A day of rage?
Yesterday in the online edition of ‘Israel Today’ there was an article about the Orthodox Jews expressing outrage at conscription being mandatory for all Israelis regardless of religious affiliation. The Headline read; “Orthodox Jews Violently Protest Against Mandatory IDF Service” The article went on to say; “Orthodox Jewish sects took a page out of the Palestinian terrorism handbook by declaring a “day of rage” against the government over the issue of mandatory military service. Orthodox Jews are still not required by law to serve in the IDF, a fact that perturbs most every other Israeli Jew, who are all required to serve after turning 18 years of age. Some Orthodox Jews volunteer to serve, and elements in the government are seeking to make it mandatory for all Jews, regardless of religious affiliation. Some of these Orthodox sects refuse even to recognize the authority of the State of Israel, and therefore erupted in violent street protests across Jerusalem and neighbouring Beit Shemesh.”
Daniel had foresight into the future.
The prophet Daniel wrote…”Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many; yet they will fall by sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder for many days. “Now when they fall they will be granted a little help, and many will join with them in hypocrisy. “Some of those who have insight will fall, in order to refine, purge and make them pure until the end time; because it is still to come at the appointed time.….”(Daniel 11:33-35)
Antiochus Epiphanes
Around 160 BC Antiochus Epiphanes turned against the Jews and forbade the reading of Torah, abolished circumcision, stopped the sacrifices in the Temple, introduced cult prostitution and sought to impose Greek laws and customs on the Jewish people and even killing any who were caught with a copy of Torah. The Maccabees, a priestly family along with other patriots, resisted him bravely and many died and were betrayed by their own brethren who “joined with them in hypocrisy” Many Jewish people and patriots fell in Israel but there were those who loved God, loved the nation, loved Torah and would not accept the status quo. They had a faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The Apocryphal books of 1 and 2 Maccabees clearly reveal the faith and courage of those who trusted in God at the time Antiochus raged through Jerusalem. They called him “the mad man.” These faithful Jews had insight and wisdom from the LORD to conduct a campaign against Antiochus which they would ultimately win. Many of them in Israel fell trusting in the LORD at that time. In the end Antiochus was driven out of Israel and the Temple re-consecrated.
History will repeat itself
History will repeat itself in Israel. This time it will be the Messiah himself who will deliver Israel out of the time of Jacob’s trouble and from the hand of Antichrist who will sit in the Temple and proclaim himself to be God and demand worship as God. (Jeremiah 30:1-6) (2 Thessalonians 2:4, 8) Many in Israel will betray their brothers and sisters as they did in the time of Antiochus and it would not surprise me if there were Orthodox Jews among the betrayers. Some of these Orthodox sects in Israel today actually refuse to even recognize the authority of the State of Israel. Our Lord Jesus the Messiah came to save Israel from their sins. (Matthew 1:21) In the Time of the Big trouble unequalled in history and never to be equalled again, Israel will pass through its worst nightmare ever but a faithful believing remnant of faithful “Maccabees” all patriots, will immerge victoriously and reign with their Messiah in His Millennial Kingdom on earth and in that day the Mountain of the LORD’s House will be lifted higher than all of the other mountains (kingdoms) that have survived the judgements of God.
Salvation from our enemies
As Luke writes concerning the Messiah; “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people, And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of David His servant—As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old—Salvation from our enemies, And from the hand of all who hate us; To show mercy toward our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant, The oath which He swore to Abraham our father, To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.” (Luke 1:68-75)
In Holiness and Righteousness
Israel as a nation on the whole as yet has to be rescued out of the hand of their arch enemy Satan. The Lord Jesus the Messiah shed His blood to bring them out from their bondage to Satan and to sin and out of slavery from the Egypt of this world. God has a pre-arranged appointment for them with the Lord Jesus the Messiah. Once they have looked upon Him and His wounds received on their behalf they will weep with tears of joy and repentance for such a great deliverance. (Zechariah 12:10-13) In that day they will be saved out of the hands of their enemies and from out of the hands of all who hate them including Satan himself. In that day holiness and righteousness will fill Jerusalem and spread across the length and breadth of the Land of Israel and then go forth into the surviving nations.
The Torah will go forth from Zion
In that day it is written “For the law (Torah) will go forth from Zion And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 2:3b) In that day Yeshua will be King over the whole earth! As it is written; “And the LORD will be king over all the earth; in that day the LORD will be the only one, and His name the only one.” (Zechariah 14:9) Israel will “possess their possessions” from the Wadi of Egypt to the Euphrates River as their everlasting possession.(Genesis 15:18; 17:7-8) God always remembers His Covenants! He is a Covenant keeping God! …Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. They shall prosper that love thee!
