Pastor’s Corner – November 2023
Recently, I have been doing some sermons about God’s Chosen people-the Jews. And we are also finishing a study on Daniel in Bible Study-preceded by a study on Revelation. All of this seems to be tying together along with current events.
As I write, it appears Israel is about to enter Gaza with its army ground troops after bombing for several days. We have heard from Hezbollah and Iran as well this would mean their entry into the conflict-and who knows who else.
What does the Bible have to say? I can’t put everything into this short message, but we know Israel is indeed God’s chosen people. And we have seen God protect Israel, even when it was attacked by overwhelming odds by Muslim-Arab countries in 1948; 1967: 1973; and several since. Iran’s proxies in Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as the Houthis in Yemen, are all attacking Israel as well as American bases and ships.
Today, we can see a clear alliance of America’s enemies-Russia; Iran; and now it seems our NATO partner Turkey wants to join them after saying the Hamas attack was not terrorists, but “freedom fighters”.
The Palestinians think they own the land and that Israel has been occupying it since 1967. Facts are Israel won the 1967 war and won Gaza; the West Bank; Jerusalem; the Golan Heights; Sinai; and the Temple Mount-which was given back immediately by Moshe Dayan-on his own. (Jews are still mad about that today)
God in His Abrahamic Covenant gave the land-almost 10 times more than Israel has ever actually had-to Abraham. He repeated this pledge to Isaac and then Jacob as well.
When you read the koran-the book of Islam-it tells of killing unbelievers of islam if they don’t convert. It is not a book of peace. They are not a people of peace. In 1947-before Israel existed-after WW II, The Muslims and Jews were each offered part of what was called then Palestine (a name given by a Roman general to get back the Jews through their enemy, the Philistines). The offer was the Muslims would get 77% of the land-and the Jews 23%. The Jews were glad about this. They had not had their own country in many years. But the Muslims were furious. In their koran, it says no one can own land Muslims once held. They wanted the Jews to have NO land at all. They do not recognize Israel’s right to exist. They want no peace. They want Jews dead. Hitler was nothing compared to them! When Bill Clinton tried peace with Camp David II, Yassar Arafat walked out. Twice the Palestinians could have had their own land. And what about their Muslim neighbors?
There will be NO peace in the Middle East until Jesus comes back-but only war. I will be preaching about the war of Ezekiel 38 and 39 this Sunday. You can watch it on our church website if interested. Things are lining up. The Ezekiel War. The 3rd temple. The antichrist. The Rapture. The Tribulation.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Pray for the peace of Israel. Pray our Lord does call us to be with Him soon.