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Chapter 14: The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is the God of the Armies of Israel
1 Samuel 17:45 45 David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. NLT
The Lord is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow – today and tomorrow we are to put on God’s Spiritual Armor to fight in God’s Spiritual Battles here on earth, and He will defeat the Goliaths in our lives.
As Christians, we are to put on God’s Spiritual Armor to fight in God’s Spiritual Battles here on earth, and He will defeat the Goliaths in our Lives.
Ephesians 6:12-18 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places. 13 Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious]. 14 So stand firm and hold your ground, having tightened the wide band of truth (personal integrity, moral courage) around your waist and having put on the breastplate of righteousness (an upright heart), 15 and having strapped on your feet the gospel of peace in preparation [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news]. 16 Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Amplified Bible
On Earth as in Heaven – all Battles fought here on Earth are being fought in the Heavens at the same time.
It’s a Scriptural Principal that all Battles fought on Earth with physical opponents are being fought against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the Spiritual Realm that are operating behind our physical opponents at the same time. 2 Kings 6:15-18; Daniel 10, Ephesians 6 and Revelation 12:4 are just a few Scriptures that speak of an angelic host and address the war in the heavens as humans take their stand against Satan here on earth.
2 Kings 6:12-18 12 “It’s not us, my lord the king,” one of the officers replied. “Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in the privacy of your bedroom!” 13 “Go and find out where he is,” the king commanded, “so I can send troops to seize him.” And the report came back: “Elisha is at Dothan.” 14 So one night the king of Aram sent a great army with many chariots and horses to surround the city. 15 When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha. 16 “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” 17 Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes and let him see!” The LORD opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire. 18 As the Aramean army advanced toward him, Elisha prayed, “O LORD, please make them blind.” So the LORD struck them with blindness as Elisha had asked. NLT
Judges 5:19-20 19 “The kings of Canaan came and fought, at Taanach near Megiddo’s springs, but they carried off no silver treasures. 20 The stars fought from heaven. The stars in their orbits fought against Sisera. NLT
Angels are referred to as stars in Job 38:7, Daniel 8:10, Jude 1:13, Revelation 1:20
Daniel 8:10 10 Its power reached to the heavens, where it attacked the heavenly army, throwing some of the heavenly beings and some of the stars to the ground and trampling them. NLT
Daniel 8:8-14 8 The goat became very powerful. But at the height of his power, his large horn was broken off. In the large horn’s place grew four prominent horns pointing in the four directions of the earth. 9 Then from one of the prominent horns came a small horn whose power grew very great. It extended toward the south and the east and toward the glorious land of Israel.
10 Its power reached to the heavens, where it attacked the heavenly army, throwing some of the heavenly beings and some of the stars to the ground and trampling them. 11 It even challenged the Commander of heaven’s army by canceling the daily sacrifices offered to him and by destroying his Temple. 12 The army of heaven was restrained from responding to this rebellion. So the daily sacrifice was halted, and truth was overthrown. The horn succeeded in everything it did. NLT
13 Then I heard two holy ones talking to each other. One of them asked, “How long will the events of this vision last? How long will the rebellion that causes desecration stop the daily sacrifices? How long will the Temple and heaven’s army be trampled on?”14 The other replied, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the Temple will be made right again.” NLT
Matthew 24:29 29 “Immediately after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. NLT
There was war in the Heavens – Satan and his fallen angels were cast to the earth by Michael, the Guardian over God’s people and his angels. Then there was War in Heaven – and when the Devil was Thrown out of Heaven – he Declared War against the Woman’s Spiritual Children – Revelation 12:1-17:
Revelation 12:1-17 1 Then I witnessed in heaven an event of great significance. I saw a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2 She was pregnant, and she cried out because of her labor pains and the agony of giving birth. 3 Then I witnessed in heaven another significant event. I saw a large red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, with seven crowns on his heads. 4 His tail swept away one-third of the stars in the sky, and he threw them to the earth. He stood in front of the woman as she was about to give birth, ready to devour her baby as soon as it was born. 5 She gave birth to a son who was to rule all nations with an iron rod. And her child was snatched away from the dragon and was caught up to God and to his throne. 6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where God had prepared a place to care for her for 1,260 days.
7 Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels
8 And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. 9 This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels. 10 Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, “It has come at last— salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth— the one who accuses them before our God day and night.
11 And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.
12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens! And you who live in the heavens, rejoice! But terror will come on the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time.” 13 When the dragon realized that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 But she was given two wings like those of a great eagle so she could fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness. There she would be cared for and protected from the dragon for a time, times, and half a time. 15 Then the dragon tried to drown the woman with a flood of water that flowed from his mouth. 16 But the earth helped her by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that gushed out from the mouth of the dragon.
17 And the dragon was angry at the woman and declared war against the rest of her children—all who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus. NLT
John’s vision reminds us of the spiritual battle that Paul warned us of in Ephesians 6. John’s Vision was based on reality – we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers of this world; against wickedness in high places that Paul spoke of in Ephesians 6.
The Evil Forces Operating behind Iran and both Hamas and Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Terrorist Organizations, are the Prince and Kings of ancient Persia. (Daniel 10)
A Spiritual Battle: First and Foremost, the Battle between the IDF and their Christian allies – the South Lebanese Army who fought alongside one another against the attacks of their mutual enemy Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Terrorist Organization, was a “Spiritual Battle” that God used to bring about His Kingdom Purposes.
The Evil Spiritual Forces Operating Behind both Hamas and Hezbollah are the Prince and Kings of Persia (Iran), spiritual beings identified in Daniel 10 as the Geographical Principalities whose territories are modern-day Iran: Because Iran made it possible for Hezbollah to even exist during the 18-year conflict, the “Geographical Principalities” over Iran need to be examined – specifically the Spirit Prince and Spirit Kings of Persia in Daniel 10. And, I have examined these particular principalities in other Chapters of this book. These satanic angels fell when Satan fell (Revelation 12) and are under Satan’s command. These fallen angels continue to have dominion over Iran (ancient Persia) and continue to operate through Iran and terrorist organizations, such as Hamas and Hezbollah, both proxies of Iran that Iran supports to try and carry out their goal here on earth, which is to thwart God’s Will and Plans for the Church as well as Israel and utterly destroy both. To this day, Hezbollah’s power, politically, militarily, and spiritually, is the formidable force inside Lebanon, which means Iran and the principalities operating behind and through them is the power in control of Lebanon and Hamas. And, so it is with Hamas!
George Otis and the Christian Soldier: From everything I have read about George Otis, he, as well as Major Haddad and his Christian Militia, understood that the battle they were in with the PLO and Hezbollah was a Spiritual Battle as well as a battle here on earth. By faith, they would have put on God’s Spiritual Armor that Ephesians 6 speaks of. When we are led by the Holy Spirit we learn to depend on our spiritual eyesight – that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms at work all around us.
If we are to be successful in our spiritual battles, Ephesians 6 reveals that we cannot fight a spiritual battle in our own strength and win that battle. First of all, we must understand that we are in a spiritual battle and understand what the strategies of our spiritual enemies are. Regardless of their strategies, we can rest assured that if we put on the whole spiritual armor of God that He provides for us that God will ensure that we will win all our spiritual battles.
Ephesians 6:13 tells us that after we have done all we can, then to just stand there until He brings us victory. As we just stand there, we can rest in the fact that the Lord stands beside us like a Great Warrior. We also can rest in the fact that our persecutors will stumble – that they cannot “spiritually” defeat us. (Jeremiah 20:11)
Jeremiah 20:11 11 But the LORD stands beside me like a great warrior. Before Him my persecutors will stumble. They cannot defeat me. They will fail and be thoroughly humiliated. Their dishonor will never be forgotten. NLT
Again, the War at the Border Israel shares with Lebanon was much more than about protecting Israel’s northern borders and settlements and the Lebanese living in south Lebanon. The Lord used those 18 years to bring down the dividing walls of hostility between the Jewish people and the SLA, a Christian Militia (Ephesians 2:14-22). And, to this day, the IDF has publicly acknowledged that there is a brotherhood between the IDF and the SLA, who faithfully fought alongside one another in Lebanon’s Security Zone.
The Mutual Respect between the IDF and the Christian SLA: The Spirit-led Christian will always be Israel’s Greatest Spiritual Ally because Christ’s death on the Cross broke down the Dividing Walls of Hostility making us one Body. (Ephesians 2:14-18) Spirit-led Christians like George Otis and SLA Major Haddad and his Christian Militia will always be Israel’s Most Trustworthy, Unshakable and Devoted Spiritual Allies.
Read the following excerpts from The Knesset published on March 18, 2021:
“In March of 2021 the Knesset passed a bill to award campaign medals to SLA soldiers who took part in the Lebanon war. The bill gives the Defense Minister the authority to award the medal also to South Lebanon Army soldiers who fought alongside IDF soldiers in the security zone in south Lebanon.
The explanatory notes attached to the bill speaks of the mutual love and respect between Israel and the SLA Christian Militia:
“From the beginning of the civil war in Lebanon in the 1970s until the withdrawal of Israel in May 2000 to the international border with Lebanon, military and civilian reciprocal relations were forged, developed, and established between the State of Israel and the IDF and Lebanese forces originating in the Lebanese army in the southern Lebanon region, first under the command of Major Saad Haddad and then under the command of General Antoine Lahad’. “These forces, known as the South Lebanon Army - SLA, fought shoulder to shoulder with IDF soldiers during the campaign in the security zone in southern Lebanon."
End of Excerpt
And, it’s not just happenstance that the numerous articles written about the close relationship between the IDF and SLA almost always mention that Major Haddad and the SLA Commanders were Christians and their army was a Christian Militia. The following is an excerpt from an article published on June 2021 by Maoz Israel Report regarding Major Saad Haddad’s Legacy, the Christian founder of the SLA:
“Haddad was a unique leader during a volatile period of Israel and Lebanon’s history. He had lived most of his life in relentless peril and rumors began to leak that the constant intensity was taking a toll on his body. Sadly, in 1984, Major Saad Haddad died of cancer, but the fruit of his efforts will surely have eternal consequences.” “Israel is our Double Savior”: Read the words of Francis Rezik, Major Haddad’s spokesman as he explained why Israel meant so much to Major Haddad and His Christian Militia. Pause and meditate on his words as you read them:
“Israel is our double savior. First, she gave us the Messiah who saved us spiritually. Then she saved us from physical destruction. The roots of our Christianity are with the Jews. Why should we not be Israel’s ally?”
The words of Francis Rezik are a Living Testament to the spiritual truths of Ephesians 2:14-18 that Christ's death on the Cross broke down the dividing walls of hostility between the Jews and the Church making them one body. That now the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
SLA Major Haddad, a Born-again Christian, and the Christian SLA Armed Forces had no hostility towards Israel: And, it was because of soldiers like Major Haddad who understood the spiritual truths of Ephesians 2:14-18 that because of Christ Jesus there is no hostility between the Jews and the Church that Major Haddad and his militia of Christian soldiers became one of Israel’s greatest spiritual allies as well as an ally on the ground in their joint efforts to withstand the PLO and Hezbollah.
Spirit-led Christians are Israel’s Greatest “Spiritual” Allies. We are Faithful, Unwavering and Steadfast when it comes to Blessing Israel and Praying for the Safety, Peace and Prosperity of Jerusalem. For from Israel comes the hope of the ages –Yeshua Hamashiach, the Messiah Jesus Christ.
So it was with Major Saad Haddad, a Born-again Believer, and the other members of the South Lebanese Army who were Believers in Christ Jesus, who fought alongside the IDF. At the start of the conflict, the SLA was almost entirely Christian; however, over time its make-up changed with Shi’a Muslims joining their rank-and-file in their cause against the PLO and Hezbollah. Major Haddad, the founder of the SLA, was a follower of Greek Catholicism; however, he became a Born-again Believer after meeting George Otis, the founder of Voice of Hope. that had its beginning on the battle fields of war-torn South Lebanon that now reaches almost every continent via short wave radio with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What Satan meant for evil God used for good to the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20
It is to the glory of God and a witness unto Christ Jesus that the South Lebanese Army (SLA), whose Founder, Major Haddad, and Military Commanders were Christians, chose to fight alongside the IDF in the “Security Zone.” established and maintained by the IDF just inside Lebanon’s border that was located next to Israel’s northern border. The purpose of the “Security Zone” was to protect Israel’s Northern Border and Northern Settlements from the cross-border attacks of the PLO and Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Terrorist Group who had established a stronghold inside of Lebanon and attacked Israel’s north border and settlements from within Lebanon from 1982 until 2000 when the IDF Withdrew from Lebanon’s Security Zone.
The God of the Armies of Israel is His Name (1 Samuel 17:45): At the same time, the IDF’s presence in the Security Zone provided the SLA and southern Lebanon with a much needed ally and a formidable military force that was much better equipped and trained than their militia. And, God didn’t just provide the SLA with just any military – the Lord provided the SLA with the Greatest Military in all the earth – the very military that He is the Commander of.
After all, the Israeli Defense Forces are the greatest military in the world because the Lord will stand beside those who are His like a Great and Formidable Warrior.
Jeremiah 20:11 11 But the LORD stands beside me like a great warrior. Before Him my persecutors will stumble. They cannot defeat me. They will fail and be thoroughly humiliated. Their dishonor will never be forgotten. NLT
At times, just as God opened the eyes of Elisha’s servant, on more than one occasion God opened the eyes of those who were manning the radio station that broadcast the Voice of Hope so that they could literally see angels protecting them. (2 Kings 6:15-20) God opened their eyes to see His protection and enabled them to go on about their work with confidence and without any fear.
Jehovah nissi – The Lord is my Banner
Jehovah nissi: The following banner is more than just a banner that George Otis hung on the Good Fence/Gate – it was a Prophetic Banner that honored God as “Jehovah nissi.” George Otis, those who worked with him, and Major Haddad all knew that God was truly their Banner, just as He was Moses’ Banner. Yahweh was their Banner – God was their Jehovah nissi!
Exodus 17:13-16 13And Joshua mowed down and disabled Amalek and his people with the sword. 14 And the Lord said to Moses, Write this for a memorial in the book and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under the heavens. 15 And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The Lord is my Banner; 16 And he said, Because [theirs] is a hand against the throne of the Lord, the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation. Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
Verse 15 in the King James Translation reads, “And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi.” The Hebrew word Jehovahnissi means Jehovah is my Banner. |
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The Good Fence displays the Banner of Radio Station, Voice of Hope. Credit: GPO |
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The inscription on their banner set forth on what foundation Voice of Hope based their confidence and purpose The Lord was their Banner – Jehovah nissi was The Voice of Hope’s Banner
The two armies, the SLA a Christian Militia and the IDF, both targets of the PLO and Hezbollah, became loyal allies that fought side-by-side in Lebanon’s Security Zone that served as a geographical buffer that helped to protect Israel’s northern settlements from the wrath of Hezbollah who was hell bent on making the lives of the Israelites in the northern settlements a living nightmare.
And, they faithfully fought alongside one another in Lebanon’s Security Zone – protecting one another – during the South Lebanon conflict from 1982 until Israel’s withdrawal on May 22-24, 2000.
Spirit-led Christians will always be Israel’s Greatest Spiritual Ally Because Christ’s Death on the Cross broke down the Dividing Walls of Hostility making us one Body |