Keep your eyes on Israel – it is at the very heart of end times prophecy and the ultimate sign of the times
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Israel is the Heart of the End Times
When we read end-time books and articles today, many focus on the gentile nations. But when we read about the World Economic Forum, digital currencies, AI, vaccines, Russia, Ukraine, and China, we are viewing the periphery. These are intriguing end-times-relevant topics but are not at the core of end-times prophecy – Israel is.
Ultimately, end-times prophecy is about Jesus as King over the earth, the restoration of Israel, the judgment of the nations, and the redemption of those who love God; Jews and Gentiles. Therefore we must keep our eyes on Israel.
The mere existence of the state of Israel today is a miracle, only possible through God’s hand (Isaiah 66:8). But it only holds a fraction of its promised borders. And as the prophets foretold, it is surrounded by enemies who want to destroy it.
Today, Israel is in turmoil, shaken by political infighting, local Arab conflicts, and external threats. But rest assured that this is all aligned with prophecy. And in a short time, we will see amazing events occur through the power of God.
So let’s look at what God promised, what is happening now, and what is soon to come.
Prophecies Fulfilled and Yet to be Fulfilled
There are incredible promises and prophecies fulfilled and yet to be fulfilled. Most of these relate to the land and people, their enemies, and the Messiah.
- God provided for Israel’s borders to extend “From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates.” (Genesis 15:18)
- The Jews will be regathered from the nations and given a new heart (Ezekiel 36:22-38, Deuteronomy 30:1-10).
- The Jews will recognize Jesus as their Messiah (Zechariah 12:10).
- Jesus said that the time in which the Gentiles trample Jerusalem underfoot will end (Luke 21:24).
- God promised that a descendant of King David would rule on the throne in an everlasting kingdom (2 Samuel 7:12-16, Jeremiah 23:3-6, Hosea 3:4-5).
These prophecies remain unfulfilled for one reason.
The Curse of Disobedience
The Israelites never received the full extent of these promises because of their disobedience. This started with failing to remove all the former inhabitants from the land. Because of this, the Caananites contaminated the Israelites with beliefs and practices that served pagan gods. This contamination led to further disobedience, and God took their land from them over time. Though God has brought about a regathering, most Jews don’t know their Messiah. And so they still have a heart of stone (Romans 11:25, Ezekiel 36:26).
Before Jesus’ return, there will be a final scattering of the Jews from Isreal. This will occur in the War of Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38). In this invasion of Israel, half the city will be exiled (Zechariah 14:1-2). The other half will remain, but only one-third will survive (Zechariah 13:8-9). However, the survivors will be refined by fire. They will come to recognize Jesus as their Messiah and become His people (Zechariah 13:9, 12:10).
Then the time of the Gentiles will end with the triumphant arrival of Jesus as King. This will fulfill Luke 21:24 and the prophecies of the decedent of David ruling from the throne in Jerusalem. Jesus will regather the exiled flock, restore the land, and give them a heart of flesh. They will be His people.
But these things are yet to come, and today, we see prophecy being fulfilled in the daily news.
The Prophecies Being Fulfilled Today
While the war described in Zechariah 12-14 is yet to come, the conditions are already rising. Zechariah 12: 2-3 states, “Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples around;… 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.“
Today we see the world coming against Israel, especially concerning the Palestinians. According to UN Watch, From 2015 through 2022, the UN General Assembly adopted 140 resolutions against Israel. In comparison, it has only issued 68 against other countries. Israel, not Iran, Syria, North Korea, Afghanistan, Venezuela, China, or Russia.
In 2022, the count stood at 15 resolutions against Israel and 13 against every other country worldwide. Russia, which invaded a neighboring country, shelled civilian structures, dug mass graves, and sent out a massive exodus of people from the country, has less than half of Israel, at six.
Hamas and other Islamist Jihadists periodically fire missiles into Israel. And Israel retaliates responsibly, targeting terrorist strongholds and weapons caches while trying to avoid civilian deaths. And this is difficult because the Palestinian terrorists hide among civilians and civilian structures.
Though the Oslo Accords were supposed to bring peace in exchange for land concessions but failed miserably. Why? Because the Palestinian leadership is not interested in having a share of land, they want all the land.
“From the River to the Sea”
“From the River to the Sea” is the motto you will consistently see in Palestinian communications. This translates to the complete removal of Israel.
In late March, PLO National Council member Faisal Abu Khadra stated, “We have only one solution, namely to fight the racist Zionist enemy… with [Palestinian] blood,… so that Palestine returns to us and we return to all of Palestine, from the [Jordan] river to the [Mediterranean] sea and from Umm Rashrash [Eilat] to Al-Naqoura [on the Israeli-Lebanese border].”
He added, “The Palestinian leaders should be ashamed that they continue to weep over the Nakba [the granting of land to Israel]… they have attained only 22% of historical Palestine…”
Here are other recent quotes from opinion pieces in Jordan and Qatar:
- Article in Jordan Daily – “[Ramadan] is the month of jihad, the month of shahada [martyrdom], and the month of istishhad [martyrdom-seeking]. It is the month of conquests and of great battles… tear up the documents of normalization and subordination [to Israel] and sever the ties with the descendants of the Jews.“
- Article in Qatari Daily – “…expel the Israelis… from Huwara to Tel Aviv… from the river to the sea… Make it so that they will never be safe – not in Jerusalem, not in Tel Aviv, and not in their settlements…“
Even children’s textbooks and cartoons are produced to indoctrinate children into this thinking. For instance, this cartoon is from a Turkish media company. It tells the “children of the world” that the Al-Aqsa Mosque (on the temple mount) is in danger and to asks them to come and save it “before it is too late.” It ends by stating, “We are Al-Aqsa soldiers!“
This type of messaging inspires disenchanted Palestinians to act against Israel. And we see this playing out today.
Violence on the Temple Mount
The Jerusalem Post
Every day, there are reports of violence as Ramadan continues. On the eve of Passover, dozens of young adults armed with sticks, stones, and fireworks barricaded themselves in the al-Aqsa mosque, intent on starting a violent confrontation.
Across parts of Israel, riots and violent clashes broke out in Arab areas in Jerusalem, Umm el-Fahm, and Sakhnin. Dozens of rioters were throwing stones and burning tires. In Abu Tor, Palestinian Arabs threw fireworks, rocks, and Molotov cocktails at Jewish homes. And in Nazareth, Sakhnin, and Kafr Manda, police arrested twelve people for rioting. They set fires, threw stones and fireworks, and attempted to block roads.
Meanwhile, Hamas and Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel from Gaza and Lebanon on Passover. According to the Jerusalem Post, at least 36 missiles came from Lebanon. Over 40 were fired from Gaza as the IDF struck at least ten targets, including tunnels and weapons production facilities. Now Syria joined and fired six rockets into Israel.
And just days ago, a terrorist in Tel Aviv killed one person and wounded seven in a shooting and ramming attack. And in the Jordan Valley, a terrorist shot and killed two Israelis and injured one.
We can be sure this is not over, and there will be continued escalation over Ramadan.
Israel is surrounded by enemies, and as a PLO leader stated, “Thank Allah, Palestine is surrounded by the ring countries, four Arab countries that can help the Palestinian people, and beyond them by the [other] Arab countries,… and most of which support the Palestinian people because it deserves freedom, independence and the expulsion of the occupier.”
And this condition will lead to a war foretold nearly 2,600 years ago.
Chanting, “With our soul and blood, we will sacrifice ourselves for you, O al-Aqsa.”
What is Coming?
The prophecy in Ezekiel 38 shows this scenario. It describes the surrounding nations invading Israel, led by a “despicable” leader from Turkey/Syria. This may not be too far off.
Turkish President Erdogan once stated in a speech, “Unfortunately, we, the Muslims, lost our aim to head towards Jerusalem. The water of our eyes froze, making us blind, and our hearts that were destined to beat for Jerusalem is now instead conditioned for rivalry being in a state of war with each other.“
But God said, “…He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple [pupil] of His eye.“
It was just reported in the Jerusalem Post that in response to tensions on the temple mount, Erdogan told his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi on a call that the “Islamic world should be united against Israel’s attacks in Palestine.”
No matter who starts shooting, the Islamic world will always blame Israel.
Israel is at the center of God’s plans. It has always been about Israel first. It is an unmovable stone that the nations will rage against. And though it will see the darkest of times, it will also see the glory of God.
Isreal Will be the Center of the World
It is in Israel where Jesus will return in great glory to destroy the armies of the Antichrist. He will stand on the Mount of Olives with His Holy ones and destroy all who gather against Him. His angels will throw the Beast and the False Prophet into the lake of Fire and imprison Satan in the abyss. These angels will throw the Beast’s armies into the winepress of God, and they will become food for the birds.
And Jesus will rule the earth as King from Jerusalem over a 1,000-year sabbath. There will be a new temple, and all the world’s nations will come to Jerusalem annually to worship Him and celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, Sukkot. This is the feast where God dwells among us.
Isreal will be at peace. The world will be at peace.
Whatever troubled times we live in and the worsening trouble ahead, we know we have a more glorious future. Run the race well. We are nearing the finish line. Live today, but keep your eyes on what lies ahead.
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Democratic Crises in Israel, UK, and the US Portend the Beast’s Rise
The Approaching Wars that Must Come
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