Raised to be an Army

In one of the most frequently used end-time scriptures (Ezekiel 37), an entire nation is described being raised from graves of nonexistence and transformed into a mighty army. For what purpose has this army been resurrected? Who does this army consist of?  What kind of war is it to be fighting?  Is it standing on its feet today, being clothed again with its own identity as the prophet foretold?  “So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them [the dry bones of the whole house of Israel], and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army (Ezekiel 37:10).

There is a phenomenon happening in the earth today, the lost tribes of Israel known by their generic name of Ephraim, are reappearing out of every nation, tribe and people group in the earth.  This is just a very small remnant of the multitudes that are still waiting in the wings, or should I say still under YHVH’s prophetic wing.  As far as I know, at this point in time they are all coming out of some kind of Christian background although according to the prophets they are hidden in every nation.  They are carrying birthmarks of the faith of their father Abraham, their Messiah is Yeshua/Jesus and the anointing (breath) of the Spirit of Holiness is upon them.  But why “an army”?  Who have these ones been sent to fight?  Paul the Apostle gives some clear instructions to this army, when he tells them that: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through Elohim to the pulling down of strong holds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of Elohim, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Messiah” (2 Cor 10:3-5). And,  “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places”  (Eph 6:12).

This Army is to be suited with armor, a sword and shield: “Therefore take up the whole armor of Elohim, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts [thoughts] of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of Elohim” (Eph 6:13-17).  This army’s Captain, Leader and King has come to destroy the works of the Devil and all his hosts: “For this purpose the Son of Elohim was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8), and now He is preparing this army to accomplish this mission.  Each soldier must respond by likewise preparing himself for the battle for dominion in the heavenlies. 

Satan knows YHVH’s kingdom order in the family of Adam and Noah, as it has already been laid out in the first book of the Tanach (Old Testament).  This Israelite army from the House of Judah and from the House of Israel/Ephraim, will be his main target, as the enemy knows that if they come together as one nation with one King, he will be defeated globally and YHVH’s dominion through this one nation will be over all of humanity. 

The Ephraimites are the priesthood of the Melchizedec army and their sanctification unto holiness is essential.  This is the first step into a corporate responsibility to rule in the heavenly places in and through our Messiah Yeshua. Here is what Yeshua says to the seven congregations:

"And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations -- 'He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels' -- as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star” (Rev 2:26-28).

 "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Rev. 3:21).

 These scriptures were written to the congregations living outside the Land, but the qualifying mark is "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the all seven congregations" (Rev. 3:21-22).

We need an ear to hear like never before. “Hear oh Israel” is not just for the Jews, but also for all Israel, especially for the Redeemed Ephraimites.  We are given a window of time to consecrate ourselves as His priests, cleansing ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit. “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of Elohim” (2 Cor 7:1).  Who are we waiting for in order to accomplish this sanctification?  Peter says that YHVH has already given to us everything for life and godliness: “As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2Pet. 1:3-4).

Perfecting holiness is not some abstract and distant scriptural concept.  He is already in us, as His life is our life. The Spirit of the Holy One is just waiting for us to defeat our enemy by repenting from cooperating with it, and resisting it by believing and obeying the Truth.

We are not in basic training - we are in “on the job training” as Yeshua’s soldiers. Our weapons are not carnal, but we need to learn to use them. Ignorance is no excuse as - we have His military manual.  This warfare does not have to be sought for; it will come to you and is right in our own backyard where lust and various other thoughts gather to play.  As we head into this Shabbat remember “Let [us] the set apart ones, be joyful in glory; let them [us] sing aloud on their [our] beds [a resting place].  Let the high praises of Elohim be in their [our] mouth, and a two-edged sword in their [our] hand…” (Ps. 149:5-6).

Ephraim

In My Opinion

Shalom Fellow Israelite,

I’m sure most of you have been keeping up with the news from Israel and the ongoing terrorist attacks occurring on a daily basis.  Some are calling this a ‘third intifada’.  But whether it is or not, it is much different than the previous ones.  There are a number of factors that are present today that did not exist just a few years ago.  Even though the overall objectives of Islam toward Israel and the western world have not changed, what has are conditions and world situation - dramatically so.  If you have not seen the DVD “Farewell Israel”, then I would highly recommend getting a copy.  One cannot even begin to understand what is going on without studying the history of Islam and its world view. 

Even though Israel has a powerful army, it has lost its just cause in the war waged in the diplomatic arena, and has been defeated by the “Islamic Justice".  The successful strategy of convincing the world that Israel doesn’t deserve to exist is backed up chiefly by a spirit of accusation.  The leaders of the Palestinians are calling this barrage of violence, the “settlers’ Intifada”. They would have the non-informed and naïve believe that they mean the Israeli residents of the settlements in Judea and Samaria (whose presence they say is obviously the ‘root of all evil’), but in reality that is not the case at all – by ‘settlements’ they mean the entire area of Israel, as was so clearly declared a few days ago by Arab students of Tel Aviv University.

 The situation in Syria with Russia and its allies, among whom are Cuba, Iran, and Hezbollah, coming in to help Assad has given the Palestinians new hope in their fight against Israel.  Russia is no longer troubled by the United States’ presence, as the U.S. have backed out of their support for Israel.  Sometime ago Obama announced that he ‘would do something about Israel’ before he leaves office.  And since Israel did not go along with the timetable that he set up for the formation of a Palestinian State, nor did Israel support the agreement that Kerry negotiated with Iran (to put it mildly), the payback has been the withdrawal of American support. 

Thus the momentum and tactics have changed to the point that there will be no one to support or stand by Israel.  How was this made possible? Simply by psychological warfare.  The focus has shifted from the number of deaths or wounded incurred by Israelis due to Palestinian terror, to how Israel is dealing with an individual Palestinian child, woman, or youth who was ‘shot dead’ for ‘allegedly’ carrying a knife, by an Israeli civilian, police, or soldier.   The international news media is almost in a frenzy to see an end to the ‘occupation’. They will therefore show endearing photos of a 13 year old Palestinian boy or girl, or any other young person’s face who was ‘shot dead’, thereby mindlessly demonizing Israel.  Three international TV news stations, for example, posted pictures of these youths with subtitles of “shot dead by Israel”.  This was followed by a repost about 120 who were killed in Nigeria by a bomb planted by jihadists. What do you think would have a greater impact on the viewers?  While among the victims there could have been 50 children, 50 mothers and many elderly, the impression left in most people’s minds is that of the innocent child, gunned down or shot dead by a Jew or an Israeli.  The imprint of a suicide bomber is nothing compared to a “child shot dead” or, as some put it, “executed”.  Isis’ decapitations of hundreds of men, women and children, Muslim and Christian, does not stimulate the passing of resolutions at the United Nations, and only very faint outcries, especially so in the Muslim world.  The big demonstration are always against Israel.   

The United Nations is poised to vote for a Palestinian State, the only thing holding it back is the political situation in the United States.  Canada just went down and now we wait to see what will happen in America.  If it looks like the right-center wing of the Republican Party will be able to pull off a victory over Obama and his successor, Obama will pull all the strings necessary in the United Nations to declare Gaza, Judea and Samaria an official state and give Israel an ultimatum to withdraw within a certain date.  This will be backed up by the present coalition in Syria.   We have to remember that even as far back as 1967 and 1973, the main interest that the United States had in helping Israel was their arms’ race against Russia (then Soviet Union) over strongholds in the Middle East.  That is no longer the case.   (Ezekiel 36)