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Israel’s difficult situation
“The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ” (Acts 4:26).
In view of Israel’s difficult situation with internationally recognized terrorist groups—namely, Hamas in the south and Hezbollah in the north—the above Scripture does not quite fit the situation. It speaks of “the kings of the earth.” That means the governments of the entire world. But this, incidentally, is confirmed in Psalm 2:2: “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed.” Again, we read, “the kings of the earth.”
We know that this Scripture was partially fulfilled. Acts 4:27 reads: “For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together.” We notice it includes all: the Roman rulers, the Gentile world, and lastly, Israel.
In Acts, the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ was the issue. In verse 14 of the next chapter, we see the result: “And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.”
The Heathen
When we read Psalm 2, however, it is not limited to the people mentioned in Acts 1. Verse 1 states: “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?” The ASV reads: “Why do the nations rage, And the peoples meditate a vain thing?” We note the question mark; that great “why” is applicable today to all of humanity.
Hamas
We are familiar with the horrible atrocities committed by the Hamas murderers on 7 October 2023. Any government anywhere on planet earth would do everything in their power to hunt down the murderers and bring them to justice. That is quite normal. Not so where Israel is concerned.
While the very existence of the Jewish nation is threatened, the world thinks somewhat differently.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot states: “Force alone cannot guarantee the security of Israel … Military success cannot be a substitute for a political perspective.”
China’s position relating to the Gaza war was deemed as “trying to please all sides.”
The European Union announced that “payments to Palestinians in the amount of $729 million [were] under review … causing significant confusion regarding the European response.”
The UK placed restrictions on arms deliveries to Israel, and so did France and Germany. The United States delayed certain destructive weapons from being delivered to Israel.
We may go on and on and see that indeed the world is involved; the heathen do rage, and “the people imagine a vain thing.”
One would expect that unitedly, all nations of the world would condemn the murderous Hamas terrorists indiscriminately killing Israelis, and additionally taking over 250 captives as hostages. Yet those facts are treated with reservation by most nations.
It’s not surprising that Iraq and Iran supported the attack on Israel; that also goes for several news agencies such as the Islamic Republic News Agency, Iraqi News Agency, Al Jazeera, and many others. The world’s largest Islamic nation, Indonesia, routinely pushes for support of the Palestinian issue through various efforts. Al Jazeera reports that the state of Palestine is recognized by 146 countries around the world, with Norway, Spain, and Ireland joining the list.
Antisemitism: The Real Reason
What is the purpose of the nations opposing Israel? When analyzing it from Biblical perspectives, we can state that there are two groups of nations: those that are antisemitic, and the rest that don’t really know they are.
What is their objective? “Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us” (Psalm 2:3). We must understand that God spoke through Israel, and He brought the law of limitation through this people. Even today, there is no nation on planet earth that encourages the dishonoring of parents … rewards murderers … endorses adultery … recognizes people for stealing or lying.
Yet looking at the 10th Commandment—“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s” (Exodus 20:17)—that very law is encouraged to be broken by way of commercialism. No manufacturer, regardless of what product, would advise its executive staff not to strive to become first—in other words, covetousness is deemed the path to success by the merchandisers of the world.
Again, Why Antisemitism?
Jesus answers, “Salvation is of the Jews.” That is sufficient reason for the god of this world to attempt to eliminate or suppress the existence of a Jewish State. The Jews are the undeniable proof of the truth of Scripture.
God thinks differently; He proclaims through the prophet Jeremiah: “Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth. A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth” (Jeremiah 25:30-32). This judgment is global. It will lead to the ultimate confrontation between light and darkness, truth and lie. In chapter 30, verse 7, the statement is uttered: “Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.” That is yet to come. We emphasize the last eight words, “but he shall be saved out of it.” That is Israel’s hope and future.
Midnight Call - 12/2024