Right on Pastor Peter!
I have tried to discuss with other christians the same exact principle you are talking about, focusing on the great commission not land and dates, but I think it comes across wrong and they react like I’m off my rocker, like I’m this horrible Christian that hates the Jews and has never read in the Bible that they are God’s chosen people. In Christian circles today there is a big focus (too much focus in my opinion)on the importance of the nation of Israel but the truth is Jews who die without Christ go to Hell. The most important thing is getting Jewish people and all other people saved from an eternity seperated from God.
Thank you Pastor Peter for preaching the gospel in every message you preach!
Danny
Niagara Falls, New York, USA
‘There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.’ Galatians 3:28
‘...where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.’ Colossians 3:11
But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.’ Matthew 24:6

Dear Peter, Danny and others
- Dear Peter -
I understand your enthusiasm for the Gospel and evangelization, however, it is not sound doctrine to teach that we are only to have our eyes on that alone, and not to be aware of where we are at in these last days.
Scripture commands us to be watchmen, both in the Old and New Testaments.
What is a Watchman?
According to the dictionary, it is a sentinel, state of being on the lookout, constant attention, waiting for expected or feared occurrence.
Sentinel - a soldier, stationed to keep guard.
Watchman from the Hebrew is ‘tsaphah’ - meaning to ‘lean forward’, to peer into the distance, to observe, to await, to behold,to espy.
The word ‘watchman’ is mentioned 16 times in the Old Testament.
In the New Testament - we are to be like Noah, the prophet of God, who foresaw the danger ahead, and physically and spiritually prepared for it.
Jesus gave many such warnings in his teachings.
So, as you can see, being a watchman, and watching and deciphering the events we are seeing in the news and comparing it with biblical prophecy, is essential for any soldier in Christ.
Mass evangelization does not guarantee true Salvation of souls, either.
It is important to evangelize, but, to be like Noah, and prepare for the times we are in.
If Noah had sat back and not prepared, both physically and spiritually for what God had told him was coming, he and his family, would have drowned along with all the others during the Flood.
I would also suggest that you visit the site - http://www.prophetofdoom.org - this is an excellent study site on Islam and the dangers of it.
As I was born in a Muslim country, though Caucasian, I fully understand what the world is facing at this time in history.
In Jesus’s Name,
Layna Jan Wilson,
Vancouver, Canada.

People who lost the vision of Kingdom of God and it’s principle do give importance to the worldly kingdoms. Let us continue with His kingdom principles leading people whether Jews or Gentiles to Christ. That is our priority. I wish all the christian leaders could have been influenced by your thoughts to influence people with the Gospel. May God use you more among Jews and other people.

Yes Jesus did say about watching and praying. But I don’t believe it is to be done in fear or anxiety. That is not faith. Paul said that we should not be anxious but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving to present our request before our Father and He wil guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Jesus also said that before His coming, many things will take place. There will be wars and rumours of wars, pestilences, earthquakes and the like. It’s not going to decrease but increase like birth pangs upon a pregnant woman. So yes in times like that what we need is peace. But not that of the world but Jesus’s peace, for He is our peace. He came to reconcile man to God dying on the cross bringing peace, putting away that which seperated us from God, Sin. When the world is in turmoil, what we need is that constant assurance of His presense and love. And God has given us the Holy Spirit to remind us of that. So yes we must be ready like Noah. But not to be fearful. For all this must come but the end is not yet. The gospel must reach every person because God is a God of Grace and He does not want any to perish. So rather than being an activist or protest about issues, we should spend our energies bringing the good news to the nations. What’s this good news? That God in His love has reconciled sinful man to himself by offering His only son, to die on our behalf, to be judged on our behalf. And in place of all the evil that should come upon us, we receive His good. Oh God is so wonderful. May all who believe this be blessed in Jesus Christ.

I am so glad that Jesus’ return is not a time rather a condition. I am sick and tired of the scare tatics. When I was a little girl, every unusually loud sound to me was the rapture happening. I was so terrified for I was not sure if I would ‘make it in’. Today, I give thanks for I was ministered to for sisteen years before I was gospeled to and the two worlds are far apart. Thank God for way of Peace that is reaching both Jews and Arabs and for allowing me to be a part of such a great ministry and Body.

Open and blatent political support for Israel by the Body of Christ is not at all about land grants or political positioning in my opinion. It is letting God use our Body as a teaching tool and a conversation piece to the whole world. Message: I am the Lord God of Israel. I make Covenant relationships with people. I do not waver and I do not change. No matter the circumstance, no matter the behavior. Jennifer Sullivan

Yes, you are right - the return of Jesus is not time rlated, but condition related. That’s why He said a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day - He has all the time in the world, He will wait until we catch on and learn to be not only hearers, but doers as well. Then all war and evil will come to an end becasue all of creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God and all of creation was subjected to futility - war, violence, destruction, the curse though the sin of Adam. But we who have faith can make it right by trusting God and believing that He is who He says He is and He does what He says He does. And the gospel is not only to get born again, but to believe everything about Him and all His awesomeness and all He promised right up to and including eternal life. And as we do so, we will become blessed of God in every way anybody can think of and over and above that. And we will make the Jews and the Arabs jealous and they will want the blessing and hand of God as well, and many shall come to the house of the Lord to learn from His ways and to walk in His paths.

It is very clear! Before the Lord ascended to the Father, we, followers of Christ who live not according to the tradition of men and the principles of the world but according to Christ, were commissioned to:

‘Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 28:19)

‘�Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature’ (Mark 16:15)

‘And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem’ (Luke 24:47)

If we are indeed living according to the principles of the Kingdom of God in this perishing world, we are inevitably ‘prepared’ for the times we are in and what’s happening around us. So, having an assured entry to the Kingdom of God, as soldiers in Christ who gird ourselves with the armour of the Lord daily, (Eph. 6:11) our task is to focus on proclaiming the good news to PEOPLE, and not be distracted by division of lands and events such as wars and rumours of wars. (Mat.24:6) For nation will continue to rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; famines, pestilences, and earthquakes will also continue to take place. (Mat 24:7-8) All of which unfortunately must come to pass. (Mat 24:6) No one knows when the Lord will return, not even the angels but the Father only. (Mat. 24:36, Mark 13:32, John 7:27) However, we are to watch and pray. (Mark 13:33)

Hence, we are to be watchful of events, but mindful of Jesus’ specific commission for us—people’s salvation—Jews, Samaritans, Romans, Palestinians, or gentile alike. Salvation is ‘condition’ based, not ‘event’ based. Noah was chosen not because he was at the right place at the right time, rather, because of his obedience (a condition).

Our personal relationship with the Lord and living in His principles are paramount to the soldiers in Christ. Only then can we go through the narrow gate to the Kingdom of God. While basking in His awesome love, our task is to share His precious gift to those who have yet to come to the Light.

Finally, to all my brethren in Christ, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Let our conducts be the light and salt of the earth for our Lord until His return, when pain and sorrow will be entirely wiped away.

JOSHUA ESTABLISHED PEACE FOR ISRAEL BY OBTAINING VICTORY IN THEIR LAND OF INHERITANCE

Dear Lay
Okay, what are we watching for then, you make the point about watching and deciphering events but if we see something that matches with biblical prophecy what then? Build an ark? You said ‘we are to be like Noah, the prophet of God, who foresaw the danger ahead, and physically and spiritually prepared for it.’ How do you prepare? Do you really know or is this just an excuse to be a political activist for conflict in the Middle East? Jesus doesn’t say anything about being a Watchman. ‘Jesus states in Matthew 24: ‘And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.’ (vs. 6) ‘And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.’ (vs. 14) It bothers me that you say ‘It is important to evangelize, BUT To say ‘but’ afterward shows that what comes next is more important , I cannot fathom how whatever you mean by ‘preparing for the times we are in’ is more important than the Great Commission. The end will never come unless the Great Commission is fulfilled.
What Jesus does tell us to be are fishermen, fishers of men!
And the web site you listed did not come up but what are the ‘dangers of Islam’ Are you scared of Islam? I believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ has more power than Islam! The only danger that I can recall Jesus mentioning is the danger of judgment and hell fire. This is found in Matthew 5. Jesus is talking about how our sin puts us in danger of being ‘thrown into prison?’ and not getting out until we ‘have paid the last penny?’ BUT (notice my place of the word ‘but’) Praise God, Jesus has already paid the price and let us out of bondage to sin!
The danger is not sin or the devil or Muslims, Jesus has power and authority over all these things, as do we, the danger is ignorance of the Gospel. We get rid of that danger by making people no longer ignorant and preaching the Gospel to them.
Finally, I would like to comment on when you said: ‘I understand your enthusiasm for the Gospel and evangelization, however, it is not sound doctrine to teach that we are only to have our eyes on that alone?’. You are correct we are not to have our eyes set on evangelization, we are to have our eyes set on Jesus who tells us: ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations’ Not ‘Go therefore and be watchmen and decipher events we are seeing in the news and compare them with biblical prophecy.’ The ‘essential for any soldier in Christ’ is evangelization.
I’m sorry Lay but it is not sound doctrine to make light of the Great Commission.
Danny

Dear Peter
This is so true what the bible is saying reguarding end times infact I’ve been able to bring comfort to many friends and family and several muslims friends that I have in telling them that the events in the middle east are not the sign of the end but rather we can keep our eyes on Jesus and what he has done and make our main focus in revealing Jesus to every person the people code as you call it. Praise god!!!
Matthew 24:14 ‘and this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world as a whitness to all the nations and the end shall come
Romans 11:25 ‘for I do not desire , brethren that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own opinion that blindness in part happined to Israel UNTILL THE FULLNESS OF THE GENTILES HAS COME IN’

Mark 9, 38-41 ‘Now John answered him,saying,‘Teacher,we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your Name,and we forbade him because he does not follow us.‘But JESUS said,‘Do not forbid him,for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of me.For he who is not against us is on our side.For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my Name,because you belong to CHRIST,assuredly,I say to you,he will by no means lose his reward.

“End-Time”, whether it comes anytime soon or not, one must understand that we don’t need to wait for any signs that the world is coming to an end, just to prepare our souls. Preparing our souls is a lifetime commitment to GOD, following his ways through Jesus is guarantee enough for us to be saved and not fear the end of this carnal world. Sometimes Christians need to be reminded.

Wow!  My friends were right!
This is a wonderful blog site.