As we watch the atrocities unfold in Israel and mourn the devastating loss of life, our minds ask the questions, “How long oh Lord? How much longer will evil bring pain and suffering into this world and impact the lives of your people?”
John 16:33 KJV – “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
Knowing we will have tribulation in this life is not a comforting thought. Knowing He (Jesus) has overcome the world reminds us that this tribulation-filled life and world are temporary. Yet in the midst of our current status as strangers and pilgrims in a world that is largely against Jews and Christians, there are important reminders for us of the faithfulness of God in this life.
Jeremiah 31:35-37 KJV – “Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The Lord of hosts is his name: If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the Lord, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever. Thus saith the Lord; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the Lord.”
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The wishes of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran will not come to pass. The Jews will not be driven into the sea. Israel will not cease being a nation, says the Lord.
Ezekiel 36:20-24 KJV – “And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the Lord, and are gone forth out of his land. But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went. Therefore say unto the house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.”
Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, and those supporting their efforts to destroy the Jews and the nation of Israel, are fighting against the plan of God, but they will not prevail. For the Jews to be outside of their national homeland profaned the name of the Lord, so He brought them back for His name’s sake, He will not allow them to be destroyed, for His name’s sake. They will not be uprooted from their national homeland, for His name’s sake. As glorious as this truth is and as important as it is to remember, we cannot forget that people are dying at the hands of those intent on evil against God’s people and land.
Zechariah 12:3 KJV – “And in that day will I 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.”
Ignorant and hateful people are blaming the actions of Hamas on Israel. Muslims around the world are violently protesting Israel’s defensive actions in Gaza. Jerusalem is becoming a burdensome stone to the world, and eventually all the nations of the earth will turn against her. Yet the Holy One of Israel says that He will be Israel’s defense.
Zechariah 12:10 KJV – “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.”
It has been said that the current developments in Israel are a second holocaust and more Jews died in one day, on October 7th, than any day since the reign of terror of the Nazi’s came to an end. Does this mean that we could be close to the beginning of the 70th week of Daniel and the fulfillment of the words of Zechariah? It seems quite possible.
Titus 2:11-14 KJV – “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
The glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ precedes the 70th week of Daniel! So as we pray for Israel and the peace of Jerusalem, let’s do so soberly and righteously with our heads lifted up as our redemption draws nigh.
Psalms 121:4 KJV – “Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.”
Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus.
