Tag: Turkey

Why Christ Addressed the 7 Churches in Asia Minor

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I find myself reading the Book of Revelation often, sometimes all the way through and sometimes only parts of it. But I’ve really started focusing more on the 7 Churches to see what I could learn from them. What’s interesting is for a while now, I’ve wondered why the Lord Jesus had the Apostle John write to the seven Churches in Asia Minor and not to the Churches in Israel. Of course, I know from all my studies that Asia Minor is today’s Turkey. Which is interesting because the Apostle Paul was a Greek speaking Jew born in the city of Tarsus and often did His evangelizing in Asia Minor. We also know from the Book of Acts that those who follow the Lord Jesus Christ were first known as Christians. So knowing all of this, I was perplexed and would often wonder why the seven Churches in Asia Minor was so important.

But the Holy Spirit being true to His nature, provided the answer. Not an answer I heard audibly, nor through a prophetic dream or vision, but, through the teaching by the reading of the Word. You see, I found myself reading one of the parables known as the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers. Now, I’ve read this particular parable many times but I was amazed what the Holy Spirit revealed to me. This parable mirrors what will happen to Christ in the coming days and really gives an insight into the hearts of those involved. But what I found very interesting is, Jesus tells the Chief Priests and elders of the people something is going to happen. And when I read it, everything made sense. Jesus tells them;

Matthew 21:43 – Therefore I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.

Once I read this statement the Lord Jesus made, I finally understood why the 7 Churches in Asia Minor is so important. This is the whole reason Christ addressed the seven Churches in the Book of Revelation to Asia Minor, because, the Kingdom of God was taken from the Jewish people and given to the Greeks (Gentiles), which was ruled by the Roman Empire, also known as Anatolia.

It’s also the reason the scriptures were written in Greek, Yeshua’s name was transliterated into Greek and then transliterated into English for the name Jesus. Because our language is composed of Latin which the Romans spoke along with Greek during Jesus time.

People, please study your Bible, read the scriptures and re-read them because God always provides the answers in His word.

The LORD GOD יהוה YHVH of Israel is the Lord Jesus Christ

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I was watching one of my favorite Pastors yesterday, or the day before, and He spoke about some Scriptures which really caught my attention and really made me stop and think. Because, many Jewish people believe in God but they don’t believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, or in their tongue, Yeshua Mashiach.

But there is a way for Jewish people, whether they live in Israel, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey or any foreign country, to fully understand who the Lord Jesus Christ truly is. Christians and Jewish people are called to worship the one true God and it’s time we come together and understand who He truly is.

The Scriptures I’m referring to is found in Zechariah 12:1-9 and I will highlight what is significant.

1 – The burden of the Word of LORD (יהוה‎ or YHVH) against Israel. This says the LORD (יהוה‎ or YHVH), who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the Spirit of man within him:

2 – Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding people’s, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem.

3 – And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.

4 – In that day, says the LORD (יהוה‎ or YHVH), I will strike every horse with confusion, and it’s rider with madness; I will open My eyes on the house of Judah, and will strike every horse of the peoples with blindness.

5 – And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in the Lord of hosts, their God.’

6 – In that day I will make the governors of Judah like a firepan in the woodpile…

7 – The LORD (יהוה‎ or YHVH) will save the tents of Judah first…

8 – In that day the LORD (יהוה‎ or YHVH) will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem…

9 – It shall be in that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

From the beginning in Verse 1 Zechariah tells us exactly who is speaking, which in English is the LORD, GOD, and in Hebrew would be יהוה‎ or YHVH.

  • Verse 2 states, I will make Jerusalem a cup.
  • Verse 3 states, I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone.
  • Verse 4 states, In that day, says the LORD, I will strike and I will open My eyes on the house of Judah
  • Verse 5 states, the LORD, יהוה or YHVH of Hosts, their GOD
  • Verse 6 states, In that day I will make the governors.
  • Verse 7 states, the LORD, יהוה or YHVH will save the tents.
  • Verse 8 states, In that day the LORD, יהוה or YHVH will defend.
  • Verse 9 states, I will seek to destroy all the nations.

Do you see who is speaking?

The LORD, GOD, in English and יהוה‎ or YHVH in the Hebrew language. But if that’s true how can a Jewish person explain what GOD, יהוה or YHVH says next?

And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of Grace and supplication; then they will look on ME whom they pierced.

If you’re Jewish you should ask yourself, when was God or יהוה‎ YHVH ever pierced?

And if you’re a non-believer you should ask yourself how could the Bible predict this long before it happened?

The GOD of the Old Testament, of the Torah is the same who came in the flesh, born of a virgin, taught the people to repent and turn away from their sins, to believe in the Son of God by FAITH, was sacrificed and became the atonement for sins and ushered in the New Covenant which was spoken of by Ezekiel and Jeremiah. Then the Lord Jesus Christ, Yeshua Mashiach, rose on the 3rd day.

I urge all Jewish people to read the scriptures for themselves. Jewish leaders just as Christian leaders will lead you astray, don’t put your trust in man but in the Lord Jesus Christ, Yeshua Mashiach. Notice what Zechariah says in 14:9, which states;

And the LORD shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be – “The LORD is one, and His name one.

Don’t put your salvation in the hands of others, seek the Lord Jesus Christ or Yeshua Mashiach while He can still be found!

The Black Sea

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Yesterday morning as I was trying to sleep I heard a voice say to me, “Strengthening the Black Sea.” As someone who has never traveled out of the United States I was completely dumbfounded by this. In fact, I had to pull up a map to see the exact location of it. And from what I could tell Ukraine sits primarily over the top of the Black Sea and shares coastlines with Russia, Georgia, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, and Moldova.

Guess things are about to take a turn!

How Islam Surrounds Israel

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Yesterday I posted an article entitled, List of Countries Persecuting Christians, which was furnished by the Open Door Intiative. Today I wanted to discuss what else I see within this list that maybe a prelude to the future.

Open Doors World Watch List 2023

Country Religion Type of Government

  1. North Korea – Agnosticism – Single Party Dictatorship
  2. Somalia – Islam – Federal Parliamentary Republic
  3. Yemen – Islam – In Transition
  4. Eritrea – Islam – Presidential Republic
  5. Libya – Islam – Transitional Government
  6. Nigeria – Christianity – Federal Presidential Republic
  7. Pakistan – Islam – Federal Parliamentary Republic
  8. Iran – Islam – Theocratic Republic
  9. Afganistan – Islam – Islamic Emirate of Afganistan
  10. Sudan – Islam – Presidential Republic
  11. India – Hinduism – Federal Parliamentary Republic
  12. Syria – Islam – Authoritarian Presidential Republic
  13. Saudi Arabia – Islam – Absolute Monarchy
  14. Myanmar – Buddism – Parliamentary Republic
  15. Maldives – Islam – Presidential Republic
  16. China – Agnosticism – Communist Party led state
  17. Mali – Islam – Semi-Presidential Republic
  18. Iraq – Islam – Federal Parliamentary Republic
  19. Algeria – Islam – Presidential Republic
  20. Mauritania – Islam – Presidential Republic
  21. Uzbekistan – Islam – Authoritarian Presidential Republic
  22. Colombia – Christianity – Presidential Republic
  23. Burkina Faso – Islam – Presidential Republic
  24. Central African Republic – Christianity – Presidential Republic
  25. Vietnam – Buddism – Communist State
  26. Turkmenistan – Islam – Authoritarian Presidential Republic
  27. Cuba – Christianity – Communist State
  28. Niger – Islam – Semi-Presidential Republic
  29. Morocco – Islam – Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy
  30. Bangladesh – Islam – Parliamentary Republic
  31. Laos – Buddism – Communist State
  32. Mozambique – Christianity – Presidential Republic
  33. Indonesia – Islam – Presidential Republic
  34. Qatar – Islam – Absolute Monarchy
  35. Egypt – Islam – Presidential Republic
  36. Tunisia – Islam – Parliamentary Republic
  37. Congo DR (DRC) – Christianity – Semi-Presidential Republic
  38. Mexico – Christianity – Federal Presidential Republic
  39. Ethiopia – Christianity – Federal Parliamentary Republic
  40. Bhutan – Buddism – Constitutional Monarchy
  41. Turkey – Islam – Presidential Republic
  42. Comoros – Islam – Federal Presidential Republic
  43. Malaysia – Islam – Federal Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy
  44. Tajikistan – Islam – Presidential Republic
  45. Cameroon – Christianity – Presidential Republic
  46. Brunei – Islam – Absolute Monarchy
  47. Oman – Islam – Absolute Monarchy
  48. Kazakhstan – Islam – Presidential Republic
  49. Jordan – Islam – Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy
  50. Nicaragua – Christianity – Presidential Republic

From this list, let’s look at only the countries that are the closest to Israel to see what their religious preference reflects.

  1. Lebanon – Islam
  2. Syria – Islam
  3. Egypt – Islam
  4. Saudi Arabia – Islam
  5. Sudan – Islam
  6. Eritrea – Islam
  7. Yemen – Islam
  8. Libya – Islam
  9. Ethiopia – Christianity (suffering persecution)
  10. Somalia – Islam
  11. Iraq – Islam
  12. Iran – Islam
  13. Turkeye – Islam
  14. Oman – Islam
  15. Jordan – Islam

If you turn to Ezekiel 38:2 the Prophet Ezekiel is prophesying against Gog, of the land of Magog, the Prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. A little further down in Ezekiel 38:5 he prophesies that Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet. The ancient country Persia is today’s modern Iran.

Looking at the 2nd list Ethiopia is the only Christian nation that is close to Israel and, unfortuanately, many of the Christian residents are being persecuted. So when I look at this list, I believe Ethiopia will be forced to convert to the Islam religion leaving Israel completely surrounded by Muslims.

From the looks of the Middle East, it’s highly probable, the next big empire will revolve around the Islam religion. I’ve already seen articles stating Erdogan of Turkey is wanting to revive the Ottoman Empire.

The Ottoman Caliphate or Empire was created by Turkish tribes in Anatolia around the 13th century and it grew to be one of the most powerful empires for more than 600 years before it came to an end in 1922. Among some of the countries which were aligned with them were, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Asia Minor (Turkey), East Thrace, Iran, the Levant, Mesopotamia and the Socotra Archipelego, North Africa, the Caucasus, and Eastern Europe.

While I always believed Russia would be a part of the antichrist system I don’t believe it will be it’s leader. From everything I’ve read compared to how the way the Middle East is taking shape, and, if Erdogan has his way, the Ottoman Empire will be revived. Turkey will be it’s leader along with many of the other Muslim countries.

For an indepth study of where the sons of Japheth is located read the Table of Nations listed in Genesis 10, you may realize what you’ve been told throughout your lifetime regarding the nations of the End Times isn’t exactly correct. If one wants to know the truth, studying the Bible, instead of listening to man, is the best way to learn. Alot of false doctrines out there so beware…..

Because your soul may depend on it!

The Compromising Church, Church in Pergamos

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Christ has a lot to say about these 7 Churches listed in the Book of Revelation. The Churches were located in Asia Minor which is today’s modern Turkey. My focus is on the Compromising Church better known as the Church in Pergamum. According to Christ, He says;

I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold firmly to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

Revelation 2:13

We see from this scripture that Christ liked the fact the Church of Pergamum did not deny His faith even when Antipas, His witness and faithful one was killed among them. But notice what else Christ says, He says;

But I have a few things against you, because you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality. So you too, have some who in the same way hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

Revelation 2: 14,15

From this scripture alone Christ is telling His people you’re doing things within the Church which I dislike. Eating things which are sacrificed to idols, committing sexual immorality and compromising my faith by following false teachings. And remember, whenever sexual immorality enters it’s a big deal. Because sexual immorality is against the body and the body is a member of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:15). But Christ provides a way out, He says;

Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will wage war against them with the Sword of My mouth.

Revelation 2:16

See what I mean?

If your Church is allowing teachings that do not align with Christ teachings than your church is being manipulated by demonic spirits. What’s even more shocking is you’re compromising the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Walk away from that church, otherwise, you may find yourself waging war with our Lord Christ Jesus!

The Thyatira Church

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Like many of us we tend to find a church that makes us feel welcome, comfortable and hospitable. But, that isn’t the qualities we should be looking for when joining a church. Jesus and His Apostles taught believers everything they needed to know about following Him. They taught Christians what they should believe, why they should believe it, the Christian conduct, what to expect during their walk, and the Christian mission. Christians are warned to be careful of following false prophets and false teachings throughout the Bible because these will lead you astray. Let’s look at the Church of Thyatira as an example.

The Thyatira Church was located in Asia Minor, known as, modern day Turkey. It’s one of seven churches the Apostles visited, taught at, and sent letters to. The church had some good works because Jesus says in Revelations;

I know your deeds, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your last deeds are more numerous and greater than the first.

Revelation 2:20

Jesus acknowledged their good works, but, He also tells them that He had an issue “against” this church. Why? Because the Church of Thyatira was led astray by false teachings through a false prophet. Look what Jesus says;

But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess [claiming to be inspired], and she teaches and misleads My bond-servants so that they commit [acts of sexual] immorality and eat food sacrificed to idols.

Revelation 2:20

Jesus makes it clear, “HIS CHURCH” is to be faithful, to follow the teachings of the Apostles and to persevere. Its the “true” acts of His Church and it’s why it’s so important to “follow” what the “Bible” teaches.

Because pastors, priests, evangelists, religious leaders, prophets or anyone in the Christian field is flawed, they’re human. You hear or see it all the time, a religious pastor getting caught in a scam whether it deals with immorality, money or even murder. Now, don’t get me wrong there are some wonderful leaders in the world, but, they are getting to be few and far between.

As Christians, church members bare the burden of their church’s doctrines, we bare the burden of ensuring we’re being taught Biblical teachings, we bare the burden to ensure we’re not following a false prophet or practices. You see, it’s not about how a Christian leader makes you feel good, it’s about putting “Jesus” first in your life and following His word, His teachings.

Just remember, a day is coming when Jesus will repay each of us, a reward or punishment, according to our deeds!