Beyond The Basics

Sometimes I think I should just stay off the internet.

Ever watch the show How I Met Your Mother? I remember an episode from that show called “Nothing Good Happens After 2 A.M.” The whole episode was about how Ted learned from his mother that nothing good happens after 2 a.m., and as an adult he had to learn that lesson the hard way. He should have just gone home and gone to bed but instead his girlfriend called him while he was at another woman’s house and that woman picked up the phone.

Just go home and go to bed after 2 a.m., Ted.

Sometimes I feel the same way about the internet. Nothing good happens there. It’s a dirty rotting cesspool of narcissism where everyone thinks their opinion is the most important thing anyone can say and if you disagree you’re clearly the most racist and bigoted almost-a-human around and you should do the world a favor and strangle yourself.

Says the online blogger and podcaster.

Now, to be clear, I feel this way quite often for various reasons. But this week the particular reason I am frustrated with the internet is because I had no idea there are so many Christians out there that believe the Church has replaced Israel as God’s chosen people until now. In one day, Israel is invaded by terrorists and over a thousand people are brutally murdered, tortured and kidnapped, and what is a large portion of the Church’s response? “Just more proof that they have been rejected by God!”

I’ll be honest right now. I don’t even know what to say about this. I know replacement theology is a thing but it’s surprising to me that it would be so prevalent in the Church when it’s so clear in the Scriptures that Israel will one day be placed back at the head of all nations once again to bless the whole earth.

It shouldn’t be surprising to me. The Bible is clear that antisemitism will increase greatly in the days before Jesus returns:

Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus (Revelation 12:17).

Without getting too much into the details from Revelation 12, the dragon represents Satan and the woman represents Israel. This verse takes place in a time after Satan has been thrown down to earth and pursues Israel in an increased way. We know this is yet future because the text describes Israel as being protected in the wilderness from Satan’s persecution for three and a half years. Then, Satan will begin persecuting the rest of Israel and the Church around the world.

Why did you choose the most confusing and obscure verse to try to prove your point?

Honestly? I don’t even know. How do I even know where to start? There are so many scriptures throughout the Bible that talk about Israel in the last days that it’s impossible to start picking one or two. That’s a rabbit hole that I just don’t have time to go down right now.

In fact, I’ve gone back and forth over the last few days about what to do with this post. I’ve considered laying out a biblical case why Israel is still God’s chosen people. I’ve considered writing a defense of Israel’s foreign policy in highly violent and hostile context. I nearly wrote a brief summary of the biblical prophecy regarding Israel’s future before Jesus returns.

None of those posts would do this situation justice.

The events in Israel right now are so volatile in regards to the rest of the world that I just can’t sum up all my thoughts or all the words of the biblical authors that could potentially provide us wisdom here. Because let’s be honest, the world is heading towards World War III at some point. The Bible is clear about that. Maybe this is the catalyst; maybe it’s just another event that reminds us that life can be completely disrupted at any point and we need to remain in Jesus daily because we have no idea what the future holds. Either way, we need to understand what the Spirit is saying to the Church in these days. So here are some thoughts about what the Lord may be trying to communicate:

1. I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that earlier this year, over 5 million Christians around the world fasted and prayed for Israel for 21 days. Never in history has the Church come together in such a way to pray for the salvation of Israel. Now, just a few months later, there is a significant multi-pronged attack on Israel that could lead to world war. Clearly, God coordinated a preemptive strike through prayer on the enemies of Israel this year and now the nations are raging (Psalm 2:1).
2. We should not be afraid of the wars increasing in the nations in the days before Jesus returns. We must not be disheartened or react in fear because we worship the Fear of Israel. Jesus told us these things would happen ahead of time (Matthew 24:6).
3. In the same verse, Jesus told us that when we hear of wars and rumors of wars, the end is not yet. Beloved, despite what you are reading on the internet, we are NOT in the end times yet. There are very significant events that must happen before we enter the final seven years before Jesus returns and those things have not happened yet. Do not be afraid! Jesus told us these things would happen before the end comes.
4. While this war in Israel is not an indication that we are in the final seven years, it is an event that can help point us to what God will do in those days. It should cause us to seek the Lord in prayer and seek the Scriptures for what it says about what God will do in the coming days. We should ask the Lord for wisdom, mercy, and revelation.
5. Most of all: we must pray. Pray for the preservation and protection of life in all fronts of these wars: in Israel, in Gaza, in Ukraine, in Sudan, in Yemen, in Armenia. Pray for the salvation of Israel. Pray for the ending of persecution of the Church and of the Jewish people. Pray that these conflicts would be used to display God’s glory in the earth so that all people, regardless of ethnicity or location, would come into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Pray that all these wars would be deescalated and that God would show His mercy.

I’m reminded of the words of the psalmist that have been repeated so many times throughout Israel’s history and are surely now being repeated once again:

O God, do not keep silence;
    do not hold your peace or be still, O God!
For behold, your enemies make an uproar;
    those who hate you have raised their heads.
They lay crafty plans against your people;
    they consult together against your treasured ones.
They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation;
    let the name of Israel be remembered no more!”
(Psalm 83:1-4)

God, do not keep silent in these days. Remember Your people Israel and protect them from the raging nations that are rising up against them to wipe them out. Let the whole earth see Your glory when You rescue Your people with your mighty right hand!