This is another account of why the very age that we live in is extremely unique in the history of God's plan. Most of my generation has grown up hearing about Israel very much at a regular basis but if you study history just a little bit back, Israel came into the picture only about 60 years ago. Before then, for almost 2000 years, there was no "Israel" in the sense of the place because after the Romans destroyed the Temple of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., the people of Israel were displaced and since then, the land of Israel had been fought over by Christians and Muslims.
(On a side note, Pastor Mark Driscoll many times talked about how the Messianic texts of the Old Testament speak of the Messiah coming to the Temple of Jerusalem and sharing with Jews that one reason Jesus is the Messiah is because there is no longer the Temple for a messiah to go to any more.)
Even if you do not have any Biblical reference to the significance of Israel to God, most Christians understand that Israel is God's chosen people. This isn't favoritism, it is probably the greatest blessing beside being saved by grace. Apostle Paul even talks about the blessings of Israel and the thankfulness we Gentiles have to God in Romans 11.
Read for yourself: http://bible.us/Rom11.ESV
Anyway, if any of this interests you, a good book to read is "God's Tsunami: Understanding Israel and End-Time Prophecy" by Peter Tsukahira.
Purchase the Book Here.
Or if books aren't your style, check out what he had to say at The Vine Christian Fellowship in Hong Kong.
Listen Here.
So that is the larger picture of the significance of Israel and if you follow the trends of the Church, you will also know that the largest mass of Christians in the world live in East Asia, not in America or Europe. God is definitely raising up the East Asian countries as a Banner of Christ for the Body of Christ to taste and see God's glory and arise to the move of God. The awakening of souls in Asia is unprecedented! The reason for its significance is actually the vision of the Chinese Church to go "back to Jerusalem" as most of the unreached people groups border China and its neighbors.
A good book to read specifically on the vision of the Chinese church is "Back to Jerusalem: Three Chinese House Church Leaders Share Their Vision to Complete the Great Commission" by Brother Yun, Peter Xu Yongze, Enoch Wang with Paul Hattaway.
Purchase the Book Here.
If books aren't your cup of tea, check out this sermon by Jaeson Ma at The Vine Christian Fellowship in Hong Kong. Its a great introduction to what God is doing in Asia.
Listen Here.
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Anyway, the reason all of this is coming to mind is because of the unrest in the Middle East. If you've been following the news in any extent, you'd know that there are political revolutions happening in the Middle East. A good interview article on this is "The Arab World's 'Unprecedented' Protests" by the Council on Foreign Relation's Robert Danin. Read it Here.
But more than that, I think Christians must all ponder on what all of this means in God's perspective. Recently, my friend Jimmy shared a journal entry with me on this very topic and in re-posting this here, I pray that you may also be challenged and be drawn to Christ.
Start Quote:
"Middle-East Uprisings & The Earth’s Cry for Righteous Governance"
If you have been watching the news, you are well aware of the situation in the Middle East. Tunisia had their government ousted, Lebanon also had their government dismantled after Hezbollah officials stepped down, Egypt is in mayhem as protesters took to streets, and Jordan and Yemen all are following the same chants of protests against their governments. The Arab nations of the Mid-East are crying out for change! But how are we to respond to all this? How do we understand what is happening in light of the Scriptures?
What should our response be regarding wicked, corrupt governments that oppress people and cause harm? What does the scripture call us to do as followers of Jesus?
Our response is to suffer for doing good (thereby, being His children) and become witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection and soon coming Kingdom. We are to humbly submit to wicked governments as much as is possible in the Lord and to be peaceful people leaving vengeance to God (Rom.12:19). We pray that wicked men would be saved on the day of the Lord’s appearing where we will be exalted to rule with Jesus on the earth (Daniel 7:18).
Our hope, as the people of God, is not in any democratic government run by sinful men, but in the Kingdom of God that will be established at the return of Jesus! This is the gospel. His literal reign over the nations of the earth from Jerusalem is the only thing that will bring true peace to the earth. This has been the hope of the prophets, apostles, and all the saints. Is it yours? Democracy is not our hope and Kingdom! We must understand that all human governments are indeed wicked.
Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore, whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. (Rom. 13:1-3)
It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes Kings and establishes kings... (Daniel 2:21a)
He it is who reduces rulers to nothing, who makes the judges of the earth meaningless (Isaiah 40:23)
Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Messiah (Psalm 2:1-2)
So, what is happening in the Middle East? What is God doing at this time? How does this affect me and my family?
There is a cry growing on the earth for a ruler and government that will bring peace and prosperity to all. Who is going to solve the Mid-East problems? Who is going to end all the suffering, oppression, and wars? Who is going to solve the religious conflicts of our day? These are cries that are arising on the earth in the midst of chaos and wars. There is going to be much suffering ahead of us that will reach global proportions and a global cry will arise for “peace and safety.” False justice movements are arising on the earth that have little to do with Jesus and His coming Kingdom and even the Church joins in because it has little clarity about what the gospel really is. Is the gospel merely a code of ethics and morality?
The earth will cry for peace and they will not look to Jesus and His righteous Kingdom. Rather, they will look to humanism and human ingenuity and strength. They will ask for a “Saul” King, just as Israel had. They will look to an Antichrist who will seemingly solve these problems for the earth.
If your heart is not set on pilgrimage for Jesus’ return and not willing to suffer with Him, you will be swept away by what the Antichrist will offer. The pressures and the stakes will be too high. If your hope is in this age, rather than the age to come, you will not be prepared to resist. Every foundation will be tested and shaken so that those things that cannot be shaken will remain (Heb. 12:26- 29). Take heart that Jesus, who’s eyes are like a flame of fire, is motivated by jealous love. It is even He who is fashioning this context to test the hearts and minds. Do you love this man? Are you willing to follow Him at any cost?
He is jealous and He is coming! Come, Lord Jesus!
End Quote.
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