Israel at war!
(with the gospel)
We love and support Israel, and we see what God is doing there, and is going to do. But let us not forget that in spite of God's plan, for which secular Israel is unaware, it is nation still largely in unbelief, in rebellion against God, and at war with the gospel.
"This is what the Sovereign LORD says It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone..... For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land." (Ezekiel 3622,24, NIV).
I am reminded of this by a letter from an Israeli published in the November 2001 issue of ZION'S FIRE magazine. Here is an excerpt
"Messianic Jewish believers in Israel are coming under more fire. Apparently, the Interior Ministry has begun a movement to persecute new, immigrant believers in the land. The movement is low-key, but the goal is to weed out immigrant, messianic Jewish believers whose citizenship status might be vulnerable to attack. The Interior Ministry catches messianic believers by either directly phoning them or sending them a 'summons to appear' at the ministry offices. Ministry officials next question the believers, who are usually caught off guard, and gather information to use against them."
The government is obviously concerned about the increasing number of messianic believers, especially those coming into the country via emigration, such as from the former Soviet Union. It is reported that hundreds of thousands of Jews there have come to believe in Jesus, many of whom have emigrated to Israel.
Ironically, modern Israel is not only at war with violent Ishmael, but also with the peaceful spiritual seed of Abraham, followers of the promised One, Yeshua -- in effect being at war with God.
In addition, Israeli writers report deception, conspiracy and corruption at high government levels.
But we know that God has a plan for Israel, in spite of themselves. The Bible says that Israel will go through the fire of tribulation, and great destruction and trial are coming to Israel just before Christ's return in power and her conversion, no doubt for all these reasons.
Let us pray for and bless Israel and pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and watch Israel as a prophetic sign, but let us keep a realistic perspective. Modern Israel is not our hope. The coming One they still reject is our hope.
Jim