THE MID-EAST CRISIS AND BIBLE PROPHECY
Isaiah 41:9-10
Whenever hostilities erupt in the Mid-East affecting Israel, many question whether the Battle of Armageddon is soon to occur. The answer to that query is “No”. The “Rapture” of the Church described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, will occur seven years before Armageddon. That great final battle will occur when our Lord Jesus comes in power and glory to render judgment upon the earth.
To better understand the significance of the present crisis which involves Israel, Lebanon and the Hezbollah; we need to consider some important prophecies from both the Old and the New Testament.
PROPHECY CONCERNING THE REBIRTH OF ISRAEL
In 70 AD, the Roman army led by Titus put down a Jewish rebellion. This resulted in the destruction of the Temple and the dispersion of the Jews throughout the known world. Jesus prophesied this destruction in Matthew 24:1-2. “Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, ‘Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.’"
For 1900 years, the Jews longed to return to their land and Jerusalem. Facing rejection and persecution at every turn, they waited the fulfillment of the promise God had made to them through the prophets. Consider these prophetic Scriptures.
“But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the descendants of Abraham My friend. You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest regions, and said to you, ’You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away: Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, and I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Behold, all those who were incensed against you shall be ashamed and disgraced; they shall be as nothing, and those who strive with you shall perish.” Isaiah 41:8-11
"Therefore say, ’Thus says the Lord GOD: "I will gather you from the peoples, assemble you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel." Ezekiel 11:17
In May 1948, the United Nations adopted a resolution defining the boundary of Israel. This action was a literal fulfillment of these prophesies.
A PROPHETIC PICTURE OF TODAY’S EVENTS
“Do not keep silent, O God! Do not hold Your peace and do not be still, O God! For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; and those who hate You have lifted up their head. They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, and consulted together against Your sheltered ones. They have said, ‘Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more.’ For they have consulted together with one consent; they form a confederacy against You.” Psalm 83:1-5
Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah, proclaimed: “Israel must be totally destroyed from the face of the earth.” Think not for a moment that Hezbollah will give up on its goal to destroy Israel. The proposed cease-fire may or may not hold, but the immense hatred of Israel will not diminish. Many in the Islamic world will not be satisfied unless and until Israel is annihilated. But their evil desire will never come to pass because God has His own agenda for Israel.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY WILL HAPPEN NEXT?
The UN Security Council has voted for a cease-fire and truce between Hezbollah and Israel with southern Lebanon being patrolled by 15,000 UN troops and 15,000 Lebanese soldiers. Consider Paul’s prophecy in I Thessalonians 5:1-4.
“But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night, nor of darkness.” Are we living in the last days? We sincerely believe that we are. Is the Lord Jesus coming soon? We believe that He is. But we must be careful about predicting when He will return. No man knows that! Our Lord made that very clear. Consider the parable of the fig tree, which we believe refers to the rebirth of the nation of Israel; hear what our Lord had to say. We read the account in Matthew 24: 32-35.
"Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near--at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
“Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Matthew 24: 32-44.
So important was this message that Jesus repeated it again in Matthew 25: 13, "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”
So for now, watch, pray and witness!
“Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20)
