Last week we began this series with “Unclaimed Truth” and learned how important it will be for Christians everywhere to stand for truth in 2009. And we concluded with the fact that, we as a body of believers, needs to inspire with the truth as best we can in this New Year!
Today we take on the next major challenge for 2009 – “Unrelenting Terror” - this will be a huge issue for America and the world! It was not until 911 that we woke that early September morning to the fact that terrorist are now stepping on our soil, studying in our schools and blending into our society.
Read 2 Timothy 1:6, 7
“Spirit” = attitude
“Fear” = timidity – a lack of confidence, cowardice
Church, we need this reminder everyday! The nightly news alone is enough to give you heartburn; the newspaper alone is enough to make us all take Prozac! I’m challenging each of us in 2009 – take control of the daily news or the news will daily take control of you! Let me ask, are you willing to let CNN, CBS and CNBC rob you of your conquering attitude?
1 Corinthians 2:16 “But we have the mind of Christ.” NIV
Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep him in peace, peace, whose mind is stayed on You. Because he trusts in You."
• In Hebrew “peace” is repeated – a double portion of peace!
Folks, terrorism is only going to get worse before it get any better! It is a miracle that America has not been hit by Al-Qaeda since 911. Most experts when asked… were we going to get hit again right after 911…
1. Terror’s Grip During The End Times.
2 Timothy 3:1 “But mark this down, there will be terrible times in the last days.” NLT
Dr. Mark Hitchcock writes, “One would be very hard-pressed to find another time in history when there was more at stake – or when the major prophetic signposts were lined up pointing to the end.”
Charles Krauthammer also states, “We’re now at the dawn of an era in which an extreme fanatical religious ideology, undeterred by the usual calculations of prudence and self-preservation, is wielding state power and will soon be wielding nuclear power.”
Top Al-Qaeda leader in Iraq, Abu al-Masri - calling for the brightest scientific minds, “We are in dire need of you. The field of jihad can satisfy your scientific ambitions, and the large American bases are good places to test your unconventional weapons, whether biological or dirty, as they call them.”
Leading Palestinian Sheikh Khali warns, “There is a new generation that is willing to fight America, and this is something that America cannot stop.”
Folks, is it possible that it’s later than we think?
According to a 2005 study by the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, “The risk of attack by weapons of mass destruction is as high as 70% within the next ten years.”
The report also stated, “The most likely weapon of mass destruction to be used will be a “dirty bomb” in which radioactive material is included within a conventional explosive device.”
2. Terror’s Great Use of The Internet.
Daniel 12:4 “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
And one of the greatest threats comes from the Internet. According to Professor Gabriel Weismann of Haifa University, “There are some 4,800 terrorists or terrorist related Web sites currently on the Internet.”
Former FBI agent Bruce Hoffman says, “The U.S. is dangerously behind the curve in countering terrorist use of the Internet.”
A British government report on the July 2005 suicide bomb attack on 3 London subway trains concluded that, “This was a modest, simple affair by four seemingly normal men using the Internet.”
Another way terrorist are using the Internet is using “Google Earth” – an online satellite mapping tool. It allows you to zoom in on a location using any Internet connection.
Al-Qaeda has used this method to attack British military bases in Iraq. With this tool, the terrorists can zoom in any building, including the location of tanks on the base.
SLIDE: FBC on “Google Earth Satalite” as example.
3. Terror’s Grand Axis of Prophecy.
Matthew 24:6 “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.” NIV
In the world today there is what I have coined as the “Axis of Prophecy” - Iran, Russia and China – 3 countries that will be major players in the world in 2009.
Book of Ezekiel chapters 38 & 39 outlines the major nations trying to destroy the existence of Israel. At this moment in history - Iran is the greatest threat to the United States and Israel because of its radical Islamic push within other Islamic nations. Their evil figure print can be found on virtually every leading terrorist group in existence today – from Hezbollah, Hamas and Al-Qaeda (terror’s trifecta). The missiles that these groups have now because of the help from Iran are mind-blowing; the technology they process is staggering!
Iran has used the dollars we spend to fuel our cars - to fund massive amounts of dollars to terror’s trifecta!
Why This Hatred?
a. Iran Is Following Their Founder.
Did you know that before Mohammad’s death June 8, 632 A.D., he fought in 27 battles throughout – what is today Saudi Arabia? Mohammad was a murderous, mental madman throughout Mecca and Medina.
Sura 9:29 “Fight against such of those who have been given the Scriptures (Bible) as believers not in Allah…”
Sura 5:51 “O you who believe: Take not Jews and Christians for your friends…”
Sura 60:4 “And there has arisen between us and you hostility and hate forever until you believe in Allah only.”
Did you remember in January 2005 the President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sent President Bush a letter and in it, he was calling on Bush to convert to Islam? Folks, this is the terrorist tactic Mohammad did to his enemies before he attacked them.
November 2003 – the official website of the Islamic Affairs Department of the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Washington contains these words exhorting Muslims, “Wage jihad in order to make the word of Allah supreme in this world.”
b. Iran Has Embraced The Apocalyptic Stage.
Professor Bernard Lewis at Princeton University, the leading authority on Islam in America warned, “Ahmadinejad and his group clearly believe and I don’t doubt the sincere belief, that we are now entering an apocalyptic age, which will result in the triumph of their messianic figure.”
Lewis is making reference to Islam’s 12th imam or the Mahdi.
The Hadith, the sacred writings of Islam states, “The Mahdi will be of the descendants of Fatimah…he will have a broad forehead, a prominent nose. He will fill the earth with equity and justice as it was filled with oppression and tyranny, and he will rule for seven years.”
The frightening thing about this is – Ahmadinejad truly believes he is going to use nuclear weapons to make the world submit to Islam just before the 12th Imam arrives.
Now you know why he has been so defiant to the world!
Kenneth Timmerman writes In “Countdown to Crisis”, “While many Shiite Muslims worship the 12th imam, a previously secret society of powerful clerics, now openly advising the new President of Iran, are transforming these messianic beliefs into government policies.”
By the way, who is this 12th imam - known as Mohammad al-Mahdi – he disappeared in the 10th century by falling into a well at the age of 4. Refusing to believe that the great descendant of Ali was dead, Shiite Muslims believe he is timeless and will suddenly appear to establish an Islamic caliphate (borderless). The trigger is – create world chaos that will be Mahdi back to rule Islam worldwide.
4. Terror’s Grievance Over Israel.
Isaiah 66:8 “Who has ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment?” This happened on May 14, 1948
Jeremiah 33:25, 26 “I will no more reject My people than I would change my laws of night and day…I will never abandon the decedents of Jacob or David…I will restore them to their land…” NLT
Zechariah 2:8 “…for he who touches you (Israel) touches the apple of His eye.”
You put all these promises together and you a massive sore spot with Arabs around the world!
Map of Israel…
• 6 millions Jews live in Israel
• Surrounded by 65 million Arabs
• Gaza Strip is only 5 miles wide and 25 miles long.
In 2003 the Israeli government handed the Gaza over to the Palestinians in trade for peace! Before that, for over 30 years the Jews and Arabs lived side by side in peace.
How did this current war start? When Hamas won power in the Gaza 2 years ago, that placed them in very close rage of Jewish cities in order to shoot rockets at them. Do you think a country has the right to defend itself?
The pictures you see in the media are controlled by Hamas and it is Hamas that is not letting food and water get to the people - purely for propaganda purposes. Reliable reports from eyewitnesses like “Bridges for Peace” are now saying that Hamas takes a cut out of all aid that arrives, including flour and medicine. Supplies intended to be distributed among the Palestinians is seized by Hamas leaders and sold to the residents, at a profit to the Hamas government.
Reports also state that residents who attempted to flee their homes in the northern area of the Gaza Strip were forced to go back at gunpoint - by Hamas leaders.
Now regarding the tragic killing of citizens at a school in Gaza January 6 - Israel forces returned fire coming from it and a series of huge explosions followed, indicating the presence of munitions and explosives in the building. Israeli forces had no knowledge of those present at the site - its clear Hamas was not operating as a school. 2 major Hamas terrorists were killed there.
A perfect example of the bias in the media is from Muslim Doctor Mads Gilbert who is now recognized as presenting hard-core propaganda to TV interviewers in his telling of the conflict between Hamas and Israel. The high-profile doctor in Gaza is called an “Apologist for Hamas”. The University of Iowa did research and guess who was interviewed or quoted the most in major news outlets in Gaza during the last 30 days?
Dr. Mads Gilbert said on September 30, 2001. “The oppressed also have a moral right to attack the USA and Israel with any weapon they can come up with.”
So how do we respond to the unrelenting terror in the world?
Scriptures to depend on in 2009:
• Hebrews 10:25 “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” NIV
• Colossians 2:6, 7 “As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.”
• 1 Peter 1:13 “Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. NASB
• 1 Peter 3:15 “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” NIV
• Joshua 1:6 “…Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” NIV
