I wanted to see it, but I didn’t want to see it. I’m talking
about the “gay cowboy” movie called Brokeback Mountain (even
though I read Jake Gyllenhaal, one of the two major actors -
“Jack Twist,” wants it to mean much more than that to its
audience).
I didn’t want to see Brokeback Mountain because I felt it could
be considered some type of tacit approval of two men “falling in
love,” which goes against my Christian grain and biblical
beliefs, but I wanted to see it because I am humanly “gay all
the way.” However, I am not a practicing homosexual (some
would say I’m a professional one), sober and celibate by
choice, so help me God, because of deep spiritual
convictions.
I went and ran errands with a gay friend (who knows my beliefs
and knew me wild and now knows me tame), visiting his “lover” in
the Bowling Green, Ohio jail where he’s doing ten days for a
drunk driving, donated an autographed copy of my book Beyond Babylon: Europe’s Rise and
Fall to the main library in downtown Bowling Green
(since I was born there 46 years ago, but never lived there), we
picked up some fast food and visited my friend’s mother where we
ate and then he asked if I wanted to see Brokeback Mountain that
would be showing at Franklin Park Mall (now called Southfield or
something since the Brits took it over) in Toledo shortly, so I
said yes and we rushed to get there and made it — ten minutes
late. He had seen it a week earlier up in Michigan with some gay
and lesbian friends, thinking it wouldn’t be shown around here
– wrong!
Immediately you have to stand in awe (or sit and watch) the
scenery that is most spectacular and moving, especially as the
sheep are being herded and moving on the big screen in front of
you like you could reach out and pet one, and the mountains are
majestic aspiring to reach Heaven with their snow-capped tops
and trimmed with forests here and there, evergreens, and of
course I couldn’t help but think of the irony of nature playing
such a prominent role in this film that the Apostle Paul would
say is against nature….
I was surprised to see so many older folks in the audience. I
thought they would all be set in their ways (I’m not saying
that’s wrong in some ways), traditional, opposed to such
a real or imagined threat to “family values.” Maybe they just
wanted to watch a movie that looked interesting or they’re also
jaded, or desensitized to the seriousness of sin like too many,
or recognized that it could provoke discussion or a greater
understanding (without necessarily approving of it) of this
whole issue of homosexuality.
I thought the first sex scene was rather abrupt, nothing really
leading up to it, no mating game or cruising or furtive glances
or hints of anything out of the ordinary. Must have all been
buried underneath all that butch (masculine) appearance,
simmering somewhere, and the fuel on the fire was a tad too much
liquor, true to life. Alcohol can strip away any inhibitions
some might have or offer an excuse later to help cover your butt
(which is why I am sober and celibate by the grace of God). The
movie does help blow the stereotype that all homosexuals are
limp-wristed, sissy faggots - but didn’t Rock Hudson already
prove that? Among others.
The whole idea (or unwholesome idea) of two men on a mountain,
far away from rules and regulations and norms, reminded me of a
passage within a little booklet I wrote years ago (God and
the Gays: What the Bible Really Says About
Homosexuality) to address many of the issues Brokeback
Mountain broached: about how some men who are basically
“straight” (heterosexual) will engage in homosexual acts while
in prison or a monastery, but will quickly revert to their
preferred heterosexual passion as soon as possible and pretend
nothing ever happened.
In BM, which we called “Bareback Mountain” among ourselves (no
“safe sex” practiced in it among the men or women involved since
it was set in the sixties), the fellows went their separate ways
initially and got married and thereby proved they were hybrids -
bisexuals - since they could obviously get sexually stimulated
by men and women. A curiosity to both heterosexuals and
homosexuals. But the first chance they had to get back together,
in every way, they jumped at it like a raging bull let out of
his cage. “Free at last, free at last!”
I’ve watched Oprah have men on her program who have been married
for years, with children, who have suddenly “discovered” they’re
gay, and in “finding” themselves - isn’t that just interestin’?
- lose their wife and children. What about the commitment they
made before both God and man? I don’t care if you’re gay or
straight, if you make a vow you should keep it! Why make victims
of the truly innocent wife and children who didn’t ask for it?
Of course some will say they’re all victims, and that’s
true to an extent, but even if someone has “feelings” they
should control them or nip wrong thoughts in the bud — not
permit them to take root and grow.
Why do some find it fascinating for a man to cheat on his wife
with another man, but would stone someone who was going through
his “midlife crisis” sleeping around with younger women to prove
some point to himself? It’s not that the thoughts aren’t there,
it is possible to lust after your neighbor’s wife or husband (or
both), but you’re supposed to rein in such maverick thoughts and
not let them run roughshod over your life and marriage!
Of course two men can fall in love, or a married man and woman
can fall in love with someone other than their spouse, but
you’re not supposed to set yourself up for a fall, you’re not
supposed to let yourself flirt with forbidden love, you’re
supposed to control the thoughts rather than let them control
you (Genesis 4:7).
Brokeback Mountain forcibly brings all these tumultuous
thoughts, tormenting conflicts of interest and personal
struggles to the surface, surging like lava from a volcano,
which I’m now wrestling with and pouring out for others to
consider.
We can feel hopeless and all too human or we can transcend human
relationships, overcoming sin rather than being overcome by it,
by going up to the Mountain, following the path paved by
the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53), who gave His back to be
beaten for us to break the power of sin over us, by whose
stripes you are healed, who bears our heartaches, sorrow and
sin; by going up to Mount Zion and “to the heavenly Jerusalem,
and to an innumerable company of angels…” (Hebrews 12:22).
Instead of wrong desires that only lead to self-destruction,
please let us yearn to return to Zion, time and again.
This next event will be a major one! The Bible says that in the latter days, Russia and what appears to be Iran, Libya, Turkey and possibly Sudan will descend upon Israel and try to destroy her.
Israel will have no chance to win against this large army that will attempt to come against her. However, as you will see in the Scripture verse listed below, God the Father will come to her rescue and will literally wipe this army off the face of the earth. Here are the basic facts and Scripture verses that will tell you exactly what is going to happen with this awesome event.
1. The word “Gog” as will be mentioned in the Scripture verse below has been determined by many Bible historians to be referring to what is now the country of Russia.
The other strange names that you will see listed below have been determined to be Iran, Libya, Turkey and possibly Poland and Sudan. All of these countries will be joining forces with Russia to try and destroy Israel. You already know that most of the Arab nations hate Israel and would love nothing better than to have a chance to wipe her out.
2. When reading the Scripture verses listed below, you will notice that it appears to be God the Father who is the One who will be pulling Russia and her allies out to come against His chosen people. The Bible says:
“I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws and lead you out.”
3. The Bible says that Israel will be dwelling safely in her land when this event happens - so this cannot be occurring at the midpoint of the Tribulation. It has to occur sometime before the midpoint. The Jews will not be living in peace and safety during the midpoint of the Tribulation because the Antichrist will be starting to massacre them once he sits himself in their temple proclaiming himself to be God.
The Bible says that after God destroys this army that will come against Israel, that it will take seven months to bury the dead and 7 years to burn all of their weapons left on the battlefield. If it is going to take 7 years to burn their weapons, this event will probably occur at least 7 years if not longer before the midpoint of the Tribulation to give the Jewish people that amount of time to be able to complete this kind of task. Remember, in the first half of the Tribulation, the Antichrist will make establish some kind of peace treaty with Israel -which may help explain how Israel could be in any kind of peace as described in the Scripture verse below.
4. How does God destroy this army coming against His people? He will do it in 6 ways. This will be the wrath of God coming into full manifestation against this invading army! God will be releasing the following judgments against this army:
- A great earthquake
- Pestilence, disease and bloodshed
- A torrent of flooding rain
- Great hailstones
- Will pour down fire and brimstone
- This army will then be so decimated by all of the above judgments, that they will then start fighting and killing on another - probably in an effort to get away from all of this which they will not be able to do.
The Bible says that God will have “FURY IN HIS FACE” and that He will render all of the above judgments because of the JEALOUSY FOR HIS OWN PEOPLE. His fury and jealousy in seeing this army try to come against His chosen people will cause Him to release His Wrath against them in full force.
The release of His wrath will be so powerful when He releases these specific judgments against this invading army - that the Bible says that all the creatures and all of the people on this earth will be shaking at His presence.
I believe God is making a powerful statement to the rest of the world with this event. The Scripture verse listed below says that God will magnify Himself and that all of the nations of the world will know that He is the Lord after all of these events unfold!
I believe that this one event alone will cause a lot of people to get saved. It will be so supernatural in its outcome, that people will be looking for answers - and if the Church has not been raptured at this point, Christians will be able to provide answers to the rest of the world as to what just happened and how it all was prophesied to occur back in the Old Testament.
The Scripture Verse
1. Here is the main verse that very clearly and very graphically describes this incredible event. This verse is out of Ezekiel in the Old Testament.
“Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, set your face against Gog, the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meschech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him,” and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God; “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meschech, and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them with shield and helmet … After many days you will be visited.
In the LATTER YEARS you will come back into the land of those brought back from sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely. You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.”
Thus says the Lord God: “On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan: you will say, ‘I will go against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land …’
Thus says the Lord God: “On that day when My people Israel dwell safely, will you not know it? Then you will come from your place out of the far north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army. You will come against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land.
It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed on you O Gog, before their eyes …”
“And it will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,” says the Lord God,
“That My fury will show in My face. For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: ‘Surely in that day there will be a great earthquake in the land of Israel, so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence.
The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.’
“I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountain,” says the Lord God, “Every man’s sword will be against his brother.
And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire and brimstone.
Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.” (Ezekiel 38:1-23)
2. Now here is the verse that says that it will take 7 months to bury the dead after God personally destroys this invading army and 7 years to burn all of their weapons that are still left on the battlefield.
“Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and bucklers, the bows and arrows, the javelin and spears, and they will make fires with them for seven years … It will come to pass in that day that I will give Gog a burial place there in Israel … for seven months the house of Israel will be burying them, in order to cleanse the land. Indeed all the people of the land will be burying them, and they will gain renown for it on the day that I am glorified,” says the Lord God. (Ezekiel 39:9-13)
Conclusion
Just imagine all of the above events captured on our TV sets. The whole world is going to see the aftermath of God’s wrath on this invading army. If the Church is not raptured before this incredible event occurs, a lot of people will be looking to Christians for some of the answers to this event. By the time this event does occur, many Christians will have knowledge on all of these end time events. We will then be able to show others who are not saved how this entire event was already foretold to happen in the Old Testament.
This one event alone will help prove to others the existence of our God, that He is real and that the Bible is the one and only true Word of God. God will be making a very powerful statement to the rest of the world through this one main event in an effort to try and get as many people saved as He possibly can before things really start to heat up with all of the events that will be occurring in the Great Tribulation.
Russia and all the Arab nations surrounding Israel need to be watched very closely in the coming years. Do you even wonder why so much time and attention is being focused on Israel and all of their “battles” with their Arab neighbors? That is because God is purposely focusing the world’s attention on Israel due to the prominent position she will be playing in all of these end time events.
We have a lot to look forward to in the coming years as world events slowly start to take the shape and form as prophesied out of the Bible.
Article written by Michael Bradley of Bible Knowledge Ministries. Their website is a resource of Bible Knowledge, articles, commentary and teaching. They currently have over 100 Bible articles. All free of charge.
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Copyright © 2005 by Michael Bradley. All Rights Reserved.