This is How it Works

Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place! For all who take up the sword will die by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot call upon my Father, and he would put at my disposal at once more than twelve legions of angels? How then would the scriptures be fulfilled that it must happen in this way?”  

(Matthew 26:51–54, LEB

It appears as though Christendom needs to rework the sermon on the mount. Perhaps Jesus meant to say this:

Blessed are the billionaires, because they will control the Earth through censorship, social engineering and psychological operations.

Blessed are the ones that celebrate death and killing.

Blessed are the war mongers, because they will kill the innocent.

Blessed are the psychopaths, for they will destroy the Earth.

It seems that this is what is being supported as many are eagerly sliding into World War III, possibly replicating the second round of the crusades in 1147 CE. It’s going to end horribly compared to what the dispensational theology adherents believe.

Dispensational theology, which became popular in the 19th century, went hand in hand with Zionism, which helped create the country of Israel in 1948. This is still viewed today as the “regathering” of Biblical Israel by many. Along with this view, dispensationalism theology paints a picture of Christians and modern-day Israel having two different paths. The Christian view under this belief system holds to a “rapture” of the Church while Israel will be left to go through a “seven year tribulation”. This version of tribulation is derived from a misunderstanding of Daniel chapter nine. Due to this belief system, Christianity has developed a “the secular country of Israel can do no wrong” mentality, where most evangelical Christians will support the bombing, killing and genocide of people groups they are told to hate based how they interact with the modern country of Israel. Let’s look at what Jesus actually said in the “sermon on the mount”.

5 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain and after he sat down, his disciples approached him. ² And opening his mouth he began to teach them, saying,

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

⁴ Blessed are the ones who mourn, because they will be comforted.

⁵ Blessed are the meek, because they will inherit the earth.

⁶ Blessed are the ones who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they will be satisfied.

⁷ Blessed are the merciful, because they will be shown mercy.

⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart, because they will see God.

⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God.

¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you, lying on account of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.  (Matthew 5:1–12, LEB)

When the God of ancient Israel came along side the Israelites during attacks from their enemies, it was through supernatural events that the enemy was defeated, leaving no doubt that God had allowed them to live another day. These stories are examples to be used in conjunction with the teachings of Jesus:

⁵² Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place! For all who take up the sword will die by the sword. ⁵³ Or do you think that I cannot call upon my Father, and he would put at my disposal at once more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴ How then would the scriptures be fulfilled that it must happen in this way?”  (Matthew 26:51–54, LEB)

The psychopathic leaders in charge of this mess in the world today think that they are fulfilling prophecies on God’s behalf all the while being at war with the principles set forth in the Torah to love your neighbor, and to pursue righteousness, justice and mercy.

The following is an account of how it was done as an example for when enemies come against us.

20 And it happened that afterward, the Moabites, the Ammonites, and some of the Meunites came against Jehoshaphat for war. ² And they came and reported it to Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude from beyond the sea, from Aram, is coming against you. Now behold, they are in Hazazon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi). ³ Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek Yahweh. And he called for a fast through all Judah. ⁴ And Judah assembled to seek after Yahweh; even from all the cities of Judah they came to seek Yahweh.  (2 Chronicles 20:1–4, LEB)

¹⁴ Then the Spirit of Yahweh came upon Jahaziel, the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite from the descendants of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. ¹⁵ And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat, thus says Yahweh to you: ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed before this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. ¹⁶ Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they are coming up the ascent of Ziz. And you will find them at the end of the valley facing the desert of Jeruel. ¹⁷ There will be no need for you to fight in this battle. Take your stand! Stand and see the deliverance of Yahweh among you, O Judah and Jerusalem! Do not fear and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out before them and Yahweh will be with you.’ ” ¹⁸ Then Jehoshaphat bowed his face down to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before Yahweh to worship Yahweh. ¹⁹ Then the Levites, from the Kohathites and from the Korahites stood up to praise Yahweh the God of Israel with an exceedingly loud voice.

²⁰ And they rose up early in the morning and went out to the desert of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in Yahweh your God, and you shall be established! Believe in his prophets, and you shall succeed!” ²¹ And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed singers to Yahweh who were giving praise to the splendor of his holiness when they went out before the army. And they said, “Give thanks to Yahweh, for his loyal love is everlasting!”

²² And when they began with singing and praise, Yahweh set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who were coming against Judah. And they were defeated ²³ when the people of Ammon and Moab rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to destroy and demolish them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, each helped to destroy his comrade.  (2 Chronicles 20:14–23, LEB)

In this case Israel didn’t have to fight the ones coming after them because God supernaturally intervened. It’s all about faith and obedience to God, not who can fire the most missiles.

We see Yahweh turning His back on His people when they disregarded His commandments:

19 Even Judah did not keep the commands of Yahweh their God, and they walked in the customs of Israel which they introduced, 20 so Yahweh rejected all the offspring of Israel and punished them, and he gave them into the hand of the plunderers until he banished them from his presence. 21 For he had torn Israel from the house of David, and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king, but Jeroboam detached Israel from following Yahweh, and he made them sin a great sin. 22 The Israelites walked in all the sins of Jeroboam that he committed, and they did not depart from it, 23 until Yahweh removed Israel from his presence as he had foretold by the hand of all his servants, the prophets. And so he deported Israel from upon his land to Assyria until this day. (2 Kings 17:19-23, LEB).

We can be sure of failure anytime we find ourselves murdering, stealing, oppressing people and being false witnesses.

Photo by Jeff Kingma on Unsplash