(Friday Church News Notes, October 13, 2023, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) – Israel’s war with Hamas is front page news throughout the world. Apart from the Bible, it makes no sense that one of the tiniest nations would constantly be an international headliner. A wise man was once challenged to give evidence in one word that the Bible is divinely inspired, and he replied, “Israel.” God created Israel and put her in the midst of the nations to be a light to a dark world. It was an act of God’s love and unmerited favor. “Thus saith the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her” (Ezekiel 5:5). Through Israel, God gave the world the holy Scriptures and Christ the Saviour, gifts of infinite value. Israel is God’s nation even in her rebellion to God, which is her present condition. The past 2,000 years of Israel’s history was prophesied in detail in Deuteronomy 28 more than 3,400 years ago, before the 12 tribes even entered the Promised Land. Deuteronomy 30 and many other Scriptures prophesy Israel’s spiritual conversion, which has not yet occurred. Israel will not have peace until she receives the Prince of Peace as her Messiah. We don’t know how this present war will turn out, but we know from Bible prophecy, which has never been wrong, that Israel’s greatest trouble lies ahead. In her zeal for peace, Israel will receive a false messiah, the anti-christ, the man of sin, the son of perdition, who will come upon the scene in desperate times as an awe-inspiring figure, a magnificent peace-monger, a world-class problem solver. He will make it possible for the third temple to be built as we read in Revelation 11, but he will show his true character when he sets himself up in that very temple as God. “… and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). Regardless of Israel’s apostasy, Israel is still Israel, and God’s promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel) is still true. “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee” (Genesis 12:3). When God says something, the wise heed His words, knowing that God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts. We bless Israel, because God has instructed us to do so. Woe be unto those who curse her. – David Cloud
THINK ABOUT IT!
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
Humble, Tx
