Letter: Suddenly All Nations Hate Israel
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A lot of people have been talking about how the Bible’s predictions regarding the end times appear to be coming true today. For example, around 625 B.C. Zephaniah prophesied that Nebuchadnezzar would capture Judah and take the people to Babylon. He wrote, “Seek the Lord, all you humble of the earth who have carried out His ordinances; seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger.” (Zephaniah 2:3)
Zephaniah continued, “For Gaza will be abandoned, and Ashkelon a desolation; Ashdod will be driven out at noon, and Ekron will be uprooted. Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast, the nation of the Cherethites! The word of the Lord is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines; and I will destroy you, so that there will be no inhabitant.” You may recognize these cities from recent news reports out of Israel. “Philistines” are the biblical ancestors of the Palestinians.
It’s common for Bible prophesies to pertain to two separate events coming centuries apart. Some scholars believe Zephaniah’s prophesy may also refer to events today.
Speaking of prophesies, around 100 years after Zephaniah’s prophesy, Zechariah prophesied, “Behold, a day is coming for the Lord when the spoil taken from you (Judah) will be divided among you. For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city will be captured; the houses plundered; the women ravished; and half of the city exiled; but the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city.” (Zechariah 14:2)
Notice in Zechariah’s prophesy that God said, “I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle….” Some scholars believe this will be one of the last battles at the end of the tribulation before Jesus returns to reign on earth. Nevertheless, this prophecy has not been fulfilled yet. The rest of the prophecy in chapter 14 paints a much brighter future for Israel and the world after Jesus returns.
Today’s map of Israel shows a small nation surrounded by enemy states, many of which have declared their goal of wiping Israel off the map and killing all Jews. This is not the first time enemies of Israel have threatened genocide. Nevertheless, this time nations around the world appear to be united in denouncing Israel for “genocide” against the Palestinians.
How many times have surrounding nations begun conflicts and wars against Israel since May 14, 1948? The last “big” war against Israel was the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah War. Hezbollah attacked Israel July 12, 2006. That “war” ended August 14, 2006, when the UN brokered a ceasefire.
The Israel-Palestine conflict has flared up many times since 1948. Essentially Israel and her neighbors have irreconcilable differences. Hamas, the civil and military authority ruling Gaza, instigated this latest war on October 7 when soldiers broke through barriers and fences into Israel in a surprise attack on civilians. Palestinian citizens did not attack Israel, and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu did not blame them. He blamed primarily Hamas and other terrorist organizations and nations like Iran for the attack.
Israel has been a prime ally of the United States who has supported Israel with financial and military aid since 1948. Today’s war is different in that widespread protests in the U.S. and around the world against Israel have generated unprecedented antisemitism.
Daniel L. Gardner is a columnist who lives in Starkville, MS. You may contact him at PJandMe2@gmail.com
