The Hot Spot

It was a hot, summer day when a friend of mine since grade school and I were on an afternoon bike ride. She and I did this often – not an aggressive ride, but simply a slow peddle through our neighborhood where we could enjoy conversation as well as some moderate exercise. Though we were probably in junior high school by this time, she and I had been friends since first grade. Our topics of conversation often varied, but this day we entered into a discussion about Israel. 

“Jews are a religion”, she said, though I don’t remember exactly what sparked her comment.

I do remember though exactly where we were on that ride - the little hill just before the corner on the way back to her house. I stopped my bike for a moment so that I might better respond to her comment. She stopped then, too.

“Well, yes Judaism is a faith, but Jews are a nationality, they are a nation.” I explained.

“No, it is a religion!” She stated more adamantly this time.

I persisted and held my ground.  “They are a people! A nationality! You can even recognize physical characteristics in their anatomy.  Jesus was a Jew!” 

And so began an understanding for me. Israel and the Jewish people were a divisive topic. My childhood friend and I remained friends, but I’m not sure we ever broached this subject again. But for me, this was the early beginnings of a process that built the framework of my lifetime decision to defend the Jew.

I can’t pinpoint exactly when my love for Israel began.  I can’t remember exactly when I decided I would defend Israel with my prayers and conversation.  As I said, it was a process. I’m sure the things my father taught me regarding end times prophesy would be one reason.  I am confident that  my reading, in 1970,  Hal Lindsey’s book The Late Great Planet Earth would be another. I also know that at some point during these beginning days of my interest, I looked at a world globe. I was searching for the country of Israel. I had become interested enough to want to see exactly where Israel lay in the world landscape and I wanted to see her in comparison to the other countries about which I was learning and which were often making the news headlines.

I will never forget the impact that spotting tiny Israel on that globe had on me.  It was one of those “WOW” moments that one never forgets.  Having learned all I had recently been taught about Bible prophecy and eschatology, and now to see that little tiny country in comparison to the whole world, I experienced nothing short of total awe!  Understanding this tiny speck of land was the place that was causing all the world commotion, while relating it to Bible prophecy being fulfilled was absolutely amazing to me. I couldn’t help but know that if something so small could be that important, then there was not a doubt in my mind that only God could do it.  Only God would!!  I’m not sure I can adequately explain how greatly that visual impacted me. It was just one of those moments that “you knew, that you knew, that you knew”. For a country so small, so seemingly irrelevant, to be so important, I knew it had to be from God. It had to be miraculous and it had to have a purpose.  So I suppose it was then, I took up position on my wall.

Today, it is amazing to me, how little interest there often seems to be in what is taking place world-wide at this time. As Hal Lindsey says: “Yesterday’s prophecies are today’s headlines.” That’s why it is hard for me to understand the lack of interest.

Maybe it’s because our churches have gotten away from eschatological study. I don’t know. Maybe the lack of discussion has to do with the fear of politics.  For me, whatever position a politician took on Israel, would be a determining factor whether or not they had my vote. I even carried that decision to the local offices, taking quite literally “I will bless those that bless you, and curse those that curse you.” (Genesis 12: 1-3) For me, to vote for someone that placed no importance on Israel was to invite a curse….or at the very least, problems. God’s blessing is something to be sought, and we can not expect it if we do not follow His Word in its entirety.

How can something so important be mentioned so little among Christians?! Israel is undoubtedly God’s time-clock.  It is a barometer for our lives – a way to know exactly where we are in the greater scheme of things. 

God intended there be nations. It was God who divided the nations at the Tower of Babel. Though Scripture is clear, God did not like the idol they were building to the sky and confounding the languages was His way of putting an end to it; it is likewise clear, that if not for the division of nations, one of His greatest means for speaking to His people could not take place. If not for the boundaries of nations, His plan to use Israel as a benchmark so that we might know His return is eminent would not be possible.  If not for boundaries, that little speck of land known as Israel would mean nothing.

The Bible is clear:

• The Jews would be forced from their land.
• They would be scattered throughout the nations.
• And they would one day return to their land.

The ultimate outcome of it all will be not only the return of Christ for His church, but also the redemption of His “Chosen People”, the Jews.

Of course we all know that on May 14^th, 1948, Israel once again became a nation after 2700 years in exile. Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah and yes, Jesus all prophesied this end. In A.D.70, Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans; their sovereignty lost; her people dispersed. A miracle in itself which should give pause to all is that the Jewish people were never absorbed into any other nationality! The Jews remained a distinct people after 2700 years of having no homeland!! Think about that! Can any other people say that? Doesn’t that cause one to believe there must surely be a Divine plan?! Though I probably didn’t realize it at the time, that fact is exactly why the discussion with my childhood friend was so very important!  Though at the time, it mattered only to me, I’m glad I didn’t give in on that truth. To carry the miracle even further, not only did the Jew return to their homeland as promised, they returned in the exact same manner as prophesied in Isaiah 43: 5-6.

“Fear not: for I am with thee:  I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, keep not back: bring my sons from far and my daughters from the ends of the earth."

This is all about redemption. It is not only about physical redemption of a nation, but it is most importantly about spiritual redemption; and it is not only for the Jew, but the Gentile - all people in all nations. And in verse 11 of Isaiah 43, we have the reason – so that all will understand and believe: “I, even I, am the Lord and beside me there is no savior.”

Photo from Christians United With Israel

Jerusalem was called a “divided city” by the prophets…a “burdensome stone for all people”.  This has never been more apparent than it is today. It is this very week that elections in Egypt demonstrate that fact as the Muslim Brotherhood candidate –Mohammed Morsi- claimed victory in this nation’s important outcome. It was officially announced just today. Neither candidate is a democratic candidate, by any means; but clearly there is one that would be more problematic for Egypt and Israel. And he just won that important election. For those that are unfamiliar with the Muslim Brotherhood, they are in fact the ones that founded Hamas and the PLO, Israel’s bitter enemies. Just last week an Egyptian imam associated with the Muslim Brotherhood, Safwa Hagazy, stated: “If the Brotherhood wins in Egypt, no longer will Cairo be the capitol of Egypt, but Jerusalem.”  Oh, really? We will see about that!

Yep, this is just one example of how Jerusalem is the religious hotspot of the world and the focus of international attention. Zechariah 12: 2 tells us:

“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.  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.”

Another wake-up call for us is a story reported just this week, in the Jerusalem Post. It was reported strategic “war games” are taking place in the Mediterranean. Four unlikely nations - Syria, China, Russia and Iran – are gathering together 90,000 troops for the largest “war game” ever in the Middle East. Are we seeing the beginning of Ezekiel 38, i.e. The War of Gog and Magog? This would be referring to the people north of Israel and we know the Russian people are these descendants; and modern day Iran is Persia. Clearly, these nations are mentioned in the Bible and all seem to be in place to come against Israel as prophesied.

Why now are these forces being sent to the Middle East to take part in “joint exercises”? We don’t know, but we do know as Joel Rosenberg recently said to Pat Robertson on CBN a few days ago, that Ezekiel 38:7 tells us to get ready and be prepared. So why aren’t we talking about this? Why do we see so few headlines in the national media? Why do so few, seem so unconcerned. Why do so many prefer instead to hide their heads in the sand?

Something else that has recently taken place at this extremely active time is that Vladimir Putin, the current President of Russia, met with Prime Minister Netanyahu, just today. Putin is the only Russian leader ever to go to Israel. He went seven years ago in 2005, and he returned at this strategic time.

It is reported today that Prime Minister Netanyahu strongly stated that Iran must be dealt with. Netanyahu’s firm statements to Putin weren’t widely reported but on the Prime Minister’s Facebook page, he stated in part:

“We just had the chance to discuss the current negotiations between the international community and Iran. We agree that Iran’s continued pursuit of nuclear weapons is a grave threat first and foremost to Israel, but also to the region and the world.

Israel believes that the international community should have three clear demands of Iran:  Stop enriching uranium inside Iran; remove all the enriched uranium from Iran; and dismantle the underground nuclear facility near Qom. That is why Israel believes the international community now must do two things: ratchet up the sanctions against Iran; and also ratchet up the demands that are now being made of Iran.”  

Rosenberg believes Putin doesn’t see the Obama administration as a restraint, and I agree. America’s influence is imploding, says Rosenberg, we are no longer a threat and Putin has no restraints.  America is no longer a threat to her enemy. As we retreat from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, we strengthen the enemy.

A weakening of America, without question, is what is taking place.  Many tried to warn of the folly of telling our enemy when we would be leaving Afghanistan, but few listened.  Public opinion had turned too sharply against having our soldiers there. Americans want the troops out. It is understandable, if we haven’t been told the truth about that war, the enemy, or the outcome. It is understandable, with the way our troops’ hands have been tied behind their backs, while told to fight. What we need is a Commander-in-Chief. And what we need is politicians that will speak the truth. We don’t need Americans that in effect are joining forces with the enemy by stating that America is actually the one to blame. We need Americans to understand we have an enemy and just exactly who that enemy is.

Undeniably, Israel is the centerpiece of the world’s news headlines. Carefully studied, Israel is the nation at the focus of Bible Prophecy.  As Hal Lindsey said in his book The Late Great Planet Earth in 1969, and Joel Rosenberg said again last week, “The United States must decline in power”, for these prophetic events to take place. I am afraid we are seeing the decline of America right before our very eyes.

Because these things are told in Scripture doesn’t mean we are to sit back and do nothing. We are told to pray for the peace of Jerusalem for starters. (Psalm 122:6) When we pray for the peace of Jerusalem we are in effect, praying for her prophetic destiny, which will usher in the return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is also the Jews’ Savior, which they will one day understand.

We aren’t going to change any of this, but I believe as do many, that we can delay this outcome, giving more time to share the Gospel, and giving the world more time to receive God’s Plan for Redemption. We are certainly instructed to try. We are to fulfill the Great Commission until our King returns and we are to be “Watchmen on the Wall.” We certainly aren’t instructed to sit back and sing "Que sera, sera ~ whatever will be, will be". Yes, God already knows the outcome. But don't you think, regardless of all of that, He would simply want us to stand for that which is right?

Many speak of a Third Great Awakening ~ I don’t know. Joel Rosenberg says he doesn’t know. But 2 Chronicles 7:14 says:

“If my people, which are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from, heaven and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

In the end, I believe that should be the ultimate goal…at least while there is time.

In my opinion, Israel is one of the greatest evangelistic tools God has given us. As we see the world headlines match up with what the Bible tells us, it should cause us to seek out what the rest of God’s Word has to say. If we can visibly see that these prophecies are accurate, it should cause us and more importantly unbelievers, to rest assured that what the rest of the Bible tells us is also true.

 

Resources:
 

Joel Rosenberg on CBN

The Associated Press 
Hal Lindsey Weekly Report 6/22/2012 and 6/15/2012