A Religious War against God’s People
Palestinians and Hamas have a joint desire of death to the Jews
Hamas is an organization dedicated to the destruction of the Jews so that the land of Israel might be theirs alone, from the river to the sea. The Palestinian Authority in the West Bank celebrates in Hamas’ horrific pogrom against Jews and calls on its people to join in the bloodshed. The “innocent civilians” have voted these bloodthirsty people into power, and call for the wrath of God to measure out their destruction. He who touches Israel touches the apple of His eye. God will soon bring peace to Israel, and when Russia comes with the nations, “to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, To take a spoil, and to take a prey…” God will send his Son to save His people and judge those who have come against them. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. Luke 21:25
As Israel’s existential war enters its fourth week, the world this week is indeed full of turmoil, protest, and violence. The divide along the north-south alliance of Daniel 11 is ever apparent and the nations of the final battle of Ezekiel 38 are lining up in opposition over events in Israel. Welcome to this week’s Bible in the News.
Since the Hamas attack President Biden has shown verbal and tangible support for Israel’s right to protect itself, but still calls for a two-state solution. The US also has an increasing number of assets in the area, the US is attempting to contain the conflict and warn away the likes of Iran from joining in. But we must consider that this week the President has also had the Pope on the phone nudging him along to consider “humanitarian relief.” The Pope has reportedly called for a ceasefire on at least six occasions, but how long the US continues to support what Israel needs to do, remains to be seen.
Meanwhile in Russia, Putin is taking up his position on the opposite side of the board. This week also saw him playing the host to both Hamas and Iran in Moscow. And the nations of the world, wholly unable to jointly condemn Hamas at such a time are following the Arabs at the UN’s General Assembly demanding for a ceasefire. The will to support Israel was so weak that only 14 nations voted against the resolution. The whole world is indeed against Israel, as prophesied.
To understand how much the world is against Israel, we must understand that calls for a ceasefire are really calls to preserve Hamas and to maintain the thorn in Israel’s side. There is no way any meaningful peace will come that way as recent history bears out.
Let’s consider for a moment some events closer to Israel. While protests around the world call for Palestine to be free from the river to the sea, is the Palestinian Authority an innocent bystander to these atrocities?
In fact, no. Not at all. The Palestinian Authority this week instructed mosques across the area to preach death to the Jews, declaring a religious war against them and celebrating in the sickening brutality of Hamas. Not only at a governmental level, but even individual “innocent” civilians joined a mass rally in the streets of Tulkarem waving Hamas flags and chanting in support of them.
The conflict, contrary to every rational thought, seems to have raised aggression against the victim. Jews around the world are facing reprisals for the fact that Israel is fighting for its existence against a cruel, uncivilized enclave mere miles from it’s most populous cities. In the UK alone, antisemitic incidents are up 641.
When we look to the Bible, God says that the Nations of the earth will pay for their hatred. God judges the nations based on their behaviour.
“9 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant . . . 11 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever . . . 13 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border:”
Amos 1:9, 11, 13
If we can imagine the sensitivity of the pupil of our eyes, this describes the very visceral reaction that God will have against those who dare to attack Israel. It is like a poke in His eye.
“For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.” – Zechariah 2:8
God is by no means silent about what will happen to those Incensed Against Israel:
(Isaiah 41:8, 11, 14-15, AV) “8 But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend . . . 11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish . . . 14 Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. 15 Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.”
There is also a unity within Israel that is seen as a feature of the latter days. They become one in His hand. We expect this to have a much greater fulfilment, but current events are drawing them together. The left seems to be beginning to understand that there is no peace to be had with the Palestinan Arabs, the Hareidi Ultra Orthodox Jews are lining up to help in army and other forms of National Service. In general, the nation is drawing close to each other in this time of bitter trouble.
(Ezekiel 37:19, AV) “19 Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.”
What does prophecy say will happen from here? What does the Bible have to say about Gaza? A place we can find an answer for this is in Zephaniah 2:
“For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up. 5 Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant. 6 And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks. 7 And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.” – Zephaniah 2:4-7
One more verse that makes this clear:
(Jeremiah 30:16, AV) “16 Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey.”
How can there ever be peace in the land? We know it must come, but with such blood-thirsty nieghbours, how will it come about?
The Bible gives us a very descriptive and particular picture of the Israel that Gog comes against at the time of the end, in Ezekiel 38:8
“After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.9 Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.
10 Thus saith the Lord God; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:
11 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,
12 To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.
13 Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?
14 Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord God; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it?
15 And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army:”
The peace that is achieved in the land is not a peace that makes the world happy. On the contrary, the verse says that when this peace comes, the reaction is to gather them. To bring them for judgement into the land of Israel where they will meet their end. What must we who are living at such a time do?
(Zephaniah 2:3, AV) “3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.”
By Bible In The News
Even So Come Lord Jesus
