A Heart Toward israel

While I have already posted this on the blog, I felt it necessary to elaborate a little more regarding the future of Israel.  I also feel that “A Heart Toward Israel” is more appropriate.  

At this writing there is war between Israel and Lebanon.  It may be resolved by the time you read this, but it may not.  At any rate, let’s look at what the church’s  attitude should be toward Israel.  Let’s look at the Bible to get God’s insight on this.  First, we have God speaking to Abraham saying in Genesis 12:3, “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”  Abraham’s son was Isaac and Ishmael as well as others.  Isaac was the father of Esau and Jacob and Jacob was the father of  twelve sons who made up the twelve tribes of Israel.  Through the Jews came the Messiah from the tribe of Judah and our Bible was brought to us by the Jews.  

David said in Psalm 122:6, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.”  He urged those to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and all of Israel so shouldn’t we do so today?  While we can’t condone all they have done these past years since they have again become a nation, we must admit that they are a marvel as a people.  What nation can be split apart, driven from their homeland on two occasions, be a desolate land for years, then come back as a powerful nation as we see today.  They suffered two centuries of war from the crusades, and are suffering war and being threatened with losing land even now. What nation commands the world’s attention like Israel whose land mass is less than most of our states?  Jerusalem itself is said to have only a little over 700,000 people.  Doesn’t that make one wonder why the world keeps its attention on such a tiny country and why so many nations would like to see this tiny country pushed into the sea?  

Israel will have its place in the future as Christ will reign from there during the millennial reign.  Before that, however, the world and especially the anti-Christ must be judged.  The anti-Christ will set himself up as God in the temple that will soon be built in Jerusalem.  “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;   Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4  It has been said that the materials and pieces of the temple are already in place, waiting to be put together. Judgment of the armies of the world will take place not far from Jerusalem as told in Joel 3:12-14.  “Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.  Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

Finally, Christ will reign from Jerusalem where the new temple will be located.  The central world government will be there and all the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord.  See Isaiah 11:1-9, Rev 20-4-6 and Ezekiel chapters 40-48.  Scripture after scripture indicates that God has his eye on Israel whose heritage began with God’s special blessing and promise. As Christians, we should pray and have a warm spot for Israel in our hearts.  The city and country of Israel were important to God and us in the past, they are now, and will be in the future.  Again quoting a verse already mentioned, Psalm 122:6, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.”