The Mid-East Cauldron

With the recent “coup”(?) of President Morsi in Egypt, the continuing battle in Syria and the unrelenting struggle against Israel, the mid-East simply won’t settle down.  Can it be current unrest is a demonstration of spiritual unrest in the heavenlies?   That would be because history as we know it got its start in this region and as we understand it will conclude there. The conclusion of history I speak of is fairly narrow, namely “gentile” (non-Jew) domination of Jerusalem.  Jesus spoke of this as one of the signs of His return when He said, “Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” (Luke 21:24).  However, principalities and powers have a vested interest in the continuing order of things; remember the "Prince of Persia", Daniel's nemesis?--But God!

Of course, trying to make Biblical narrative fit current events is like trying to find one’s way through a mine field.  But generally it’s profitable to keep in mind a biblical road map as we try to make sense of what’s going on and where we are as we come the closer to the end of this phase of history.

Be sure, the “gentile” domination of history is rapidly winding down.  On this point the biblical perspective is so simple, so eloquent and yet so broadly comprehensive, “Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” (Luke 21:24).  All other interpretations of history are simply dismissed.  

Someone has said, “History is His-story or God’s story”.  God’s story is one of “redemption”, winning back “lost” mankind to Himself.  His initial instrument to do this was Israel, and more specifically “the Jews”.  Through the Jews came the “Redeemer” of all mankind, even Jesus the Christ.  The Jewish leadership in place during the time of the ministry of Jesus, rejected Jesus’ redemptive work.  By default, the Gentiles embraced Him and for 2,000 years have been the primary instrument of redemption through the Church.

 But God’s plan calls for Him to “graft” back in Jews to His central and eternal purposes.  In his book, “A Rabbi Looks at the Last Days”, Rabbi Jonathan Bernis tells of how Jews, world-wide, are embracing Jesus as their Messiah in unprecedented numbers.

The primary beneficiary of this move of the Jews embracing Jesus as Messiah will be the church.  God’s movement upon “natural” Israel is always followed by His movement upon “spiritual” Israel, releasing gifts, graces, and anointings that will enable the church to do its end-time work, bringing multitudes of unbelieving persons to Jesus the Messiah.

Still, the majority of Jews, particularly in Israel, hold off embracing Jesus as Messiah.  Then comes the day, with the bulk of the Jews gathered from diaspora to Israel, when seemingly the whole world is arrayed against Israel; facing utter destruction, with nowhere to turn, as a nation they cry out, “Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord” (Matthew 23:39b)!  For 2,000 years the Lord has been awaiting this cry. 

This cry will trigger a series of events.  The trump of God shall sound.  A mighty flash of lightning will light the sky from east to west, enabling every eye to see the Lord of Glory returning as He first calls forth the righteous dead in resurrection with those presently alive and obedient being “transformed”, all happening within the blink of an eye.

The Jews will look upon Him whom they have pierced and weep inconsolably, “And so all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26).  There’s more, so much more, but here’s a broad outline of things to come.  Meanwhile, the boiling Mid-East Cauldron causes us to focus attention on things to come.

Have you embraced Jesus as Messiah?