Middle East.  There is also considerable consternation in various South American, African, Far East, and other areas and countries as well.

Psalms 2:1-3 Concordant Literal Version Why are the nations perturbed? And why do the national groups mumble empty phrases? (2) The kings of the earth are standing by, And the chancellors are gathered together Against Yahweh and against His Anointed, saying, (3) Let us pull away their bonds, And let us fling off their ropes from us.

The translations offered from other versions can give considerable insight into the meaning of the verse:  Why do the nations conspire? (NIV); Why have nations tumultuously assembled? (Young’s LV); Why have the nations raged? (Green’s LV).

King David supposedly wrote this Psalm, however, it is most likely a prophecy for today.  Later verses state:  The King; You are My Son; I will give You the nations; You will break them with an iron scepter.  Yes, this is definitely a prophecy of the soon coming Jesus Christ to herald the long awaited Millennial reign of Christ also known as the Kingdom of God.

This prophetic Psalm explicitly describes the attitudes and thought processes of the rulers and leaders of the world:  Why are the countries devising plots while the rulers collaborate against the Lord.

Verse 3 claims that the leaders and the general people say, “Let's tear off the shackles they've put on us! Let's free ourselves from their ropes!"  The people of the Western world, with the assistance of the news media, Hollywood, and Universities have almost created another Sodom and Gomorrah. 

The fear of the Lord is rapidly vanishing in the once predominately Christian areas of the world such as the USA, Canada, Australia, and Europe.  The laws of God and the moral teachings (laws) of Jesus are too restrictive and cumbersome for the majority of the people’s desired lawless lifestyle.  The LGBT people have no use for the Bible, the laws of God, and the teachings of Jesus Christ, because it denounces their preferred immoral lifestyle and existence.

The MSM talking heads and the deep state government insiders are completely and totally enraged at anything President Trump does or says.  They turned their heads and ignored the actions of Bill Clinton, then Hillary Clinton, Obama, and even George Bush II.  But with Trump, he is accused of being a hidden Russian agent, Putin’s lap dog, nothing short of treasonous, imbecilic, and much more.

Psalms 2:1-12 NET Why do the nations rebel? Why are the countries devising plots that will fail? (2) The kings of the earth form a united front; the rulers collaborate against the LORD and his anointed king. (3) They say, "Let's tear off the shackles they've put on us! Let's free ourselves from their ropes!" (4) The one enthroned in heaven laughs in disgust; the Lord taunts them. (5) Then he angrily speaks to them and terrifies them in his rage, saying, (6) "I myself have installed my king on Zion, my holy hill." (7) The king says, "I will announce the LORD's decree. He said to me: 'You are my son! This very day I have become your father! (8) Ask me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the ends of the earth as your personal property. (9) You will break them with an iron scepter; you will smash them like a potter's jar!' " (10) So now, you kings, do what is wise; you rulers of the earth, submit to correction! (11) Serve the LORD in fear! Repent in terror! (12) Give sincere homage! Otherwise he will be angry, and you will die because of your behavior, when his anger quickly ignites. How blessed are all who take shelter in him!

God is totally in control.  I have made that statement several times in various posts because it is extremely important.  There is no need to be perturbed or go into a rage.  We are currently living in an exciting point in history.  It is my strong belief that Jesus will soon return in whatever manner that should happen to be.  We all have our different scenarios and expectations but the actual occurrence and appearance of the event is really unknown to us.

The God of heaven laughs at them and taunts them in a similar manner as Isaiah 14 as written in a previous article.  Then God informs them, “I have set My king on My holy mount on Zion”.  Although the vast majority of the populations are spiritually blinded by God, it appears that God will inform the world of His King at some point at the beginning of the Kingdom or possibly before. 

The prophecy of Psalms 2 clearly states that the Son of God, the King of all, will inherit every nation or the entire world.  He will rule with a “rod of iron”.  Does the rod of iron imply that He will beat people into submission?  The explanation if that the world or Kingdom will be ruled by the Law of God and like an iron rod there will be no bending or twisting of the law which happens in the governments of the world.

Revelation 2:27 NET he will rule them with an iron rod and like clay jars he will break them to pieces,

Revelation 12:5 NET So the woman gave birth to a son, a male child, who is going to rule over all the nations with an iron rod……

Revelation 19:15 NET From his mouth extends a sharp sword, so that with it he can strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod……..

Psalm 2 is not the only place in scripture speaking of an iron rod.  There are three occurrences within the Revelation.  19:15 speaks of a sharp sword with which He will strike the nations.  The, of course, is a metaphoric illustration of the Bible, or the Word of God, which is often described as a sword of the sword of God.  The Lord and his resurrected representative (i.e. saints/elect) and the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit will reeducate/instruct/edify the nations of the world and the love for God and the desire for a lawful lifestyle will dramatically increase.

Do I know the day or the hour?  NO, and neither does anyone else.  However, it should be obvious to most of my readers that Mystery, Babylon is currently being taken apart and destroyed.  Events are predicted to pick up speed during the month of September.  Dr. Jones believes the harpazo (rapture) of the elect will occur around the time of some (but unknown) feast of Trumpets.

Numbers 10:2-4 NET "Make two trumpets of silver; you are to make them from a single hammered piece. You will use them for assembling the community and for directing the traveling of the camps. (3) When they blow them both, all the community must come to you to the entrance of the tent of meeting. (4) "But if they blow with one trumpet, then the leaders, the heads of the thousands of Israel, must come to you.

Moses was instructed by God to make two silver trumpets.  The playing of both trumpets would assemble the entire community, but one trumpet would only summon the leaders.  In this case as Paul points out in 1 Corinthians 15:52 there will only be one trumpet sounded.  This will summon only the leaders (i.e. the saints/the elect/the overcomers) both alive and the dead to be resurrected and meet the Lord in the air (above ground not in the stratosphere – there is no air up there anyway). 

1 Corinthians 15:52 NET (52) in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 NET (16) For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

The Feast of Trumpets prophesies of the resurrection of the dead. It has been called in Jewish circles, "the Day of the Awakening Blast." Because this festival fell on the first day of the seventh month, it fell on a new moon--that is, when the first sliver of the new moon appeared in the evening sky at the beginning of each lunar month. There was always some uncertainty as to when the new moon would appear or could be seen (if cloudy). For this reason, Jesus spoke of His coming in Matthew 25:13, saying,"Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour." This phrase about not knowing the day nor the hour is a peculiar Hebrew saying, which they specifically applied to the Feast of Trumpets, whose beginning was unknown until the new moon was sighted.

Yes, the nations are raging and the leaders of the nations are raging.  They are absolutely and totally perturbed.  God has anointed Donald Trump to take down their area of Mystery Babylon and they are blinded to the devastation of their system.  They are fighting for survival, their payoffs, their kickbacks, and their hush money.  Their deep state world is being annihilated, they can’t think correctly, they can’t sleep at night, and they fear a possible prison sentence or a severe punishment.

Psalm 2 is an accurate prophetic description of the current world and its leaders.  It is a description of the fallen human spirit, Godless and immoral.  Nationalism was God’s way of protecting humans from the one-world government.  However, soon (and possibly sooner than most think) the world will be united within the Kingdom of God.  Fallen humans (individuals and corporate groups) desire independence from the Creator.  In reality, God’s laws are designed to keep us safe, happy, and productive in a fallen world. The laws are the loving guidelines of a parent, providing guidance and wisdom! 

The Days of Noah, the Rapture, & the 2nd Coming

THE DAYS OF NOAH, THE RAPTURE AND THE SECOND COMING

As The Days of Noah

Matthew 24:37-39 KJV  But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  (38)  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark,  (39)  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

The days of Noah will be quite similar to the time of the 2^nd coming of Jesus Christ.  Matthew 24:37 has generated much speculation throughout the years, particularly the past few years.  Tom Horn (and others) claim that the last days will witness a resurgence of fallen angels, Nephilim giants, chimera, and demonic entities of various flavors.  I consider this doubtful to actually occur.  Never mind that Jesus specifically described the parallels between the days of Noah and the last days.

This particular scripture does not concern Noah and his family but only the people living during the days of Noah.  It also appears to only be concerned with the flood as the wrath of God and nothing extraneous.  The inhabitants of those days ignored the preaching of Noah and other grand sires.  They continued their “life as usual” by eating, drinking, and marriage customs with no regard for the coming annihilation that was proclaimed by Noah and others.  At the time, many probably believed that Noah was a gibbering fool and that God either did not exist or would not destroy the world with a flood, much like today.  They were completely astonished when the rain started falling and water gushing from the ground, as most people will be today when the mass killings, plagues, and falling meteorites begin in earnest.  It will be the unbelievers who will be taken away (to death) not the believers.  Noah was not taken away – he merely entered the ark and was saved from death to begin a new generation of individuals.

One Taken, the Other Left

Matthew 24:40-41 KJV  Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  (41)  Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Within the context of Matthew 24:37-39, the next two verses (40-41) are an extension of the Noah verses concept and part of the general thought structure.  At the flood all were destroyed except Noah and his family.  During the days of tribulation and the final wrath of God, more will be preserved than eight but many will be destroyed.  Jesus proclaims that some will be left alive and others will be taken.  The question to be answered is:  which group will be taken and which group will be left behind?

This is one of the rapture crowd’s favorite rapture verses, particularly the pre-trib rapturists.  They claim the ones taken are raptured and according to Tim LaHayes Left Behind series of books and movies, the ones left behind are the unbelievers and the taken are the believers floating off into heaven leaving behind a pile of clothing.  The belief of a BIN writer (DTBR) is that the left behind group are the believers and the taken are sent to Hades (the bottomless pit / hell / the lake of fire / etc.)  I do not believe this DTBR interpretation is correct.

Because verses 40-41 are within the same context as 37-39 then the ones taken will be the unbelievers.  The flood took away all the unbelievers of Noah’s day and likewise the unbelievers will be taken away in verses 40-41.  They will be taken away by death and destruction just as the flood took away the unbelievers by death and destruction.

A Different Rapture View

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 is probably the most well-known passage concerning the rapture and the 2^nd coming of Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 KJV  (15)  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  (16)  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  (17)  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

It will be said that Paul was centering his focus upon the order of events as they would occur and not necessarily the timing of events.  As for timing, most exegetes consider that the resurrection of the dead and the harpazo (caught up / rapture) of the living will occur almost simultaneously which may not be the case as will be discussed later.

The first event will be the resurrection of the dead in Christ.  Paul proceeds and uses the word “then” which means “next” rather than meaning “not immediately”.  According to Dr. Stephen Jones, the feast of trumpets (the trump of God) occurs on the first day of the seventh month on the Hebrew calendar.  This prophesies of the resurrection of the dead.  The harpazo, or “catching away” occurs during the feast of Tabernacles which begins on the 15^th day of the seventh month, therefore these events are at least two weeks apart.  In other words the resurrection of the dead and the catching away of the saints will be, at a minimum, two weeks apart in timing.

The next event in Paul’s statement is, “to meet the Lord in the air” in which “meet” is the Greek word apantesis.  The various Greek dictionaries add little substance to the meaning other than “to meet as in an encounter”.  However, the usage of the word in the New Testament implies by application that it means:  to meet and return with as an escort or entourage.  Two of the four New Testament usages can be found in Matthew 25:1 and 6. 

The ten virgins were to “meet” the bridegroom.  At the bridegroom’s arrival, five virgins were foolish and left the scene to acquire oil for their lamps.  The wise virgins went to meet the bridegroom and traveled back to the door of the wedding and went in.  The door is the place where all ten were waiting; the five with extra oil went out to meet the bridegroom and returned with Him to the wedding room door.  The five foolish virgins were late and the door was closed and would not be reopened.  Therefore, the five wise virgins went to meet the bridegroom and returned with Him (to meet and return with as an escort).

Matthew 25:1 KJV  Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet (apantesis) the bridegroom.

The Bridegroom did not come to snatch away the wise virgins and take them back to heaven with Him (or anywhere else for that matter). Instead, the virgins escorted Him back to the place where they had been waiting i.e. the door of the wedding ceremony. 

More information concerning the story of the 10 Virgins can be found at the following link:

http://freedomfromdelusion.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-ten-virgins-two-resurrections.html

The next use of the word apantesis is found in Acts 28:15.  Paul, as a prisoner, is taken to Rome.  Believers came from Rome to meet Paul and returned to Rome with him as an entourage. 

Acts 28:15-16 KJV  And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.  (16)  And when we came to Rome…….

Paul was explaining that believers would meet the Lord in the air and accompany Him to the earth in His return as explained symbolically (or prophetically) in the story of the ten virgins.  The five foolish virgins would continue to be alive (not sent to hell) but would have to attend school (bond servant) taught by the fire of the word of God.

How far above the surface of the earth is “in the air”?  Many consider it to be the upper atmosphere where clouds are found (too many movies and so-called Christian fiction).  In the air only means “not in the ground”.  It could be a mile or a millimeter.

No one is given a free ticket to escape “the great tribulation” as some claim is coming.  As proof of this for pre-trib rapturists, Revelation 7:14 is invoked, where it says, "these are the ones who come out of the great tribulation."  These individuals come out of, not escape any tribulation at all.  In my opinion, the only tribulation that is escaped is the wrath of God.