It is a fascinating yet agonizing task to follow the present trend of world events.
We live in an age of nationalism. I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised because Jesus Himself told us in Matthew 24: 7, “For nation shall rise against nation.” As each day passes it seems more certain that America’s next target is to be Iran. Iraq continues to boil out of control and other hot spots around the globe threaten to bring on another world conflict. A question on the minds of many is how thin can you spread your military power and yet keep enemies at bay. For example, at the present time, over 100 countries house American troops. Is it any wonder that tens of thousands of Americans fret over the nation’s ability to protect its own borders in case of provocation.
We live in an age of upheaval. Again, we shouldn’t be surprised because Jesus said we would experience earthquakes, famine, etc. as a sign of His coming and the end of the age. Who can explain the extraordinary weather conditions of the past year; the earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, floods, fires and so on? As devastating as was the Indonesian tsunami, it pales in comparison to the United Nations’ Report a month earlier that around the globe one million children die each month from hunger and treatable diseases. The tsunami was a huge media event and attracted billions of dollars, yet, we are told the media is relatively silent on the death of twelve million children annually. Go figure!
We Israelites live in an age of oppression. We shouldn’t be surprised because God told us that in the final days Israel would lose her dominion; thus the financial bondage, rapidly subdued freedoms, job outsourcing, strangers getting high above us, etc.
We live in an atmosphere of anger. We shouldn’t be surprised because Jacob told Joseph his seed would be hated. Still, it hurts to watch the hatred toward Britain and America grow, despite the many blessings offered other nations in the past, the present and promised for the future.
We live in Israel nations where the erosion of faith in God the Father and God the Son has reached such a stage that atheism, political correctness, materialism, spiritual blindness and watered down Christianity holds sway. We shouldn’t be surprised because Jesus Himself revealed the weakness of the Church of the Laodiceans and the Apostle Paul warned of the great falling away. Still, it’s sad to witness the change.
We live in an age of moral decadence. We shouldn’t be surprised because the prophet Isaiah told us the evil would be seen as good and good evil.
Finally, we live at a time where leadership from the pulpits, the legislative assemblies, the corporate community, etc. is terribly lacking in wisdom, humility and courage.
The rapidity of the change is almost frightening. Those of us who remember the forties and fifties have difficulty believing we could fall so far, and so fast, despite the modern day conveniences and technological benefits. Then too, deep down, even younger Israelites, who embrace the new reality of the modern world, sense something is amiss, because they don’t understand the unnatural stress in their daily lives.
Yet, in way we should be glad because all these things simply signal what must happen immediately before the return of our Lord. And at this precious time of the year when we commemorate His Crucifixion and Resurrection, we long for Him to come quickly. Did you ever throw stones into a lake when you were young? I did; my chums and I used to have contests to see who would get the widest ripples. I got to thinking that if the circle of life’s events have indeed reached their widest point or will do so soon, as evil makes its final plea to conquer, then a most miraculous event will take place. It will be the great unveiling of the secret of the identity of Israel. In Isaiah 25: 7, the prophet exclaimed, “And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail [veil] that is spread over all nations.” In Isaiah 61: 9, he added, “And their seed shall be known among the gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed.”
Obviously there are some tragic events which must take place before this great unveiling and the ushering in of God’s righteousness but it is during these times we must remain resolute, faithful and courageousness. Our Saviour is returning soon, of that there is little argument. We may not know the exact date but the remaining prophecies in Scripture seem to pinpoint this moment in time. I can’t help but think the correlation between 1996 (when Jacob’s Pillar Stone was removed from London, I think for safekeeping), 2003 (the beginning of the final judgment) and 2007 (the expiration of 70 weeks of the Reformation) is a vital link in God’s Great Plan.
Only time will tell! Fortunately, we Israelites have a great hope wer really are a blessed people to be alive at this great time of history.
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