It seems to me that if anything can be regarded as fulfilled Bible prophecy in our time, it’s the present experience and reality of the state of Israel. There are just too many “coincidences” going on to really be coincidence.
Those not wanting to see this will not see it. Instead they will hear the lies of our media people, who are now spokespeople for the enemy of our souls. The world-wide condemnation of the actions of Israel are not in righteous agreement with the God of the Bible, but are a part of the fulfillment of what He has predicted and planned. Scripture tells us that ultimately, the whole world, or an attack force representative of the “global community”, will come against Israel. It’s this event which will precipitate Armageddon.
THE ANCIENT BIAS AGAINST JEWS REARS ITS UGLY HEAD
You can see it in our day: the hatred, the boycotting, the vilification, the bias and the mis-representation of everything Israel does, says and intends. According to some haters, more civilians have been killed in Gaza by Israel than actually live there. Israel is the evil empire, according to them. The truth is that Israel has tried for decades to be patient with those murdering their citizens, until the final straw-the brutal murder of twelve hundred Israelis in one day, which number had been far higher if the nation hadn’t fought back. Going into Gaza, the IDF has tried to leave civilians unscathed, but since the murderers hide themselves and their weapons under hospitals and schools and in homes, forcing the occupants to stay as human shields, it’s difficult if not impossible.
Yes, the “innocent” of all sides suffer. This, however, does not mean that you should just lay down and die. Violence leads to consequences, and the truly guilty ones are the murderers who started it all off.
Now we have the drama in Lebanon, with Hezbollah, who have also been targeting innocent Israelis for years and planning a greater massacre than what happened on October 7th 2023, now reeling on the ropes and crying. In all directions, Israel has to fight a war on multiple fronts for its very existence: a tiny nation against a sea of hatred which extends across the world to American universities and to supposedly democratic Western governments and Western media.
THE PLAN OF GOD
If you’re not familiar with what the Bible seems to say about the times we live in, perhaps you should be. As a very brief summary, Scripture foretells that Israelis, having been scattered over the face of the earth by ancient Rome, and persecuted wherever they went (yes, this is in the Bible too) would regather in their ancient homeland, close to the appointed time when God will re-set the world. This regathering began several decades ago. Once back in the land, say His prophets, the nation would prosper and grow in number. More significantly to our time, Israel would be hated by surrounding nations, and their existence once again threatened. Ultimately, what we could call a “coalition” of world powers will attack Israel in an attempt to wipe it out, the very plan that hard line Islamists have now.
ONE LITTLE PROBLEM
However, the one fly in the ointment of world hatred for Israel is that the Lord Almighty is their God. Oh, they aren’t innocent, and they aren’t going to escape judgment any more than anyone else will, but He keeps His promises. He has a plan for the nation and for the world, so when the world comes against Israel, it will meet its own end instead. God uses nations-good or bad-to bring about His will. When they think they’re doing their own will, they will in fact be fulfilling His, which is the testing and purification of Israel, and the judgment of the nations.
THE FLAMING TORCH
One section of Scripture relating to these times is found in Zechariah’s prophecy. The whole prophecy will likely unfold over several or many years, but I can’t help seeing these few verses as relating to what we’re seeing now:
“On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a firepot in a woodpile, like a flaming torch among sheaves. They will consume all the surrounding peoples right and left, but Jerusalem will remain intact in her place” (Zechariah 12:6).
Throw a flaming torch into a pile of wheat and straw and you will see a fire. Israel is that flaming torch, unknowingly exacting the judgment of God. Come against Israel, as flawed as the nation is, and you will find you are fighting the Creator of heaven and earth.
Fuel for Faith, Food for Thought 