We need only to listen to today's newscasts to know that Israel is in trouble, deep trouble. She has many enemies, and has become the "burdensome stone" and the "cup of trembling" to all nations as the prophets said she would (Zech.12:2-3).
But Jesus Christ brought good news of a happy ending for Israel. In Revelation 21 we read how He will return to govern the world, with headquarters in Jerusalem. You see, Israel belongs to God and her people are His beloved chosen race (Jer.31:1-3). The Bible never ceases to affirm this fact.
"If God loves Israel, why does she continue to suffer"? you may ask. The Bible also answers this question. As as loving parent disciplines his child, so God also disciplines those He loves (Heb.12:6). After Israel's leaders cried to the Roman governor to crucify Jesus (Mark 15:13) and the people said "Let His blood be on us and on our children" (Matt.27:25), history tells us they were forced to flee to other nations of the world. Today, they are returning in great numbers to their own country as predicted by the prophets, but the Bible tells us their troubles are not over (See Jer.30:10-11).
As the cry of "peace, peace" resounds throughout the world for the tiny land of Israel, we heed the scriptural warning that such a cry precedes a time of terrible trouble (I Thess.5:3). A false messiah will precede the return of the true Messiah, a leader of world renown who will sign a seven-year covenant of peace between Israel and her enemies, but the peace will be short-lived (Dan.9:27). But we also read that before this false messiah is made known, those of all nations who have been looking for the return of Jesus Christ will escape this time of trouble (Luke 21:36 & I Thess.5:9).
Although the Jews always believed what the Old Testament prophets predicted, they did not understand that the prophecies about their Messiah had intertwined His first coming and His second coming, often within a single verse. For example Isaiah foretold God's Son would be born, the government would be upon His shoulders, and He would be called the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace (Isa.9:6). Isaiah himself obviously did not understand that his prophecy covered both advents of Jesus Christ!
Israel, according to scriptures, is in for a continuing bad time. The good news is that after Israel's troubles have ended and she recognizes that Jesus Christ is her Messiah, a new and perfect world order will be established, with the government upon His shoulders, as Isaiah foretold.
Jesus Christ is Israel's coming King who will return to rule the world from Jerusalem (Rev.21:1-4). Let us tell our Jewish friends the good news, and encourage them to accept Him as their own personal Messiah. He loves them dearly and does not want them to suffer any more!
© 1999, Doreen Palmer