AN ANCIENT WARNING OF THE EVILS BESETTING ISRAEL IN THE LAST DAYS AND THE CONSEQUENCES THEY WILL EXPERIENCE FOR THEIR DISOBEDIENCE
The Lord has long and repeatedly revealed the events involving the people of Israel at the close of this age. Today, in one of my daily readings, I came across such a warning. It was uttered by Moses at the close of his life even as he was handing over the leadership of the nation to Joshua just prior to their crossing over the Jordan and going in to possess the ‘promised land’.
Here are his words on this matter:
“For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands,” Deuteronomy 31:29.
There was a warning regarding their behaviour after his death and also in the ‘latter days’. Sadly, Israel had a history of unfaithfulness and disobedience of the Lord no matter what mercies they enjoyed at His hands.
As Christians we must never forget that we have fared no better! That must ever be understood. We can read of the repeated rebellions of God’s ancient people and be critical of them but they were in truth no worse than believers in this age of the Gentiles. A brief consideration of the New Testament will illustrate this truth.
From the failure of the immediate disciples and apostles to remain faithful to the Lord during His earthly ministry to the various churches formed in the Gentile world we see displayed this continued failure to remain stedfast and obedient.
The book, ‘The Acts of the Apostles’, details the erring ways of the early believers as do the various epistles of the apostles, all of which were caused by error and sin entering the ranks of God’s people. The Saviour’s epistles to the seven churches of Asia at the close of the Canon of Scripture, reveals the ongoing deviation from the path of obedience that was evidenced in the first century of this age and which has marked every age since in greater or lesser measures.
“Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write . . . I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love,” Revelation 2:1-4.
“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write . . . I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth,” Revelation 2:12-16.
“And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write . . . I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works,” Revelation 2:18-23.
“And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee,” Revelation 3:1-3.
“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth,” Revelation 3:14-16.
Only the churches in Smyrna and Philadelphia are not accused of any disobedience or toleration of sin within their ranks. Of course it must be noted that the Saviour commended the other churches where He had grounds to do so but even so there were sad failures amongst these gatherings of God’s people, even though they were only ‘one generation’ old!
Ought not we in the Free Presbyterian Church here in Ulster to take this to heart and examine ourselves most carefully for the Word of God would teach us that NO second generation of believers were ever free from a departure from the truth of God that their fathers had, by the reviving grace of God, been enabled to embrace afresh, repenting of previous backsliding and disobedience of God’s law.
A headline in this morning’s press underscored Moses word for me.
The looming war so gruesome it would make Gaza look like child’s play: MARK DUBOWITZ’s (journalist) grave warning about the imminent clash that might even wake Sleepy Joe Biden
Part of that report states:
‘For seven months, Hezbollah terrorists have been raining thousands of rockets and missiles on communities in northern Israel forcing some 60,000 residents to evacuate.
Meanwhile, new reports suggest Tehran’s mullahs are shipping more weapons directly into Lebanon on flights from Iran to fuel their terror proxy.
Hezbollah is now equipped with thousands of high-tech drones and mortars, and an arsenal of more than 200,000 additional rockets and missiles.
That’s ten times the munitions that Hezbollah had during its last major war with Israel in 2006.
The Shia Muslim extremists also have an army of at least 20,000 men, though some experts say the true figure could be five times when reservists are included.
In contrast, Hamas was thought to have fewer than 25,000 fighters at the start of its war with Israel.’
Since 1948, when the state of Israel was reinstated after its destruction in AD 70 by the Romans, there has been a simmering and mounting hatred of Israel amongst her neighbours. That has been manifested by various outbreaks of war and an ongoing terrorist war against her. The flood of bitter hostility has been filling up and it clearly is close to overflowing. The training and arming of tens of thousands of militant Muslims will not go on forever but the time will come, and that surely in the not too distant future, when all this arming and training will be put into effect and Israel will subjected to a most ferocious and concerted attack.
The above article also highlights that there are those in the ranks of Israel’s chief ally, the United States of America, who are already distancing themselves from her and indicating that they will not come to her defence in the face of such a disastrous attack.
Partly to blame for this is Israel’s actions in the present conflict involving the Muslin terrorist group linked to Gaza, Palestinian terrorists, Hamas.
It would appear that though Israel has the right to defend itself against these merciless and evil terrorists, there are those amongst Israel’s staunchest supporters who believe that the soldiers of Israel, supported by some of her politicians, have resorted to horrifying acts of vengeance and retribution.
Few would deny that the people of Israel have suffered much provocation at the hands of their Muslim neighbours but the Lord of old laid down their rules of war and how Israel was to act in such circumstances. Yes, she is allowed to defend herself but the Lord has said: “For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord,” Hebrews 10:30.
The Psalmist gives us the actions that a persecuted and afflicted people should take.
“O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself. Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud. LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves? They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage. They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless. Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise? He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see? He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know? The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity,” Psalm 94:1-11.
Of course such a spirit of believing that the Lord is their defence and hope has not been amongst the Jewish people except for a small remnant of elect believers, since the days the nation rejected their Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Of that event Peter said following the wonderful healing by the Lord Jesus of the lame man at the gates of the temple in Jerusalem at Peter’s hands and just after the day of Pentecost and the outpouring of the Holy Ghost upon the waiting disciples:
“And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord,” Acts 3:12-19.
This was the nation’s crime and it led to their being set aside by the Lord and His turning to the Gentile nations in this age. Since that setting aside, Israel, bereft of that wonderful protection and favour, have suffered at the hands of the Gentiles, an example of which in modern times was Hitler’s campaign of genocide in the period of the second world war.
What Moses spoke of will mark the very close of this age and involves the embracing of the Antichrist by those dwelling in Israel. He is in power in Jerusalem during the days of the ‘great tribulation’ and the witness of the two last witnesses. I give at length what is written concerning this time in the Book of the Revelation.
“And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever,” Revelation 11:3-15.
The closing sentence of this quotation tells us just how close are the events in Jerusalem involving the two witnesses are to the return of Christ in power and glory.
Dear Christian, it is not wrong to see something of the approach of that time when Israel, in desperation, turns to and embraces the false hope of help from the Antichrist which will mark the closing days of this age. Of this alliance between Israel and the Antichrist, Daniel wrote under the inspiration of God:
“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week (seven years): and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate,” Daniel 9:27.
The Saviour warned of this event and indicated that it would mark the beginning of the ‘great tribulation’.
“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains . . . “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened,” Matthew 24:15-16, 21-22.
This period is set forth in the verses in Revelation 11 that we have already quoted. And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth,” verse 3. A thousand two hundred and threescore days is exactly three and a half years – the middle of the seven year period of Antichrist’s covenant with Israel.
The ‘ally’ that Israel will come to trust in will betray them and along with the tens kingdoms subservient to him, will become the devil’s instrument to destroy the ancient people of God. However, their only true ‘Ally’ will come to their aid at that time!
“Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives,”Zechariah 14:1-4.
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh,” Revelation 19:11-21.
Thus the sad and distressing indications of terrible times ahead for Israel also signal that their ultimate deliverance is also drawing near.
The glorious triumph of the latter helps to comfort the heartbreak of the believer as they see the approach of the former!
Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)
26th June 2024