The Dead Sea isn’t dead!
Happy Sabbath!! Of the many signs we are looking for to know the timing of the fulfillment of all prophecy in these last days, one of these signs is the return of life to the Dead Sea. I say “return” because the Dead Sea was not always dead. It was the method of destruction that God chose in the harsh judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah that rendered the once fresh water lake into a pit of salt, with a salinity 10x higher than normal sea water. The cities of the plains cited in this destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, included also Admah and Zebuiim, all of which were located on the shores of the Dead Sea. (Genesis 19) There was a 5th city targeted for destruction called Zoar, but at Lot’s request this city was spared. This became Lot’s inheritance and was called the land of Moab as mentioned in our discussion of Ruth.
In Genesis chapter 13, Abraham and Lot split their herds and went separate ways. Lot chose the fertile plains of Sodom, comparing this area now known as the Dead Sea, to the Garden of Eden. When you see images of this today, it is impossible to imagine that it could have resembled the Garden of Eden in any way. Politicians of our day would be wise to make a trip there and become familiar with their rapidly approaching circumstances.
Genesis 13:10 “And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar”.
Obviously, that is not the case today if you search through images of the Dead Sea region. But Ezekiel gave a prophecy in chapter 47 about the return of life to the Dead Sea in the last days and beyond!
7 Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other. 8 Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. 9 And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.
What is interesting is that it was also prophesied by Ezekiel and Isaiah that the waters of the Nile will dry up also at the time of fulfillment of all prophecy.
"The waters of the river will dry up, and the riverbed will be parched and dry. The canals will stink; the streams of Egypt will dwindle and dry up. The reeds and rushes will wither, also the plants along the Nile, at the mouth of the river. Every sown field along the Nile will become parched, will blow away and be no more." (Isaiah 19:5-7)
"I will dry up the waters of the Nile and sell the land to an evil nation; by the hand of foreigners I will lay waste the land and everything in it. I the LORD have spoken." (Ezekiel 30:12)
This is happening today, as dams built in the northern regions of the Nile, combined with drought conditions, have had a profound effect on the Nile. It has been reported that displaced crocodiles have been attacking humans and livestock where water once flowed.
In addition, consider prophecies of mass animal die offs and how often this is occurring in modern times. When Pope Francis made a trip to Panama to celebrate the 34th annual World Youth Day, the timing of his visit coincided with other high ranking diplomats in a similar time period, including Joe Biden and Bill Clinton. None of them traveled together, or at the exact same time, but all within a short time period. I warned many of my friends that this would likely accompany a warning sign of some kind, and it did. Within days after the Pope’s departure, millions of fish were washing up dead near the Panama Canal. You cannot have 3 such evil people all in the same place without some warning signs from the Almighty!
The bible tells us that these signs will be a warning, so as not to fall asleep in the last days. "I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumbling blocks with the wicked: and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the Lord." (Zephaniah 1:3)
Conduct a search for mass animal die offs, mass bird die offs, mass fish die offs, and you will find some shocking images of birds falling from the sky, millions of fish lying on seashores all over the world. But what I find ultimately so amazing, is that while all of creation groans, awaiting for the sons of God to be revealed (that’s us! Romans 8:22-23), is that while all of this is happening, the Dead Sea is coming back to life, and the land of Israel is being fully restored to pre-Sodom conditions! Israel by comparison is 1/6th the size of Florida! Yet boasts the 4th largest military in the world, and the most productive agricultural land in the world!
At the beginning of the restoration of Israel before God’s nation was regathered, Mark Twain traveled there in 1867 unknowingly fulfilling a prophecy of Moses in Deuteronomy 28 and 29. Twain wrote of the incredible desolation of the land and its inhabitants. Poverty was extreme, and the land could hardly “produce a blade of grass”. Mark Twain had no idea that he was fulfilling a prophecy of Moses to bear witness that the land had been cursed since the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD, precisely ahead of the regathering of the nation. In 1867, God began lifting the curse and restoring the land, for the final regathering of His people before the return of the Yehshua. In 1867, Israel was a wasteland. Today, it is a sign of God’s covenant love for His people and the fulfillment of prophecy!
By comparison to the rest of the world, there is fresh water and fish beginning to thrive again in the Dead Sea, for the first time since the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, in agreement with prophecy. As a student of Chuck Missler, I learned from him that when we stumble onto things like this, we must find at least 2 other witnesses in the Word of God that agree with truth in and/of prophecy.
1) Ezekiel 47:7-9 Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other. 8 Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. 9 And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.
2) Zechariah 14:8 “And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea (Dead Sea), and half of them toward the hinder sea (Mediterranean): in summer and in winter shall it be”.
3) 2 Esdras 5:7 (a book removed from the bible conspicuously in my opinion, and contains a vast amount of useful information and I use it as did the apostles) “The sea of Sodom will cast up fish; it will utter sounds in a voice that many don’t know, but all will hear its voice.”
It is not just the waters of the Dead Sea being healed, but the shores of the Dead Sea are blossoming like no time in recent history. Are we hearing its voice??? In fact, species of plants thought to have been extinct are returning. One very significant of these is the “Balm of Gilead”, not seen in over 1500yrs! This is very significant because this plant will likely be propagated on a larger scale for use as an oil or incense in the 3rd temple.
While the rest of the earth cries out in agony according to prophecy, the land of Israel is rejoicing at the return of the Word, who was with God, and was God. All things were created by Him, nothing was created without Him. (John 1)
When the news depresses you, keep your eyes on Israel and the events unfolding there. The river flowing from Jerusalem in prophecy is about to restore the earth and we will be there to witness it, as even the Dead Sea casts up fish to the fisherman, and fresh water restores its shores, and new blossoming flowers look up to the skies in anticipation of the arrival of their Creator! These are good times to be alive! We are the envy of every prophet since the time of Abel in the Garden! Praise and glory to the Most High God!!
The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. 2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God.
(Isaiah 35:1-2)
Previously barren shores now blossoming!