A
Bible Study by Jack Kelley
Right
from the beginning, most informed commentators have predicted that the only
logical concluson to the so-called Middle East Peace process would be
war. Contrary to what our leaders have told us, the Palestinian goal has
never been to accept a two state solution. They have already turned that
deal down at least twice. No, the goal has been to eliminate the Jewish
state altogether. As long as they could win concessions at the bargaining
table war could be avoided, but the day would obviously come when no more
concessions could be given, and the only option would be to go to war for the
rest. That day may have come, and of course the stumbling block is
Jerusalem.
I Am Going To Make Jerusalem A Cup That Sends All The Surrounding
Peoples Reeling … Zech. 12:2
How
have we come to this? Let’s review the real issues. The Koran teaches that any
land conquered in the name of Islam will never be lost. The very existence of
the nation Israel is a violation of that teaching because the land of Israel,
including and especially Jerusalem, was once conquered for Islam. Since 1948
the utter destruction of Israel has been the stated Moslem goal, but half a
dozen wars have taught them that Israel was too strong to be destroyed
militarily. The brilliance of the “Peace Process” is that it enables the
Palestinians to win back much of the land through inexpensive negotiations.
This has the effect of simultaneously weakening Israel and giving the Moslem
forces time to gain the necessary strength to take the rest.
Land For Peace?
What
most people don’t realize is that with the speed of modern aircraft and
missiles, conventional warfare requires more geography rather than less to give
defenders sufficient time to react to an attack. Taking land from central
Israel (the West Bank) means that attack aircraft could traverse the country in
about 8 minutes. This is not enough time to react with effective counter
measures. Giving up the West Bank would make Israel less secure rather
than more.
Also,
Israel’s enemies have used the time spent in negotiations to create long-range
ballistic missile and biological warfare capabilities in an effort to
neutralize Israel’s nuclear threat. A nasty situation all around. Most informed
observers believe that as soon as the Moslems have gained everything possible
from negotiating and believe they’re strong enough to destroy Israel, they’ll
attack. And unless major changes in the Jewish position concerning the
sovereignty of Jerusalem are forth coming, the negotiations are effectively
over. Whether Israel’s enemies are strong enough yet for a military
victory may soon be revealed. Combatants on both Israel’s Northern and
Southern borders seem ready to find out.
I Make Known The End From The Beginning … Isaiah
46:10
Over
2500 years ago the Lord informed Ezekiel of a great battle involving a
coalition of nations who would align themselves against Israel (Ezek.
38-39). He said this battle would take place in the latter
days, after the Jewish people had been gathered in the land from many nations
following a great war, and would be a surprise attack on the mountains of
Israel (West Bank). But he also said the people would think they were living in
safety when the attack came (Ezek. 38:8), a
peaceful and unsuspecting nation (Ezek. 38:11).
But that doesn’t seem to define their current state.
Recently
what used to be a little known prophecy from Psalm
83 that might be
a bridge between here and Ezekiel
38 has come to
the surface. Psalm
83 is a prayer
that God would defeat a coalition of nations that could represent Israel’s
current next door neighbors, who the Psalmist accuses of conspiring against
God’s people, threatening to destroy them as a nation. There is no
evidence in the historical record that such a coalition ever rose up against
Israel, so Psalm
83 may very well be speaking of an attack that a growing number
of strategists expect to come soon. If so then it’s obvious Israel will
emerge victorious and will fall into the state of complacency suggested by Ezekiel 38:8-11.
This would also explain why none of the nations named in Psalm 83 are included among the attackers of Ezekiel 38. (Read
about Psalm 83 here)
Who Started This?
The so
called Arab-Israeli conflict has actually been brewing for over 4000 years. It
began with Isaac and Ishmael, the sons of Abraham, escalated in the time of
Jacob and Esau, the sons of Isaac, and continued through out the Old
Testament. It became a Moslem-Jewish conflict with the advent of Islam in
the 6th century AD. But behind the scenes the real battle has always
been a spiritual one, because ever since God chose the Jews as His people,
Israel as His land, and Jerusalem as His city, Satan has been working overtime
in an effort to take the land away from Him by destroying His people.
After all, Satan thinks Planet Earth is his. So this is not just a political
matter or even a religious one. It’s a spiritual matter and will not be
resolved until Satan is defeated and the Lord Himself causes every knee to bow
and every tongue to confess that He (alone) is Lord (Phil 2:10-11).
Why Pray For The Peace Of Jerusalem?
On
several occasions I’ve been asked something like, “If this is a great cosmic
problem that won’t ever be solved until the 2nd coming, how can our prayers
help?” Here are some good reasons why we should pray for the peace of
Jerusalem.
1st,
speaking of the Jewish people the Lord said, “Whoever
touches you touches the apple of my eye” (Zech. 2:9) and to
tribulation survivors He’ll say, “Whatever
you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me”
(Matt
25:40). I know it breaks His heart to see the way His
city has been defiled by hate and bloodshed. As Bob Pierce, founder of World
Vision has said, “Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of
God.” It’s good for us to be on the Lord’s side.
2nd, He
has commanded it and rewards us for obedience. All of Psalm 122 speaks
of the special nature of Jerusalem, the one place on Earth God specifically
chose for His dwelling, and promises prosperity to those who pray for its
peace.Pray
for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. (Psalm 122:6 KJV)
And 3rd,
when you pray for the peace of Jerusalem, you’re praying for the Messiah to
come and establish His Kingdom. Maybe that’s the best reason of all. You
can almost hear the Footsteps of the Messiah.
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