Time of Distress (15) - Israel Humbled
In subsequent decades, several external rulers will control the people of Israel. They will continue to be trampled by the Gentiles as Jesus had warned (Luke 21:24). This will be a huge disappointment for those who have come to Israel looking for peace.
John warned that the Jewish people would be in exile for a time, times and half a time. Daniel gave a similar prophecy, but adds an extra warning.The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, "It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed" (Dan 12:7).
Daniel had seen a vision that described the manoeuvrings of powerful nations, so he asked the angel how long these events last. The angel explained the vision. The “holy people” is Israel. The angel declares that the power of Israel will be broken after a “time, times and half a times”, ie at the end of the Times of the Gentiles.
The Zionist movement used the manoeuvrings of powerful nations to achieve a return to their land. This has placed the Jewish people at enormous risk. The Israeli government has mitigated this risk by accumulating massive military force, and the Israeli people now trust this for their security. This false trust will have to be broken before the people of Israel come to faith in Jesus. Military defeat will break Israeli faith in their political leaders and military power, opening the way for faith in Jesus.
When several nations are attacking Israel and there is great trauma in the land, the Holy Spirit is poured out on Israel.There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. (Dan 12:1).
The trauma that climaxes the Times of Distress leads to the Fullness of the Jews.
2 comments:
ALL this makes good sense except it works well if the ingathering was and not will be. Even if it happened for zionist reasons...God can use it. Will use it.
Still reading
Obviously, there was a return of Jews during the mandate period and following World War 2, but ingathering is not the correct word for it. The key issue is the spiritual status of this return.
• God allowed it and will use it to accomplish his purposes, but it was not a return under the covenant as promised in Deut 30 and as occurred under Ezra and Nehemiah.
• When the going gets tough in Israel, many of those who returned will leave the land.
• Many will have to leave when the land it is contaminated in the future.
• Israel is not back under God’s blessing, so he will not protect them from attack, regardless of what they do. Israel will rise and fall on its military prowess.
• A country that does not have covenant blessing or the Holy Spirit working for it must rely on political manoeuvring and military force. The Israeli leaders understand this and are good at both, but it will often be really ugly. Christians are confused about this and describing ugly as the work of God.
• The really great ingathering is still in the future. It will be led by the Spirit, bring joy to the Jews, and honour to Jesus (eg Ezek 39:15).
A more important issue is the attitude of Christians.
• Most do not understand the spiritual status of the return that taken place. They often speak and act as if the return to the land means the Times of the Gentiles have ended and Israel has turned to blessing.
• They assume that Israel is acting as God’s special nation, when it is just another secular nation, that pays lip service to international law, relies on international institutions when it suits, and does what it can get away with.
• Many Christians have made a huge commitment to Israel. They will be hugely disappointed by the way that events play out. Some will lose their faith through it.
• Christians have encouraged Israeli leaders to rely on military and political power instead of turning back to God.
• If Israel had returned to covenant blessing, it would not need American military and financial support, because God would protect it. It would not want an alliance with America, because alliances were forbidden under the covenant.
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