Peace in the Middle East
I share the feelings of those who yearn for a glorious future for Jerusalem.
I've been reading some awesome statements in the Scriptures recently, about Israel.
Interestingly, the Scriptures offer an explanation for Jerusalem's troubles throughout history - and for every other nation's troubles too, for that matter.
The Scriptures promised the coming of a Saviour to Israel who would deliver her from her enemies, bring salvation, and establish His glorious Kingdom in the new Jerusalem. This is described as the great HOPE.
Looking at the Middle East today, I've researched history and politics in an attempt to propose in my mind a possible pathway towards such a peace as this.
Interestingly, the Scriptures foretold long ago precisely Jerusalem's current dilemma.
It also explained in what manner and through what means such a HOPE would come - and how one can guarantee one's place in it.
For example, the Scripture foretold:
the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem through the virgin;
His flight to Egypt and return to Nazareth;
His healing ministry;
it foretold that His ministry would be preceded by that of "a voice crying in the wilderness", a man who would come "in the spirit and power of Elijah", which was John the Baptist;
it foretold of the necessity for His substitutionary death before being resurrected and entering His glory;
it foretold that His Kingdom would not at first be a geo-political Kingdom, but that it would be a heavenly Kingdom in the hearts of men;
it foretold that many even in Israel would fail to "perceive" and "understand", but that those who did believe and receive Him would be saved;
it foretold that meanwhile, the Gentiles would also hear and believe;
it says that God would be hoping that individual Jewish people who have not believed in the Messiah will rethink their rejection of the Messiah when they observe many of the Gentiles experiencing the things that were originally promised to the Jews;
it foretold beforehand that the Temple would be destroyed and Jerusalem would be trodden under feet by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled and until the full quota of Gentiles have come into the Kingdom of God;
God wants both Jewish and Gentile individuals to comprise His "Church"
and then (if I'm reading it correctly) the end will come when every eye shall see Christ coming in His Kingdom, when there shall be a resurrection of the dead, some to damnation and some to eternal life; the New Jerusalem comes down upon a new earth and new heavens; and we who love Him shall be with God forever: this is the blessed HOPE.
So in other words, the doorway into that great hope which we all long for, is JESUS. Whilst some have rejected Him, others have received Him and will be able to enter.
In the meantime however, I greatly favour the policy of seeing all of Israel's historical territory returned to her.
My observation of the last 100-years of history is that any irresoluteness to assert those rightful borders - either by Britain, the UN, Arabs, and even by Israel itself - has done nothing to procure peace, but actually served to prolong the conflict.
Determing Israel's borders based on tradition does not disfavour the Arabs. A Palestinian State which is more than three times the size of modern-day Israel, was already created for the Arabs in 1922 - called Jordan.
I'm grateful for what Israel has contributed to the Gentiles: the Scriptures, the Saviour, and Salvation. And who knows - perhaps God is allowing the regathering and re-establishment of Israel in these last days, to give all people a final chance to receive the One whom He sent.
But even so, I don't think the full glory of the Kingdom promised to Israel can be achieved through socio-economic, political or military policy alone. Our deepest longings to live in such a Kingdom can only come one way - and the way is now open to anyone who wants it - and the way is through JESUS.
I remember the day I received Jesus. I can testify that I immediately felt forgiven, saved, cleansed, born-again, made new, and I no longer feared death, and I knew I had a welcome awaiting me into Jesus Christ's Kingdom.
This is what God wants for everyone - but these are the last days!