Category: MIDDLE EAST

Did you ever wonder why the Land of Israel is referred to as Palestine?
Exodus 15:14 The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina.
Isaiah 14:29 Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent’s root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent.
Isaiah 14:31 Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou, whole Palestina, art dissolved: for there shall come from the north a smoke, and none shall be alone in his appointed times.
Joel 3:4 Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? …

Land of the Philistines.
Psalm 60:8 Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because of me.
Psalm 87:4 I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.
Psalm 108:9 Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe; over Philistia will I triumph.

The name Palestine is derived from the Philistines. The Biblical names for the land promised to Abraham and his descendants as their inheritance are Canaan and Israel. The name Palestine is found 4 times in the Bible in references to the coastal strip to the southeast of Israel that was occupied by the Philistines. It was roughly the same area known as the Gaza Strip today. The Romans referred to the southern part of Israel as Provincia Judea but this name was changed to Provincial Syria Palestine by the Emperor Hadrian in the early second century AD. Eventually the name Palestine came to be used by all of the land that was ever occupied by the Jewish people. It is no coincidence that the land promised to Abraham (Israel) by covenant is now know by the name of her most persistent and troublesome enemy. It is another part of Satan’s never-ending attack on God’s chosen people. It was David who finally subdued the Philistines and brought peace to ancient Israel. With an even greater victory, David’s greatest descendent, the Lord Jesus Christ will one day once again subdue Israel’s enemies.

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FACTS:  168,927 miles – A little bigger than California
               BAGHDAD is the Capital City
               ARABIC is the official language, ISLAM is the official religion                 
IRAQ is not mentioned in the Bible but Mesopotamia is:
Genesis 24:10, Deuteronomy 23:4, Judges 3:8, 3:10,
1 Chronicles 19:6, Acts 2:9, 7:2      (7 times)
                Mesopotamia was conquered over 1200 years ago by Arabs and
changed the name to IRAQ . IRAQ means “Country with deep Roots”
Genesis 2:8 states “the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden”.
Many believe Genesis 2:10-14 was the land of EDEN later called Mesopotamia which was later named IRAQ by the Arabs. Adam and Eve were created, Satan’s first earthly appearance, and the fall of mankind all occurred in IRAQ.
Genesis 11:1-8 is the story of the tower of Babel, which was located in IRAQ. Genesis 10:8-10 gives a good description of its location.
According to Acts 7:2 The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, Abram was from IRAQ.
Isaac’s wife came from IRAQ, (Mesopotamia) Genesis 24:4.
God saved the whole city of Nineveh (Jonah) which is in IRAQ, about 225 miles north of Babylon.
The Jews spent 70 years in captivity in IRAQ, Ezra 2:1. Which means Zerubbabel and Nehemiah came from IRAQ to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple and the Wall. The fiery Furnace, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego occurred in IRAQ. Daniel was thrown in the Lion’s Den in IRAQ.
The story of Esther happened in IRAQ. The Medes and Persians were ruling in IRAQ with Babylon as their capital.
The book in Nahum is a prophecy against Nineveh, a city in northern IRAQ.
AS we can see Mesopotamia is much in the scripture, but today we know it as IRAQ. So, is IRAQ mentioned in future Bible events? Remember, BABYLON is in IRAQ.
Saddam Hussein is best known for serving as Iraq’s fifth President, in power when the U.S. invaded Iraq. He was later hanged, December 30, 2006, for war crimes. He hated Israel and all who helped her, this included America. He promised to destroy the USA and fill many coffins with our dead. For years he fired deadly missiles at Israel.
Some of the following has happened and more is still to come:
Jeremiah 50:9 For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain.
Jeremiah 50:14 Put yourselves in array against Babylon round about: all ye that bend the bow, shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she hath sinned against the Lord.
Jeremiah 50:29 Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the Lord, against the Holy One of Israel.
Jeremiah 51:11 Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: the Lord hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the Lord, the vengeance of his temple.
In his day, Jeremiah meant arrows to be darts shot from a bow. Today, one of the missile systems Israel defends herself with is a missile system known as the ARROW.
One day soon will be the final destruction of BABYLON (IRAQ). Consider the following:
Jeremiah 50:15 Shout against her round about: she hath given her hand: her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for it is the vengeance of the Lord: take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her.
Revelation 16:12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.

Note the River Euphrates is in IRAQ and has protected BABYLON from land invasion from the east for centuries.

Jeremiah 50:34 Their Redeemer is strong; the Lord of hosts is his name: he shall throughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.
Jeremiah 50:39 Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation.
Jeremiah 51:49 As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth.
Jeremiah 51:64 And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary.
Jeremiah 51:37  And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwelling place for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant.
Revelation 18:21-23 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

Thus Israel will find peace with their redeemer, the LORD of hosts, and BABYLON will be no more.

Good Reference Book – Unveiling Islam by Caner & Caner             Authors: Brothers Ergun and Emir Caner have lived the Muslim life

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Officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Cairo is the Capital City.
ARABIC is the official language, ISLAM is the official religion.

• Egypt covers an area of 386,659 square miles.
• Egypt land size is bigger than TEXAS with a population of over 97 million people.
• Egypt is mentioned in the Bible 558 times. 536 times in Old Testament and 22 times in New Testament.
• Egyptian history is generally considered to have begun in 3200 B.C. when King Menes (also called Narmer) united the Upper and Lower Kingdoms.
• Egypt’s history has traditionally been divided into 30 (sometimes 31) dynasties. Dynasties one and two date back around 5,000 years and are often called the “early dynastic” or “archaic” period.
• Egypt is one of the oldest countries mentioned in the Bible and it has retained land and its name.

Israel (the Jew) grew into a nation of people in the land of Egypt. Then Moses led the people out of Egypt and took them to the Land that God had promised Abraham. Joshua led the people into the land and Israel became a true nation with land and people.

• Israel goes into Egypt Genesis 46 thru 50.
• Israel lead out of Egypt Exodus 1 thru 12.
• Israel gets her LAND Deuteronomy 34 thru Joshua 5.

According to the Holy Scripture, Egypt is (and has) to come under much judgement from God for the way they have treated His people, the Jew. The book of Isaiah has much to say on this subject. But Egypt will turn to God and be Blessed in the Later days. They will again be a great nation along with Israel.
The book of Jeremiah has much to say about Egypt and its punishments and blessings.

Matthew Chapter 2 records the birth of Christ in Bethlehem and then how he was taken to Egypt for safety. Matthew 2:15 gives the reason and fulfilled Hosea 11:1.

Most references to Egypt in the New Testament refer to how Egypt treated the Jews as the people of Israel grew into a Nation.

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a member of the ancient Hebrew nation, especially in the period from the Exodus to the Babylonian Captivity ( c. 12th to 6th centuries BC).

The term ISRAEL is used in scripture to describe A MAN, A PEOPLE, A LAND (NATION).

A MAN:
Genesis 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
Genesis 35:10, 37:3,13 42:5 43:6,8,11 45:21 45:28 46:1,2,8,29,30 47:29,31 48:2,8,10,11,14,20,21,50:2

A PEOPLE:
Genesis 32:32 Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew that shrank.
Genesis 34:7, 35:21,22 36:1 47:27 49:2,7,16,24,28 50:25
Starting in Exodus 1:1 and through Deuteronomy 34:12 it was the people, the Children of Israel.

A NATION:
From Joshua to Malachi God dealt with Israel as a PEOPLE and A NATION as he gave them a land. As they kept God first He blessed them, when they went after other gods, He would discipline them, even remove them from the Land. As they returned to Him they would again be blessed.
Finally, at the birth of Christ the people of Israel were in their land, as a nation, however they were under the rule of Rome. Christ came and offered them their Kingdom, all they had to do was receive Him as their Messiah, their King. They not only rejected Him they had Him crucified.

Be sure to read the verses sited in context.

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While the Lord Jesus walked the earth during His three-year ministry, He taught His disciples and those who followed Him in Parables. Many times, He interpreted (explained) them, but the one about the fig tree was not explained.

Luke 13:6-9 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
Christ in explaining to the Jews the coming kingdom of heaven on earth warned them of what was happening. Christ came to present himself as their Messiah one who was to be the ruler of Israel (all earth). As promised in Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
As well as in many other Old Testament Scriptures. What was about to happen to Israel was being fulfilled right before their eyes.  There are four key words in the parable: fig tree, fruit, three years, and this year.
The Fig tree was Israel. The fruit was supposed to be their acceptance of him as their Messiah. The three years were his ministry on earth where he presented them the opportunity to accept him as their Messiah. The request for this year was for one more year (after His resurrection).
He again warned them of the coming of the kingdom in Luke 21:29-31,  Matthew 24:32-33 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
This year was fulfilled during the first 8 chapters of Acts where Israel, through the Apostles preaching and teaching were presented many more opportunities to accept the risen Christ as their Messiah. When the stoning of Stephen took place (Acts 7) the year was up and the fig tree was cut down.
God closed the door to the Nation Israel and selected Saul (Paul) to go to the Gentiles with the message of salvation through faith. The door of salvation was opened to the Gentiles. The Jews were set aside, blinded (Romans 11:7-11,25). But one day, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in, and the blindness will be lifted and God will again be dealing with His people, Israel.  

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A member of the ancient Hebrew nation, especially in the period from the Exodus to the Babylonian Captivity (c. 12th to 6th centuries BC).

The gospels are full of God’s, through Christ, offer for the people of Israel to become the Nation of Israel with their own King.
Matthew 2:6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
Matthew 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Matthew 10:23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
Matthew 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Matthew 19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
His detractors knew what he offered (and did not believe it).
Matthew 27:42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
Mark 15:32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.
He came to restore the Kingdom and be their King.
Luke 1:16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
Luke 1:54,68, 2:25,32,34, 4:25,27, Luke 7:9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
Luke 22:30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Luke 24:21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
John 1:31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
His apostles believed it, Jewish leaders did not:
John 1:49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
John 3:10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
John 12:13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

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Be sure to read the verses sited in context.

Historic events beginning with the Babylon Captivity

  BC
605        Fall of Jerusalem: Beginning of Babylon Captivity and times of the Gentiles
                                Jeremiah 25:9-11, Daniel 1:1
586        Destruction of Temple and Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezz
                                Jeremiah 52:11-13
535        Fall of Babylon: Beginning of second empire, Medo-Persia                               Daniel 2:39, 5:1-31, 7:5
535        Return of Jews to the Holy land
                                Ezra 1:1-2:70
515        Rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem
                                Ezra 3:1-13, 4:21-24, 5:1-6:18
445        Rebuilding of Jerusalem walls
                               Nehemiah 1:1-6:16
445-396 City of Jerusalem rebuilt
                              Daniel 9:25
331        Beginning of the third empire: Greece
                                Daniel 2:39, 7:6, 8:1-22
242        Beginning of the forth empire: Rome
                                Daniel 2:40, 7:7
  63        Rome conquers Jerusalem
 20        Romans begin rebuilding the temple
   6        Birth of Christ
                             Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7, Micah 5:2, Luke 2:4-11
AD
  27        Death, Burial, Resurrection of Christ
                              Psalm 16:19, 22:1-21, Isaiah 53:3-12,
Matthew 16:21, :22-23, 20:18-19, 27:33-50, 28:1-10
64        Jerusalem Temple completed
                               John 2:21
70        Jerusalem and Temple destroyed: worldwide scattering of the Jews
                              Deuteronomy 28:63-68, Matthew 24:1-2, Luke 21:20

1897       Zionist movement begins: Israel seeks home in ancient land
1945       Rise of Russia and Communism to Power
1946       Beginning of one world government: United Nations
1948       Israel established as a nation in the land
                     Third return … first phase of Israel’s restoration
1956       Israel extends territory
1967       Israel regains territory from Jordan river to Suez Canal, including Jerusalem
1973       Withdrawal of Israel from Suez
1974       Israel extends territory into Egypt and Syria

All dates best estimate 

ALSO SEE “What’s Next-3 Wars”

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