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The Idols Of Tel Dan

The Old Testament Israeli tribe of Dan lived in what is now northeast Israel, where the present day town of Tel Dan is located.  The tribe of Dan introduced the worship of Baal, Asherah, and other gods, into Israeli society.  Baal was a male sex god.  Ashorah was his female sex mate.  Adulterous sexual practices were central to pagan religions which Israel whole heartedly participated in.  In the mind of Israelis, adding a few extra gods to their worship of Yahweh was no big deal.  In the mind of the Almighty, it was spiritual adultery, and He judged Israel severely for it.        

You might think that the tribe of Dan that existed so long ago has no significance today, but it does.  There's an archeological site in Tel Dan that is a testimony to Israel's pagan past.  On this site are three pagan idols, representing El, a generic name for god, Baal, and Asherah, all

worshipped by Israel along side of Yahweh.      

Yahweh specifically commanded Israel to have no other gods but Him.  In Deuteronomy 28 we read a list of blessings that would come to Israel if she obeyed this and other commands found in the Law of Moses.  We also read a list of curses that would come to Israel if she didn't obey, and, as we know, Israel didn't obey.  These curses were prophetic.  They predicted Israeli history over the last couple thousand years.  Here's just a portion of the prophesied curses Israel has been living under.  ".. it will please Him (Yahweh) to ruin and destroy you. ( Israel )  You will be uprooted from the land you are entering to possess.  Then the Lord will scatter you among all nations, from one end of the earth to another.  There you will worship other gods – gods of wood and stone which neither you or your fathers have known … you will live in constant suspense, filled with dread … the Lord will send you in ships back to Egypt on a journey He said you should never make again.  There you will offer yourself for sale to your enemies …"  (Deuteronomy 28:63-68)          

In a spirit of religious tolerance, Israelis fused the worship of Yahweh with the worship of Baal, Ashorah, and other gods of wood and stone. These are the exact same god-idols you'll now see in Tel Dan today.  Peace and unity with other religions may sound like the kinder gentler way to go, but Yahweh shares a worship service with no one.  For this reason, all the curses stated in Deuteronomy 28 have successively fallen on Israel, right up to this very day.  The last of these curses will clobber Israel during a time called "Jacob's troubles", (Jeremiah 30:7) otherwise known as the "Great Tribulation".  The horrific events that will take place during this time will kill two thirds of the Israeli population, (Zechariah 13:8) bringing the remaining Israelis to their knees in one massive national time of repentance. (Zechariah 12:10-14)  At that point, Jesus will leave His heavenly throne, return to earth and establish an earthly throne in Jerusalem , and bless Israel with every last blessing stated in Deuteronomy 28. 

I'm amazed that these ancient idols still exist and can be seen today.  They're more than historical artifacts.  The Law of Moses required three witnesses before judgment and punishment could be enacted.  I suggest that these three stone idols that have re-appeared from the ash heap of history are three witnesses to Israel's paganism which will bring about the final judgment in Jacob's time of trouble.  These idols are a prophetic sign post on the road to Armageddon.  They're a testimony to the one true God and to the Bible that has predicted the history of man in advance.  It only goes to prove that we cannot divorce ourselves from ancient history as seen in the Old Testament.  What Yahweh spoke to the forefathers of Israel is relevant to you and I right now.      

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