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Israel in Bible Prophecy

The Enemies of Israel-Part 2

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Also, the Glory of Israel will not lie nor change His mind; for He is not a man, that He would change His mind.” 1 Samuel 15:29

The Seeds of War, Hatred, and Covetousness

The object of most wars is land on earth, aka “land grab,” It is a desire to have something in someone else’s possession and take it by force (covetousness). But the fuel that most often drives it is selfishness and hatred. Enemies are created this way, wars erupt, and the death of the adversary is the goal.

But, the unexplainable beginning of covetousness begetting war started with the enemy of all mankind.

The Enemy of All Mankind

“You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity (immoral, wickedness) was found in you.” Ezekiel 28:15

“But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north.” Isaiah 14:13 NASB

The mystery of iniquity bore a desire to take God’s throne, which created hatred. This iniquity led to the first war.  It was fought in heaven:

And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So, the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Revelation 12: 7-9 (NKJV)

Satan lost the war and was cast to this earth with one-third of the angels, but the hatred for God continued.  Anything belonging to God, particularly His people, became the object of Satan’s great wrath.  He knows his end.  He is like a roaring lion looking to mar the image of God in mankind.  Deception and lies are His most effective weapons to set his base scheme in motion.  John, in the book of Revelation, describes him as the one who deceives the whole world (Revelation. 12:9)

He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature because he is a liar and the father of lies.  John 8:44

This we will keep in mind as we move forward.

In the Beginning, Satan Gains A Victory on Earth

He used his weapon of deception and a lie that seemed to offer an improvement for Adam and Eve in an already blessed life.  The father of lies was able to plant a seed of mistrust for God by creating doubt and covetousness in God’s simple statement.  He told a lie followed by a truth.  This unholy mixture would become his most effective weapon.

Doubt by using a question: “Has God really said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” Genesis 3: 1b (NASB)

The woman met this doubt with the exact words of God.

“From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’”

Genesis 3:2-3 (NASB)

It was a simple restriction of God, preparing the first couple for the verbal attack of a serpent.  Satan contradicted God,

The Lie:  “You certainly will not die!

The Truth: For God knows that on the day you eat from it, your eyes will be opened, and you will become like God, knowing good and evil.”

Genesis 3:4-5

God declares a condition: obey and live.  God would repeat this simple rule of life many times to the people of Israel and to all who claimed to be His followers (Deuteronomy 4: 1; 20:30; Jeremiah 38: 20). Break the condition, and death would follow. Satan says, no, you won’t.  God is keeping something back from you…. something better than your current environment. So, covetousness, believing a lie, and disobedience brought sin upon all mankind.  It will be this same deadly trio of sins that will bring an end to planet Earth as we know it. 

Indeed, the first couple began to experience a knowledge of both good and evil (Genesis 3:22).  A line that has been blurred in today’s society.  Evil is called good, and good is called evil (Isaiah 5:20). 

God Had A Plan Ahead of Time

God, in His grace and mercy, had a plan “from the foundation of the world.” (Ephesians 1:4). God could not change his words to fit the situation.  Death came upon them.  They would eventually die. 

The seed of doubt, covetousness, and disobedience had been planted and nurtured through the enemy of mankind to the whole world, resulting in an entire world of wars and rumors of wars.  Satan wanted to control God’s creation and to take it from the one who cast him to the earth.

But God initiated his plan of grace, mercy, and forgiveness on the very day mankind fell into sin.   First, He clothed Adam and Eve by slaying an innocent animal and making garments from its skin and fur (Genesis 3:21).  A simple metaphor for the plan of salvation is the slaying of a blameless animal to provide a covering for the shame and nakedness of the sinful couple. Then, God pronounced a curse upon the earth.  This curse would provide a safeguard against utter destruction and give daily purpose. 

Next, He tells them of the war that would begin and last to the end, with God being victorious over all the lies and evil.

And I will make enemies.

Of you (Satan) and the woman(Her offspring)

And of your offspring (Satan’s followers) and her Descendant (A Promised Redeemer-Messiah);

He (Descendant) shall bruise you (Satan) on the head (Deadly wound),

And you (Satan) shall bruise Him (Descendant) on the heel.” (Injury only) Genesis 3:15

In this first prophecy, the couple began looking for this “Descendant” who would engage the Serpent and restore the broken relationship between God and mankind. 

Through the offspring of the woman, a Messiah would come who would deliver a deadly wound to the head of the enemy after receiving a recoverable injury to the Descendant’s heal.  Israel is still looking for this Messiah.

The First of Many Conflicts For Mankind

The first war or enemy was between two brothers, Cain and Abel.  A Godless world sought their own desires and became so wicked that even their thoughts were wicked all the time.

Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of mankind was great on the earth and that every intent of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. Genesis 6:5

Only Noah and his family were loyal to God and escaped the destruction of the earth by water.

After the flood, and from a surviving son (Shem), God would raise up a people of promise through faithful Abram.  Abram (Abraham), enemies would begin to rise up, spurred on by covetousness, lies, and disobedience to the one true God.

Next time, we will explore the birth of the nation of Israel and her first enemy.  Many more would follow, often the result of Israel’s own failure to believe and trust their Creator.  But God’s mercy and patience would find a way…

Israel in Bible Prophecy

ENEMIES OF ISRAEL-PART 1

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Introduction

The latest attack on Israel and the explosion of hatred by their nearest enemies, a terrorist Islamic group known as Hamas, suddenly and without warning attacked and slaughtered innocent children, women, and men of all ages, supposedly in the name of Allah. Many would agree their so-called god is a tyrant of the worst kind, likely used as an excuse by abject evil men to set a fire of hatred, murder, injury, rape, and mayhem on innocent Jewish people of all ages. Now, the fire of destruction is raining down on their heads while innocent Palestinian citizens are used as human shields and suffer because of the extreme Islamic terrorists’ evil agenda.

The nations of the earth hold their breath as Iran (suspected sponsor and overseer of the attack), other Muslim nations, China, and Russia look on with vested interest. United States naval ships are positioned to protect Israel and keep others out of the fight.

Confusing to many Americans (religious or not) is the Antisemitic protests endorsing the attack on Israel.  They have received significant news coverage across America! They are extreme left factions who have wormed their way into high government positions and have refused to comment on the atrocities, thereby endorsing the attack. A few have endorsed the campaign of hatred.  Hopefully, their political careers will be destroyed.   How shameful to endorse such hatred and brutality in a country built on acceptance of all races and cultures.

The latest atrocities are so horrendous that it is hard to describe, but I must mention the heartless beheading of babies who will never experience a life of sounds, tastes, sights, or feelings of love and warmth on this Earth. 

The surviving families’ lives were forever crippled on the morning of the Shabbat, October 7, 2023, while celebrating Shemini Atzeret, a time of re-reading the Torah and renewal of their relationship with God—a period of rededication disfigured by evil godless men.

It has led many to question why God allowed this, but it is nothing new for Israel; Eighty-two years ago, the Nazi regime, under the direction of a madman named Hitler, tried to extinguish the Jewish people and any nation that would get in his way. Millions were taken from their homes and left to die in Nazi camps or sent to the gas chambers.

Those who harbor such antisemitic feelings go back well before the holocaust of World War II.

The Meaning of Anti-Semitism

“The term anti-Semitism was coined in 1879 by the German agitator Wilhelm Marr to designate the anti-Jewish campaigns underway in central Europe at that time. Nazi anti-Semitism, which culminated in the Holocaust, had a racist dimension in that it targeted Jews because of their supposed biological characteristics—even those who had themselves converted to other religions or whose parents were converts.”-Brittanica Encyclopedia.

At the core of anti-Semitism is a hatred that predates Moses. 

A Hated Ethnicity

No ethnicity and culture of human beings are hated more than the Jewish people. Their ancient lineage has felt little peace compared to the thousands of years of captivity and atrocious persecution.  Why are they so hated?  Their enemies could verbalize many reasons, but what are these excuses based on?

 The purpose of this series is to look back at ancient records in scripture known today as the Tanak, also identified as the Old Testament by Christians, to figure out the “Why?” question and how it affects us today.  These 40 writers recorded the history of their patriarch Abraham and the conflict between his original three sons (Ishmael, Isaac, and Esau).

But the seed for hatred began long before the promises of God to Abraham.  Here, we will find hatred taking root and growing in the Middle East. Genesis to Malichi is primarily the story of Israel, but it affects us all, especially Christians.

The followers of Christ see themselves as an extension or grafted-in-vine, sharing the wisdom of God, His love, His mercy, and hopefully His guidance in maneuvering through a sin-filled planet.

Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 1 Corinthians 10:11

And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, Romans 11:17

A Tie Between Christianity and Israel

Jews and Christians worship the same God, Jehovah, and read from the Tanak (Old Testament).  The split comes over Jesus’s Messiahship and divinity as a Godhead constituent.

There is a connection between Christianity and Israel theologically and in the sharing of massive persecutions from the past.  The Christians’ persecution started in the 1st century and ran through the Dark Ages before becoming watered down, requiring a Reformation.   But Israel has experienced persecution from the time of Abraham.  The umbilical cord from ancient Israel leaves the born-again Christian with deep empathy for the Jewish people.  These ties will be explored as we review the long history of the people of God.

It appears that the pinnacle of prophecy will come as a joining of literal Israel and Spiritual Israel to become victors over the greatest of all enemies, Satan himself…The father of death and lies.

Prophecies of Persecution

Prophecies of persecution and wars that are now history provide the platform for forecasts yet to be filled as written in the Torah and from Jesus Christ and His Apostles in the New Testament.  Learning from the past gives us a better vision for the future.   

The future for Israel is prophesied in the Tanak and the New Testament, but with varying interpretations. Nevertheless, the prophecies, both good and bad, came with conditions.  This truth is the foundation for accurate interpretation and good exergies.   An example of a condition is found in the book of 2 Chronicles.  Both Jews and Christians acknowledge this promise.

“if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

The passage begins with the word “if,” putting it in a conditional state.  The “if” requires humbleness, prayer, searching, and turning away from wickedness to reap the promise. Will the promise be fulfilled if the conditions are not met? Of course not. However, as we will see, there are unconditional promises as well, e.g., the promise to never destroy the earth by flood again.

In the coming weeks, we will explore what God said about Jerusalem and the people of Israel. Questions raised by Paul about spiritual Israel and literal Israel will be reviewed.

For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God. Romans 2: 28-29

What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God (Scriptures). Romans 3: 1-2

I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.  Romans 11:1

If you want to get a jump on this series, request a free book called The Fall and Rise of Jerusalem. Leave a comment, and I will get in touch with you about how to get the book to you.