Dear friends and readers,
Ah Israel, the Apple of God's eye!
So many of my fellow Christians are confused today. They are seemingly in one of three categories;
1). Absolutely on fire 100% supporters of Israel (that would be me).
2). Absolutely deceived and think Israel is a man made evil invention who is purposely trying to make life miserable for the Palestinian people.
3). Could care less. Probably can't find Israel on the map and if they can, don't understand why it is called Israel instead of Palestine.
Hmmmm. Where shall I begin? How about Zechariah 2:8 (God speaking through the prophet) "For thus says the Lord of Hosts: He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; For he who touches you touches the apple of His eye"!
Or perhaps you are more into the New Testament? How about Romans chapter 11? (The Apostle Paul speaking for God), verse 1 "I say then has God cast away His people (Israel---Jews)? Certainly not"! verse 11 "I say then, have they (Israel---Jews) stumbled? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the gentiles. Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the gentiles, how much more their fullness (fullness of Israel---Jews). My emphasis added in italics.
Ok Israel has not always walked according to the Word of God and has been chastised many times because of their rebellion. Elsewhere in the Word it describes Israel as a "stubborn and stiff necked people" Exodus 32:9 sees God Himself telling Moses that they are indeed a stiff necked people. Acts chapter 7:51-60 repeats that very theme.
So we have merely repeated what the Bible says about our Jewish brethren and Israel in general. In fact they are a very long way from perfect and just like any modern nation run by bureaucrats, make tons and tons of mistakes. That does not and can never nullify the fact that God chose the Jewish people as His very own and gave irrevocable covenants to Abraham, and again to his son Isaac and once again to his son Jacob, who's name was personally changed by God to "ISRAEL"!
In fact as a pastor of 33 years I think myself qualified to categorically state that the Jewish people are almost as stubborn as many of the Christians I have had in my own churches and ministries over those long years. So let's not be stone throwers who live in glass houses.
One way or another, God does not change His mind and if you are a Christian who has been taught that somehow Israel is bad, you have been deceived. Lied to might be a more direct path to the truth and it is extremely dangerous for you to be antisemitic which will bring you one day to answer very difficult questions at the judgement seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). "For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he (or she---my emphasis added) has done, whether good or bad".
Bottom line if you are a follower of Jesus Christ you are a follower of the Messiah of Israel and He can never be separated from either Israel or His natural brothers and sisters the Jews. The church is made up of both Jew and gentile with one thing in common; They have embraced Jesus as their Messiah.
Now very many Jewish people have not done that and perhaps never will just like many gentiles will never receive Christ. That decision will cost them on judgement day but it is every persons right to make that decision. Just one more point I would like to make; When it is your turn to stand in front of the judgement seat, no one including your pastor or teacher or denominational leader can do that for you. You must do so for yourself and an excuse like "not my fault Lord, those guys over there told me---! will not cut the mustard. One simple question will be asked of you; Why did you not read and believe the Bible for yourself?
Ok, enough of that. This week several big things are happening in regards to Israel. 1). This week begins the High Holy Days (Leviticus chapter 23) starting Wednesday September 20 with the holy day of TRUMPETS (Rosh HaShanah).
Next is an announcement that Prime Minister Netanyahu, asked President Putin of Russia to guarantee that a safe zone be established in Syria including a buffer zone along the Golan Heights of 37 miles. Putin rejected this request and only guaranteed a 3 mile buffer zone and made it clear that Iranian forces are in Syria for the long haul. It might be added here that new information has been brought to light that Iran is spending 800 million every year to support the dictatorship of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria another sworn enemy of Israel.
This is extremely relevant because of the prophecies in Ezekiel chapters 38-39 clearly state that the eventual war of Gog from the land of Magog is made up of an invading army coming into the mountains of Israel and it is led, we believe by Russia and Iran.
Last week Israel took out a chemical weapons plant in Syria which was funded by Iran and assisted by the terror organization Hezbollah who have all by taken over Lebanon on Israel's norther boarder and who currently have an estimated 150,000 rockets and missiles pointed at Israeli cities. It is reported that Israel at this very moment is preparing for a massive war with Hezbollah.
In yet other news, for the very first time ever, the President of the United States working with the Prime Minister has authorized a small US armed forces base inside Israel. Good news and should further signal the US commitment to Israel's security.
Worst of all is the announcement that Hamas, the terror organization controlling the Gaza strip has just buried the old hatchet so to speak with the leader of Fatah, president Mahmoud Abbas who currently controls the East Bank territories of the Palestine political organization. In the past most nations have not dealt with Hamas but now this move giving political control back to Fatah will somewhat legitimatize Hamas which will now simply become the military wing of Fatah who unfortunately stalks the corridors of the United Nations. That basically leaves Israel with a very narrow corridor of land between the East Bank and Gaza.
Finally for today there is the immense elephant in the living room of the Middle East. You may remember that North Korea a few weeks ago threatened Israel. The bets are running high that North Korea has partnered at least in some degree with Iran on their future nuclear ambitions. We know now that North Korea already has nukes and probably a small but reliable ICBM arsenal. Iran has threatened the very existence of Israel since the revolution in 1979 when the Ayatollahs took power. The idea of both Iran and North Korea somehow working in concert to attack Israel one day is incredibly unsettling news.
If you are a Christian already in support of Israel, I do not need to tell you how much and important is prayer for that tiny nation. If you are a Christian who is an antisemite or even range from cold to indifferent toward Israel, all I can say is how are you going to explain that to your King?
Please remember the old adage everyone; "All it takes for evil to succeed is for good people to do nothing"!
Find it in your heart today folks to take Israel's situation in the Middle East seriously and pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6)
God bless you all today,
Pastor Rance.
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