by Tad Lindley
Last week we looked at the failed attempts of Haman and Hitler to destroy the Jewish people. We compared it to the current attempts of Hamas to wipe the nation of Israel off of the map. Many other names could be added to the list: men and nations of power who attempted to exterminate the descendants of Israel, and failed. The Lord forecasted this long ago when he told Abraham “I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). Some of the highest unemployment rates in the world occur in the very nations that are attempting to curse Israel.
What does the future hold for Israel?
History has shown the people of Israel to rise up from certain defeat again and again. Until the return of the Lord, the pattern will continue. The Battle of Armageddon will take place in the land of Israel, and then this persecution will cease.
Let us look at the three and one half years leading up to the Battle of Armageddon first. At the beginning of that period, Satan will lose access to heaven. Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child (Revelation 12:13 NKJV). The woman is the nation of Israel; the child that Israel gave birth to is Jesus Christ (read the beginning of chapter 12 in your Bible and you will see this).
United States to the rescue?
But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time, times, and half a time, from the presence of the serpent (12:14 NKJV). If we are in the time of the end right now, then this scripture is likely referring to the United States in some way shielding Israel from the wrath of the devil and the anti-Christ. The expression “time, times, and half a time” represents three and a half years (read Daniel 7:25 and Rev. 13:5 to prove this).
Unable to destroy Israel, the fury of Satan will be turned toward those who are still upholding the name of Jesus. And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went out to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (Revelation 13:17 NKJV). This is the time period when we will be subjected to the mark of the beast, and tremendous persecution will come against the church. Many will lose their lives for the name of Jesus Christ.
Armageddon
Keep in mind that the devil will be using his agents, the anti-Christ and the false prophet to oversee all of this. For those who serve the Lord it will be a chaotic time. Into the midst of this, world armies will amass themselves on the borders of Israel. It may happen much as it did recently when United Nations Peacekeeping Forces were deployed to intervene between Israel and Hamas.
Then the sixth angel poured his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. And they gathered them together to a place called in Hebrew, Armageddon. (16:12, 16)
As the world armies are gathering in against Israel, there will be a trumpet blast that is heard around the world. The sign of the coming of the Son of man will appear (Matt. 24:27). The elect will be gathered from the earth. All people will look upon the Lord and wail, the Israelites will also begin to recognize that Jesus Christ was and is their Messiah (Revelation 1:7). The saints of God, united with Jesus will then return to earth (Jude 14). He will overthrow the armies of the world at Armageddon. The anti-Christ and the false prophet will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20).
Israel’s final victory
According to the Hebrew scripture two thirds of Israel will perish (Zechariah 13:8). As the smoke of the battle is clearing one rabbi will approach this One in blazing white who has delivered Israel from certain defeat and pose this question, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends (Zechariah 13:6). If the New Testament and Old Testament are inspired by God, then it will come to pass that there will be no more opposition to Israel. The One who came to defeat evil, Jesus, will rule the earth for a thousand years. The words of the prophet will come to pass, And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day that shall be one Lord, and his name one (Zechariah 14:9).
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