When we talk about Israel, we’re not referring to the Church, we’re talking about “a people in the Middle East who are natural descendants of Jacob.” Israel, as defined in 2 Kings 17:34, is not a reference to the body of Christ but to a specific nation, the natural descendants of a man named Jacob.
- 2 Kings 17:34 (KJV) “Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the LORD, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel.”
The existence of Israel as a nation is paramount to the fulfillment of all the literal prophecies in the Holy Scriptures. Some say “the Church is the Israel of God” and that the modern-day Israel in the Middle East is just a “political tool.” If such claims are to be considered true, biblical prophecies regarding the fate of an ancient nation called Israel would become void and null. However, Apostle Paul made it clear in 1 Corinthians 10:32 that Israel must not be confused with or mistaken for the church. Both are different “entities” or “groups” alongside the Gentiles.
•1 Corinthians 10:32 (KJV) Give none offence, neither to the JEWS, nor to the GENTILES, nor to the CHURCH OF GOD.”
Once again, three entities are recognized and paramount to biblical prophecies interpretations:
I) The Jews (The Nation Israel)
II) The Gentiles (The Heathens/ the Unbelievers all over the world including the Arabs).
III) The Church of God (the Body of Christ, comprising both saved Jews and saved Gentiles).
Until the birth of the church at Pentecost, it was just the Jews and the Gentiles.
The blessedness of the Nation Israel or the hands of God on this people is obvious in both historical and contemporary times. For instance, the first person to discover digitalin, used in treating… was an Israelite. The first person to come up with insulin that is now being used in treating diabetes was an Israeli. The first person to come up with the idea of cocaine as a treatment for…was an Israelite. In 2020, during the lockdown, as we observed, the first COVID-19 vaccine ever was discovered in Israel. And now today, this country that is smaller in size than the Oyo State is now one of the top 9 most powerful countries in the world.
Scripture informs us that in the last days, nations shall be gathered against Israel. In Ezekiel 38 and 39, we read that some nations led by Russia would lead a war against Israel.
Ezekiel 38:2 (KJV) “Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the CHIEF prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him.”
Kindly note that “Meshech” is regarded as Moscow (the capital of Russia). The Hebrew word for “Chief” is Rosh. Some theories say that it is a proper noun, a reference to a country, and shouldn’t have been an adjective as translated by the KJV. Thus Rosh would mean Russia, provided that the Hebrew language does not have vowels (Russ).
Moving to the next verses, look at the countries mentioned:
Ezekiel 38:4-6 (KJV) “And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:
Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:
Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.”
And when you look at those countries in Ezekiel 38, they are all Islamic countries. Persia is the modern-day Iran, Ethiopia is the modern-day Cush, Libya is still the Libya in North Africa, and Gomer is the modern-day Turkey.
These are Islamic countries. Densely populated by Muslims. These are countries that are hostile to both Israel and the U.S.
Look at what’s happening in the middle-east right now. It involves Persia (Iran) against Israel. Israel is fighting Iran because Iran aims in its nuclear program in the future to eliminate the whole Israel, and meanwhile, Cuba in the course of this ongoing war struck and killed four U.S citizens, injuring several others, and perhaps, prompted Donald Trump to say Cuba is the next in line after Iran.
Russia is now sharing intelligence with Iran to capture American forces, facilities, and bases in the Middle East.
THE PLACE OF THE U.S IN BIBLICAL PROPHECIES
The U.S is never mentioned in the Bible, but the fact that it is the closest ally of Israel highlights that it is significant to certain Biblical prophecies.
The Prophet Isaiah prophesied that three nations in the future shall be the closest allies of Israel and of the Lord, one of which, is Assyria.
Isaiah 19:24-25 (KJV) “In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land:
Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.”
Functionally, the United States is the modern-day Assyria, and the Bible may be referring to the United States.
The ongoing war would result in a temporary victory of Israel-US over Iran, but Israel shall not be free from these Islamic enemies yet. Zechariah 14 says that “ALL NATIONS” shall be gathered in battle against Israel and sadly, Israel shall be conquered, but fortunately and immediately, the LORD as in the time of old shall arise and fight for Israel, and with his supernatural weapon that shall split the mount Olives into two. It shall not be the day, nor will it be night. This will then usher us into the millennium dispensation- Zechariah 14:9. But, it gives us the sad idea that the friendship between the U.S and Israel may not be eternal.
WHY THE INTEREST?
Even though this is not an appropriate discourse in my academic discipline, interest in a stuffs like this helps me regarding Biblical prophecies or eschatology just as it helps the diplomats in their peacekeeping field and the political scientists in understanding international politics.
You may want to watch the video of my explanation.
