‘Shields up!’, one of several urgent commands given,
On the bridge of the starship, Enterprise,
When imminent danger could compromise,
The ship’s safety, thus requiring enhanced protection.
Shields down!, the subsequent command issued,
When the challenges were successfully met,
And all known dangers were no longer a threat.
Then normal operations continued.
Shields up!, can you perceive The Lord command,
Activating Heaven’s protective function,
For Hebrew slaves in Egypt’s land of Goshen,
Before sending the last plagues He had planned? 1
Shields down!, I can imagine Him later saying,
As to the loss of his first born, Pharoah winced,
And to release all the slaves, he was convinced!
Alas! Hebrews leaving Egypt, no more slaving!
This was the first of several ‘Goshen Effects’,
Shelter The Lord promised to provide,
For two groups who with Him are allied,
While by His judgments, lives of other folks are wrecked. 2
Shields up! That is what I perceive He might shout,
Before tribulation judgments on the Earth are hurled,
After gathering His folks from all across the world,
Most fleeing anti-Semitism, no doubt.
Back into the promised land, they’ll be crammed,
Even spilling over into neighboring lands.
Protections they’ll have, folks won’t understand,
Till the end of judgments on the world …slammed! 3
Shields down! Oh no!! That may seem premature!
Once folks realize Israel was protected,
To her food and wealth, armies will be attracted!!!
Then, in many ways, she’ll be …insecure.
Ponder this:
Why would The Lord lift His protective shield,
Over lands in which His people are crammed,
When in an invasion they’ll be as lambs?!
Ahhh! His strategy’s revealed, not concealed. 4
To Amos and Zephaniah, Jewish prophets of old,
He’s given clues between which the wise connect dots,
To perceive some tactics of His strategic plots,
Then help to warn folks who will listen to what will unfold.
‘All the sinners of My people shall die in warfare’,
So He told Amos; and in Zephaniah’s journal,
Shields down! Do you now perceive His strategic intent,
In lifting His protection in the Gog/Magog invasion,
After giving His protection throughout the tribulation??
Shields up! After Armageddon, no threats to prevent! 6
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1 Read this epic story in chapters 1 - 20 of The Book of Exodus, depicted in the movie, The Ten Commandments.
2 See: The Goshen Effect (Series) Across the ages, The Lord has been extracting two remnant groups from humanity: righteous Jews, and righteous Gentiles, pre- and post-cross folks who had/have salvation faith toward Him, folks who have been/will be resurrected, and immortally transformed to reign with Him during His long-promised Millennial Reign. These topics are discussed extensively throughout this blog.
3 See: The Coming Lame Blame (Poem), and Booty, Pre/Post Millennial Reign (Series)
4 See: A People, Un-walled (Series). See also: Ezekiel 38, Zephaniah 3:11-12, and Zechariah chapters 13 and 14.
5 Zephaniah chapter 3 summarizes The Lord’s strategic plan for Israel, a plan that is literally iterated in various forms across the pages of the Old Testament. It points to a meek and humble remnant of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, people over whom He will reign from Jerusalem for a thousand years. In Matthew 24, Jesus briefly overviews the pending distresses for Jews, while avoiding the details and rationales detailed in The Old Testament.
6 ...because The Lord's illuminating glory will be a shield over Jerusalem, and possibly all of Israel. See: Revelation - Future Attacks in Israel, to learn about 3 predicted, multi-national attacks.
