MIDDLE EAST WAR INTESIFYING - MUSLIM WORLD ANGRY - TURKEY CALLS FOR PALESTINIAN STATE WITH JERUSALEM AS CAPITAL - ROAD TO ARMAGEDDON - IMPORTANT WARNING FROM JESUS

Things are getting hotter by the day, not only in the Middle East, but around the world. The signs are getting stronger and stronger, pointing to the soon coming time of trouble, the battle of Armageddon and the return of Jesus Christ. In light of this, there is an important warning from Jesus in Revelation 16 which we must all give attention to. But first, let us see what is going on:

"Israel intensifies strikes as fears grow of war spiralling into wider conflict - Israel followed through on its vow to intensify attacks, striking targets across Gaza as well as a mosque in the occupied West Bank and two airports in Syria over the weekend. The war with Hamas is threatening to spiral into a broader conflict, with the US warning Iran that if this war grows, it is coming to your backyard." (source)

"Muslims protest around world to demand end to Israel's Gaza campaign - Protesters from Jakarta to Tunis on Friday demanded an end to Israel's bombardment of Gaza after nearly two weeks of intense air and artillery strikes ... In Jordan .. more than 6,000 protesters marched in the centre of the capital ... Thousands of demonstrators also gathered in each of Turkey and Egypt ... Some demanded military action against Israel ... Thousands also protest in Yemen." (source)

"Turkey urges Muslim world to take action for Palestinian state - Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called on Muslim countries to take bold decisions until a sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital is formed ... In a written statement late Tuesday, it underlined that the 57-member bloc of Muslim nations held the Israeli occupation accountable for the consequences of its crimes, terrorist practices and brutal attacks against the Palestinian people." (source)

The war in Ukraine has almost taken a back seat in the news due to this war in the Middle East. But with both wars raging and conflicts rising between east and west, we can see this world is heading towards that final battle of God, the battle of Armageddon. Revelation 16:13-14 says that 'spirits of devils' come out from the mouths of the dragon, beast and false prophet to gather the nations to war. The dragon represents Paganism. The beast represents Papal Rome (the Vatican) and the false prophet represents fallen Protestant America. So we can see who is behind these wars and this 'gathering' to Armageddon. So what should be our focus in light of what's going on? Revelation 16 gives us the answer:

Revelation 16:15 ...'Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.'

But what does it mean to "watch and keep our garments"? Does it mean to watch the news? Not really. Sure, it is good to know what is going on so that we can see the signs, but this isn't the watching that Jesus is pointing to. Take a look at what Jesus said to the disciples and what Paul said:

Mark 13:37 ...'And what I say unto you I say unto all, watch.'

Matthew 26:40-41 ...'And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, what, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.'

1 Corinthians 16:13 ...'Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.'

1 Thessalonians 5:6 ...'Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.'

Do you see what it means to be "watching"? What was the result of the disciples not watching with Jesus? They FLED when persecution came! This flesh is weak and so we need to be constantly connected with Jesus each and every day, even every hour, so as to not fall into temptation and sin. This is the watching we must do. It is a watching that we are not led astray by the world or this flesh. A watching that we are surrendering our all to Christ, praying always and standing strong in THE faith of Jesus Christ, keeping the commandments of God (Revelation 14:12). Much of the world and the various churches are "sleeping" and will be found "wanting" when Jesus returns. So let us make sure we are watching unto prayer, so Jesus doesn't come and find us asleep. So what about the "garment" that we are to have on?

Isaiah 61:10 ...'I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.'

Oh what a beautiful garment this is! The robe of Christ's righteousness, the clothing which Adam and Eve lost due to sin, and which Christ will FREELY GIVE to all who surrender their lives and their own will to Him. This is the clothing we MUST be found wearing when Jesus returns. This is the garment which the "king" (God the Father) was making sure the "guests" had on when He inspected them (investigative judgment) in the parable of the wedding banquet in Matthew 22. Sadly, the man who thought he had a right to be at the wedding, but without the garment, was cast out, and Oh how many are without the proper garment! We must make it a priority to make sure we are clothed with the righteous garment of Christ. So let us heed the warning of Christ in Revelation 16:15, as the time is at hand!

John 17:3 ...'And this is life eternal, that they might KNOW thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.'

Colossians 1:9-13 ...'For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.'

Please see our following studies regarding righteousness by faith:

CHRIST OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

BY BEHOLDING WE BECOME CHANGED - PUTTING ON THE MIND OF CHRIST

TO KNOW GOD AND HIS SON