Israel, an Ensign (sign) to the Natons

Israel, an ensign or sign to the nations—can such a thing be?  Jehovah God says through His prophet Zechariah 12:2 & 3:  “I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling.  Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem.  On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all nations.   All who try to move it will injure themselves.  On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem.”

How close we are to the realization of such events is a matter of some conjecture.  Israel must doubtless suffer many things before the full realization of this promise, but that it should be a promise from God on Israel’s behalf is what’s noteworthy.

Progressively the nations of the earth will come against Israel—first in the battle of “Gog and Magog” with Russia leading the alliance and then finally all the nations of the earth will be assembled against Israel in the Valley of Megiddo.   This will be a battle to end all battles, in fact, for 1,000 years there will not be another battle.

Meanwhile, Jerusalem (Israel) sits there like a rock as does the Lord of the ages in terms of His relationship with the nations of the earth—He will not be moved.  Whatever attempts may be made to write Him out of all aspects of a nations’ life will come to naught, witness the futile efforts of the former Soviet Union to this end, with the consequent result that the offending nation is frequently destroyed.

But Russia has not learned its lesson.  Putin thinks he can restore the “glories” (?) of ancient Russia by leading an alliance against Israel in the Battle of “Gog and Magog”.  The consequence of that battle should about put an end to all hopes of Russia’s again becoming an international power, if not destroy her altogether.

The Real Issue.  Attempts to get at Israel, and ultimately to destroy her, is an unarticulated attempt to destroy God Himself.  When Messiah (Jesus the Christ) came nearly 2,000 years ago, He came to Israel.  The next time He comes will be for Israel.  The eternal enemy of Israel and the Church well knows this and all he need do is destroy Israel to frustrate the purposes of God.  Unwittingly, the nations of the earth become party to this process, but God will not have it.  His displeasure will be manifest against the nations in One Day—there will be no mercy.  Thus, to go against Israel is, ultimately, to go against God Himself.

This is not to say that all Israel does is right—hardly.  But it is to say that her destiny is inextricably woven into the purposes of God as attested repeatedly in the Bible.  So, ought we to pray for the peace of Jerusalem in order that God’s ultimate purposes prevail.