With the UN Assembly in New York City this week and the vote for the Palestinian Statehood on Friday in view I gave this message to our community in Tauranga to give an introduction and overview of the situation by addressing 3 questions: (1) What’s Happening? (2) What’s Going to Happen? (3) How Should We Respond?
With the release of “The Controversy of Zion and the Time of Jacob’s Trouble” and the mounting contention over the Land of Israel, the Jewish people, and the city of Jerusalem I’ve decided to begin blogging over at http://thecontroversyofzion.com with the hopes of stirring up discussion and awareness about the urgency of what is soon to unfold.
2011 is a significant year with respect to the Middle East. We stand at a critical juncture. Next week discussions about the future of the Palestinians, the city of Jerusalem, and the State of Israel will once again thrust “the controversy of Zion” (Is. 34:8; Zech. 12:3, 9) into the center stage of international politics. And whatever the immediate outcome is, we can be sure: turbulent days are ahead.
Thus it’s imperative that we have an educated understanding of what is taking place in the coming months and years. I aim to post 1-5 times daily with news reports from various sources as well as theological resources from myself and others.
A good way to track with us is to “Like” the Facebook Page where all the updates are posted. Bookmark the new blog and pass it on to your friends and family.
[an email blast from our Publishing company about new resources]
Greetings from Maskilim Publishing,
Recently we’re been working on thecontroversyofzion.com site now that the book has been released. There have been a number of additions that we thought you would enjoy.
First, we have added the “Buy the Book” page where we will continue to add links to different stores in different countries where you can purchase Dalton’s book. As different formats and translations become available in different nations we will add links as soon as we get them.
Second, we have added a blog where Dalton will be posting articles, teachings, news, and more pertaining to Israel and the end-times. Blogs will be posted around 3-5 times a week.
We hope the site is a blessing to you.
Affectionately,
Maskilim Publishing
Tauranga, New Zealand
As most of you know, my book “The Controversy of Zion and the Time of Jacob’s Trouble” was released this week. We’re so excited to see how the Lord is going to use it in the coming months and years.
As the English translation is trickling into different distribution streams in different nations over the next few weeks we’re now turning our attention to the task of translating the book into other languages and printing and distributing it in as many nations as possible.
In the last week or two the Lord has been opening up doors into a number of nations through some quality people who want to make it available to their mission field.
It appears that the first two translations will be a simple and a complex version that will be made available in mainland China. This is extremely significant.
There are a number of passages that indicate that when the conflict of the “time of Jacob’s trouble” begins with the invasion of Judea and the decimation of Jerusalem, the Asian Church will have a critical and decisive role to play both in the Land and in the nations.
Having been forged themselves in the fire of affliction and persecution, Asian believers will selflessly lay down their lives from Beijing to Jerusalem in a compassionate effort to minister to traumatized Jews in flight as the State is invaded and trodden down. They will give a bold, sacrificial, and unwavering witness to the Gospel among hostile nations that will be caught up in a demonic frenzy to wipe Abraham’s seed from the face of the earth. But this will require the Asian church to be prepared for what is to come.
Though most won’t be able to tell just by reading the book, this is one of the principal reasons I wrote it. The Asian church was constantly on my mind as we labored to get this project to print. So the fact that the first translation of the book will be for the Chinese church means a lot to me.
Both the translators and myself wish to give the book to China (and other nations in the future) free of charge. We aim to fund the printing and distribution through the sales of the book in the West and the generosity of mission-minded believers who have the resources and the desire to sow them. More on this in the future.
One of the best ways you can help us now is by getting the word out about the book in your circles. The more we sell the more we are able to give.
If you would like to help, post the link to the website and the video below on whatever social media you use. If you’re a pastor, would you consider playing the video to your congregation? If you have the means, buy a few copies of the book and give them to your friends and family.
As well, feel free to circulate this article in any way you see fit.
In the Beloved,
Dalton
As everyone is well aware this year has seen quite a bit of seismic activity globally. Some people argue that it’s a sign of the times and that we’re approaching the close of this Age. They look to Jesus’ statement in Matthew 24:4-8 embracing the idea that the “birth pains” and the “beginning of sorrows” before the time of the “end of the Age and [Jesus'] return” (24:3) include “earthquakes in various places.” They anticipate a crescendo of sorts whereby devastating seismic activity will progressively increase in frequency and intensity. I am among them.
Others reject this “ridiculous apocalyptic thinking” saying that earthquakes have always been a consistent historical reality (a valid point). As a result they scoff at those who see these things as signs of Jesus’ soon return arguing that nowhere in the Bible are there prophecies of increasing seismic activity but only “earthquakes in various places;” as there have always been. They deny the crescendo effect. And they deny the legitimacy of the category of “signs of the times” (not valid points).
From a scientific standpoint, the recent earthquakes aren’t startling. The USGS says: “Although it may seem that we are having more earthquakes, earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or greater have remained fairly constant throughout this century and, according to our records, have actually seemed to decrease in recent years.” [1] While this isn’t a unanimous sentiment, it surely does reflect the majority of the scientific community who openly mock the idea of the return of Jesus (let alone earthquakes as signs of the times).
From a misguided theological standpoint, earthquakes won’t be intensifying, nor are they a sign of the times. Gary DeMar writes: “Jesus simply says that “in various places there will be famines and earthquakes” (24:7). He says nothing about an increase in their number. Luke writes, “there will be great earthquakes” (Luke 21:11). Jesus was describing signs that led up to the destruction of the temple that would take place before that first-century generation passed away (Matt. 24:33-34). Like famines (Acts 11:28), “great earthquakes” are part of the biblical historical record.” [2] DeMar is a vigorous proponent of what is called Preterism; the idea that Matthew 24, 2 Thessalonians 2, the book of Revelation, and all of the eschatological prophecies in the Bible refer not to the end of THE Age, but to the end the JEWISH Age in AD 70 when Rome sacked Jerusalem. For these poor souls the “end has already come.” Unfortunately this nonsensical position has gained considerable support in the last few decades as theological heavyweights such as R.C. Sproul, NT Wright, Sam Storms, and others (like emergent leaders Rob Bell and Brian MacLaren) have given well thought out and articulate outlines of what they believe to be an undeniable doctrinal reality.
In light of this contention that because earthquakes have always been constant they will not increase before the return of the Lord I wanted to make mention of a few Biblical realities that warrant our attention.
THE PROMINENCE OF EARTHQUAKES IN ESCHATOLOGICAL PROPHECY
While Jesus [Read more...]
I’m stoked to announce the release of the Full Length Trailer for my book “The Controversy of Zion and the Time of Jacob’s Trouble: The Final Suffering and Salvation of the Jewish People.”
If you’d like to help stir up awareness about these critical issues and help us promote the book we’d be delighted if you’d repost it.
A big “Thank You” to the talented Nathan Buchanan for creating such a beautiful video.
* If you’re receiving this blog by email, click on the link to watch the video.
I’ve received numerous emails from people around the world asking what I foresee unfolding in the next few years in light of some of the significant trends and events so far in 2011. Below is a short response.
There are three ‘areas of development’ included here that I think we’ll see in the next 5 years. I’ve followed each projection with a brief outline of what our response should be.
The first has no scriptural foundation. It doesn’t mean it’s not legitimate. But it is conjecture. And you should know that. The second is a mix of prophetic intuition and Biblical exegesis. This will be teased out in subsequent posts. And the third is entirely Biblical with no subjective reasoning involved.
FIRST, the obvious. The United States (and it’s far reaching implications globally).
Today marks [Read more...]
Good news! The book “The Controversy of Zion and the Time of Jacob’s Trouble” has gone to print. This means that it will be available next month. I’ll keep you posted on the details.
You can read excerpts that are being tweeted daily over at @CntrvrsyOfZion on Twitter.
In researching for The Controversy of Zion and the Time of Jacob’s Trouble I spent a lot of time scouring J. C. Ryle’s writings (1816-1900). The first Anglican Bishop of Liverpool in the mid-1800′s deserves to be heard.
Along with contemporaries Charles Spurgeon (a Baptist from London), Robert Murray M’Cheyne, Horatius Bonar, and Andrew Bonar (all Presbyterians from Scotland), Ryle stood out from the pack of Reformed Theologians who used allegory and “spiritualization” (their word) to reinterpret prophecy divesting Israel of their national destiny as foretold by the prophets and apostles. Below are selections from one of his books Coming Events and Present Duties (1879) [1] in which he appeals to the Church concerning the illegitimacy of this sort of modification and revision, particularly as it relates to Jewish evangelism (“…to the Jew first…” according to Rom. 1:16, Acts 3:26, 13:46).
“I believe we have fallen into an error parallel with that of our Jewish brethren, an error less fatal in its consequences than theirs, but an error far more inexcusable, because we have had more light. If the Jew thought too exclusively of Christ reigning, has not the Gentile thought to exclusively of Christ suffering? If the Jew could see nothing in Old Testament prophecy but Christ’s exaltation and final power, has not the Gentile often seen nothing but Christ’s humiliation and the preaching of the gospel? If the Jew dwelt too much on Christ’s second advent, has not the Gentile dwelt too exclusively on the first? If the Jew ignored the cross, has not the Gentile ignored the crown? I believe there can be but one answer to these questions. I believe that we Gentiles till lately have been very guilty concerning a large portion of God’s truth. I believe that we have cherished an arbitrary, reckless habit of interpreting first advent texts literally, and second advent texts spiritually. I believe we have not rightly understood “all that the prophets have spoken” about the second personal advent of Christ, any more than the Jews did about the first. And because we have done this, I say that we should speak of such mistakes as that referred to in our text with much tenderness and compassion.
You would probably tell the Jew that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah promised in the Old Testament Scriptures. To those Scriptures you would refer him to for proof. You would show him Psalm 22, Isaiah 53, Daniel 9:26, Micah 5:2, Zechariah 9:9 and 11:13. You would tell him that in Jesus of Nazareth those Scriptures were literally fulfilled. You would urge upon him that he ought to believe these Scriptures, and receive Christ as the Messiah. All this is very good. So far you would do well. But suppose the Jew asks you if you take all the prophecies of the Old Testament in their simple literal meaning. Suppose he asks you if you believe in a literal personal advent of Messiah to reign over the earth in glory, a literal restoration of Judah and Israel to Palestine, a literal rebuilding and restoration of Zion and Jerusalem. Suppose the unconverted Jew puts these questions to you, what answer are you prepared to make?
Will you dare to tell him that Old Testament prophecies of this kind are not to be taken in their plain literal sense? Will you dare to tell him that the words Zion, Jerusalem, Jacob, Judah, Ephraim, Israel, do not mean what they seem to mean, but mean the Church of Christ? Will you dare to tell him that the glorious kingdom and future blessedness of Zion, so often dwelt upon in prophecy, mean nothing more than the gradual Christianizing of the world by missionaries and gospel preaching? Will you dare to tell him that you think it “carnal” to expect a literal rebuilding of Jerusalem, “carnal” to expect a literal coming of Messiah to reign? Oh, reader, if you are a man of this mind, take care what you are doing! I say again, take care.
Do you not see that you are putting a weapon in the hand of the unconverted Jew, which he will probably use with irresistible power? Do you not see that you are cutting the ground from under your own feet, and supplying the Jew with a strong argument for not believing your own interpretation of Scripture? Do you not see that the Jew will reply, that it is “carnal” to tell him that the Messiah has come literally to suffer, if you tell him that it is “carnal” to expect Messiah will come literally to reign? Do you not see that the Jew will tell you, that it is far more “carnal” in you to believe that Messiah could come into a world as a despised, crucified Man of sorrows, than it is in him to believe that He will come into the world as a glorious King? Beyond doubt he will do so, and you will find no answer to give. Reader, I commend these things to your serious attention. I entreat you to throw aside all prejudice, and to view the subject I am dwelling upon with calm and dispassionate thought. I beseech you to take up anew the prophetical Scriptures, and to pray that you may not err in interpreting their meaning. Read them in the light of those two great polestars, the first and second advents of Jesus Christ. Bind up with the first advent the rejection of the Jews, the calling of the Gentiles, the preaching of the gospel as a witness to the world and gathering out of the election of grace. Bind up with the second advent the restoration of the Jews, the pouring out of judgments on unbelieving Christians, the conversion of the world and the establishment of Christ’s kingdom upon earth. Do this and you will see a meaning and fullness in prophecy which perhaps you have never yet discovered.
I am quite aware that many good men do not see the subject of unfulfilled prophecy as I do. I am painfully sensible that I seem presumptuous in differing from them. But I dare not refuse anything which appears to me plainly written in Scripture. I consider the best of men are not infallible. I think we should remember that we must reject Protestant traditions which are not according to the Bible, as much as the traditions of the Church of Rome.
I believe it is high time for the Church of Christ to awake out of its sleep about Old Testament prophecy. From the time of the old fathers, Jerome and Origen, down to the present day, men have gone on in a pernicious habit of “spiritualizing” the words of the Prophets, until their true meaning has been well nigh buried. It is high time to lay aside traditional methods of interpretation, and to give up our blind obedience to the opinions of such writers as Poole, Henry, Scott and Clarke, upon unfulfilled prophecy. It is high time to fall back on the good old principle that Scripture generally means what it seems to mean, and to beware of that semi-skeptical argument, “Such and such an interpretation cannot be correct, because it seems to us ‘carnal’“!
It is high time for Christians to interpret unfulfilled prophecy by the light of prophecies already fulfilled. The curses of the Jews were brought to pass literally: so also will be the blessings. The scattering was literal: so also will be the gathering. The pulling down of Zion was literal: so also will be the building up. The rejection of Israel was literal: so also will be the restoration.”
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[1] Republished as Are You Ready For The End Of Time? (Fearn, Scotland: Christian Focus, 2001).
