The Importance of Israel

Much is happening in the Middle East! The troublesome news remind us that we are living in the 'last' of the last days, those last days. Through the prophet Zechariah (12:1-3) God declared that in the last days preceding the Second Coming of Christ, Jerusalem, and certainly all of Israel would be a stumbling stone among the nations. Another prophecy found in Zechariah 12:6-9 describes tiny Israel as being so powerful militarily that she will defeat the surrounding nations that would attack her. This we have seen numerous times since Israel became a nation in 1948.

Israel's history is undeniably the fulfillment of prophecy, exactly as foretold in the Bible. Yet to be fulfilled in the future is the prophecy declaring that Israel will be deceived into making a false peace covenant that will set her up for an attack by all the nations of the world at Armageddon under the leadership of the Antichrist. Most world leaders will accept a false peace treaty, described in Daniel 9:27, This false messiah will be so politically influential and powerful, so militarily strong that he will guarantee this peace agreement. Then, after a few years, he will break that treaty himself, and Israel's "peaceful" neighbors will turn and make war against the Jewish people. That will be Satan's last attempt to destroy the Jews-God's people. History shows that the Jewish people have come under attack from many nations of the world, but God has preserved His people even during those troublesome times. Current events are moving us along to the One World Government, a government in which the Antichrist will control all banking and commerce with his identifying number, (Revelation 13:16-18) a remarkable prophecy which modern day computer technology will provide.

There are thousands of verses in the Bible dealing with Israel. Prophecies pertaining to Israel are a major part of the Scriptures, yet nothing about the great events foretold in the Bible concerning Israel are found in the writings of any of the world religions. Nor do they contain any prophecies concerning the coming of Israel's Messiah; His birth, the place of His birth, His rejection, the very day of His ride into Jerusalem on a donkey, His crucifixion, His rise from the dead three days later. Only the Bible contains these prophecies many written hundreds of years before their fulfillment. Prophecy proves the existence of the true God and that the Bible is His Word. The fulfillment of numerous prophecies in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus cannot be explained by coincidence and proves that Jesus is, indeed, the only Savior of mankind, exactly as He claimed to be. It is difficult to explain how a person can be an atheist or agnostic with such irrefutable proof. But, as Peter points out in 2 Peter 3:5; "For they are willingly ignorant of the Word of God. Sadly, the world is spiritually blinded by unbelief. But true believers trust the Word of God-it is their supreme authority for life and godliness I willingly accept the Bible's claims and its promises... and yes, it's prophecies! 

Jesus is coming soon, are you ready?