Peace Lies Shattered on the Ground

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=168 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="129a11c3.png"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Welcome to the Heart4God Website!"><U><B><IMG SRC="4b55a500.png" border=0 width="90" height="80" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Writings of Joseph Herrin"><U><B>Writings by Date</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id212.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Writings of Joseph Herrin Organized "><U><B>Writings by Topic</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.heart4god.ws/Audio/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.heart4god.ws/Audio/index.htm"><U><B>Audio Files</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id690.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Videos"><U><B>Videos</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id323.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Writings of Others"><U><B>Other Authors</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id324.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id339.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Questions and Answers"><U><B>Q&A</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id328.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Heart4God Email List"><U><B>Heart4God E-mail List</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.parablesblog.blogspot.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.parablesblog.blogspot.com"><U><B>Parables Blog</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id306.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="File Downloads"><U><B><IMG SRC="2b264140.png" border=0 width="100" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <bR> <div> <B>Peace Lies Shattered on the Ground</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="c2827160.png" border=0 width="807" height="22" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Joseph Herrin (2-9-03)</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Jeremiah 8:11</div> <div> “They heal the brokenness of the daughter of My people superficially, </div> <div> Saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ But there is no peace.”</div> <bR> <div> Recently I sent out a writing entitled “The Disintegration of Columbia”and it focused on the symbolism involved in the space shuttle tragedy that occurred on February 1st, 2003. That writing talked specifically about judgment that is coming to America, whose female personification is Columbia (There were those among America’s founding fathers who wanted the new nation to be called Columbia, and the nation’s capitol does bear this name.).</div> <bR> <div> Last night I awoke with thoughts of this prophetic sign running through my mind, and I understood further what Yahweh is speaking through this event, and I felt compelled to get up and write these things down.</div> <bR> <div> Each space shuttle mission is a major undertaking that takes years of planning, training and preparation. The astronauts and staff that are assigned to each mission are given the opportunity to develop a theme for the mission, and they also are tasked with developing an insignia that represents their space venture. As far back as May of 2001 the theme and insignia for the Columbia’s mission, STS-107, had already been chosen.</div> <bR> <div> The mission was scientific in nature and it dealt with a variety of micro-gravity experiments that were to be conducted over a period of sixteen days in orbit. The official mission insignia description states the following:</div> <bR> <div> The central element of the patch is the microgravity symbol, mg, flowing into the rays of the astronaut symbol. The mission inclination is portrayed by the 39 degree angle of the astronaut symbol to the Earth's horizon. The sunrise is representative of the numerous experiments that are the dawn of a new era for continued microgravity research on the International Space Station and beyond. The breadth of science conducted on this mission will have widespread benefits to life on Earth and our continued exploration of space illustrated by the Earth and stars. The constellation Columba (the dove) was chosen to symbolize peace on Earth and the Space Shuttle Columbia. The seven stars also represent the mission crew members and honor the original astronauts who paved the way to make research in space possible. The Israeli flag is adjacent to the name of the payload specialist who is the first person from that country to fly on the Space Shuttle.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="6b509800.jpg" border=0 width="521" height="640" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> [Source: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-107/html/sts107-s-001.html ]</div> <bR> <div> Of particular note is the seven stars in the lower left hand side of the patch. As mentioned, they represent the constellation Columba. Columba derives from Latin, and it means “dove”. The dove, of course is an international symbol for peace. Columba was discovered in the 17th century and is supposed to represent the dove that returned to Noah’s ark with an olive branch in its mouth, though some attribute it to the dove that assisted the Argonauts as they sailed through what is now the Bosporous and the Dardanelles.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="6b6c8c00.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="192" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> [Source: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Georgia" ><A HREF="http://space.nasda.go.jp/db/utyu/seiza/seiza_e/columba_e.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://space.nasda.go.jp/db/utyu/seiza/s"><U><U>http://space.nasda.go.jp/db/utyu/seiza/seiza_e/columba_e.html</U></U></A></FONT> ]</div> <bR> <div> It is interesting to note that the Scriptures depict Israel as an olive branch that has been broken off (Romans 11:17-20). So here we have a space shuttle mission carrying Israel’s very first astronaut. The insignia for the mission has the constellation Columba, the dove with an olive branch in its beak, prominently featured, and the space shuttle disintegrates over Palestine, Texas. This occurs at a time when all the world has been fixated on the situation in Israel involving the Palestinian people’s uprising, and America is seeking to have a nation called Palestine established by the year 2005 from territory that Yahweh promised to Abraham.</div> <bR> <div> It is not difficult to see the similarity between the name Columba, the dove, and Columbia, the feminine personification of America. America actually sees itself as the dove carrying Israel in its beak, seeking to bring peace to the Middle East. For decades American Presidents and Secretaries of State have met with various Arab and Israeli leaders pursuing various peace accords. President Carter was instrumental in bringing some temporary level of peace between Egypt and Israel as Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin signed a peace pact. Yet, not long afterwards, Anwar Sadat was assassinated. Presidents Reagan, George H. Bush, and Clinton also sought to bring peace to the region, but it has not been achieved.</div> <bR> <div> Now President George W. Bush is seeking to bring forth the peace that has eluded the ability of those who preceded him. America is seeking through carnal and ungodly means to establish peace as she seeks to establish a state of Palestine from the land promised to Abraham and his descendants.</div> <bR> <div> I Chronicles 16:15-18</div> <div> Remember His covenant forever, the word which He commanded to a thousand generations, the covenant which He made with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac. He also confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan, as the portion of your inheritance." </div> <bR> <div> Peace will not come to Israel through political means, nor by making treaties with her enemies. Such attempts at peace do not address the true source of Israel’s unrest. These efforts are vain and superficial.</div> <bR> <div> Jeremiah 8:11</div> <div> “They heal the brokenness of the daughter of My people superficially, </div> <div> Saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ But there is no peace.”</div> <bR> <div> True peace will only come to Israel when she accepts Yahshua as her Messiah. When she establishes peace with God, and only then, will peace come to her borders.</div> <bR> <div> Romans 11:26-27</div> <div> and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, </div> <div> "THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, </div> <div> HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB." </div> <div> THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, </div> <div> WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS."   </div> <bR> <div> Zechariah 9:9-17</div> <div> Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, humble, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey... As for you also, because of the blood of My covenant with you, I have set your prisoners free from the waterless pit... And Yahweh their God will save them in that day as the flock of His people; For they are as the stones of a crown, sparkling in His land. For what comeliness and beauty will be theirs!</div> <bR> <div> For a time Yahweh has allowed Israel to experience many troubles and to be scourged by the nations. This is due to her great sins and her rejection of her Messiah. She will not know peace until she returns to the God who chose her from among the nations, and until she recognizes the Holy One whom she crucified. Yet the nations who have troubled her will be punished.</div> <bR> <div> Jeremiah 30:10-17</div> <div> 0'Fear not, O Jacob My servant,' declares Yahweh, 'And do not be dismayed, O Israel; For behold, I will save you from afar and your offspring from the land of their captivity. And Jacob will return and will be quiet and at ease, and no one will make him afraid. 'For I am with you,' declares Yahweh, "to save you; For I will destroy completely all the nations where I have scattered you, only I will not destroy you completely. But I will chasten you justly and will by no means leave you unpunished.' For thus says Yahweh, 'Your wound is incurable and your injury is serious. There is no one to plead your cause; no healing for your sore, no recovery for you. All your lovers have forgotten you, they do not seek you; for I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, with the punishment of a cruel one, because your iniquity is great and your sins are numerous. Why do you cry out over your injury? Your pain is incurable. Because your iniquity is great and your sins are numerous, I have done these things to you. Therefore all who devour you will be devoured; and all your adversaries, every one of them, will go into captivity; and those who plunder you will be for plunder, and all who prey upon you I will give for prey. For I will restore you to health and I will heal you of your wounds,' declares Yahweh, 'Because they have called you an outcast, saying: "It is Zion; no one cares for her."'</div> <bR> <div> Israel’s wound is incurable and her injury is serious. All her lovers have forgotten her and she is surrounded by enemies. Yet God will remember her in her affliction. He will reveal Himself as Israel’s salvation and all Israel will turn to Him.</div> <bR> <div> The nations that try to bring peace through human means will continue to fail. All such attempts at peace are superficial for they do not address the source of Israel’s wound. Israel has rejected her Messiah, and only in turning back to Him will she know healing and peace.</div> <bR> <div> Isaiah 30:15</div> <div> For thus Yahweh Adonai, the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In repentance and rest you shall be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength."</div> <bR> <div> Only in repentance and trust in her Messiah will Israel be saved and be brought to peace. Israel has thought to attain peace by joining herself to America. Columbia has presented herself as Columba, the Dove, and Israel has allowed herself to be borne aloft on her wings as was typified by Israel's first astronaut being aboard this craft, even Ilan, whose name means tree. The olive branch of Israel was borne aloft by the strength of Columbia. But Columbia has crashed and peace lies shattered on the ground. </div> <bR> <div> This is a warning to Israel, "Do not put your trust in man. Yahweh alone is able to save you and establish you in peace." It is also a message to the nations. "Do not become arrogant in your pride and believe that you can bring peace to Israel." The peace of man is superficial. Yahweh alone can perform the deep and thorough work of redemption that is necessary.</div> <bR> <div> Yahweh will remove every nation that Israel leans upon until she only has the Holy One of Jacob to turn to. America will be removed as Israel’s protector, and in her isolation and rejection Israel will then turn to the One who called her from among the nations. </div> <bR> <div> May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>