Operation Epic Fury - Beginning of the end?

 

“U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) commenced Operation Epic Fury, Feb. 28, at the direction of the President of the United States. U.S. and partner forces began striking targets at 1:15 am ET to dismantle the Iranian regime's security apparatus, prioritizing locations that posed an imminent threat.” ¹

This is what I woke up to Saturday morning. I’ve been following and praying about this since then. While I have read several good posts about what was going on and why, this morning was the first time I saw a post asking if this was the fulfillment of biblical prophecy. That kind of surprised me. I want to ask,

Is this the fulfillment of biblical prophecy? Is this the beginning of the end?

Prepare yourself, here’s my answer…I don’t know.

We have to understand that not every event in the Middle East is the fulfillment of prophecy. It is a volatile region of the world – stuff is happening all the time, but not every event marks the end of the world.

Even though I haven’t seen anyone claiming this is the beginning of Gog and Magog, why is it that Christians so often react to events like this as if they are the fulfillment of prophecy and that the end is upon us? I think it’s because we are so eager for Christ to return that we become overzealous. It’s silly, and foolish, and harmful. You can only “cry wolf” so many times. As we all know, we are already mocked when we claim “this is the beginning of the end.”

Here is another reason some Christians are so focused on events in the Middle East – this is the part of the world and the players who will be involved in end time events. The first advent took place here. So will the second. This is genuinely a hot spot!

Here’s the reason why I am especially interested: I believe in the restoration and salvation of Israel. I believe this is God’s promise to them. Consequently, I believe their return to the land is fulfillment of prophecy. For this conviction I have been called a Zionist. I googled, zionism meaning. This is what I received:

AI Overview

In simple terms, Zionism is a nationalist movement that supports the development and protection of a Jewish homeland in the historic Land of Israel (Palestine), aiming for Jewish self-determination and a safe haven, stemming from a deep connection to the land and centuries of persecution, leading to the creation of modern-day Israel. It's about the right of the Jewish people to have their own state and sovereignty in their ancestral territory, driven by cultural, religious, and political aspirations for security and self-governance. 

I suppose that makes me a Zionist. I believe that according to His promises and purposes God is restoring Israel. This does not mean I automatically agree with everything Israel does. In addition, I recognize they are in the land in unbelief, there is a still a deep work of God to be done in them. What it does mean is I believe God has promised to return them to the land and to restore them to Himself, and that all Israel shall be saved. ²

Finally, I believe Christians should be eagerly anticipating the return of Jesus Christ to set up his kingdom on the earth. We should be prepared for his return:  Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.³ But we must be aware of and prepared for the time of great trial and tribulation preceding his return. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.⁴

Is Operation Epic Fury the beginning of the end? I don’t know.

Is this area of the world a part of end times biblical prophecy? I believe so.

Is the Lord Jesus Christ coming again in power and glory? This I know so.

How should we respond to all this?

My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. ⁵

  

¹ USCENTCOM Press Release | Feb. 28, 2026

² Romans 11:26

³ 2 Peter 3:14

⁴ Matthew 24:13

⁵ Psalm 62:5-8

Radiation: A little humor and a praise

 

In July of 2020 I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. My PSA was 43 and my prostate was greatly enlarged. The doctor prescribed treatment was Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT: to remove testosterone from my system) and radiation. I was sent to Dr. William Bobo at Rock Hill Radiation Therapy Center for 43 radiation treatments, 5 days a week, for 8 weeks. I’ve never been told this, but I’m pretty sure I have received my lifetime limit of radiation. (I was full of anxiety at the thought of this, and I confess, even though that is not me in the photo, I can feel the anxiety once more.)

My treatments were always in the morning. I would park a mile away and walk to the center. They wanted my bladder full for the treatments, so I always barely made it. The walk back was rough - many times I was basically crawling back to my Jeep.

The Humor

Every Tuesday Dr. Bobo would meet with me and ask how I was doing and if I had any questions. One time I did actually have a question, something I’d been pondering.

“How long after each treatment am I radioactive?”

He laughed. “You’re not. It dissipates immediately.”

The Praise

The Radiation Therapy Center took Thursday and Friday off for Thanksgiving, and switched my treatments to the Saturday and Sunday before Thanksgiving. I went for my treatment Sunday morning and then on to church. As I mentioned, I was often wiped out after a treatment, that morning especially so. Oh, I was feeling bad! We were attending an Anglican Church (ACNA) then, Church of the Resurrection (now called Resurrection Church). They had communion every Sunday. We would walk up front and kneel down to receive the elements. Pastor Pat May was serving the bread, "The Body of Christ, the bread of heaven"; Jean Roach, our deaconess, was serving the cup, "The Blood of Christ, the cup of salvation".

After I drank from the cup, she started to move on to the next person, but stopped and came back to me. She placed her hand on my head and prayed for me. Praise God! I immediately felt better and fairly skipped back to my seat!! We sang a song in closing, and I was practically dancing with joy!!!

The kind of things I think about while I’m painting the living room.

And Can It Be? The Original Version

 

And Can It Be, written by Charles Wesley in 1738, was first published in Hymns and Sacred Poems in 1739. The original title was Free Grace. There were six stanzas with no refrain, which you can see below. I have never before seen the 5th stanza in the original version. I like it!

I haven’t discovered the original tune and am not sure anyone knows. It has been sung to several different tunes, but the best known is Sagina, composed by Thomas Cambell in the early 19th century. He is also credited with adding the refrain. I have sung it a time or two with the refrain being simply repeating the last two lines of each stanza, but I personally prefer the traditional refrain, the last two lines of the first stanza repeated after every stanza, which I also call the right way.

Free Grace 

1 And can it be, that I should gain

An int’rest in the Saviour’s blood!

Dy’d he for me?—Who caus’d his pain!

For me?—Who him to death pursu’d.

Amazing love! How can it be

That thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

2 ’Tis myst’ry all! Th’ immortal dies!

Who can explore his strange design?

In vain the first-born seraph tries

To sound the depths of love divine.

’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;

Let angel minds enquire no more.

4 He left his Father’s throne above,

(So free, so infinite his grace!)

Empty’d himself of all but love,

And bled for Adam’s helpless race:

’Tis mercy all, immense and free!

For O my God! It found out me!

4 Long my imprison’d spirit lay,

Fast bound in sin and nature’s night:

Thine eye diffus’d a quick’ning ray;

I woke; the dungeon flam’d with light;

My chains fell off, my heart was free,

I rose, went forth, and follow’d thee.

5 Still the small inward voice I hear,

That whispers all my sins forgiv’n;

Still the atoning blood is near,

That quench’d the wrath of hostile heav’n:

I feel the life his wounds impart;

I feel my Saviour in my heart.

6 No condemnation now I dread,

Jesus, and all in him, is mine:

Alive in him, my living head,

And cloath’d in righteousness divine,

Bold I approach th’ eternal throne,

And claim the crown, thro’ Christ, my own.

 

After much searching I found this at

https://divinity.duke.edu/initiatives/wesleyan-methodist/cswt-jw

For the Anniversary Day of One’s Conversion

 

For the Anniversary Day of One’s Conversion. This was the title of that Charles Wesley hymn we know as, “O for a thousand tongues to sing, when he first published it in his Hymns and Sacred Poems in 1740.  Later, it was chosen by his brother John to be the first hymn in A Collection of Hymns for Use of the People Called Methodists (1780), the first true Methodist hymnal.

In American hymnals, “O for a thousand tongues” almost always appears with the familiar tune Azmon. Wesley indicated ‘Birstal Tune’ was the tune for this text (a tune I have never heard of).  One author said he “found this hymn paired with no fewer than twelve different tunes.  This might seem bewildering, but it isn’t actually that surprising—because of the straightforward meter of the poetry, this hymn can be sung to a wide variety of tunes (including the themes to The Brady Bunch and Gilligan’s Island).”

Wesley’s original has 18 stanzas beginning with ‘Glory to God, and praise and love.’  The part we know begins at stanza 7.  I have found the number of stanzas in hymnals today varies between four, five, and seven. Wesley himself had ten in the 1780 collection.  If included, stanza 1 is placed at the end today.

When Charles Wesley was converted he had been ill in bed for some time, and the fear of death had often come into his mind. On Sunday, May 21, 1738, his brother and some friends came in and sang a hymn. After they went out he prayed alone for some time.

In his journal we read: “I was composing myself to sleep in quietness and peace when I heard one come in and say, In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, arise, and believe, and thou shalt be healed of all thine infirmities. The words struck me to the heart. I lay musing and trembling. With a strange palpitation of heart, I said, I believe, I believe ! ”

In 1739, one year after his conversion, Wesley wrote this hymn. The phrase, O for a thousand tongues to sing, was inspired by Moravian missionary Peter Boehler’s statement: “Had I a thousand tongues, I would praise Christ Jesus with all of them.”

I’m singing through The Alliance Hymnal and sang O For A Thousand Tongues this morning. I knew there were a bunch of stanzas, so I searched until I found them all. Here, for your singing enjoyment and edification, are all 18 stanzas!

Glory to God, and praise and love

Be ever, ever given,

By saints below and saints above,

The church in earth and heaven.

On this glad day the glorious Sun 

Of Righteousness arose;

on my benighted soul he shone

and filled it with repose.

Sudden expired the legal strife,

’twas then I ceased to grieve;

My second, real, living life

I then began to live.

Then with my heart I first believed,

Believed with faith divine,

Power with the Holy Ghost received

to call the Savior mine.

I felt my Lord’s atoning blood

Close to my soul applied;

me, me he loved, the Son of God,

for me, for me he died!

I found and owned his promise true,

Ascertained of my part,

My pardon passed in heaven I knew

When written on my heart.

O for a thousand tongues to sing

my dear Redeemer’s praise!

The glories of my God and King,

The triumphs of his grace.

My gracious Master and my God,

Assist me to proclaim,

To spread through all the earth abroad

The honors of thy name.

Jesus! the name that charms our fears,

That bids our sorrows cease;

’tis music in the sinner’s ears,

’tis life, and health, and peace!

He breaks the power of canceled sin,

he sets the prisoner free;

his blood can make the foulest clean;

his blood availed for me.

He speaks, and listening to his voice

New life the dead receive;

The mournful, broken hearts rejoice,

The humble poor believe.

Hear him, ye deaf, his praise, ye dumb,

Your loosened tongues employ;

Ye blind, behold your Savior come,

And leap, ye lame, for joy.

Look unto him, ye nations, own

Your God, ye fallen race!

Look, and be saved through faith alone,

Be justified by grace!

See all our sins on Jesus laid;

The Lamb of God was slain,

His soul was once an offering made

For every soul of man.

Harlots and publicans and thieves,

in holy triumph join!

Saved is the sinner that believes

From crimes as great as mine.

Murderers and all ye hellish crew,

ye sons of lust and pride,

believe the Savior died for you;

for me the Savior died.

Awake from guilty nature’s sleep,

And Christ shall give you light,

Cast all your sins into the deep,

And wash the Ethiop white.

With me, your chief, you then shall know,

Shall feel your sins forgiven;

Anticipate your heaven below

and own that love is heaven.

 

These two websites were very helpful:

https://trinitymbmusic.wordpress.com/2012/07/20/hymn-493-for-the-anniversary-day-of-ones-conversion/

https://reasonabletheology.org/hymn-story-o-for-a-thousand-tongues-to-sing/

Paul’s Commission

 

We are going through the Book of Acts at church and have just recently finished chapters 23-26. Paul is on trial before Jewish and Roman authorities. Yesterday, I pointed out the theme that runs through his defense like a mighty river. I thought that was exciting and insightful! Today, we find Paul before King Agrippa, giving his testimony. And in his testimony he shares his commission. Wow!!

Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Paul’s ministry is described in v 18 in 5 statements. Interesting that 5 is the number of grace.¹ Each one of them is mentioned and elaborated upon in his epistles.

to open their eyes

Isaiah 52:15 So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.

 

and turn darkness to light

2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 

 

and power of Satan unto God

Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

 

that they may receive forgiveness of sins

Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

 

and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me

Colossians 1:12  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

This is what God will do for all who will believe in Jesus Christ.

 

“Awake, O sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”²

 

 

¹ Number in Scrpture, E.W. Bullinger

“We have had hitherto the three persons of the Godhead, and their manifestation in creation. Now we have a further revelation of a People called out from mankind, redeemed and saved, to walk with God from earth to heaven. Hence, Redemption follows creation. Inasmuch as in consequence of the fall of man creation came under the curse and was "made subject to vanity," therefore man and creation must be redeemed. Thus we have:

1. Father

2. Son

3. Spirit

4. Creation

5. Redemption

These are the five great mysteries, and five is therefore the number of GRACE.”

² Ephesians 5:14

The Hope of the Resurrection

 

We are going through the Book of Acts at church and have just recently finished chapters 23-26. Paul is on trial before Jewish and Roman authorities and there is a theme that runs through his defense like a mighty river. I think it is exciting and insightful, for here we see Paul’s heart. I just want to simply quote him, with very little added commentary.

Paul before the chief priests and all their council

23:6  …Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

“This was Paul's cardinal doctrine as a Christian minister. It was this fact that convinced him that Jesus was the Messiah and was the very centre of his faith  and of his preaching.” †

“St. Paul had preached the resurrection of the dead, on the foundation and evidence of the resurrection of Christ. For this, he and the apostles were, some time before, imprisoned by the high priest and elders, because they preached, through Jesus, the resurrection of the dead.” ‡

Paul before Felix

24:14  But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:

15  And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

the way – this seems to have been an early description of the faith

24:21  Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.

24:22  And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way…

Agrippa agrees to hear Paul’s case

25:19  But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

“And of one Jesus. This is the climax of supercilious scorn toward both Paul and 'one Jesus.' Who was dead…Whom Paul affirmed to be alive. With all his toploftical airs Festus has here correctly stated the central point of Paul's preaching about Jesus as no longer dead, but living.” †

Toploftical – (I love this, but had to look it up!) a rare, informal, and often humorous adjective from the 19th century describing someone as haughty, arrogant, or disdainfully superior.

Paul before Agrippa

26:6  And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:

26:7 Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.

26:8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?Once again, it seems clear that the hope Paul is speaking of is the resurrection of the dead. 

“hope to come (26:7) is the very same word which Paul, in Phi 3:11, uses to express the same thing: If by any means, I might attain to, the resurrection of the dead.” ‡

What is this mighty river that runs through Paul’s defense? It is the resurrection of the dead. And he makes it very clear that this was not some new doctrine he had introduced, it was the hope of the Jews, which was based on the law and the prophets. This hope was tied to their hope of the coming Messiah. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead confirmed two powerful truths: (1) Jesus was declared Son of God with power (Rom 1:4) and (2) there will be a resurrection of the dead. This is what Paul believed; this is what Paul preached; this is where he took his stand – There will be a resurrection of the dead. This is really cool!

Philippians 3:8-11 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

† Word Pictures in the New Testament, Archibald Thomas (A.T.) Robertson (1863 – 1934).

‡ Commentary on the Bible, Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832), Irish writer, biblical scholar, Methodist theologian.

Anna

 

Anna provides the final Portrait of Faith. We read about her in Luke 2:36-38. Three verses. Two sentences. That’s it. But I think we will see she was an amazing woman.

36  And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

there was one Anna - She was named after Hannah (1 Samuel 1-2). Anna is the Greek version of Hannah. Why the 'H' in Hannah but not in Anna? They are pronounced almost the same, but there is a slight guttural sound in the Hebrew, represented by the 'H', which is not pronounced in Greek or English. Hannah was the wife of Elkanah and mother of Samuel. She has a great testimony herself. 

a prophetess – this one word tells us a lot about Anna; being a prophetess meant that, like Simenon, she also had the Holy Spirit resting upon her. This means she walked in the Spirit, was led by the Spirit, and that the Holy Spirit revealed things to her. She had faith to be filled with the Spirit, receive revelation from the Lord, and speak the words of the Lord.

daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher – “Though her family might have been a distinguished one in Jerusalem, yet we find that it was her very exemplary piety that entitled her to be thus honourably mentioned in the sacred history.” (Adam Clarke)

she was of a great age – we'll see how old she was in v 37

and had lived with an husband seven years – she was married for seven years; nothing is said about children.

37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

a widow of about fourscore and four years – I understand this to be her total age, 84 years old; she had not only grown old, but had faithfully walked with the Lord all those years – that is persevering faith. It is one thing to start the Christian life with a bang, it is another thing entirely to be faithful your whole life, and a long life at that!

departed not from the temple – This most likely means she attended constantly at the hours of prayer. The Gospels and Acts refer to praying at the third, sixth, and ninth hours — or 9 am, noon, and 3 pm.

served God with fastings and prayers night and day – she lived a very disciplined and spiritual life. She had faith to be holy, godly, disciplined, and full of prayer.

What was she so constantly praying about? Obviously, first of all, her own spiritual life and relationship with the Lord. I believe the context strongly suggests her prayers were for the coming of the Lord’s Christ. The Jewish people knew of the prophesy of Daniel - that there would be 70 weeks, 490 years, from the command to rebuild Jerusalem to the Messiah, and they could count. She may even have known Simeon who was told he would not see death until he had seen the Lord's Christ. There was great excitement, anticipation, and expectation in those days!

Jesus taught us to pray, Thy kingdom come; she was no doubt praying this very prayer. The coming of the kingdom requires preparation, as both John and Jesus preached, Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand. I’m just as certain she would have been occupied in praying for the people to be ready for the King. This is great faith - she is laboring with the Lord to birth the kingdom. This is a behind the scenes faith – people knew she was at the temple all the time, but she doesn’t appear to be important, even though she is doing the most important work. The most important work in the kingdom is done by behind the scenes people. Oh to have faith like Anna!!

38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spoke of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

coming in that instant – Simeon came to the temple because the Spirit told him to; did Anna just happen to come in at that time? This would be according to the Scriptures, The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD – not happenstance. She may not have known what or who she was going to see, but the Lord directed her steps. She walked in faith, and was therefore at the right place at the right time!

gave thanks likewise unto the Lord – she saw and heard Simeon and joined him in thanking the Lord. I love this! She was walking in faith and so full of the Spirit that she instantly recognized this baby as the Christ; no thinking about it or praying over it - the Spirit bore witness with her spirit, This is the Christ, the answer to your prayers, and she immediately responded with thanksgiving. She had faith to hear and receive the witness of the Spirit. And think about it, she is thanking God for His redemption before it has come to pass, I mean Jesus is just a 40 day old baby. This is faith.

and spoke of him – by faith she testified of Christ.

to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem – I am afraid that we have been given the impression that no one in Israel was looking for or ready for Christ, but that can’t be true. The Jewish people were very interested in and excited about the appearing of Christ: there were those waiting for the consolation of Israel, and those looking for redemption in Jerusalem. John the Baptizer baptized thousands of interested Jews; 3,000 people were baptized in the name of Jesus in Acts 2, and by Acts 4 there were 5,000 men who believed. Yes, as a nation they refused and rejected Christ, but God has always had a remnant. (That’s an interesting study in itself.)

looked for redemption - Another descriptive name of the Christ. Simeon was waiting for the consolation of Israel, or the Comforter; Anna was looking for redemption, or the Redeemer. And to all them that looked indicates there were a lot of people eagerly waiting for the Lord's Christ.

I tell you, I want to be like Anna and have a persevering faith. I was young and now I am old, but I still want to walk in faith and in the Spirit. I want at the very least to have a behind the scenes faith, doing the most important work - prayer; praying for the coming again of Christ Jesus, and for a people prepared for him. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me,

that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel (Eph 6:18-19)

  

Finis