Middle-east post 10

Israel, of course, when facing total destruction from their enemies (as listed in Ezekiel 38), would quickly agree to a mutual defence treaty if it were seen as absolutely the only option that might save their nation from annihilation. After all, Israel’s current reliance upon US to assist them is not from a religious point of view, but from a desperate need for survival. Israel is a tiny country compared with most of its neighbours, with more limited resources than most, too. Their population is quite mixed, from Druze, Bedouin (an Arab population around 21%), with only 78% identifying as Jews, many of whom do not actively believe Judaism. In all there are less than 10 million citizens of Israel. And yet, with comparatively huge populations in other middle-east countries, Israel still manages to have a higher life-style than most others. Their defence forces are more effective than in any of the surrounding countries, and it is believed that they have sufficient nuclear warheads to destroy most of the lands around them.

However, in spite of this, huge enemy numbers will one day overwhelm them, in an invasion prophesied in Ezekiel 38. Joel may have referred to this when he wrote “Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.” (Joel 3:9-10) Note that this is a call to those non-Jewish nations who might be too scared to commit themselves to battle against a foe who might cause immense injury to them. But they will one day think that they have the huge numbers necessary to overwhelm Israel and they (the weak ones) will consider themselves strong enough to oppose Israel. “Let those weak ones declare that because of their huge superiority of numbers they are able to defeat the small nation of Israel!” Like all bullies, they are only willing to take on a much smaller country when they have hugely superior numbers.

This invasion will be only the start of what would have to be called World War 3 (and the war to end all wars!). Once the antichrist signs that mutual defence treaty with Israel, the final 7 years to Armageddon begins the count-down. The invasion will be short-lived, for Ezekiel goes on (Ch.38 and into Ch.39) to declare that God will wreak vengeance upon these invading armies and utterly destroy them, using the antichrist and his forces to set up that final seven-year period of Israel before their Messiah returns. As part of his treaty with Israel, it seems that antichrist will rebuild their temple for their sacrifices according to the Law; this also has to assume that the temple mount will be cleared of other buildings in preparation for the new temple. If other buildings such as the mosque and its compound are in the way, then they will be destroyed, probably in the fighting leading up to or during or following the invasion of Israel. Israel will have initially made a pact with satan’s antichrist in order to survive; pure necessity will drive this decision. But prophecy is clear: God will be in charge of all events and nothing will occur without God’s approval. Even when things look darkest in coming years, God will never have left His sovereign throne; He will always rule. Every shocking event will lead to God’s final absolute victory at Armageddon.