Le ROI -- the KING, in French.
R.O.I. -- an acronym for Return on Investment.
~0~
Le ROI invested, not silver or gold,
But breath in your soul, your life to unfold.
No rate of interest for His breath was applied,
By a good R.O.I., He’d be satisfied.
Before you were born, He had a GREAT plan,
To bless and guide you, as only He can.
Returns that He seeks on life-giving breath?
‘Reflecting His Light, till the day of your death.’
Chapter 2 of The Book of Daniel is one of THE most significant prophecies in The Bible! In it, Daniel (a young Jewish lad who was captured during one of Babylon’s sieges against Judah) found the faith and boldness to approach his captor, Nebuchadnezzar, King of the Babylonian Empire, when doing so risked not only Daniel’s life, but the lives of EVERY wiseman in the kingdom! My, my…….
The king had a dream that greatly troubled him to the point that he could not sleep, then he forgot the details of the dream. So he summonsed all of the wisemen to recount the details of his dream to him. He promised them gifts, rewards and great honor if they could recount the dream. If not, he would have them all dismembered, and their homes burned. My, my, my…….
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, intended to be over quickly, is heading to its 4th year! I have pondered what, if anything, might that signify from Heaven’s strategic perspective? From the start, I considered this war from the perspective of Ezekiel 38, which predicts a Russia-led coalition invasion of a then defenseless, potentially overcrowded Israel, when no allies will be able or willing to come to its aid. Verse 13 signifies that invasion will likely be out of desperation for the basics of life! Curious? Indeed!
How Wars End
Wars either end with a win for the aggressor, a win for the victim nation, or a draw, when no side wins. The latter may be more rare than the former. This is the broad pattern of how wars end, irrespective of the engagement of allies on either side of a conflict.
In Ukraine Never Ceases to Amaze Me, a YouTube video, Paul Warburg , an open-source, independent geopolitical analyst, reminds us that aggressor nations tend to win wars that are resolved quickly, but they tend to lose wars that are long and drawn out. Quick wars, as Russia intended its invasion of Ukraine to be, tend to sustain the aggressor’s ‘foundation’ that supports its war effort—its financial, political, socio-cultural, military, economic, industrial, institutional, allies, etc. That foundation becomes the context that feeds the spirits of pride and aggression. Long, drawn-out wars, however, gradually erode, then seriously threaten that foundation, greatly increasing the risks of an embarrassing loss of the war it initiated.
I intuit only when Heaven intervenes, might this well-worn pattern be interrupted. When it intends war as a judgment for persistent, unrepented sinfulness, no amount of aggression or resistance to aggression will ensure its win! The Bible and history are replete with such examples, e.g., when The Lord sent foreign armies against Babylon, Egypt, Tyre, Israel, Philistia, Moab, Ammon, and Judah, as judgments against their persistent sinfulness.
It is instructive to recall how the USSR and the US, two global hegemon nations, both lost long, drawn-out wars of aggression against Afghanistan! This happened about 3 decades apart. 1 Ponder that…
Roughly 3 decades after Russia recovered from a DOUBLE WHAMMY—its loss in Afghanistan (1989), and 2 years later, the collapse of the USSR (1991)—observers around the world began to track how its second invasion of Ukraine (the first in 2014, the second in 2022) might impact its ‘foundation’. Currently, after 4 years of fighting, reports are that the combined impacts of broad western economic sanctions, allied support for Ukraine, the freezing of Russian foreign reserves in banks in Amsterdam, Ukraine’s successful adaptation of hybrid warfare tactics, and Russia’s out-sized manpower losses, have substantially degraded just about every aspect of Russia’s ‘foundation’. If this trend continues, Warburg suggests a leadership change in Russia, or Ukraine’s ability to ‘hold out’, might result in a win for Ukraine, the clear ‘underdog’ in this ‘David and Goliath’ war.
Heaven’s Strategic Plans?
Bottom line: We don’t know what Heaven intends re. this current war in Ukraine. But this we do know: In Ezekiel 38 and 39, The Lord declared He is ‘against Gog!’ I continue to intuit that Gog may be, not a man, but possibly a demon/principality—satan’s top general. 2 If so, and if he is currently, or will become the influencing spirit over Russia during the 4th age of our history (the tribulation age), then the following scenario may be worth considering.
What Ifs…?
For aggressor nations that typically need to sustain a high-profile of aggression throughout wars it initiates, history proves it can take several decades for them to recover from war. This may be especially true for an aggressor nations whose ‘foundation’ was seriously degraded during such a war.
So whether it wins or loses,
how long could it take for Russia
to recover from its war in Ukraine?
What if… history were to repeat itself in an escalated form? Russia has already experienced a devastating DOUBLE WHAMMY once before: the loss of a long, drawn-out war in Afghanistan (1979–1989), followed just two years later by the collapse of the USSR itself (1991). What if, before Russia can recover from its war in Ukraine, (a) the predicted, cosmic impacts of The Lord opening the 6th seal on His scroll, and perhaps a few years later, (b) the initial trumpet judgments of the apocalypse, both erupt globally?? To be sure, none of us knows when these 3rd and 4th ages ending events will occur! But we do know, thus far, The Lord God has a perfect record in achieving His strategic objectives across creation. Either way, Ezekiel 38 seems to be abundantly clear that the country in the far north of Israel will, one day, lead a coalition of Iran, possibly Turkey and probably mercenaries from Libya, S. Sudan/Ethiopia, to invade a then defenseless, possibly over-crowded Israel.
If-IF that happens, and if the world learns that Israel might somehow be sheltered from the apocalypse judgments, I wonder…
Could that untenable situation possibly motivate Gog
to inspire Russia to lead a coalition, as it did against Ukraine,
to invade then defenseless Israel for its abundant, basics of life?
NB: If Gog is indeed satan’s top demon general, or a high-ranking spiritual principality that operates through national leaders, then one thing must be clearly understood: No part of satan’s kingdom favors any part of humanity. Unlike most of us, evil spirits know and believe Biblical prophecy, because they know Who inspired it, and Who will enforce it—Jesus, The Lord God! They manipulate national leaders, not to achieve geopolitical victories, but to ensure as many humans as possible will share their declared fate in The Lord’s brimstone-lit lake of fire. Period.
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1 The USSR withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989. The US withdrew in 2021.
2 See: Favoring Gog! (Part 1). Gog may be to satan, what the anti-Christ’s ‘false prophet’ will be to the anti-Christ—his #2 in charge.
Living In Systems We Didn’t Create
Most of us live inside systems we didn’t design, don’t control, and couldn’t survive without. These systems supply things so basic that we just take them for granted—breathable air, food, roads, utilities, digital networks, legal frameworks, etc. But we definitely notice them when they fail!
And yet, whether we like these systems, agree with them, generously benefit from them or not, one fact remains constant: Living in them means living under their explicit or implicit authority structures. Those structures exist for our common benefit and participation. As such, they don’t depend upon our personal agreement, affection, or approval.
We don’t wake up thinking, ‘I’ll gladly submit to layered networks of authority today.’ But we generally do submit to them—by driving on roads they create, using money they circulate and protect, relying on utilities they distribute, calling emergency services when necessary, entering into contracts they design and enforce, boarding airplanes, buying food, etc.
See the series here
Part 1 reviews key examples of how The Lord applied/will apply His ‘pre-entry purging pattern’ to various types of groups across our history. Let’s review a more familiar pattern that He applies and benefits from types of purging that He, Himself, did/does not initiate.
Sidelined Purging
Here is a rather curious affirmation Jesus made during His life as a man:
Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. (Matthew 10:34-39)
The Lord has a bifurcated ‘peace agenda':
See the series here
The Church-types Reimagined (Series) explains how it appears The Lord applied a repeating strategic pattern to conceive, create, and commission successive ‘army-like church-types'—both before and after the creation of humanity. I perceive they would sustain righteousness first, in Heaven, then on Earth, and eternally in Heaven. Here’s the list of these groups as I perceive them:
1. An innumerable company of holy angels
2. Adam—and through him, humanity in general
3. Seth and his 1st-age righteous descendants 1
4. Israel, as a set-apart “holy” nation
5. The post-cross, 3rd-age church 2
6. The tribulation, 4th-age church
7. The post-Millennial-Reign, 6th-age church
So far, The Bible and history show how significant parts of these early groups unduly ‘re-imagined themselves’—and therefore failed to honor The Lord’s commissions and commandments.
Also see: Missed Insights About Revelation here
Friends, here are some important tips to keep in mind as you read, study and meditate on Bible scriptures.
1. Two Broad Audiences: Keep in mind God’s promises and predictions in The Bible are, first, for His angels, the spiritual representation of His Spirit, to hear and to bring them into being in their designated timeframes (Psalm 103:20); and second, for mankind to hear, believe and embrace them, as appropriate.*
2. Three Human Categories: Keep in mind God’s audience categorical outline for organizing His Word and the world events that it predicts, and that His angels orchestrate. The three human categories are:
A. The post flood Gentile Nations of the world, stemming from Noah’s three sons
B. Israel, His chosen heritage through which His Word, in writing (The Bible) and in flesh (Jesus), are delivered into the world; and the small remnant of Israel that will be saved
C. The Church, the small remnant of the Gentile Nations of the world that will be saved
3. Two Final Objectives: Keep in mind the penultimate and ultimate objectives of The Bible and all world events are the promised, namely, (a) the Millennial Reign of Christ on Earth and then (b) the subsequent two Eternity Experiences that will follow (Heaven on a new Earth, and hell, death, all devils and all unrepentant sinners cast into the eternal lake of fire, located somewhere on this new Earth). (Correlate Isaiah 66:24 and Revelation 20:14-15, keeping in mind folks in Isaiah's day had no concept of immortal folks spending eternity in an eternal lake of fire!!!)
4. Rightly Dividing: The concept of ‘rightly dividing the Word of Truth’ speaks to more than just understanding the differences between the major Old and New Covenants/Testaments, or other minor covenants mentioned in the Old Testament. It also speaks to understanding which and how these Truths relate to the categories above, especially the two, small remnant groups. It also speaks of recognizing the socio-cultural context of the contents, what applied only that that particular time, versus what is a general principle for Christian living. Other ways The Word of Truth can be divided are: linear historical, evolving (drip, drip) prophetic insights, unfolding ages foci, earthly versus eternal, pre- versus post-Christ, religious versus spiritual, etc., etc.
5. Missed Church Age: Though God promised to extend His salvation to the Gentile nations of the world (to be accomplished during what we call The Church Age), the Old Testament Jews largely misunderstood, ignored and failed to integrate this into their thinking. They perceived themselves as ‘The’ chosen and favored people, to the exclusion of all others. Hence, much of the Jewish experiences recorded in the Old Testament have a large ‘blind spot’ on this promise.
6. Roles of Two Remnant Groups: God always knew there would only be two small remnant groups of peoples from Israel and the Gentile nations of the world (the Church) who would have saving faith toward Him through His Word promises. He also intended fairly distinct roles for these two remnant groups to play, as immortals, in facilitating His penultimate and ultimate objectives -- Christ’s Millennial Reign, and the subsequent two eternity experiences. Understanding these predicted roles, explained below, should greatly enhance your reading, studying and meditation of The Bible. It should also enable you to perceive God’s hand in driving current world events toward His two ultimate objectives. Finally, it could possibly help you to imagine and perceive how your life experiences might fit in during the Millennial Reign.
Israel: From the start, Israel was intended to be a ‘nation of priests and a holy (separated) nation’ unto God, geographically based in The Promised Land until we're all (saints and sinners alike) are on the promised new, eternal Earth! (Exodus 19:6, Deuteronomy 26:19, 1 Peter 2:9. See: Earth's Next Versions (Series) ). The in-and-out yo-yo experiences the Jews have had with this land have never detracted God from His original plan – the Grace into which they have been called. His long promised and current day moves to re-gather them back into The Land is merely a set-up for achieving His two above-noted objectives. Thus, during the Millennial Reign of Christ, it is fairly safe to conclude the Jewish remnant group (both the immortal saints, and mortal survivors of the apocalypse) will be based in Jerusalem and throughout the huge expanse of the geographic Promised Land, serving as a holy (separated) nation’ of priests unto God. This ‘forever Grace’ to which this remnant is called, and that will extend throughout eternity, is intended to remind God and both remnant groups of the people (Jews and Gentiles) to which He extended His salvation, in Christ, to the world at large.
The Church: From the start, The Church (writ large) has been called out from, then sent back into The Gentile nations of the world as a forever testimony of God’s great Grace extended to, but largely rejected by those nations. Perhaps in some ways similar to the Jews, we, too, have had our own yo-yo experiences, walking in-and-out of the Graces to which we have been called. Thus, since we are called out from, and then sent back into (as witnesses to) The Gentile nations of the world, it is fairly safe to conclude, during the Millennial Reign of Christ, the Gentile remnant group (then as immortals) will be scattered throughout the Gentile nations, facilitating Christ’s worldwide kingship by serving as His sub-kings (i.e., vassal rulers over nations, regions, cities, communities, etc. -- across the full structure of civic governance on Earth). We will also serve as relevant kingdom administrators over mortals in nations who will have survived the tribulation period, and over their offspring who will re-populate the Earth over the thousand year period. After the Great White Throne judgment, the ‘forever Grace’ to which the Church is called, and which will extend throughout eternity, is to remind God and both remnant groups that His saving Grace was indeed extended to all mankind. (NB: I include in the term, Church, to include all pre-cross Gentile saints from the 1st and 2nd ages of history.)
Voila! With this, the notion of who will likely be ‘kings vs. priests unto our God’ should take on a much clearer signification. The Old Testament affirms these roles were always separate! (Revelation 1:6 and 5:10)
7. Prayer and Meditation: Prayer and meditation are crucial to understand Scripture. This helps to turn down the volume of our carnal minds and tune our spirit into God's frequencies, by His Spirit. As you pray and meditate the Scriptures, reflect on this:
--Though presently categorized into 66 distinct books with hundreds and thousands of ‘chapters and verses’, respectively, and penned through many writers, they are authored by one Mind and Spirit and to convey to us the synoptic message of The Lord's multi-millennial strategic plan for mankind, beginning with a 6 ages sojourn on this, the first earth, and followed by an eternal presence on a brand new second earth. (See: Human History Ages (Series))
--They are to be read as God’s very intimate and personal message to you, Reader, not simply a historical or poetic record of days gone by. Reading Scriptures with this mindset, opens the floodgates for personal revelations and insights applicable to your specific, evolving contexts. With this, you will develop the ability to walk in your own John 5:19 experiences. (Look it up~)
Conclusions
Born-again Christians, in light of the above, as you read, study and meditate various passages of The Bible, it is helpful to ask yourself:
1. To which category is this aspect (scripture passage you are reading) of God’s Truth addressed?
2. How does it correlate to/with the other categories not directly addressed?
3. What does it signify for me personally?
4. What might it signify for our world today, especially in preparation for the worlds to come, namely, the Millennial Reign of Christ on Earth and the subsequent two eternity experiences that will follow (the glorified versus the damned zones of the new Earth)? (See: Earth's Next Versions (Series))
For readers who are not born-again Christians, through repentance of sins and faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior, please note: The Bible is quintessentially a spiritual book, with a spiritual message that cannot be discerned by the carnal mind. It can only be understood as The Holy Spirit opens the eyes of your understanding, beginning with His re-birth experience. May this post spark your interest in Bible principles, patterns, promises and prophecies in a fresh light. Moreover, may The Spirit of God seed deeply within your spirit, a desire to know Him, and to be known by Him as His son, not just His creation. Sonship is what He desires of all mankind. Blessings as you ponder.
For all readers, The Bible is Heaven’s corporate, composite, cross-generational message to human beings, cutting across the evolution of human history -- His multi-millennial plan for humanity. As such, God uses a wide range of societal norms to convey His spiritual points (e.g., including slavery, inequity between the sexes, various forms of governments, financial, economic, scientific, medical, penal, matrimonial, etc. contexts). Thus it would be folly to read The Bible simply from the vantage point of our modern day views and perspectives on what we today hold as sensitive acceptable and non-acceptable topics. Such topics naturally morph over time.
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* It is simplistic and erroneous to think all of God’s promises/predictions are for mankind ‘to obey’. Consider predictions concerning the fall of Babylon, the ruin of Damascus, the birth of Jesus, the merciless killing of Jewish babes by Pharaoh and King Herod, etc. Across the pages and ages of The Bible, the Lord makes clear promises to both the righteous and the un-righteous. He then gives us tailored EXAMPLES of both, making for a rather thick manuscript! ;o)
