The recent suicide bombings in Jerusalem have sparked off more violence in the Middle East, creating further fear of an all out war in that region. The rhetoric is in high gear, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said, "Israel does not open wars. We know who has brought it on us -- [Palestinian leader Yasser] Arafat is responsible for everything that is happening here." At the same time the chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat said, "Now it's time for war, peace may come later."
The recent suicide bombings in Jerusalem have sparked off more violence in the Middle East, creating further fear of an all out war in that region. The rhetoric is in high gear, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said, "Israel does not open wars. We know who has brought it on us -- [Palestinian leader Yasser] Arafat is responsible for everything that is happening here." At the same time the chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat said, "Now it's time for war, peace may come later."
Violence and war is not new to the Middle East, a CNN headline reads, "Path to peace runs through a history of tumult". The Jewish State was born in an atmosphere of war and terrorism and since 1948 the State of Israel has fought four major wars with her Arab neighbours. A quick glance at a map of the region is a sufficient commentary on the difficulties associated with bringing peace to the Middle East. The Middle East is dominated by Arab nations and Israel exists at the centre of this regional ideology. Many people believe that peace will never be achieved, the arrogance and stubbornness shown by both sides appears to make such prospects impossible. But the solution does not lie with the statesmen or the politicians. What we are witnessing in the Middle East today was predicted in the Bible over 3,000 years ago.
The Miracle of Modern Israel
The first thing to comment on is the fact the nation of Israel exists at all. The modern State of Israel has been in existence since 1948, prior to that the name Israel did not exist on a map of the world. The Romans overthrew the nation of Israel in AD70 and subsequently the Jews were deported into every corner of the Roman world. Historically there has never been a nation forcibly removed from its homeland only to return to its own land after two thousand years of exile. It has never happened -- until 1948.
The State of Israel was formed against great odds; although the United Nations voted for a Jewish settlement there was very little international enthusiasm. What brought about the reestablishment of the Jewish State was not the United Nations, nor was it the sheer determination of the Jewish people, it was decreed by God. There are hundreds of Bible references that speak about Israel's return to the land; two passages will suffice in order to demonstrate the point:
"Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock" (Jeremiah 31:10).
"Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid. For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished" (Jeremiah 30:10-11).
God said Israel would return to the land and, as you will notice from the second quotation, Israel would also exist in peace and security. Whilst no one will deny that the first statement has been fulfilled, today there is anything but peace and security in the Middle East. We will comment upon this later.
A Region of Violence
The major bone of contention in this region is the city of Jerusalem. Divided culturally, religiously and politically, Jerusalem provides good reasons for the present tensions. Once again, this is not alarming to the Bible student. God said that this would be the case. He describes Jerusalem as "a burdensome stone" to all people that involve themselves with the city (Zechariah 12:2,3).
Every nation that has attempted to secure Jerusalem has ultimately failed and the Bible tells us why -- "all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces" Zechariah 12:3).
The Lord Jesus Christ once said that Jerusalem would be dominated by foreign powers, he said, "Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled" (Luke 21:24). Jesus spoke these words 40 years before the overthrow of Jerusalem by the Romans. For 19 centuries the city was occupied by a variety of powers -- the Romans, the Mamluks and the Ottoman Turks. The Romans even tried to eradicate the name Jerusalem altogether, but Jesus had said the oppression would last for a limited time -- "until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled".
The year 1967 was a memorable year for Bible prophecy, because as a result of the six day war, Jerusalem once again was re-occupied as Israel's ancient capital -- Jesus words were beginning to be fulfilled.
Gathering the Nations
Both the restoration of Israel to its ancient homeland and the re-establishment of Jerusalem as Israel's capital are significant events in the outworking of Bible prophecy. The prophet Joel comments on these two milestones: "For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land" (Joel 3:1,2).
Judah is the ancient Biblical name for Israel when it existed in the land at the time of Jesus, and was scattered throughout the world by the Romans. Both events, referred to by the prophet, have taken place since World War II. At the present time we are witnessing the other events described by the prophet. All over the world nations are growing in their opposition to Israel.
There is a significant prophecy in the book of Ezekiel that describes the gathering of the nations. Space does not allow for a full examination of the prophecy, however there are certain details that warrant our attention. Ezekiel 38 describes a confederacy of nations that descend from the north of Israel into the Middle East. The event occurs at a time described as "the latter years", when the nation of Israel has been re-gathered to its ancient homeland -- "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. 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" (Ezekiel 38:8,9).
We learn that this invasion occurs at a time when Israel is dwelling safely. These circumstances were described earlier by the prophet Jeremiah when he spoke of Israel returning and being at rest, "and none shall make him afraid". This has yet to take place in Israel. But as sure as God's word accurately describes Israel's restoration and Jerusalem's reinstatement, equally certain is the fact that Israel will enjoy peace with her neighbours.
We cannot be certain how peace will be achieved at this present time, however God has declared this to be so. But it will be a peace that is short lived. The peace described by the prophet Ezekiel will be shattered by a power from the north of Israel, who will invade the land for the purpose of taking "a spoil and a prey" (Ezekiel 38:12). This event constitutes the gathering of the nations, mentioned earlier to a place called "the valley of Jehoshaphat," which the LORD's judgment.
In the New Testament we read of this same event and we are told that when men shall cry "peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them" (1Thessalonians 5:3). This scripture reference describes the return of the Lord Jesus Christ-- "the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night" (1Thessalonians 5:2). It is an unusual comment, but it describes Jesus Christ returning to an unsuspecting world. Today the majority of Christendom does not expect Jesus to return as it is predicted in the Bible, but the signs are clear. Jesus will return:
1. When Israel is back in the land
2. When Jerusalem has been returned to Jewish jurisdiction.
3. When peace has taken place in the Middle East.
4. When the world least expects him.
The purpose of the return of Jesus is clearly outlined by God in His word: God "hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead" (Acts 17:31). When this occurs God will bring righteousness and peace to the far ends of the world (Isaiah 26:9; 32:17).
The apostle Paul makes an interesting observation, writing to believers he says, "But, ye brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief". The question that should be on everyone's mind is, where do we stand today? Will we be amongst those who are not expecting Jesus to return and therefore will be caught unawares, or are we prepared to read what God has said about the last days, take notice of the political signs around us and prepare to meet the Lord Jesus Christ.
"For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings" (Malachi 4:1-2).