My
wife incited a thread on facebook by mentioning Israel. It was
'great' in that it revealed depth of feeling rarely displayed about
anything in this modern culture. It got me to thinking, so I include
one comment from the thread and then I will start my comments on the
whole matter. (you would have to go to Laura Bean's page on
facebook and then scroll down to November 24th
to get the whole thread.)
(one comment)
“No
matter what they do? If they hypothetically decide, tomorrow, to
murder every young baby and child in Palestine, would that be okay?
Because the Bible says support them. That is the problem with
following a rulebook interpreted by humans, because I suspect no good
God would support such a thing. Hence, either the bible is wrong, or
the human interpretation given me is, because I will not support an
evil act no matter who or what entity says to support an evil act.
Not to mention, is not the whole idea that if supporting them so that
they can bring about the apocalypse? Well I don't want the apocalypse
if our actions can bring peace and prevent it. If you are looking
forward to the apocalypse you really shouldn't be making decisions
about our future because the future doesn't really concern you.”
(My thoughts)
This
thread has been beautiful in its diversity. I want to add to it
because I respect what has gone before me. A “world view” is
evident in every response. Israel and Jerusalem, are guaranteed to
bring out strong feelings. When you begin to go deep into these
issues, one thing that becomes very clear is that there is a deeper
connection between the Jew and Israel, than there is between any
other nationality and their home-land. They are deeply inter-twined,
it is difficult if not impossible to tell where the state ends and
the individual begins. No one can imagine the joy of having a land
of their own, after many centuries of exile. The brand new UN voted
to give the Jew this land. The holocaust was fresh in every ones
minds and this new body whose main charter was to prevent future
wars, saw only 'good' in giving this people a land of their own, so
that they would never again be the whipping boy of a deranged
dictator. Did they handle the Palestinian problem correctly? No.
Has any Arab body before or since, helped? No. Did Muhammad teach
his followers that it is OK to lie, to make false treaties, to buy
time and eventually destroy your enemy...Oh yes he did. (Treaty
of Hudaibiya)
At
its deepest level this becomes about God's right to choose. He does
not choose based on performance, it is all grace. This truth, is a
great comfort to the sinner, and a great affront to those who 'think
they are well.' The apocalypse happens because God said it would,
the Jew does not bring it about, God does. The end result is Peace,
true peace, between nations and peoples. There is a cross before the
crown...always. Humanity strives for 'peace' but it is the expedient
peace that leaves God and His choice out of the equation. We will
just educate our selves and eventually, everyone will see that the
wise choice is peace and so they will lay down their weapons and stop
this silly arguing and killing. That has never happened in history
and it will not happen for anything longer than a 3 ½ year period
now. The amazing thing is that people who believe in a God who has
on His agenda, the apocalypse, are actually the most charitable group
in the world. More colleges, hospitals, orphanages and rescue
missions are formed and operating under the name of Jesus than all
other religions or non-religions combined. There must be more to
this picture than we typically see.
Sin,
injustice, bribery, money talks, however you want to put it one of
the horrors in this world is the lack of true justice. The
apocalypse is all about clearing the slate, so that God can keep His
promise to rule the nations in truth and justice from His chosen
center of the world, Jerusalem. True and good government flowing
from a true and good God. The financial “rulers of the world”
are shown as being destroyed in the apocalypse even before the armies
that array themselves against the purposes of God. So the puppeteers
and the puppets will all be brought under the rule of God and the
world will witness and live under the one who is called Faithful and
True.
The
path there is not so pretty. But as for calling it “good or evil”
that is up to God, not to us, with our very limited, very finite
perspective. I think the path will look something like this. (I
don't think for one second I have the whole truth on this and would
be interested in any other perspectives that are supported by the
amazing word of God.) Zechariah 12:3 is the starting point, because
here in this 2,500 year old prophecy is an amazing up-to-the-minute
headline from the evening news.
“It
will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone
for all the peoples;
all who lift it will be severely injured.
And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.”
Words of prophecy this accurate, should cause us to study the
Bible.
Currently,
the individual who truly deeply converts and grows solidly in their
love for God, is a person who has seen the deep depravity of their
heart; addicts, and those who have had a true 'dark night of the
soul', a time of utter hopelessness in themselves. The Bible is very
aware of this principle and speaks of it in numerous places. “When
they come to the end of their strength...” then God moves. This
principle of God applies to individuals and to His chosen people as a
whole.
Israel
being chosen comes with a 'down-side.' Because they have been given
so much, they are given double for their sins. God's judgment, has
been severe throughout their history. Man has over-stepped and gone
beyond the intent of God, because Satan is very aware that the way
you stop the Kingdom from coming is you stop the people who are to be
a light to the other nations. Israel had to be restored to their
land, in order for the events of the end times to begin.
The
desire for peace is strong and leads to many compromises. A peace
covenant that is actually a lie, for no other purpose than to 'buy
time' to get strong enough to kill your enemies, is an accepted way
of doing business in Islam. A covenant of peace, most likely made
from a point where Israel has proven stronger than her enemies, is
made. Work on the temple is started. A small time player in that
covenant, begins to rise in influence and power. He is assassinated.
Satan copies the resurrection of Jesus, by “indwelling” this
man's body. The anti-Christ is now on the earth, and he sets out
very quickly to accomplish as much death and destruction as he
possibly can, because he knows his time is short.
There
is no nation that will be the solution to this problem. The
anti-christ will actually set up his throne in Jerusalem and when the
nations gather to fight him at the end of time, because they are
tired of his rule, tired of his control. Jesus will return and end it
all before man destroys everything.
The
throne of David, is where Jesus will rule from. A promise is a
promise, and God is glorified when He keeps these promises, to this
people. The proper response of every other nation is, “Your God is
the true God show us your God.”
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