Israel's Future Survival Part 2

by Joseph Hunting

Israel 's survival down the corridors of time has been the result of an ongoing contest with Satan opposing this nation's very existence. No other nation has had such close encounters with genocidal attacks upon it as has Israel. Because of this, let us focus our thoughts on the Divine intervention that has made Israel's survival possible.

Pharaoh in Egypt tried to exterminate the Hebrew race by having all the male children drowned in the Nile. It was not just coincidence that he and his mighty army were themselves drowned in the Red Sea whilst Israel emerged unscathed.

A thousand years later Haman plotted the extermination of the Jews scattered throughout the Babylonian empire. His plan failed likewise and he was hanged on the very gallows he had erected for the Jewish leader, Mordechai. Neither was this a mere coincidence.

This year the free world celebrates the fortieth anniversary of the fall of the Third Reich, and the crushing defeat of the Nazi war machine that had drenched Europe with blood. Hitler's 'final solution' for the Jewish race perpetrated the most hideous crime ever committed by one race upon another. It is too awful to contemplate the end result of his evil programme had it not been terminated in 1945.

When this demonically-inspired architect of Jew-hate died like a dog in his bunker as Berlin was in flames it was Divine judgement. How slow these anti-Semites are to learn that God means what He says to those who indulge in Jew-hate! History is littered with the ignominious graves of the Pharaohs, Hamans and Hitlers who have not heeded God's warning, "I will curse him that curses you."

ISRAEL ENTERS A NEW ERA

The past fifty years have witnessed a dramatic change in the destiny of the Jewish people. Whilst some ethnic groups have had to make giant strides to catch up with modern technology, the transformation that swept a people facing genocide has been little short of miraculous.

The wars of 1948, 56, 57, and 73 have set a pattern that is consistent with a promise God made to their ancestors 2,500 years ago: "No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper." (Isaiah 54:17). What has proved true in the past is a reliable guide for the future. This is especially true when God's Word is involved.

ARMAGEDDON

The Bible foretells two wars that are apocalyptic. Indeed they are so close that they almost appear to blend into the one great final battle of Armageddon. The first is the invasion of Israel by Russia and a confederacy of European and Arab countries. Last month we saw the awful destruction that overtakes the invaders on the mountains of Israel due to Divine intervention.

The second and last of these end-time battles will also be fought in Israel. It seems that Satan is bent on wiping out this particular nation. Pharaoh, Haman, Hitler, the combined might of Israel's Arab neighbours and Russia and her cohorts have all failed. And so will this last and worst of all assaults upon Israel!

This final battle is called ARMAGEDDON. In Hebrew it means 'mountain of destruction'. Megiddo was a pass on the western end of the Via Maris, the highway linking Egypt with the Assyrian and Babylonian empires. In the past countless battles have been fought there. Even today relics of Solomon's fortifications may be seen.

Both the Old and New Testaments prophesy the final destruction that overtakes the forces that come up against Jerusalem in the closing days of this age. Jeremiah describes it as a day of travail, fear and trembling. "Alas, for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it." (Jeremiah 30:1-7).

Daniel speaks of the time when the great end-time ruler known as the Antichrist plants his tabernacle in the glorious holy mountain (Jerusalem): "and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time your people (Israel) shall be delivered ..." (Daniel 12:1).

The New Testament graphically adds more detail. Referring to the time when the Antichrist sets up his headquarters in Jerusalem and stands in the Holy Place, Messiah warns: "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not from the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." (Matthew 24:15-22). It is interesting to note that all three speak of Israel's deliverance once again from the overwhelming odds.

REVELATION'S REVELATION

The book of Revelation gives the most graphic account of this end-time battle to end all battles. Also, Zechariah vividly describes the scenario when all nations are gathered against Jerusalem to battle. When the situation looks hopeless, "and the city shall be taken … then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle." (Zechariah 14:2-3).

Because the description of this great event is so glorious we quote it in full. It speaks of the long-awaited coming of the Messiah to save His people Israel. It brings to a glorious climax all the Messianic hopes and prayers of prophets and people for three thousand years.

"And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he does judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns, and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed in a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called THE WORD OF GOD.

"And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he has on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

"And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; that you may eat the flesh of kings, and flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.

"And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake with fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh." (Revelation 19:11-21).

ZECHARIAH'S REVELATION

And in Tenach Zechariah vividly describes events immediately associated with Armageddon. Although written two thousand five hundred years ago the prophet's description of Jerusalem's role in international politics is uncannily accurate.

"Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it ...

"For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished: and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the Lord go forth and fight against those nations as when he fought in the day of battle." (Zechariah 12:2-3; 14:2-3).

It will be in this national crisis, far greater than any faced before by Israel, that the surviving remnant in Jerusalem will cry out for Messiah. Let Zechariah again fill in the details. "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon (Heb. unto) me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn." (12:10) This recognition then becomes national as described in the following verses.

Then the apostle Paul fills in the final scene. "And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, there shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is my covenant unto them when I shall take away their sin." (Romans 11:26-27).

Someone has said that it is darkest before the dawn. This is certainly true of mankind's days on this planet immediately before the coming of the Messiah.

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