Now We Know

“I am for peace; But when I speak, they are for war.” – Psalm 120:7

 

At 6:30 am on Saturday October 7^th, on the 50-year anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, on the last day, the sabbath of the joyful Feast of Tabernacles or Succoth, a barrage of 2-3,000 rockets were launched from Gaza into Israel. Surprisingly, the Iron Dome rocket defense of Israel was ineffective in stopping many of the rockets. To break through Iron Dome it’s believed sophisticated technology from another nation was used.

As the rockets were launched, a few thousand soldiers of the terror group Hamas neutralized and broke through the border wall and attacked Israel. This was an impressively orchestrated attack that had been in planning for over a year. Demonstrations by the walls were used to gather information that was later used in the attack.

Their mission: Terrorists who were captured and interrogated later said their objective was to cause as much human pain and suffering as they could.

• Drones to knock out surveillance on the Israel’s protective wall at 15 spots. (Israel had been unaware Hamas had such technology and it’s believed such technology was likely provided by Russia and Iran). The IDF soldiers at these locations were overcome and executed.
• Motorized hang gliders for quick entry.
• Motorcycles with teams for mobile deployment.
• Bulldozers to knock down and breach the wall.

In twenty minutes there were a few thousand terrorists in Israel roaming with evil intent to annihilate Jews. The terrorists attacked people on the streets, in their homes, at kibbutz’s. There was a music festival for young people that the terrorists cornered and where they executed 250 civilians in the field and in their cars as they tried to escape. Hamas disguised themselves as security and when people went to their cars they shot them down.

The carnage left behind consisted of:

• Girls and women were taken for the sole purpose to rape and “dirty” them, and then were killed.
• Elderly people were shot and slaughtered at bus stops and in their homes.
• Families were herded and tied up – parents forced to watch their children tortured or vice versa and then murdered.
• Babies were murdered in their cribs.
• Babies were beheaded.
• People were burned alive.
• People had their limbs hacked off.
• Over 100 were taken captive to Gaza to serve as bargaining chips.
• Dead IDF soldiers’ bodies were dragged through the streets of Gaza as were civilian bodies.

The slaughter went on for hours. No one was safe.

This was a massive failure of Israel’s security forces.

Israel’s response:

• Liberals who once thought negotiation and peace for land with Hamas was possible, no longer think that way. They now know unequivocally that their enemy doesn’t merely want land, they want the genocidal elimination of all Jews.
• Israel is now United like never before. This has been a sobering wake up call.
• The IDF almost immediately launched an air bombardment of Hamas strongholds. (But even as Israel does this, they shower millions of notices from the air instructing Palestinian civilians to flee the areas that were being targeted for bombing. EVEN IN RESPONSE TO THIS UNPRECEDENTED TERROR, ISRAEL ACTS HUMANELY.)
• 300 thousand IDF troops and artillery are reading to enter Gaza for a ground assault to root out and terminate any Hamas related resources and terrorists.

Proportionality:

Some warn Israel to make their response proportional to the Hamas attack.

If we are talking proportionally:

• If we compare 9/11 to this attack, proportionally, it would be like losing 30,000 people.
• If we are speaking proportionally, should Israel go into Gaza and rape young women, shoot, and murder and hack up elderly, families, behead and burn up babies.

I hope you see the fallacy of proportionality.

Now We Know

Sometimes when we think we know something, we really don’t. The Pharisees through they knew Jesus had a demon. They said as much when Jesus told them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death” (John 8:51). They were wrong. At other times when we say, “now we know,” we really do know, such as when we trust Jesus as Savior we know Him not merely in fleshly or worldly terms, but that “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:16-17). In many ways we see dimly, but God can turn the light on for us (e.g. 1 Corinthians 13:12).

God turns the light on to see the reality of life. That is not always pretty or serene. Sometimes God reveals or exposes the ugliness of sin.  God reveals beautiful things like the abundant life available in His only Son Jesus. But God also reveals things like, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them” (Romans 1:18-19). The hearts of sinful people are desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9-10). Sometimes God must remind us through His revelation of the cold heard truth regarding the state of sinful humanity (e.g. Romans 1:18 – 3:23). Otherwise we may be caught up in the delusion that humanity is basically good. We are only redeemable by God’s grace (e.g. Romans 3:24-26).

We only “know” because, “God has revealed them to us through His Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:10a). This is always true. God’s revelation is not always to our liking. We often think we know better than God and what he has revealed in His word. But if there was a time of truth and revelation in life, if ever there was any doubt as the objective of Israel’s foes, Saturday October 7^th and the horrors of that day have fully exposed and laid to rest the fallacy of land for peace.

Over the decades Israel has bent over backwards to sacrifice and offer land for peace. But no amount of land has ever been enough. Now we know why because land was never truly the objective. The objective has always bene the eradication of not only Israel, but of all Jews.

Truly, this terror attack has exposed the reality of Psalm 120 which states:

Psalm 120 (NKJV)

A Song of Ascents.

¹     In my distress I cried to the Lord, And He heard me.

²     Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips

And from a deceitful tongue.

³     What shall be given to you,

Or what shall be done to you,

You false tongue?

⁴     Sharp arrows of the warrior,

With coals of the broom tree!

⁵     Woe is me, that I dwell in Meshech,

That I dwell among the tents of Kedar!

⁶     My soul has dwelt too long

With one who hates peace.

⁷     I am for peace;

But when I speak, they are for war.

“I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.” This is the reality of Israel and her Muslim neighbors. For the Muslim it is unacceptable for non-Muslims to reside in territory claimed by Islam. It is seen as an afront to Allah. It is seen as a constant reminder of their defeat. It is contrary to their code to have any non-Muslim in their land who is not subjugated to them and paying tax to them. Therefore, it is not a matter of exchanging land for peace with Israel, it is a matter of annihilating Isarel and all Jews.

God Knows

The God of Israel is mighty, and He is a refuge for His people. You can rest assured He will defend His people. The LORD will protect His people as the psalmist was inspired to write:

Psalm 94 (NKJV)

¹     O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongs—

O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth!

²     Rise up, O Judge of the earth;

Render punishment to the proud.

³     Lord, how long will the wicked,

How long will the wicked triumph?

⁴     They utter speech, and speak insolent things;

All the workers of iniquity boast in themselves.

⁵     They break in pieces Your people, O Lord,

And afflict Your heritage.

⁶     They slay the widow and the stranger,

And murder the fatherless.

⁷     Yet they say, “The Lord does not see,

Nor does the God of Jacob understand.”

⁸     Understand, you senseless among the people;

And you fools, when will you be wise?

⁹     He who planted the ear, shall He not hear?

He who formed the eye, shall He not see?

¹⁰   He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct,

He who teaches man knowledge?

¹¹   The Lord knows the thoughts of man,

That they are futile.

¹²   Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord,

And teach out of Your law,

¹³   That You may give him rest from the days of adversity,

Until the pit is dug for the wicked.

¹⁴   For the Lord will not cast off His people,

Nor will He forsake His inheritance.

¹⁵   But judgment will return to righteousness,

And all the upright in heart will follow it.

¹⁶   Who will rise up for me against the evildoers?

Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?

¹⁷   Unless the Lord had been my help,

My soul would soon have settled in silence.

¹⁸   If I say, “My foot slips,”

Your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up.

¹⁹   In the multitude of my anxieties within me,

Your comforts delight my soul.

²⁰   Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law,

Have fellowship with You?

²¹   They gather together against the life of the righteous,

And condemn innocent blood.

²²   But the Lord has been my defense,

And my God the rock of my refuge.

²³   He has brought on them their own iniquity,

And shall cut them off in their own wickedness;

The Lord our God shall cut them off.

“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro through the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him” (2 Chronicles 16:9a). Unfortunately, like King Asa to whom these words were given, Israel has historically “done foolishly” (2 Chronicles 16:9b). But Psalm 94 shows us that historically, Israel has been opposed much the same as she is being today. Like Psalm 94 conveys, Israel’s hope is in the LORD. “But the LORD has been my defense, and my God the rock of my refuge.” That is true for Israel even though she is not a finished product, or all God intends for her to be. But it is also true for all those whose heart is loyal to the LORD. God is our Defender, our Advocate. That is seen most clearly for the Christian who can confidently know, “we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1).

Why Should We Care What Happens to Israel?

The Olivet Discourse of Jesus is a prophetic message that is directed at Israel in particular and the Church in a secondary fashion. In the discourse Jesus mentions the Abomination of Desolation and the budding of the fig tree, both of which are particularly linked symbolically to Israel. Don’t miss the point Jesus is making here. The important thing he is stating here is that the nation of Israel is an integral part of God’s prophetic plan and therefore a barometer of where we are on the prophetic calendar. Israel is an important sign for us to examine for several reasons.

First, the nation of Israel is God’s tool to make Himself known to the world. In the book of Isaiah it states:

• Isaiah 43:10a – “”You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, . . .” (See also Isaiah 43:12; 44:8)

God has chosen to use the nation of Israel to prove His existence and reveal Himself to the world. One way He has done this is through the preservation of Israel and especially the reestablishment of Israel as a nation in 1948.

Second, the nation of Israel is Gods’ tool to glorify Himself to the world. We see this in the following verses:

• Isaiah 46:13 – “I bring My righteousness near, it shall not be far off; My salvation shall not linger. And I will place salvation in Zion, For Israel My glory.”
• Isaiah 49:3 – “And He said to me, ‘You are My servant, O Israel, In whom I will be glorified.’”

In describing the events of one end times battle, the LORD explains how He will use Israel when through the prophet Ezekiel He states:

• Ezekiel 38:23 – “Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.”’

Third, the nation of Israel is God’s tool to reveal Himself via prophecy. One of the proofs of God’s existence is prophecy. In Isaiah it states:

• Isaiah 46:9-10 – “Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me,10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’”

God proves He is real and true by speaking prophetically through prophets. God has used the nation of Israel to reveal Himself prophetically. The following are a few examples of God’s prophecy regarding Israel:

• God promised a Land to Israel through their patriarch Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3; 13:15; 15:7; 26:3-5; 28:13; Leviticus 25:46; Joshua 14:9). Through Abraham and his offspring we are blessed. Through Abraham we understand what saving faith is (e.g. Genesis 15:6; Romans 4).
• God brought Israel as a “chosen people” into this Land (Exodus 6:7-8; Deuteronomy 7:6; 14:2). The Promised Land is not a type of “heaven,” but a type of position in life. There are still battles to be fought and won in the Promised Land. There are no more battles in heaven. The Promised Land is a picture of life lived close to God, in His promises. The Promised Land for us individually is the Spirit Filled life of walking in the Spirit.
• God warned Israel if they practiced idolatry and immorality He would evict them from the Land (Deuteronomy 9:4; 28:63; 1 Kings 9:7; 2 Chronicles 7:19-20). Through Israel we learn the dangers of abusing free will. Israel persisted in sinning in idolatry against God. His patient grace waited and waited and waited, until tough love discipline became necessary. God indeed allowed Israel to be defeated and taken into captivity, to be overcome by their enemies and evicted from the Land. They lost everything, except God. They lost everything, as part of God’s plan, to show them their Everything, was The Holy One of Israel.
• God declared Israel would be scattered throughout the earth and they were because of their sinfulness (Deuteronomy 28:64; 1 Kings 9:7; Nehemiah 1:8; Jeremiah 9:13-16; 44:2-17; Amos 9:9; Zechariah 7:14). Sin scatters us and removes us from God and His blessings. This is vividly depicted in the LORD’s dealings with Israel.
• God warned that when Israel was scattered that they would come to be a curse and byword because of their sinfulness in forsaking God (Deuteronomy 28:37; 2 Chronicles 7:20; Jeremiah 29:18; 44:8). This has come to pass throughout history as Jews are persistently maligned and the subject of slurs, jokes and hated and persecuted perpetually. The life of the prodigal, whether individually or nationally, is a tough life bound to end up in the pigsty.
• Despite their being targeted by merciless persecution, God promised that His chosen people would not be utterly destroyed and would continue as an identifiable ethnic and national group (Jeremiah 30:11; 31:35-37). History has proven this to be true. Through Israel we learn, “For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29). God isn’t finished with Israel, and through God’s faithfulness to His everlasting covenant with Israel, we learn of His faithfulness to us as well.
• God promised to bring Israel back to the Promised Land in the Last Days and He did that on May 14^th, 1948, when Israel was reestablished as a nation (Isaiah 11:11-12; Jeremiah 30:10; 31:8-12; Ezekiel 36:8-10, 22, 24, 33-38). God is faithful to keep His covenant. God is faithful to keep His word. He has promised, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” That is true for Israel (Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:5). And that is true for us in Christ (Hebrews 13:5).
• God promised that in the Last Days, Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, would become a “cup of trembling” (KJV) and a burden to the peoples of the world (Zechariah 12:2-3, 6-8). Jerusalem and Israel a nation the size of New Jersey, are the center of the International controversy and tension proving God’s word of prophecy to be true. The climax of the LORD’s dealings with Israel is when Jesus returns at His Second Coming (Revelation 19). The climax with us is at our end and whether we have Jesus as our Savior in our heart and life (Romans 6:23; Hebrews 9:27). Whether Israel, the nations of the world, or individually, it all boils down to Jesus. “I am the way, the truth, and the life. Now one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). ^[i]

We can learn a lot about life and God through God’s revelations through Israel. Truly Israel is God’s instrument of revelation. Now that you know that what will you do with the information? Will you leave it as head knowledge that accumulates but has no significant impact on your life? Or will you take God’s revelation in Israel to heart and seek His help to apply it to your life? Indecision is decision. “He who is not with Me is against Me” (Matthew 12:30). Now that you know this, what will you do?

Should We Fear Because of What Happens to Israel?

Secular people may respond to world unrest and demonic intensions with fear. But let me tell you why the Christian should not fear.

Don’t be fearful. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). Why shouldn’t we fear? First, we know who will win this battle in the end. Jesus will reign on earth for a thousand years after He has put all His enemies under His feet (Philippians 2:5-11; Revelation 19-22). Furthermore, Jesus warned us about such things and told us they were a sign to help us be ready for the End Times. Jesus said there would be unrest in the world leading up to the End Times and that the period of Seven Year Tribulation would be a time of unprecedented upheaval on the earth. (See Revelation 6-19 for details). Jesus used the illustration of childbirth to convey the coming of the End Times (Matthew 24:8 where “sorrows” refers to birth pains). He said there would be signs that serve like birth pains. Such signs are exactly what we are seeing in our world today.

Jesus spoke of End Times signs. Jesus told us of some of these signs and elsewhere in the New Testament we are given information on such signs. Below are a few of these signs which are prominent in our world today:

1. Wars, rumors of wars and general unrest – Matthew 24:6-7
2. False religions – 21 Timothy 4:1-2
3. Persecution – Matthew 24:9
4. Lovelessness – Matthew 24:12
5. Blind religion – 2 Timothy 3:1-5

One such sign Jesus mentioned was that a time would come when people would follow their religion and think that by killing followers of God they would be serving God. Jesus said:

• John 16:1-4a – “These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. ² They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. ³ And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. ⁴ But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.

This is exactly what we see taking place in the religion of Islam. Can there be any doubt that such fervor to kill is rooted ultimately in the devil who is described as a murderer? (John 8:44).

Don’t stumble at prophecy. Jesus told His disciples about this so that they would not “stumble” when it happened. The word “stumble” is a translation of the Greek term SKANDALIDZO (Strong’s # 4624 – σκανδαλίζω skandalizō, skan-dal-id´-zo) which means, “scandalize; to entrap, i.e. trip up; stumble; or entice to sin, apostasy or displeasure; (make to) offend.” ^[1] The idea and purpose of Jesus telling His disciples about such persecution and the mindset behind it is so that His disciples would be prepared and being prepared would be able to stand firm and not waver in their walk with Jesus. It’s scary and disgusting to see how terrorists publicly behead people on television. And it is even more disconcerting to hear how such acts are done to innocent helpless victims in the name of a so-called “peaceful” religion.

Deal with your stumbling blocks. Jesus said that His disciples needed to act radically and thoroughly with anything that would cause them to stumble (Matthew 5:29-30). If fear is causing you to stumble, you need to deal with it radically and thoroughly. God’s word says His perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:17-19). We need to trust that God will give us whatever we need for whatever situation we find ourselves in at the time of the need. God’s grace is always sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). But that provision will not come ahead of time, it comes at the point of need. Therefore we need to rust God now to provide for any potential need we might eventually need. Jesus said if we were ever persecuted that we should not worry because the Holy Spirit will be there with us and will give us the words we need at the time (Matthew 10:16-39).

The Rapture – Our Blessed Hope

Our blessed hope. When Paul wrote to Pastor Titus he said the following:

• Titus 2:11–14 (NKJV) – ¹¹ For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, ¹² teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, ¹³ looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

Verse thirteen speaks of “the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” The blessed hope for the Christian is the rapture of the Church. The “glorious appearing” refers to the Second Coming of Jesus which occurs at the end of the seven-year Tribulation period in God’s prophetic plan. And Paul refers to Jesus in an undeniable assertion of His deity saying, “our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” These are fantastically hope-instilling words.

The imminent Rapture. The Rapture is an event this is imminent, or that could happen at any time. We can know the “season” in which the Rapture is likely to occur (see 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10). But we don’t know the exact day or hour because no prophetic events need to occur before the rapture happens. Jesus simply told us to “watch!” (e.g. Matthew 24:42; 25:13; Mark 13:9, 33-35, and 37; Luke 21:36). Because the Rapture could occur at any time, especially when we see the signs of th End Times occurring, we should be ever vigilant and WATCH (see also 1 Thessalonians 5:6).

In a blink we will be with Jesus. The Rapture is an event where Jesus comes to the clouds and we are “caught up” (Greek harpadzo – snatched away, taken by force) to be with Him (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). This occurs before the seven-year Tribulation period described in Revelation 6-19. This event will be sudden and instant, “in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Corinthians 15:51-54). Can’t wait!

Spared God’s wrath by the Rapture. The reason for the Rapture and why it occurs before the Tribulation is because the Tribulation is a time of God’s outpoured wrath on a Christ rejecting world (i.e. Revelation 6:16-17; 11:18; 14:8-10, 17-19; 15:1, 7; 16:1, 19:15-16). Christians are saved from God’s wrath (i.e. Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9; Revelation 3:10). Therefore, since the Tribulation is a time of God’s outpoured wrath, Christians will be removed by Jesus out of this world before God’s wrath is poured out. Being saved from God’s wrath is our blessed hope.

Jesus said the following about these signs:

• Luke 21:28 – ²⁸ Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
• Luke 21:34-36 – ³⁴ “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. ³⁵ For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

We don’t have to be bogged down and stumble at the various events occurring in these times. We can be blessed because if these things are happening, it must mean Jesus is close at hand to come and get us out of here. The more fearsome the world gets, the more blessed the hope of Jesus return for us becomes (Titus 2:13).

These Prophetic Events Should Not Surprise us – The Cup of Drunkenness, a Heavy Stone

In Zechariah 12 we see the fascinating prophetic picture of a time we are living out today! This chapter depicts events that are unfolding in our day and the prophecy given here is very true.

• Zechariah 12:1-3 – “The burden of the word of the Lord against Israel. Thus says the Lord, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him:2 “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem.3 “And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.”

The word “drunkenness” in verse two is translated from the Hebrew term RA’AL (Strong’s # 7478) which literally means, “trembling; reeling” and hence the translation in the NKJV of “drunkenness” to imply an unsteady gate and wobbliness such as one who is drunk. At a time in history God states He intends to make the Land of Judah (modern day Israel) and Jerusalem a preoccupation of the world that will cause trembling, reeling, drunken unsettledness, and staggering. This is exactly what we are seeing in the world today.

Years ago in an interview of Hal Lindsey by Dan Wooding of Assist Communications ^[2]these above verses were discussed and put into our immediate historical context. The interview proved insightful. Read the following excerpts:

Hal Lindsey said that he has said many times before, and he says it again, “The Moslems don’t care how much land they get back from Israel, or what the size of Israel is. It isn’t the size of Israel that bothers them; it is the existence of Israel that is completely unacceptable to them. The existence of Israel, in their view, is an insult to Allah. Their possession of the 3rd holiest site of Islam calls into question the very veracity of their Bible, the Quran, which promises that no infidel can defeat the warriors of Islam in
conquest to recover the Holy Places. “To them, Israel is a cancer in the very heart of the Moslem world. Their possession of Jerusalem, especially the Temple Mount, can never be accepted.”

“In the light of this deeply rooted religiously based conflict, it is easy to see how Zechariah’s prediction quoted above is being fulfilled. Jerusalem is now a heavy burden to all people. But all the nations had better be careful how they try to handle this issue, because God warns, ‘… All who attempt to lift it will be severely injured.’
“One thing is certain, though the whole world tries to destroy Israel, it will survive — God has promised.”

This interview was done in the year 2000. It remains just as relevant and true in our day.

We are living in the days of this prophecy. Even now we can see how the nations of the world are positioning themselves against Israel. Only the United States and England continue to be staunch supporters of Israel (although during the administration of Bill Clinton even this support wavered). But understand this; God is going to empower Israel to defend herself. It appears certain that no matter the hoard that comes against her, she will not fall! And a hoard will come against her. Therefore we shouldn‘t be overwhelmed with the fear that Israel is going to be wiped off the map. God is in control, and we should be blessed by that and that He is able to preserve the nation of Israel.

The hidden will be exposed. God has a way of exposing the hidden sins of individuals and of nations. To Pastor Timothy Paul was inspired to wisely say, “Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden” (1 Timothy 5:24-25). That’s a scary thought for the person indulging in secret sins. But not only is this true for people individually, it is true on a broader national basis as well. The Lord through Jeremiah spoke to national Israel and said, “Also on your skirts is found the blood of the lives of the poor innocents. I have not found it by secret search, but plainly on all these things” (Jeremiah 2:34).  A time is coming when either in this life or the next, the sins of the sinful will be exposed and addressed by Jesus our Judge. We will be held accountable for all our sins of through, word, deed. Our only hope for forgiveness is in Christ. For those who repent of their sins and confess them to God, and accept and trust Jesus as Savior, our Sin-Bearer and Substitute on the cross, God will forgive and give spiritual life. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1). Stop and thank the LORD for that possibility. I pray it is a reality for you personally.

I pray you personally know God’s forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the solution to sin and its effects. “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19). “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:4-7). It’s all there spelled out unmistakably. You read that and you have no excuse for saying, “I didn’t know.” Now you know. You know what the gospel or good news of God in Christ is. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a wonderful solution to this world’s sin problem whether it be as individuals or nations.   Now we know about what God has done in Christ and offered to each of us. Therefore, “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation” (Hebrews 2:3a). Yes, how shall we escape our sins? Not on our own, not without Jesus, not if we do nothing. Now we know. Now God knows. Now, what are we going to do about it?

^[1]Strong, J. (1997, c1996). The new Strong’s dictionary of Hebrew and Greek words (electronic ed.) (G4624). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[2]AS “JERUSALEM’S LAST CONFLICTS BEGINS” HAL LINDSEY LOOKS AT THE VIOLENCE IN THE HOLY LAND AND SAYS THAT ISRAEL WILL SURVIVE – “And it will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all peoples; all who attempt to lift it will be severely injured.” By Dan Wooding LOS ANGELES, CA (October 13, 2000)

 

[i] A good book on the role of Israel in prophecy is A Cup of Trembling by Dave Hunt, Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon, 1995.