Israel: The Apocalypse Clock

Hardly a day passes without reading about Israel in the news and the age-old, and frequently escalating, conflict with neighboring countries and those countries' allies. Why is there so much concern over and even hatred toward this tiny nation that’s about the size of New Jersey? And what’s so special about the Jews and Jerusalem anyway?

What we’re witnessing in the headlines is a spiritual war that's being manifested in the physical realm. Satan has always hated God because he’s always wanted to be God. He hates God’s creation and that’s why he’s doing all he can to destroy it or turn it upside down. He hates mankind because we were created in the image of God. And he hates God’s chosen people, the Jews, because it’s through them that God sent His Son Jesus to defeat him at the cross.

Now, by “chosen” that doesn’t mean that God looked at the Jewish people and favored them because they were better than everybody else, any more than he set apart Christians because they were better than everybody else. But He does have a relationship with them. that's unique That special relationship began when God made a covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15:18) and promised to make him the father of many nations (Genesis 17:4-6). He changed Abraham's grandson Jacob’s name to Israel (Genesis 32:22-32). Israel would have 12 sons whose families would become the 12 tribes - and eventually the nation - of Israel.

Because it was through the ancient Israelites that God’s Messiah would come, He wanted to keep them from intermingling with the pagan cultures around them and adopting their practices, especially their worship of false gods (Deuteronomy 7:1-4). So He gave them special holidays to celebrate (Leviticus 23) and rules to follow. He set them apart to be an object lesson to the rest of the world of what a relationship with God looks like.

Far from being perfect people, the ancient Israelites often fell into sin and were punished by God until they repented and got back into God’s graces (read the prophetic books of the Old Testament). Alternately, when they were obedient to God, they were greatly blessed and granted divine protection from their enemies. Many onlooking neighboring peoples revered the God of Israel as a result of His dealing with His people (Joshua 2:8-11, Daniel 3:28, Ruth 1:16).

When the unbelieving Jewish leaders and masses crucified their Messiah God punished them by destroying their temple in A.D. 70. Jesus predicted this would happen in Mark 13:1-2, Matthew 24, and Luke 21. God also allowed their Roman occupiers to drive them out of the land that He gave them and scatter them into countries all over the world. God then raised up the Church, composed of both Jewish and Gentile believers in the resurrected Jesus Christ, and they became His witnesses and messengers to the world. This period is known as the Church Age.

The bible teaches that as the Church age draws to a close, God will return His focus to the Jewish people and bring them back to their own land, initially in unbelief (Ezekiel 36:24 and 37). This prophecy came to pass on May 14, 1948, just as the bible predicted in Isaiah 66:8. Their return to the land drew the ire of their surrounding nations and their continued presence their will continue to do so. These conflicts will eventually draw the entire world into the fray as more and more nations attempt to destroy the nation of Israel once and for all.

A world leader will one day arise who will confirm a seven-year peace treaty between Israel and their enemies. He will allow them to rebuild their temple and reinstitute worship, but after 3 1/2 years he'll betray them and demand that they worship him as God (Daniel 9:27). When they refuse, he’ll unleash his fury against them in the worst persecution the world has ever seen. The bible calls this the Great Tribulation or the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7, Daniel 9:26-27). Bible scholars also refer to this as Daniel's 70th Week.

But Jesus will return to rescue the Jewish people who turn to Him in faith and judge those who persecuted them and waged war against Him (Revelation 19:11). He will touch down on the Mount of Olives, or Mount Olivet, in Jerusalem where He first ascended into Heaven after His resurrection. And it’s from Jerusalem that Jesus will reign (Zechariah 14:9), so it’s little wonder that Satan and his minions are doing all they can to keep this from happening.

Key prophetic events that are underway include.

Growing hatred toward the Jewish people. (Matthew 24:9)

A desire to rebuild the third temple. The Temple Institute has prepared all of the instruments and garments necessary for the temple priests to carry out their duties. Unblemised red heifers have been successfuly bred for the purification rituals. (2 Thessalonians 2:4)

The possibility of the Psalm 83 war of extermination, as Israels neighbors attempt once more to wipe them out of existence. Some bible scholars believe Israel's victory will lead to greater expansion and acquision of natural resources, which will lead them to be able to dwell securely as prophesied in Ezekiel 38.

Efforts to establish a peace treaty between Israel and her neighbors. (Daniel 9:27) Some bible scholars believe that a peace treaty will be initiated and confirmed at a later date by the Antichrist.

How and when this will all play out is anyone’s guess, but as we see all these things unfolding, believers who study the prophetic scriptures are staying watchful, because Jesus said, "Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching." (Luke 12:37)

If you don't have a relationship with Jesus Christ you can do so today by this simple prayer: 'Lord God, I realize and admit that I am a sinner and can do nothing to earn salvation. I repent of my sin and ask Jesus Christ to be my Lord and Savior now and forever. Amen."

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 316