(Written in response to a strong Christian supporter of Israel.)
As I’ve been reading the book by Dalton Thomas, The Controversy of Zion and the Time of Jacob’s Trouble, I have said to myself that sometimes the wording could have been put otherwise, but that, of course, depends on whether Dalton Thomas would agree with my sensitivity on the very matters that concern us both.
I know that Art Katz, whom Dalton refers to much in his book, believed that another exile is coming for the Jewish people in Israel. My main problem with that is I don’t believe it! I do believe, however, that the Antichrist is going to chase many of the Jewish people out, but not into all the far-flung nations like New Zealand, nor for some indefinite period, but for the ‘relatively brief’ time indicated, up to maybe 3 1/2 years. (Meanwhile, there are some Israeli Jews, including believers, who are already leaving to some far-flung places because of the difficulties of living here.)
I also think that this is in line with what is written in Amos about our being brought back to the land, never to be uprooted again. The whole scenario of Jacob’s Trouble is one of final wars with no one really in control or possession. Thank God that all these things are under Yeshua’s sovereign authority and control, which He has told us in advance.
I have said many times that what is happening today is not the fulfillment of prophecy, but the fulfilling of prophecy. For instance, even though we see glimpses of the coming glory of the Negev desert, to be blooming and blossoming as a rose, to be like the Garden of Eden, it is clear that that is not what we have today, but it awaits the return of the Lord Jesus, and all creation will be released from the futility it is presently subjected to. Nor was the capture of Jerusalem in 1967 the end of the times of the Gentiles, for it is clear that the ‘holy city’ is still being trampled down by them, and Israel is not the ‘head’ nation but still a ‘tail’.
Israel is a sign, like Noah’s ark, of coming judgment, and God is using it over a length of time to bring all people to choose and decide if this ‘sign’ is of God or only of man before He ‘shuts the door’ and rains down His righteous judgments on all who will not heed His preachers of [His] righteousness. Even if only of man, Israel is being judged perversely compared to other unrighteous countries; but then, Israel has always wanted to be like the Gentiles, and is suffering the consequences of also being judged and condemned and abandoned by them. Only Yeshua will and is able to save the full remnant of all Israel through His refining fire.
Israel is still stubbornly and proudly unrepentant regarding the truth of Messiah being Jesus, and therefore is going to be brought to the point of death (like Isaac) to call on the name of YHVH or of Jesus/Yeshua Himself for salvation. In her acceptance then, it will be as life from the dead, as Paul writes in Romans 11. The nations are showing themselves coming against Israel and Jerusalem in the face of economic, political, and religious terror, and are going to also be judged severely by God when He pours out His wrath on His enemies and the enemies of His people (Jews and Christians). Just as this world is not going to come under the Kingdom of God and His righteousness apart from the physical return of the Lord to establish it, so, too, is Israel (like unredeemed Jacob) not going to become the Israel of God except she repents and returns back to Him whom we have rejected ever since we wanted a king like the Gentiles have; and even then, we were already ungodly and unfaithful to Him and His covenant.
I agree with what Dalton writes that many Christians who love Israel support her for present geopolitical reasons, or thinking that if they bless Israel God is obligated to bless them in return. Many American Christian supporters still think that the U.S. is the leading nation, not Israel, in God’s plan. Many give huge donations to Israeli Jewish organizations, but not to the Messianic believers and congregations. God’s plan for Israel is to be His holy nation and people, and for Him (in the person of Jesus) to be their God and King. This is not democracy, but His Kingdom, which is not of this world. Other [sheep] nations will only enter into their inheritance when the first-born receives his inheritance at the return of Messiah.
So, I agree that the language can be put in such a way as to dismiss the present situation as only carnal and political, and not of God at all. I hear this from Palestinian Christian believers, and I am dumb-founded how they can think that way given all the Scriptures saying otherwise. But they know that by accepting Israel today as being part of God’s working out His redemption and restoring His Kingdom over Israel and all the nations, they put themselves at great risk. The rulers and principalities of this world have been put on notice ever since the birth of Christ that their days are numbered (Hag 2:20-22; Lk 1:51-52; Rev 12). The reasoning that denies the present return of the children of Israel/Jewish people back to this very land now is of God is similar to the non-Zionist religious Jews who also delegitimize the State of Israel because, to them, the Messiah has not yet come. But He has come! And He is keeping His promises confirmed to the fathers, by grace reigning through GOD’s righteousness. (Rom 15:8-9; 5:21; Ezek 36) The war going on in the heavenlies and on the Earth are truly both carnal and spiritual, and political and religious. It has to do with who the true God is, the way of worship He requires, and the rightful King and Priest to sit on the throne of David in Jerusalem and over all Israel and the entire world. (These three elements, by the way, were what Hanukkah signifies, and is, for me, another circumstantial bit of evidence regarding the time of Messiah Yeshua’s birth. This ‘holy war’ is still being waged till He comes again in great power and glory.)
From what I get out of Dalton’s reason for writing his book, it is to get Christians to take seriously the great troubles that are coming — not only to Israel, but also to the saints and to the whole world — and that believers would stand for and with Israel through those times. With this, I completely agree, even if I may not agree with his understanding on every particular point. Israelis and Jews everywhere still need to hear the gospel, repent and believe it, and be saved from the wrath to come. This is also true for non-Jews. (Acts 2:37-41; 1 Thes 1:9b-10) We are saved from God’s wrath, but not exempt from man’s or Satan’s. Maybe books like his will at least bring these important and critical subjects to light for serious consideration and discussion among believers, so that we all are built up in our faith and hope and love in God, who has saved us because He loves us. Amazing!