Friday, August 9, 2024
Israel has suffered existential threats from Islamic nations ever since becoming a reborn nation over 76 years ago. While most people have no idea why that’s true, we true Christians know why it’s true. After Jerusalem was destroyed in AD 70 by Roman Emperor Titus Caesar Vespasianus, Israel ceased from being a nation until May 14, 1948. Israel lay destroyed for 1,878 years, but 76 years ago was reborn a nation. Satan hates that reality as it validates the Bible for the prophetic end of this age. Islamic nations ruled by Satan also hate that reality because Israel’s 1948 rebirth invalidates their Quran and their rejection of Christ the Messiah. Hell rages to destroy the Land God gave as “an everlasting possession” (Gen. 17:8; Gal. 3:29) to His own elect, holy believers!
Israel is on the brink of being invaded and decimated, all of which has been foretold. What we see developing today, especially in view of Russia, the Bear of the North aiding Iran, this could become the war of Gog and Magog described in Ezek. 38. “Iran reportedly plans to attack Israel on the day of Tisha B’Av, when Jews mourn the loss of the first and second Temples”. (Source) For the terrorist Iranian regime this is just par for the course. The more misery and hurt they can inflict on Israel, the more they rejoice because demonic spirits are behind warring forces seeking the destruction of Israel, believing they can thwart the plan of God for His redeemed, holy, elect.
In response to Iran’s threats, the “US to send more warships, fighter jets to Middle East to bolster defenses”. (Source) The article states in part that, “The U.S. is bracing for Iran to make good on its vow to respond to the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh two days ago in Tehran – one in a series of killings of senior figures in the Palestinian militant group as the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza rages.” And Fox News had this headline: “Middle East war fears ramp up as F-22 Raptors rush to keep the lid on Iran”. We believers should rejoice that our God foretold us these things would come and that we can be a prepared people to endure to the end knowing that God will receive us to Himself “Immediately after the tribulation” (Matt. 24:29–31). Hallelujah!
A headline from London says: “Calls for foreigners to leave Lebanon as war fears grow”. (Source) The article states in part that, “The US, the UK, Australia, France, Canada, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Turkey and Jordan are among the countries to have urged their citizens to leave Lebanon as soon as possible…Fears of an escalation of hostilities that could engulf Lebanon are at their highest since Hezbollah stepped up its attacks on Israel, a day after the deadly Hamas attacks on southern Israel on 7 October, in support for Palestinians in Gaza.” While “fear” grips many people from many nations around the world due to the imminent threat Iran poses to Israel, we true believers can be at peace with assurance that Jesus Christ, who has been given all authority in heaven and in earth, Matt. 28:18, also has this under His control and is not deterred from His promise to His elect, knowing how to preserve His own who are prepared.
And from War News 24/7, this headline: “’Five Front’ War? Israel opens underground nuclear shelter in Jerusalem for country’s leadership”. The article states in part that, “For the first time in decades, the Shin Bet has opened the underground ‘nuclear’ bunker in Jerusalem known as the ‘Doomsday Bunker’ which will house the country’s top political leadership and officials of the Defense and Security complex, a sign that Israel is preparing for war large scale with unknown ramifications.” Israeli government officials are not alone in seeking shelter and safety in their utterly futile nuclear survival bunkers. Many elitist leaders have doomsday bunkers wherein they‘ll seek protection, as though they’re going to live forever. They’re foolish! They don’t believe God’s plan for the end of this age. Fear leads them. But our Lord Jesus Christ told us “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18). We who know Christ by true faith through grace are not governed by, nor are we led by fear as is the world, because in Christ we have His perfect peace, knowing that He is bringing this present age to its end as promised.
Reborn Israel has always been a significant clock on the end-time scale. Though the religious ruling class of Orthodox Jews and most national Jews living in Israel reject the truth of God’s Son, they’re indeed lost unless they repent in faith to Christ. God will preserve the land of Israel because it’s the Land God promised His elect saints as stated above. And we true Christians need to be prepared for that soon-coming time to inherit that Land, a people prepared to endure to the end just as Christ taught at Matt. 24:13, being a people with knowledge and wisely prepared as were the five wise virgins of Matt. 25:1–13. But for the unprepared they’ll not know of, nor find the safety and provision as “the woman [the prepared “freewoman” (Gal. 4:21–31)] fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they [angels] should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days” (Rev. 12:6), the last 3 1/2 years of the great tribulation.
For those people planning to hide in doomsday bunkers when crushing wars decimate not only Israel, but the world, they will find that their hiding places are not hidden from God. In that Day, when the apocalypse is overwhelming and led by the satanic hordes of Satan, and then the Lord Himself descends from heaven with a shout and with the trumpet of God, 1 Thess. 4:16, then the rocks and mountains in which doomsday bunkers are built will split open and those hiding in the granite mountains of rock will cry “to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!’” (Rev. 6:16). Their places of hiding will be ripped open and their faithless fears realized when “the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!…The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth’” (Rev. 11:15, 18). Amen!
Israel will be in wars from now until Christ returns at the resurrection rapture. Unbelievers will grow increasingly angry with Israel, faulting it for the world’s woes. Then God will “gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem” (Zech. 4:2), which will be the Battle of Armageddon! I encourage you, be faithful to and love Jesus Christ, love the fellowship of true believers, love and prepare those with whom you have influence. Love the Land of Israel for it’s our promised inheritance from God. Love and pray for unbelievers, because their eyes have been blinded by Satan, the god of this present age. And always be encouraged in the truth that “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Rev. 19:10). Believe Jesus and not traditions of men, Mark 7:13.
My new book “ON EAGLES’ WINGS” addresses real life issues not addressed in these weekly Letters which gathers the biblically prophetic with current events. Many have not yet gotten my new book, but be encouraged to get it for yourself and even as a gift for others, it will bless you.
Marlin J. Yoder
