by Alan Langstaff

This week, I want to look briefly at two issues, rather than just one. Both of them have been in the headlines here in America at this time.

PART 1 – I AM FOR ISRAEL

Right now, there is a conflict between Israel and Iran, and people have taken various positions on this, as the question arises as to whether America should get involved or not. The goal of Israel’s attack on Iran is to remove the threat of Atomic warfare, consequently America bombed Iran this week.

I am not going to try to analyze these issues, but rather I would simply declare, “I am for Israel.”

The reason is simple. I believe it is consistent with biblical teaching. Let me refer to three key passages.

1) GENESIS 12

This is all about the call of God that came to Abraham, and it contains a call, a promise, and the consequences of that call. Let’s see Genesis 12:1 –

“Get out of your country, From your family

And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
I will make you a great nation; I will bless you
And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;

And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

My primary reason for supporting Israel is that I believe God called Israel and had a divine purpose for that nation. The line of Israel today goes back 20 centuries to the time of Christ and beyond that back through Old Testament time to Abraham.

Now, many people believe that it all changed when the Jews did not receive their Messiah. They rejected Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God. Consequently, it is argued that the church took over the role that Israel was originally called to fulfill.

So following the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in A.D. 70 under the Roman General Titus, the Jews have been dispersed all over the world. For 20 centuries, that seemed to be the case. The promises of God are now seen for the church and no longer for Israel. 

We come to the second scripture.

2) LUKE 21 verse 24

This passage relates to Luke’s record of Jesus teaching about the destruction of Jerusalem (which happened in A.D. 70). In the midst of this section, Jesus declares:

“And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”

So, for 20 centuries, Israel had no homeland, then this all changed. In 1947, the United Nations voted for the creation of a Jewish state, and in May 1948, there was the Israeli declaration of independence. President Harry Truman was the first world leader to officially recognize Israel.

The establishment of the nation of Israel in 1948 is miraculous, unique in all of history, that a nation, without a homeland for 20 centuries, should return to their land again and speak the biblical Hebrew language.

So why do I say “I am for Israel?” Because I believe it is consistent with what the Bible teaches and what Jesus prophesied about the future. 

3) ROMANS 9, 10, & 11

When I come across a Christian Believer who believes the church has taken over the promises first given to Israel. I simply ask, “Have you read what Paul had to say in Romans 9, 10, and 11?” I remember such a person saying to me, “I wish those chapters weren’t in the Bible.” But they are, and we can’t ignore them.

There in Romans, Paul likens us all to a tree. Israel has been broken off from that tree, and the church has been grafted in. But Israel is now grafted in again, for we all belong to that one tree – Jesus. God still has a purpose for Israel, and that is why I am for Israel. 

Now, as I said before, I am not getting into all the issues but simply affirming that Israel is part of God’s plan for these end times and I am for Israel.

PART 2: A POLITICIAN IS MURDERED

Right here in Minnesota, Melissa Hortman – Speaker of the Minnesota House -and her husband were murdered in what has been described as a politically violent act. Following the biggest manhunt ever in Minnesota, a suspect was captured and he is being prosecuted for murder.

Now that suspected man has been described as an “evangelical Christian.” He was reported to have been in Africa in a Food Distribution Ministry, and he was also reported as preaching while he was there.

I was asked a question: why was it that, if he was supposedly a Christian, why didn’t Christians discern that he was not all that he was supposed to be? 

My answer was, if you were one of the Disciples who walked together with Jesus, who went out on missionary trips, and sat at the last supper, you and the other disciples did not discern that he was about to betray Jesus. They didn’t know and even asked, “Is it me?” Jesus knew, but they didn’t.

Deception can be just that, and very much more; it can be very deep deception. Sadly, no one discerned it, and consequently, lives were lost.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

This is a time to pray, for we are in perilous times. Pray for Israel. The bible tells us specifically to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Pray for the families and friends who are in grief and for politicians who are in fear.

Pray for President Trump, who has survived two assassination attempts. That he will be protected and that he will make wise decisions.