ISIS: The Hatred of God, Personified

We know from the Word of God that in the latter days, the world will come together in a seemingly successful attempt to destroy their most hated of enemies: the dreaded Christians. At that time the majority of the world will look to "one" leader alone; something that has been attempted several times but only with very limited success. Whether it was the Egyptian, Greek or Roman empires, it did accomplish one thing: the oppressed nations developed a common hatred of their oppressors. This creates what we would call "strange bedfellows"; whereas under normal conditions the oppressed people could be the most bitter of enemies. During WWII, we witnessed America, England and Russia coming together under a common cause: the defeat of the Axis powers. Though we most recently have seen and are seeing coalitions of friendlier nations coming together against a common foe, the world presently remains predominately fragmented: every nation for themselves. Enter ISIS.

Seemingly out of nowhere they appeared and have quickly captured the attention of the whole world. Usurping a name given to an Egyptian goddess of fertility and using their supposed loyalty to Allah and the Koran, are known for their brutality, even to their own and their wanton disregard for human decency and life. Their adherents have infested a large portion of our globe as a cancerous tumor that needs to be surgically removed. We are witnessing the intense struggle that individual nations are having with these infestations in which I believe in the very near future these nations will be forced to come together against a commonly hated enemy.

A question to ask and answer is this: where did they come from and why NOW? As a Christian who believes in an absolutely sovereign God, they exist now by His authority for the sole purpose of drawing the nations together for the wicked's final judgment. Joel 3:14 "Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.".

Isaiah 10:5 - "O Assyrian, the rod of Mine anger, and the staff in their hand is Mine indignation." Isn't it interesting that the nations that have known God and have propagated Christianity are now under the most vicious of assaults by a relentless enemy.

please do not get the "rod" of Isaiah 10 confused with the "rod" (a branch or twig) of Isaiah 11 which speaks of Christ as one in the line of Jesse. the Assyrian's rod is comparable to the rod of iron found in psalm 2:9 - two completely different Hebrew words.

As in Isaiah 10 where Assyria was sent to judge the hypocritical nation of Israel, so has ISIS been sent to the nations that have forsaken the faith of their forefathers. They have not endured many periods of peace since their new found freedom from "religion" and today they are enduring troubles they have not seen since the days of the Nazis. God's ways are truly a two-edged sword: some will find mercy for their souls while the majority will be harden of heart according to His sovereign will.

But as Assyria met it's doom because of their pride, their brutality and their hatred of the one True God and were destroyed by a raging fire (Babylon) from the throne of our LORD, so shall the modern day "rod" meet its doom, for it will find no room in the kingdom of the coming beast from the pit.

The Word of God shall not return unto Him void, but it shall accomplish that which pleases Him. (Isaiah 55:11)

Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon fame made a wonderful observation recorded in Daniel 4:35 - "And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand or say unto Him, What doest thou? God does not ask for yours or my counsel, nor does He care about our opinions concerning His actions. This we do know: everything will bring glory to God and the wicked WILL acknowledge our Lord Jesus Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Why do I say there is only ONE choice? Even ISIS offers a choice - believe (all you have to do is act like you believe for they are blind to the real issues of the heart) or die. Bow down before them, carry your prayer rug wherever you go and profess your actual hatred of Jews and Christians: the last part is the easiest for it is a natural and voila - you are in! The Truth is that every one born into this world begins on a super-highway to hell and destruction. This highway is so wide that there are myriads of lanes that suit one's fancies. A lane for every "religion" of the world which includes many that claim the title of Christian; lanes for every perversion of a person's heart; for wealth; for hatred; for power; for selfishness and the big one - for unbelief! The only choice that actually remains is to exit this super highway and become one of the hated ones of this world as our Lord was hated. It is almost an impossible choice to make on one's own accord for it takes the Holy Spirit and His gift of faith to choose.

The turmoil that we see in this world today will harden many peoples hearts to the Gospel and will at the same time soften others to the Truth. This is the sovereign work of a merciful God that He should pluck us from our own self-destruction. It is a TRUE statement that all roads lead to God. Unfortunately, for the majority it will lead them to the Great White Throne judgment and to the Lake of Fire: the second death. When the 70th week of Daniel does come; I believe we will see the greatest revival in the history of mankind; though it will be a time that believing will mean certain death.

What an amazing God we serve. His thoughts and His ways cannot be comprehended.