Is Israel’s current situation with Palestine a sign of the 2nd Coming of Christ?
I will quote a passage of Scripture and then explain why I believe Israel’s current war with Hamas in the Gaza strip could indeed be a sign of the 2nd Coming of Christ.
“Then He spoke to them a parable: “Look at the FIG TREE, and ALL THE TREES. When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is near. So, you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near” (Luke 21:29-31)
This parable was spoken by Jesus to His disciples who had asked Him, “What will be the SIGN OF YOUR COMING, and of the end of the age” (Matthew 24:3)? He went on to list many signs but the chief sign of His coming and the end of age would be ISRAEL, which is represented in this parable by the FIG TREE (see Jeremiah chapter 24; 29:16-17 and Hosea 9:10). He also mentioned “all the TREES” which represent “the NATIONS surrounding Israel.” This would include all the “Arab nations” (Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt) and the Palestinian people living in the Gaza strip and the West Bank. When Israel became a nation in 1948 their “leaves began to bud” and their Arab neighboring states also “began budding” by uniting against Israel. Since 1948 Israel has fought EIGHT recognized wars against these Arab states and the Palestinians. Their enemies also include Iraq and other Arab nations (Yemen, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates) along with Iran (which is a Muslim nation, but not an Arab nation).
What we see in the current war is unparalleled, for there has never been such a vicious attack against Israel since the Holocaust, nor has there ever been such a rise of “antisemitism” throughout the world. People in cities around the globe are calling for the destruction of Israel “from the river to the sea.” This, I believe, could easily lead to what we shall see in several passages of Scripture, culminating in the Second Coming of Christ when He returns to “save Israel” and to “establish His Millennial kingdom on the earth.” We will now list what the prophetic future looks like in regard to Israel and the Second Coming of Christ.
1) A PEACE TREATY…In Daniel 9:27a we read, “Then he shall confirm a COVENANT with many for one week.” The world is now calling for a CEASE-FIRE in the Gaza conflict but what is really needed is region-wide PEACE or the conflict will most definitely widen beyond the Gaza and Lebanon. In Daniel’s great “Prophecy of 70 weeks” in verses 24-27, a “week” refers to a “week of years” and in this verse he speaks of the “last week” beginning with a COVENANT being made. The “he” spoken of here is the “Roman Prince” (the Head of the Revived Roman Empire). The “many” will be the “apostate Jews” in the land. The “covenant” will be a “guarantee of protection (by the Roman Prince to the Jews) from their enemies.” Because of this covenant, there will be peace in the region, but it will be short-lived.
2) The PEACE TREATY is BROKEN…We read of this in the rest of Daniel 9:27, “But in the middle of the week he shall put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolates” (NASB). The Roman Prince shall break his covenant with Israel which in turn breaks the peace between Israel and her Arab neighbors. We read of this also in 1st Thessalonians 5:1-3, “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For when they say, ‘PEACE and SAFETY!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman.”
3) The GREAT TRIBULATION…The last half of the seven years is known as “The GREAT TRIBULATION” which is mentioned by Daniel in Daniel 12:1 and the Lord Jesus in Matthew 24:15-22. An IMAGE of the Roman Prince will be set up in the newly built temple in Jerusalem with Israel worshipping it (see Revelation 13:11-17) and this ABOMINATION will be so abhorrent to the Lord that He will pour out judgments upon Israel by allowing their Arab neighbors to invade them and ravage the land (see Daniel 8:23-24; 11:40-41 and Joel 2:1-11).
4) The BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON…This is spoken of in Revelation 16:14 & 16, “For they are spirits of demons…which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the BATTLE OF THE GREAT DAY of God Almighty…and they gathered them together to THE PLACE CALLED IN HEBREW, ARMAGEDDON.” What begins as a “regional war” will turn to a “world war” where the armies from the WEST will meet with armies of the EAST (verse 12) in the “valley of Megiddo” (in the Jezreel Valley in northern Israel).
5) The SECOND COMING OF CHRIST…Before the armies of the world destroy Israel and themselves Christ shall return to “save Israel” (see Romans 11:25-27) and to destroy all of their enemies. I would have you read Revelation 19:11-21 to see that Jesus Christ, the “King of kings and Lord of lords,” will consume them with the “sword of His mouth” (by speaking a WORD…verses 15-19, 21).
Let me close by mentioning the NEXT PROPHECY that will be fulfilled. Before the seven-year Tribulation Period begins (by the making of the covenant and the resulting peace), “the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1st Thessalonians 4:16-17). See also John 14:2-3 and 1st Corinthains 15:50-55. The church will be “delivered from the hour of tribulation” by the coming of the Lord Jesus to the air to summon us to glory (Revelation 3:10-11). Is my reader ready for His coming to take believers home to heaven? You must “believe on the Lord Christ” to be saved and ready (Acts 16:31; 1st Thessalonians 4:14). (DO) (607.1)