NOTES ON ISRAEL IN THE LAST DAYS: TOUCH NOT THE APPLE OF YAH’S EYE!

SCRIPTURE. “For thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘After glory He has sent Me against the nations which plunder you—for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye. Behold, I will wave my hand over them and they shall become plunder for their own slaves. Then you shall know (recognize, understand fully) that the Lord of hosts has sent Me.’” – ZECHARIAH 2:8-9, AMP

QUOTATION. “God’s amazing grace and mercy in Israel is magnified when we see what they deserved in His Wrath against Egypt … These Jesus-rejecting Jews ‘are beloved’ of God. Not ‘were beloved’ but ‘are beloved.’ Not past but present tense. Even though they chose not to believe the Gospel, they are still beloved of God. God still loves them. And not in the way that God loves all people, but with a special kind of love.” ― JEREMY J. LUNDMARK, The Fury of God, 2014; GERALD R. MCDERMOTT, Israel Matters: Why Christians Must Think Differently about the People and the Land, 2017; edited

They are still His chosen.

FIRST THOUGHTS

I have been waiting for the right moment to write this important and timely Commentary. With the barbaric attack upon Israeli men, women, and children by Hamas on October 7, 2023, that time has come. This promises to be a major study that will borrow from a number of historical sources including original research I conducted for the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews in 2018 entitled:

“The History of the Jews: The Story of the Revelation of God to His Chosen People.”

For now, suffice to say this: No matter what you may think about the Jews or the State of Israel, ‘they both belong to Yahweh,’ very personally, and none shall touch them with the slightest bit of impunity. His Special Wrath is reserved for Israel’s enemies, yesterday, today, and forever. And most especially in the Last Days, when He will restore Israel and Jerusalem to their rightful place alongside Yahweh’s Son, Yeshua ben David, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.

ORIGINS. So, where and when did this sacred, eternal Covenant begin? To clarify, it did not start with Israel’s Declaration of Statehood on May 12, 1948. Nor did it begin with the Giving of the Law to Moses at Sinai around 1446 BC. No beloved, we must travel back much further in the Biblical Calendar, when Ussher’s Chronology dates the Creation to about 4,000 BC.

While I am not here to debate the viability of Young Earth theology, I will say in some defense of the 17-century Irish prelate JAMES USSHER, his work was based upon the proleptic Julian Calendar and supported by such figures as Jewish Rabbi José ben Halafta, the Venerable Bede, Johannes Kepler, and Sir Isaac Newton. Modernists have questioned this timetable, but I do not. Let’s move on.

Abraham. Formerly ‘Abram,’ at about age 70 with his wife Sarah (Sarai), Abraham’s brother Nahor and his wife, as well as Lot (Haran’s son) and his wife decide to leave Ur of the Chaldees around 1890 BC (cf. Genesis 11:29-31). The family migrates northwest to a city named Haran located in a region of ancient Syria named Padanaram.

Jewish Tradition holds that Abraham received THE CALL OF YAHWEH TO THE LAND OF PROMISE around 1885 BC – some 3900 years ago. Here is the Biblical account.

“Now [in Haran] the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go for yourself [for your own advantage] away from your country, from your relatives and your father’s house, ‘to the land that I will show you.’ And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you [with abundant increase of favors] and make your name famous and distinguished, and you will be a blessing [dispensing good to others]. And I will bless those who bless you [who confer prosperity or happiness upon you] and curse him who curses or uses insolent language toward you; in you will all the families and kindred of the earth be blessed [and by you they will bless themselves].’” – GENESIS 12:1-3, AMPC

Subsequent to this inviolate Abrahamic Covenant were numerous, God-confirmed affirmations of this Promise (at least 170 times), from Genesis 12:7 through Acts 13:19, each time planting the feet of the Jews on the rich, Divinely ordained soil of Israel, with Jerusalem as its Eternal Capital (see J. NUYTEN, “Bible References to the Promised Land,” Different Spirit, ret. Nov. 13, 2023).

‘Lex res est!’ – Translation: “The matter is Settled Law!”

II. THE REST OF THE STORY

Since the Call of Abraham to take the Land of Israel for the Jews, there have been many battles from that time through today in order to Keep Covenant, if you will, between the Jews and Jehovah. This of course troubles many scholars, both Christian and Secular, who continue to question a God who would vouchsafe violence in the fulfillment of The Promise.

However, as Mr. Lundmark’s book subtitle so ably says it: “We Cannot Truly Understand God’s Love Until We Fully Understand His Fury.”

THE BATTLES FOR THE LAND. Following a review of several accounts of the many wars fought by the Jews to enforce the Divine Promise, OREN DORELL, USA Today foreign affairs correspondent did yeoman’s work in summarizing them (“Jerusalem Has History of Many Conquests, Surrenders,” Dec. 5, 2017; edited).

3,000 to 2,500 B.C. — The City on the Hills separating the fertile Mediterranean coastline of present-day Israel from the arid deserts of Arabia was first settled by Pagan tribes in what was later known as the Land of Canaan. The Bible says the last Canaanites to rule the city were the Jebusites.

1,000 B.C. — According to archaeological evidence, King David conquered the city [Jerusalem]. He was warned that “even the blind and the lame can ward you off” [in arrogant ridicule of David] the Bible says. He named his conquest The City of David and made it the Capital of his new realm.

960 B.C. — David’s son Solomon built the first Jewish Temple. The Bible says the Israelites also fought many wars against another Canaanite tribe called the Philistines who lived along the southern coastline.

721 B.C. — Assyrians conquered part of the land of Israel called Samaria, and Jewish refugees fled to Jerusalem, causing the City to expand.

701 B.C. — Assyrian ruler Sennacherib laid siege to Jerusalem.

586 B.C. — Babylonian troops occupied the city, destroying the Temple and exiling many Jews.

539 B.C. — Persian King Cyrus the Great conquered the Babylonian empire, including Jerusalem.

516 B.C. — King Cyrus allowed Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild. The Jews built the Second Temple.

445-425 B.C. — Nehemiah the Prophet rebuilt the walls of the City.

332 B.C. — Alexander the Great of Macedonia took control. After his death, his Empire was divided into four, including the Seleucid Empire that contained the land of Israel and their ancient enemies the Philistines (Palestine).

160-167 B.C. — The Jews’ Maccabean revolt, launched against the Seleucid Empire and Greek influence, eventually returned the city to Jewish control. The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah celebrates the purification of the Second Temple after the Maccabees reconquered the City.

141 B.C. — The Hasmonean Dynasty of Jewish rulers began, and the City grew.

63 B.C. — Roman General Pompey captured Jerusalem.

37 B.C. — Roman client King Herod renovated the Second Temple and added retaining walls, one of which remains today and is called the Western Wall, or the Wailing Wall by Jews.

30 A.D. — JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED BY THE ROMAN SOLDIERS. (This the very Center Pivot for all human history).

70 — During another Jewish revolt, the Romans under General Titus destroy their Temple and exile many Jews. (This was a major Turning Point in Jewish history, as they were “Dispersed” to foreign lands for the next 2,000 years, having been stripped of their identity with Jerusalem).

135 — The Romans rebuild Jerusalem as a City of their own.

335 — Roman Emperor Constantine built the Church of the Holy Sepulcher over the spot where Jesus was said to have been buried and to have risen from the dead.

614 — The Persians capture Jerusalem.

629 — Byzantine Christians recapture Jerusalem.

632 — Muhammed, the prophet of Islam, died and was said to ascend to heaven from a rock in the center of where the Jewish Temple used to be. (Another major Turning Point, as Islam would become the historic arch foe of the Jews until the very end of time).

637 — Caliph Omar entered the City to accept the surrender of its Byzantine ruler, the Patriarch Sophronius.

691 — The Muslim shrine known as Haram al Sharif, or the Dome of the Rock, was built around that spot where Mohamed was said to have risen to heaven, remains there today.

1099-1187 — Christian Crusaders occupied Jerusalem, claiming it as a major religious site.

1187 — Saladin captures Jerusalem from the Crusaders.

1229-1244 — Crusaders recapture Jerusalem twice.

1250 — Muslim rulers dismantle the walls of the city.

1517 — The Ottoman Empire captures Jerusalem and Suleiman the Magnificent rebuilds the walls from 1538 to 1541.

1917 — The British capture Jerusalem in World War I.

1948 — The State of Israel is established, dividing the City between Israel and Jordan. (Virtually all surrounding Arab states, overwhelmingly Muslim, attacked the new State, though Israel prevailed. The beginning of the Final Countdown until the Return of Jesus Christ).

1967 — Israel captures East Jerusalem and immediately annexed it, granting Arab (Palestinian) residents permanent resident status, but not citizenship. (The seizure of the Western Wall is considered the formal End of the Age of the Gentiles).

Subsequent Wars. Yom Kippur in 1973; Operation Litani, 1978; First Lebanon War, 1982-1985; Security Zone Campaign, 1985-2000; First Intifada, 1897-1993; Second Intifida, 2000-2005; Second Lebanon War, 2006; Operation Cast Lead, 2008-2009; Operation Pillar of Defense, 2012; Operation Protective Edge, 2014; Israel-Palestine Crisis, 2021; Operation Iron Swords, 2023.

No nation on the earth has ever had to fight so many wars in order to retain its very right to exist. Not one. Selah.

THE INSTRUCTION. Whether we are speaking of the Old Testament ‘Physical Wars’ to defined Jewish Israel’s Inheritance, or the ongoing ‘Spiritual Warfare’ that occurs in every true Christian’s life, there is only one option: FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT!

TO STAND WITH AND DEFEND JEWISH ISRAEL. This according to the Law, the Prophets, and the Abrahamic Covenant to this day. ‘Eretz Yisrael:’ Israel is the collective name of the Jewish people, descendants of the Tribes established by the sons of Jacob, who was also known as Israel. The term Eretz Yisrael refers to the Land of the Children of Israel in all its Biblically defined expanse (EXODUS 23:31).

TO STAND WITH AND DEFEND CHRIST AND CANON. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and ‘having done all, to stand.’” – EPHESIANS 6:10-13, NKJV

With this brief historical and doctrinal foundation reasonably established, we turn now to the Formal Teaching from the Prophet Zechariah.

III. THE TEACHING

KEY TERM: “TOUCH NOT!” ‘Naga!’ [נָגַע]: “Lay the hand upon; reach, strike; arrive, acquire violently; punish, defeat, destroy; beat or bring down; smite; inflict actual harm upon; to afflict; identifies with God’s Judgment [against the enemies of Israel]; to kill; to destroy the life of by beating or by weapons of any kind.”

COMMENTARY. “Some refer this to what went before, as a reason why the Jews should Return, for God hath commanded it. I think it is an encouragement to the Jews to Return, because God had promised to make them a glory, and now assures them that He will take a very particular care of them, therefore sends his Son, as a Judge or Vindex against the nations that had spoiled the Jews; or God sends His Son to them to inform them that it is their interest to unite with the Jews, and become the people of God, and be partakers of the glory and safety of God’s Israel; however, to let them understand that it will be dangerous to do violence to Israel, as it would be dangerous to any one to violate what is most dear to Him that can destroy the offender; to tell them ‘Israel is the apple of God’s eye.’” – MATTHEW POOLE, English Annotations on the Holy Bible, 1685 (posthumously); edited

Bear in mind that Mr. Poole was writing his Commentary in or around the late 1600s before his somewhat untimely death. In addition, I respect his courage to stand against the State Church as a ‘Non-Conformist’ who at one point was marked for assassination for his tracts (I can relate). That said, I also commend his foresight for seeing the necessity to defend Israel a full 300 years before the Jews would migrate back to their God-ordained Homeland.

His warning to avoid doing violence to Israel, or suffer possible destruction for daring to do so, is instructive.

Here we have a true man of God, steeped in the Scriptures for their wisdom rather than for self-gain. Though he held a master’s degree from Oxford, he was not a highly placed Doctor of the Church. Rather, a sterling example to us all of what it means to serve Christ and obey His Edicts concerning Israel and other unpopular issues at great risk to his life, ministry, and reputation. Though I do not know the circumstances of his relatively early death in his 50s, I would not be surprised that the stress of resistance to the day’s forces of darkness may have contributed to it.

BIBLICAL LOVE. “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life [in the sense of indifference to or relative disregard for them in comparison with his attitude toward God]—he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow after Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] cannot be My disciple.” – LUKE 14:26-27, AMP

Of this radically unworldly Love, another Nonconformist from Britain who was ejected from the Church of England via the Act of Uniformity in 1662, wrote of this passage with uncharacteristic severity.

“Though the disciples of Christ are not all crucified, yet they all bear their cross, and must bear it in the way of duty. Jesus bids them count upon it, and then consider of it. Our Saviour explains this by two similitudes: (1) The former showing that we must consider the Expenses of our Religion; (2) The latter, that we must consider the Perils of it. ‘Sit down and count the cost;’ consider it will cost the mortifying of sin, even the most beloved lusts.

The proudest and most daring sinner cannot stand against God, for who knows the power of His Anger? It is our interest to seek peace with Him, and we need not send to ask conditions of peace, they are offered to us, and are highly to our advantage. In some way a disciple of Christ will be put to the trial. May we seek to be disciples indeed, and be careful not to grow slack in our profession, or afraid of the cross; that we may be the good salt of the earth.” – MATTHEW HENRY, An Exposition of the Old and New Testaments, 6 vols., 1708-1710; edited

THE POINT. As our beloved DIETRICH BONHOEFFER wrote so eloquently to this crisis of insisting upon ‘Our Rights!’ over and above God’s Will: “‘Costly Grace’ is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will go and sell all that he has. It is the Pearl of Great Price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly Rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble; it is the Call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows Him … When God calls a man, He bids him come and die.” – The Cost of Discipleship, 1937; edited

We turn now to our Conclusions about what it shall cost us in these Last Days to follow close after the Jewish Messiah on the matter of Israel. Or as DR. RAY VANDER LAAN used to often say it to his students on his many teaching excursions to the Promised Land: ‘To stay so close to Jesus that the dust of His sandals will fall upon our tunics.’

IV. LAST THOUGHTS

‘THE JEWISH QUESTION.’ This most heinous of phrases is lifted straight of the demonic savagery of Nazi Germany. Its Origins are chillingly summarized by the EDITORS of Wikipedia (Oct. 19, 2023; edited). Though the saying was common in 20^th century Europe generally as a clearly pejorative assessment of “The Problem,” it was Hitler’s Germany that institutionalized Ethnic Cleansing as the Solution.

“THE FINAL SOLUTION (die Endlösung) or the ‘Final Solution to the Jewish Question’ (Endlösung der Judenfrage) was a Nazi plan for the genocide of individuals they defined as Jews during World War II. The ‘Final Solution to The Jewish question’ was the official code name for the murder of all Jews within reach, which was not restricted to the European continent. This policy of deliberate and systematic Genocide starting across German-occupied Europe was formulated in procedural and geopolitical terms by Nazi leadership in January 1942 at the Wannsee Conference held near Berlin, and culminated in ‘The Holocaust,’ which saw the murder of 90% of Polish Jews, and two-thirds of the Jewish population of Europe. The Final Solution did not, however, include the hundreds of thousands of Jews killed by Romanian forces. By far the greatest extermination of Jews by non-German forces, this genocide was ‘operationally separate from the Nazi Final Solution.’”

I have been writing increasingly strident essays for the past two years especially, as I have watched and first been alarmed, then grieved, and more recently frankly angered at the nearly unprecedented acceleration and proliferation of International Antisemitism, along with many acts of violence against Jews – ‘just because they are Jews!’

More terrifyingly, the American Church seems, at best, terribly confused over how to respond with many, perhaps the majority, remaining comparatively Silent. Again.

THE GAZA WAR. Israel’s severe response to the barbaric slaughter of 1,400 Israeli citizens including men, women, children, infants, and the elderly has of course poured bitter fuel on these growing Anti-Semitic hatreds. Which brings me to a closing point in the form of A Question:

Has the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) gone too far in its mission to crush Hamas? Here is a recent CNN report (Nov. 15, 2023) of why the Question beggars our agony over the Gaza War.

“Israel said its military launched a ‘targeted’ operation against Hamas early Wednesday morning inside Gaza’s largest hospital, where thousands of Palestinians are believed to be sheltering. Conditions at Al-Shifa Hospital, which has run out of fuel and is no longer considered operational, have deteriorated rapidly in recent days amid intense fighting, with doctors warning of a ‘catastrophic’ situation for patients, staff and displaced people still inside. Wednesday’s raid sparked international criticism …

Israeli Radio said in a report earlier in the day that the Army has so far found no indication of hostages inside the hospital. But in a briefing delivered almost 12 hours into the raid, a senior Israeli defense official said soldiers had uncovered weapons at the hospital, and the IDF later released a statement saying it had found an ‘operational command center’ belonging to Hamas in one of the hospital’s departments.”

This is a vital issue since for decades; it is well known to the Israelis that both Hamas and Hezbollah typically locate many of their command centers around schools, hospitals and residential neighborhoods to: (1) Deter counter attacks; and (2) Play the martyr card when unavoidable collateral civilian damage can be reported.

Including children, most especially, beloved.

AN INSIDER REPORT. The son of Hamas co-founder and warlord (Sheikh Hassan Yousef), MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF was recently quoted as saying: “Hamas murders not only Israelis, but also Palestinians whose political stance is different from that which its group promotes; that is, its radical religious outlook in which Islam is the solution to the world’s problems … Hamas, they are using civilians’ lives, they are using children, they are using the suffering of people every day to achieve their goals. And this is what I hate.” – AZ Quotes, ret, Nov. 15, 2023; edited

Given this brutal complexity with only the Biblical Promise to Israel to assess it, will the Christian Church, led by her Pastors and Leaders, mount up a unified voice of opposition to this worldwide explosion of hatred of the Jews and the State of Israel? Or will she shrink back from the battle, as frankly I expect, to refuse to Resist this historic evil? As the Church, both Protestant and Catholic did in World War II Germany.

Early evidence is not promising, beloved.

REUTERS. “In Los Angeles, a man screaming ‘Kill Jews!’ attempts to break into a family’s home. In London, girls in a playground are told they are ‘stinking Jews’ and should stay off the slide. In China, posts likening Jews to parasites, vampires or snakes proliferate on social media, attracting thousands of “likes” … ‘This is the scariest time to be Jewish since World War Two. We have had problems before, but things have never been this bad in my lifetime,’ said Anthony Adler, 62, speaking outside a synagogue where he had gone to pray in Golders Green, a London neighbourhood with a large Jewish community.” – “Open Hatred of Jews Surges Globally,” Nov. 1, 2023

CNN. “Outbursts of Antisemitism have often been harbingers of societies in deep trouble and omens that extremism and violence are imminent. So the wave of global hatred directed against Jews – intensified by Israel’s indiscriminate response in Gaza to horrific Hamas terrorist murders of Israeli civilians on October 7 – should not just be seen as a reaction to the Middle East yet again slumping into war. Recent Antisemitism is also a reflection of destructive forces tearing at American and Western European societies, where stability and Democracy are already under pressure.” – “A New Wave of Antisemitism Threatens to Rock an Already Unstable World,” Oct. 31, 2023

HAARETZ. “ The number of Antisemitic incidents in the United States has more than quadrupled since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, according to figures published Monday by the Anti-Defamation League. Between October 7 – when Hamas infiltrated Israel and killed over 1,200 Israelis in a brutal onslaught – and November 7, the ADL Center of Extremism documented 832 incidents of assault, vandalism and harassment. That averaged out at nearly 28 a day. This compares with 200 incidents during the corresponding period last year.” – “Antisemitic Incidents in US Up Over 300% Since Start of Gaza War,” Nov. 13, 2023

TO THIS POINT: ‘Will you stand, Church? And if so, how, and when?’ Because of American Evangelicals’ reluctance to resist the existential scourge of Donald Trump’s Christian Nationalism (very similar to Hitler’s National Socialism Ideology), I have little faith in the ability for the American Church to do much, if anything, to take up this historic struggle.

But for ‘The Individual,’ there is every hope that some will take their position on that Wall, as Watchmen Warriors to intercede for Israel, for all children devastated by this vicious, Hamas-initiated War. Then: ‘To speak!’

Will you choose to be one of them who will stand with the Jew, and with Jerusalem? If so, tell Him so.

YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/0Vn3orIl6n4