Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Little Israel
Oh little Israel. The nations of the world can't seem to figure out what to do about Israel. Such a little country in terms of land and population, yet the world is distressed over Israel. This too is a fulfillment of prophecy:
"Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it." (Zechariah 12:2-3, KJV)
God has made promises to Israel:
"I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee:" (Genesis 12:3, KJV; repeated in Numbers 24:9)
"'And I myself will be a wall of fire around it [Jerusalem],' declared the LORD [YHWH], 'and I will be its glory within.'" (Zechariah 2:5, NIV)
"For this is what the LORD Almighty says: 'After the Glorious One has sent me against the nations that have plundered you--for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye--'" (Zechariah 2:8, NIV)
"I will make known my holy name among my people Israel. I will no longer let my holy name be profaned, and the nations will know that I the LORD am the Holy One in Israel." (Ezekiel 39:7, NIV)
The world has tried to destroy Israel many times throughout history and failed...
-Babylon in 586 BC (through exile)
-Rome in 70 AD (through dispersion)
-Nazi Germany in 1940-1945 (through genocide)
After World War II, Israel was reborn within its historical territorial borders as a political and geographical nation-state in 1948, after almost 1900 years in dispersion; an event the likes of which I cannot find comparison in human history (also a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy). Since then, its surrounding neighbors have tried numerous times to wipe it out, and have failed despite vastly outnumbering it in population and military force size...
-1948 (First Arab-Israeli War): Israel vs. Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, & Syria
-1967 (The Six-Day War): Israel vs. Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, & Syria
-1973 (Yom Kippur War): Israel vs. Egypt & Syria (supported by many others)
In all of these conflicts, and others since 1948, Israel was preserved, despite overwhelming odds. In some cases, Israel's territory was enlarged. Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 prophesy of another conflict, one that hasn't happened yet but will happen in the future (and possibly soon), in which Russia (Magog), Iran (Persia), and others attack Israel and are defeated; Israel will again be preserved.
The world doesn't seem to want to learn the lesson to leave Israel alone. The Land belongs to God and He has given it to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob's descendants (the nation of Israel, descended from the 12 patriarchs).
Unfortunately, the conflict won't end until after the coming world leader (the Beast, or Antichrist) has assembled the world together in a place called Armageddon (Revelation 16:16) to make war against the remnant of Israel, having already invaded it (Daniel 11:41) and slaughtered many of its people in a holocaust worse than Hitler's (Zechariah 13:8). But the remnant of Israel will cry out for their Messiah, whom they had previously rejected, to return and save them, and will acknowledge and repent of their former rejection of Him (Zechariah 12:10, Zechariah 13:9). He will return, save Israel, defeat the Beast and his armies, and establish His kingdom.
The Word of God is reliable and true. He will keep His promises and prophecy will be fulfilled. Israel will go through difficult times in the years ahead, but it will never be completely destroyed, no matter what its enemies may think, or say, or do. It will one day be the nation, and Jerusalem will be the city, from which the King of Kings, Jesus the Christ, will rule the world.
"Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments;" (Deuteronomy 7:9, NASB)
"So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11, NASB)
"For You have magnified Your word above all your name." (Psalm 138:2, NKJV)
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